“The Day of the Jackal” by Frederick Forsyth – Preparation is the Best Tool

Over the years, Frederick Forsyth has brought to us innumerable classics of literature, and many people, myself included, would say that The Day of the Jackal is his magnum opus. Just to get things straight, though the book is about an assassin, it doesn’t have any big gunfights, interminable hand-to-hand combat scenes, car chases, nor explosions.

Rather, what it does have is a very detailed and finely-crafted plot, following the young British assassin known as the Jackal as he prepares for the hit on Charles de Gaulle, the French President of the time.

At the same time, the French police has caught wind of the whole ordeal by sheer luck, and they have set their best detective on the task of finding the Jackal, without any knowledge of who he is or even what he looks like.

I like novels which touch on the subject of hitmen and assassins, which means I’ve read my fair share of them… and I have to say, The Day of the Jackal sits atop my list as the number one book on the subject. True to his style, Forsyth keeps everything realistic, crafting an intricate plot full of mystery on one side, and suspense on the other.

We don’t get to learn that much about the Jackal, other than how he prepares for this job. He is very methodical and intellectual in his approach, trying to take care of every single little detail to ensure that one shot he fires will hit. It’s actually quite refreshing to see an assassin who takes his time and uses his brain, rather than the traditional machinegun-toting Hollywood hitman.

The police’s side of the story is also quite interesting as detective Claude Lebel is far from being a slouch. Despite being overworked, he still manages to see through the few clues and details handed to him, making for a formidable opponent, constantly inching himself closer to the Jackal. 

Though they never really meet, the Jackal and Lebel complement each other formidably, and it’s simply a pleasure to see such a game of chess being played by two top-level and evenly matched opponents. 

Though the mystery surrounding the Jackal is surely interesting, some might argue that Lebel steals the show as his ability to unravel the perfect plot (or near-perfect, I guess) is put to the test, and he doesn’t disappoint one bit.

All in all, if you are sick of the same old tired takes on hitmen in mainstream cinema and literature, I really recommend that you give The Day of the Jackal a chance to see intellectuals at work. 

It is an assassin novel unlike any that have preceded or followed it, and if you are curious, it was even made into a movie, though it is a bit old at this point (also do yourself a favor and watch the original, not the abysmal remake with Bruce Willis).

---

Frederick Forsyth Personal site Frederick Forsyth is an author and political commentator hailing from England who concentrates his writing around crime and political thrillers, bringing a number of suspenseful stories to us, including The Day of the Jackal, The Dogs of War and Fourth Protocol.