The Day of the JackalThe Day of the Jackal
Score Classic
What it's about
France, 1963. After repeated failed attempts, a secret group of French army officers furious at President de Gaulle for giving Algeria independence hires a professional assassin, a nameless Englishman code-named the Jackal, to kill him. As the Jackal meticulously prepares, from false passports to a custom-built rifle, France's top detective, Claude Lebel, races to identify and stop a man no one has ever seen.
Why it's worth reading
It's the template for the modern thriller: precise, procedural and almost unbearably tense, even though you know de Gaulle survived. It won the Edgar Award and remains a masterclass in suspense.
You'll love it if you liked
The Godfather
Gone Girl
And Then There Were NoneGood to know
The opening chapters on French politics are slow; once the Jackal starts working, it's hard to put down. Some violence.
By the numbers
- Readers88 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics49 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller69 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #11 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #44 of the 762 classics we rank
- #147 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
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Quick answers
Is The Day of the Jackal worth reading?
Yes. It's the template for the modern thriller: precise, procedural and almost unbearably tense, even though you know de Gaulle survived. It ranks #147 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 85.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Day of the Jackal about?
France, 1963. After repeated failed attempts, a secret group of French army officers furious at President de Gaulle for giving Algeria independence hires a professional assassin, a nameless Englishman code-named the Jackal, to kill him. As the Jackal meticulously prepares, from false passports to a custom-built rifle, France's top detective, Claude Lebel, races to identify and stop a man no one has ever seen.
How long does it take to read The Day of the Jackal?
About 9 hours (358 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Day of the Jackal won?
Edgar Award winner (1972).
What should I read after The Day of the Jackal?
If you liked it, try The Godfather by Mario Puzo, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn or And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.