The Day of the Jackal

By: Frederick Forsyth

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 13 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

One of the most celebrated thrillers ever written, The Day of the Jackal is the electrifying story of an anonymous Englishman who in, the spring of 1963, was hired by Colonel Marc Rodin, operations chief of the O.A.S., to assassinate General de Gaulle.

France was infuriated by Charles de Gaulle's withdrawal from Algeria, and there were six known attempts to assassinate the general that failed. This novel dramatizes the seventh, mostly deadly attempt, involving a professional killer for hire who would be unknown to the French Police. His code name was Jackal, his price half a million dollars, and his demand total secrecy, even from his employers.

Step by painstaking step, we follow the Jackal in his meticulous planning, from the fashioning of a specially made rifle to the devising of his approach to the time and the place where the general is to meet the Jackal's bullet. The only obstacle in his path is a small, diffident, rumpled policeman, who happens to be considered by his boss the best detective in France: Deputy Commissaire Claude Lebel.

©1971 Frederick Forsyth (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A masterpiece tour de force of crisp, sharp, suspenseful writing." ( Wall Street Journal)
"Compelling, utterly enthralling....Some of the tensest thriller writing I can remember reading." ( Sunday Express, London)

Awesome

Very similar to a Daniel Silva novel. Very sad it ended. Can’t believe I hadn’t heard of Frederick forsythi.

Outstanding Production!

Very meticulous and well nuanced despite the slow and tedious opening to the novel. In the beginning there was a lot of detail that seemed very tedious about the history of French assassinations. However, for the patient, this provided a good background for the story. Once the action commenced, the story became a real nailbiter and guessing game trying to figure out what the jackal was up to and going to do next. This was Masterfull storytelling at his best and the suspense kept building bit by bit until the very end climax. The narrator was excellent and seemed to get better as the story moved on and unfolded especially after the first few chapters. For those who enjoy spy stories, mysteries or thrillers this is a “cat’s meow - albeit a killer cat!

Jackal

This was quite good, especially in the first 2/3rds, after that it loses steam and originality. Some of the turns were not surprising or that interesting as it builds up for the predictable finale. It is very well written and narrated, but short of five stars for me.

Highly recommended

Well done. Enjoyed listening. The narrative was clear and precise and done without hesitation. Thank you for several hours of pleasant listening.

Great!

Loved it from start to finish. I found myself variously rooting for and against The Jackal!

ANOTHER GOOD FORSYTH READ...

Well, more proof that a good, old story is still a good story--period! This great book made for a really good 70's-something movie. I read this and "The Odessa Files" back-to-back. Well worth the time.

just excellent

great tension, great characters, great plotting, my favorite audiobook. great narrator

very very very very very good

Good assassin story

I've seen the movie but the book certainly was much more indepth. Very good listen.

Enjoyable book, but didn't expect the Swedish chef

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Very good story, mostly very good narration, but...

How did the narrator detract from the book?

... if you are going to sing a national anthem - learn the tune! And for a book with so many French names and phrases, choose a narrator who can get close to an accurate pronunciation. And the few Danish phrases - I don't know what they were meant to be, it sounded like the Swedish chef from the Muppets.

He has the PERFECT plan for killing~ 5 STARS

PLOT: early 1960s plot to kill DE Gaulle.

After several "failed" plots to kill French President Charles De Gaulle...the OAS hire an unknown killer with the name of the "Jackal"......This is entertaining and is different than the movie plot. "Jackal" is skillful and knows every person in every country who can aid his plans for killing....from the gunsmith who can build him a special "gun" ....and he travels to Italy to get several new forged identity papers. AS he carefully plots his skills he is soon pursued by French Detective Lebel who soon has some clues to the hired killer from clues from a kidnapped OAS man. A blonde Englishman is soon being hunted in the UK and abroad. With clues to his "Alexander Duggan".Id........but the Jackal is already on to ID #2...and headed to France from Italy. this is fun and interesting complete with a sexy spy who come mistress of an old man close to De Gaulle to keep tabs on him. This is first rate and keeps you absorbed to the intrigue and very plausible crime. his excellent methods of truly getting close enough to kill is first rate........ I give this 5 STARS all for the way for excellent plot, reader and story that is entertaining even 50 years later.