Scan barcode
A review by taratearex
Jackal by Erin E. Adams
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was so good! When I first saw this book I was interested because the cover is gorgeous and it was adult horror. I read the back, but by the time I actually read this I'd pretty much forgotten what the back said, I just knew it was a social horror about a woman who goes back to her hometown and a young Black girl goes missing and she wasn't the first young Black girl in that town to go missing. For a horror/thriller/mystery I really like not knowing much about the book going in so I'm not going to say much else about the plot.
I listened to the audiobook for this and it was EXCELLENT, like top best audiobooks I've listened to. There are two narrators and they are both PHENOMENAL, I was so engaged and so creeped out, and I just could not put this down. The beginning does take a bit to get the story going, but the writing and narration really kept me interested.
The social commentary on racism and the lack of care and attention to the missing Black girls is woven throughout and makes this story even more horrific as it represents a real problem, the way this true horror is woven into the story is so well done.
I found the ending to be SO SO GOOD and so satisfying. I honestly feel like that is so hard to do in a thriller and I'm so glad I knew nothing going in because the twists and turns as we got to the ending kept me engaged and guessing and wanting to know! Edit: Just want to add, I'm seeing some reviews who didn't like the ending or thought it didn't make sense, I just want to say- there are clues about the ending throughout the entire book and I think it's too big of a spoiler to say anything more :)
Incredible debut and I can't wait to read more from this author!
CW: Violence. Racism. Child death. Body Horror. Domestic violence. Gore. Alcohol abuse. Eating disorder. Animal death. Kidnapping. Off-page SA. Off-page violence against children
I listened to the audiobook for this and it was EXCELLENT, like top best audiobooks I've listened to. There are two narrators and they are both PHENOMENAL, I was so engaged and so creeped out, and I just could not put this down. The beginning does take a bit to get the story going, but the writing and narration really kept me interested.
The social commentary on racism and the lack of care and attention to the missing Black girls is woven throughout and makes this story even more horrific as it represents a real problem, the way this true horror is woven into the story is so well done.
I found the ending to be SO SO GOOD and so satisfying. I honestly feel like that is so hard to do in a thriller and I'm so glad I knew nothing going in because the twists and turns as we got to the ending kept me engaged and guessing and wanting to know! Edit: Just want to add, I'm seeing some reviews who didn't like the ending or thought it didn't make sense, I just want to say- there are clues about the ending throughout the entire book and I think it's too big of a spoiler to say anything more :)
Incredible debut and I can't wait to read more from this author!
CW: Violence. Racism. Child death. Body Horror. Domestic violence. Gore. Alcohol abuse. Eating disorder. Animal death. Kidnapping. Off-page SA. Off-page violence against children
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Body horror, Blood, Racism, Murder, Violence, Hate crime, Death, and Animal death
Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Alcohol