’’It was a cold October morning in Paris and even colder for a man about to be executed by the firing squad’’.
Thus begins the opening lines of an all time great bestseller and a benchmark as far as thriller writing is considered. Frederick Forsyth is one of my favourite thriller writers after Alistair Maclean. Read this novel and you would understand why.
The book starts with a group called OAS, who plan to assasinate Charles de Gaulle. A bunch of fiercely committed French nationalists, they have never forgiven de Gaulle for this role in granting independence to Algeria. After the first abortive assasination attempt on De Gaulle, which results in the capture and execution of many of the group members, they decide to hire a professional mercenary to do the job.
And the man they find is an unknown, shadowy and ruthless mercenary called The Jackal. In fact none even knows what his real name is. But this guy has no idelogy nor associated with any ism. He is happy as long as he gets paid. And now starts the best part of the book. The Jackal liasions with a photographer to get a fake passport and identity. After getting which he promptly murders him. And soon the French police manage to get a lead on this. They track down a Polish guy who acts as a go between the gang and the Jackal. On interrogating him they learn the truth.
And then starts the cat and mouse game between the cops and the Jackal leading to the climax.
The planning by the Jackal, the strategy adopted by him, and the investigation by the French cops are brilliantly describe in this book. And the climax is a real heart stopper. To enjoy all that you must read this book. The best thing I love about Forsyth’s novels is the topicality he brings to his novels. Every minor detail is so brilliantly captured and he gives a real insightful look into the world of espionage and international politics. Once you read this book, its difficult to put it down. It grips your attention from the word go. So to all people who love thriller novels, read this book. Just dont miss it.