Jackal

A Novel

De: Erin E. Adams

Narrado por: Sandra Okuboyejo, William DeMeritt

RECOMMENDED BY GILLIAN FLYNN ON THE TODAY SHOW • A young Black girl goes missing in the woods outside her white rust belt town. But she's not the first—and she may not be the last. . . .

“I read this thriller that is Get Out meets The Vanishing Half in one night.”—BuzzFeed

“Extraordinary . . . A terrifying tale of fears and hatreds generated by racism and class inequality.”—Associated Press

EDGAR® AWARD FINALIST • BRAM STOKER® AWARD FINALIST • SHIRLEY JACKSON AWARD NOMINEE • PHENOMENAL BOOK CLUB PICK

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Esquire, Vulture, PopSugar, Paste, Publishers Weekly • ONE OF COSMOPOLITAN’S BEST HORROR NOVELS OF ALL TIME

It’s watching.

Liz Rocher is coming home . . . reluctantly. As a Black woman, Liz doesn’t exactly have fond memories of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a predominantly white town. But her best friend is getting married, so she braces herself for a weekend of awkward, passive-aggressive reunions. Liz has grown, though; she can handle whatever awaits her. But on the night of the wedding, somewhere between dancing and dessert, the newlyweds’ daughter, Caroline, disappears—and the only thing left behind is a piece of white fabric covered in blood.

It’s taking.

As a frantic search begins, with the police combing the trees for Caroline, Liz is the only one who notices a pattern: A summer night. A missing girl. A party in the woods. She’s seen this before. Keisha Woodson, the only other Black girl in Liz’s high school, walked into the woods with a mysterious man and was later found with her chest cavity ripped open and her heart removed. Liz shudders at the thought that it could have been her, and now, with Caroline missing, it can’t be a coincidence. As Liz starts to dig through the town’s history, she uncovers a horrifying secret about the place she once called home. Children have been going missing in these woods for years. All of them Black. All of them girls.

It’s your turn.

With the evil in the forest creeping closer, Liz knows what she must do: find Caroline, or be entirely consumed by the darkness.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A heady, page-turning, all-too-relevant reinvention of the return-to-home horror story—truly gut-wrenching and frightening.”—Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and The Pallbearers Club

“Real horror surrounds us in plain sight, nestled in the hearts of fiends who hide behind the barest of masks. Erin E. Adams takes you on a breathless ride with Jackal, revealing the courage it takes to stand up to monsters.”—Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor and The Hunger

“A thrilling blend of detective story, turn-all-the-lights-on-in-your-house-while-reading horror, and social commentary about how often women of color, especially Black women, go missing and get little attention . . . It’s an impressive and thoughtful debut.”—Megan Giddings, author of The Women Could Fly

“Jackal is both a gripping thriller about missing girls and the dangers lurking in the woods, and a searing and brilliant dissection of what it means to be the ‘only one’ in a small town and a Black woman in the United States of America. Liz Rocher will stay with me for a long time.”—Stephanie Feldman, author of Saturnalia

“Vicious, sharp, and inventive—Jackal grabbed me by the throat and wouldn’t let go. Erin E. Adams lures readers deep into the woods with electric prose and then cuts through the dark with a monstrous and haunting tale.”—Deb Rogers, author of Florida Woman

“Jackal is a visceral, poetic read of mythic proportions. Adams’s no-holds-barred mysterious plunge into the shadows is both tender and thrilling, buoyed by her incandescent prose and an unforgettable hero. Don’t miss it.”—Meredith Hambrock, author of Other People’s Secrets

“This book will raise your blood pressure. It’s a searing and achingly raw exploration of what it means to be Black in white spaces, of the contortionist act we are required to perform, the innocence stolen, and the monsters among us, all wrapped up in a suspenseful thriller that will fill you with rage and leave you trusting no one. Adams has created a masterpiece that will keep your neck firmly beneath its foot long after its final word.”—Lane Clarke, author of Love Times Infinity

“[A] stellar debut . . .an unforgettable gut punch of a horror thriller . . . This novel is a masterful and emotionally wrenching gem of Black storytelling.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Harrowing horror with a side of searing social commentary . . . Plentiful twists, keenly rendered characters, and atmospheric prose keep the pages turning.”—Kirkus Reviews

Great thriller.

This was a great mystery thriller. I enjoyed the multiple POVs because their viewpoints really added to the story. Additionally, I liked how the supernatural elements were added gradually.
The only reason this wasn’t 5 stars was that I felt like the pacing slowed down just before the climax. Otherwise, a great read for fans of mystery, thrillers, or supernatural stories!

Grimms has nothing on this Tale!

Good mix of folklore, mystery, and horror in doses I could take. Not a horror fan, but this story offers much more that blood and gore. Anyone who has ever checked under their bed or felt followed will recall it with the author’s clarity of words! I say even if your not a horror fan this book could still be for you.

Good Story!

I personally enjoyed listening to this title. The ending was a little surprising. Consider reading this title if you seek a mystery in a small town. The last few chapters are pretty exciting guessing who did what.

Story is crazy!

Such a great story. The lead up to the climax kept me on my toes. So many little twists. I was guessing the whole story! I loved it!

Surprise

I loved the surprise at the end and the subtle supernatural added in. It’s not overly woo woo just enough to satisfy my need for woo

It was thrilling!!!!

I did enjoy the books; it was thrilling and kept me reading. I would even say it was a page-turner . Jackal is the ugliest we most all face, and everything we ignore, but death comes for all of us.

Surprised

I didn't expect the killer to be who it was... it was so good. I'll recommend it to other reader

Jackal

This book was awesome!!! The storyline was very thought provoking, it kept you guessing who the culprit was...it unfolded very nicely. The characters were believable and likable it was easy to visualize and made me desire to see it on the big screen. Oprah needs to add this to her book list!!! Great Job Ms. Erin Adams. You sure this your first? I am looking forward to the next one!!!

Great look at racism in America

The supernatural part of the story didn't come together quite well. The book would have been more impact full in it's message without it. I understand it's supposed to show how hate grows when we let it fester but....

Started off strong…but did not enjoy the ending

I thought the story started off great but then got weird. I was invested and finished the book within 2 days, only to be disappointed on the ending.