From the Bookshelf of Pulp Fiction…

The Day of the Jackal

Frederick Forsyth,

Simon Prebble (Reader)

Start date: April 1, 2019

Finish date: April 30, 2019

Discussion: Group Reads

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 173 topics — 4,475 comments total

Group Reads

* October 2025 - Laura
By RJ - Slayer o… , Private Eye · 5 posts · 12 views

last updated 9 hours, 22 min ago

September 2025 - This Sweet Sickness
By RJ - Slayer o… , Private Eye · 9 posts · 28 views

last updated Sep 24, 2025 09:22AM

What Members Thought

Aug 15, 2010 Stephen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-thriller, audiobook, spy-stuff, assassins, 1970-1979

To those that gave this 4 or 5 stars…I completely get it…I really do.

I found much impressiveness in this classic spy story, despite the 3 star ceiling I ended up placing on it. Technically proficient and drenched in details, this is as authentic an anatomy of an assassination attempt I have ever seen. Forsyth’s “Jackal-like” control over the narrative was singular and I can certainly understand this being considered a classic among the spy-thriller genre.

Despite the significant amount of superi ...more

124 likes · Like · see review

Jun 29, 2014 Franky rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, thriller

One of the more remarkable aspects to Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal is how events are presented so realistically. The book is based on the true life attempts on French President Charles de Gaulle’s life, and Forsyth uses much of his experience covering news in France during the 1960s as well as thorough research to present a fictionalized account of these events.

The novel is structured in a way to first give a picture of the two sides, and then give a timeline for the events to foll One of the more remarkable aspects to Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal is how events are presented so realistically. The book is based on the true life attempts on French President Charles de Gaulle’s life, and Forsyth uses much of his experience covering news in France during the 1960s as well as thorough research to present a fictionalized account of these events.

The novel is structured in a way to first give a picture of the two sides, and then give a timeline for the events to follow. The first part of the novel, Anatomy of a Plot, gives background into OAS organization, their hatred for de Gaulle, and their efforts to find the perfect assassin to do the job. Deciding on a man who is only referred by the codename “The Jackal”, they set in motion the preparations for this attempt. Part two, Anatomy of a Manhunt, goes into the police forces’ attempts to identify and unmask this assassin, and figure out how, where and when he will strike. This builds to the final part, Anatomy of a Kill, which is a final confrontation between the two sides.

I was quite impressed with the way the author is able to present the two alternating plot lines to create a building sense of tension. When deputy commissioner Claude Lebel is appointed to take on this massive case, there is a sense of frustration and tension within their own police investigation and manhunt, as they butt heads on how to identify and stop the Jackal. Lebel has to get inside the killer’s head in order to figure out how he thinks and what his next move is and create a mental timeline. As we follow Lebel and his team’s relentless pursuit of this nameless figure, we also follow the Jackal’s. The alternating movements really help to build to one brilliant, tension-filled conclusion, especially as each side tries to outmaneuver the other.

I though it interesting in that the two sides are presented in a neutral manner. The narrator does not favor one side over another, but gives insight into both assassin and police perspectives. The Jackal is presented as cold and calculating, yet suave (think James Bond as an assassin). He loves his women, and his loves his gadgets. He loves to life the good life (fine wine, good food, expensive hotels) once he has his priorities have been met. On the other side, Lebel is sort of a bumbling, imperfect, yet quite intellectual figure. He may be the perfect fit for this job because of his imperfections, however; he seems to see into things in a true light because of his detective-like knowledge. In short, he knows what he is up against: “A real gentleman, thought Lebel, is as dangerous as a snake. They are always the worst kind for the policeman, the real gentleman. No one ever suspects them.”

The Day of the Jackal is a gripping suspense and thriller, and finishes with quite a face-paced race to the finish in the final pages.

...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Dec 19, 2007 Jim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2fiction, 1paper, action

I've read it a couple of times in the past 30 years. It's a 'must read once' although I found it paled the second time. Definitely a thriller, so if you know the ending, it ruins a lot of the story for me. I think it was a better read back in the 70's when it came out, because the idea was pretty new. Now it's been reused by so many others that it doesn't have the same impact. ...more

7 likes · Like · see review