A review by onemorepagecrew
Jackal by Erin E. Adams

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Jackal by Erin E. Adams is a book I have been eagerly awaiting.  The cover is attention grabbing, the book description is tense, and I love a debut author – especially in thrillers. 
 
In it we meet Liz, a Black woman who is returning to her small and predominantly white town in PA for the wedding of her best friend, Mel.  While she is at the wedding Mel’s daughter disappears and the search party begins.  The tension comes from the current timeline mystery and race against the clock, combined with Liz’s flashbacks and research into the many Black girls who have gone missing in her hometown over the years. 
 
I’m excited that this is the author’s first novel and would jump to read anything else she writes. This was a solid thriller that combined horror style scenes (startling, even repulsive at times) with a stark reality: despite making up 7% of the population in the US, Black women and girls were 17% of the missing persons cases opened in 2021.  The author entertains the reader while pressing down on this core message.  It reminds me of Jordan Peele movies or Tiffany D. Jackson’s horror novels. 
 
There was one part where the plot lost its footing and I was confused, about 60% in, but it pulled through and was back on track for a solid ending.  And there are moments where I felt like yelling into the book that the Liz was losing her common sense, but that’s how I am with horror movies too.  
 
If you are someone who enjoys thrillers and can tolerate gory descriptions, add this to your TBR!  It’s available on Oct. 4 and you can pre-order now.  I really wish I had someone to talk to while I was reading this so DM me when you read it. 
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for this advanced copy in exchange for my review, I was so excited to read this. 
 
Content warnings: Violence, Racism, Gore, Eating disorder, Kidnapping, Child death, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Alcohol abuse 
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