Jackal is an insidious psychological thriller set in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Liz is returning home for the wedding of her childhood friend, Caroline. Her plan is to keep the visit short and sweet but on the night of the wedding, Caroline’s daughter goes missing. Liz appears to be the only one seeing the connecting link: each year in Johnstown a young black girl goes missing in the summer. It brings up traumatising childhood memories for Liz, who recalls seeing the only other black girl in her school be taken. How can they save Caroline’s little girl?
I really enjoyed this gripping read. The story alternates between Liz’s adulthood and childhood experiences in Johnstown, as well as brief profiles of the many girls lost. The further we get into the story we read POVs from the dark presence hell-bent on taking these girls, the Jackal. The climax of the story did feel a bit trippy, but I must say I admired the creative boldness in the writing. I also really appreciated the author’s note at the end of the book detailing the race riots in Johnstown in 1923 and the floods in 1889. It gave historical grounding to the tale which, to me, made it feel even more unsettling. I highly recommend!
Review by Helen.
Jackal was published on 10/10/24 by Dead Ink
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