haligon_ian's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rcthomas's review against another edition
4.0
Entertaining book. Suspenseful and with good pacing. If you're looking for a light, but thrilling, read I would heartily recommend this book. The characters are well done and interesting, and for me it captures the spirit of the tumultuous beginning of the Fifth Republic, though obviously all events are fictional.
leahotto's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
bookmarkhoarder's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
disastrouspenguin's review against another edition
5.0
Consumed via audiobook. The narrator, Simon Prebble, was fantastic, even though it took me a few minutes to warm up to him.
The story went quickly, despite its nearly 400 pages.
The story went quickly, despite its nearly 400 pages.
aniek11's review against another edition
3.0
Prima om te lezen, maar ik hou niet van de afstandelijke manier van schrijven. Hierdoor werd ik niet echt meegenomen in het verhaal. Wel goed uitgewerkt!
audiobook_addict's review against another edition
5.0
This was an amazing read. I've not read a novel of this magnitude in forever. I know now why this was one of Forsyth's best books. It's a suspenseful thriller that will keep you on your seat for the whole ride. I started reading it in braille and just didn't have time to delve too deeply into it. However, I found a copy in audio, read by the legendary Guy Sorel, one of NLS's classic narrators and was instantly sucked in. I know there was a movie, but I haven't brought myself to see it yet. It's one of those, I'm afraid the story will be ruined if I see it, the book was so good. Even for it's time period it still held up, with just enough nostalgia to give you a warm fuzzy all the while keeping a Bondesque feel all the way through. I enjoyed it. If you're looking for a suspenseful political thriller with a bit of espionage thrown in, and a dash of Bond, this one will do it. Have fun guys, and stay tuned, I'm reading another good one.
kingfan30's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
aquamarinecadet's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
My first Frederick Forsyth read, but certainly not my last. Impeccable pacing and very detailed descriptions :D so a super fun read. Also written in a somewhat lyrical style (for a thriller), which I thoroughly enjoyed.
sadly not a 5 star read because for the time being the ending has me disappointed
sadly not a 5 star read because for the time being the ending has me disappointed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, Torture, and Violence
grahamsoper's review against another edition
4.0
The Day Of The Jackal – Frederick Forsyth
This book was published in 1971, with almost all the action taking place in 1963, although there are some very interesting historical details about French colonial history of the mid-20th Century. The story opens with an assassination attempt on Charles de Gaulle in August 1962 by the Organisation Armée Secrète (OAS), who had targeted de Gaulle for his Algerian initiatives. The rest of the story picks up from there.
The French secret service has successfully infiltrated the OAS and they captured the group’s operations commander. Furthermore, the leader of the failed assassination attempt in 1962 has been executed by firing squad. So now the OAS seems to have run out of options, except perhaps to use a professional assassin.
They meet with and hire an Englishman whose name is never disclosed. Instead they agree to use a code name. "The Jackal". He is a killer at the top of his profession and a man unknown to any secret service in the world. But he is a man with a rifle who can change the course of history.
The fee asked for by The Jackal is way beyond anything the OAS can afford, but they agree to his terms. To fund this venture they start a campaign of bank robberies and when the French Secret Service begin to put two and two together, they soon realise what’s being planned.
There then follows a thrilling cat and mouse chase to discover the identity of the possible assassin followed by a manhunt like no other.
It’s one of the best books you’ll ever read. With such a fast paced, explosive ending that will send your blood pressure soaring. I myself stayed up half the night to finish it because I just couldn’t put it down.
This book was published in 1971, with almost all the action taking place in 1963, although there are some very interesting historical details about French colonial history of the mid-20th Century. The story opens with an assassination attempt on Charles de Gaulle in August 1962 by the Organisation Armée Secrète (OAS), who had targeted de Gaulle for his Algerian initiatives. The rest of the story picks up from there.
The French secret service has successfully infiltrated the OAS and they captured the group’s operations commander. Furthermore, the leader of the failed assassination attempt in 1962 has been executed by firing squad. So now the OAS seems to have run out of options, except perhaps to use a professional assassin.
They meet with and hire an Englishman whose name is never disclosed. Instead they agree to use a code name. "The Jackal". He is a killer at the top of his profession and a man unknown to any secret service in the world. But he is a man with a rifle who can change the course of history.
The fee asked for by The Jackal is way beyond anything the OAS can afford, but they agree to his terms. To fund this venture they start a campaign of bank robberies and when the French Secret Service begin to put two and two together, they soon realise what’s being planned.
There then follows a thrilling cat and mouse chase to discover the identity of the possible assassin followed by a manhunt like no other.
It’s one of the best books you’ll ever read. With such a fast paced, explosive ending that will send your blood pressure soaring. I myself stayed up half the night to finish it because I just couldn’t put it down.