Book Review: The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian

Mar 11, 2025 | 2025, Blog, Chris Bohjalian, March 2025

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗹’𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 by Christ Bohjalian is a compelling and captivating story in a time when communication could take weeks or months, injury most often resulted in death, and trusting the wrong person could be the difference between this life and the next.

A once lush and beautiful valley is now a place with brutal savages amongst the debris. We watch many defend their actions while some struggle to question humanity. The character arcs are complex and layered allowing the reader to be swept into a story that is difficult to stop reading because you will need to know what happens next.

Libby Steadman waits each day for word about her husband who went off to war, and the lack of news regarding his whereabouts has left her fearing the worst. Regardless of his outcome she is determined to find out, and will not rest until she knows his fate. While she must struggle to survive and take care of her niece, she finds comfort knowing two workers chose to stay behind and help her run the family gristmill.

When the Jackal is discovered close to her home on the edge of death Libby must make a choice to walk away or help him. One spit-second decision will change the course of her life and those she loves.

Chris Bohjalian is a master story teller and this time he takes us to 1864 in the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War where households have been turned upside down, those left behind live in fear as they struggle to survive every day. Who can be trusted? Do you have enough supplies to survive, defend, and protect yourself? We all know how the war ends but to understand the impact and fate of the Jackal, Libby Steadman, and the other folks in this valley you will have to read until the very last page.

The romance is behind closed doors while still retaining that sweet wholesomeness that might leave readers with a pink blush on their cheeks. In this type of book characters may express their feelings by declaring they are in love, flirt, embrace, hold hands, or even kiss. Some scenes might mention a character was in a previous relationship, or they are interested in pursuing more in their current relationship in a physical nature. Those moments or romantic interludes are not graphic or explicit.

hank you Double Day Books for an advance reader copy for an honest and fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

𝐐: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤?

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