The Jackal’s Mistress (by Chris Bohjalian)
It’s been a while since I’ve read a Chris Bohjalian novel, so I promptly placed a hold on The Jackal’s Mistress when my local library acquired a copy. While I’ve enjoyed his previous works, I must admit that I didn’t enjoy this one, despite my anticipation of loving it.
Set in 1964 Virginia, during the Civil War, Libby Stedman, a 12-year-old niece, and a hired married couple, Joseph and Sally, run a gristmill. Libby’s husband is away serving in the war and likely in a Union prison camp. A gravely injured Union soldier, Captain Weybridge, is left to die in an abandoned house near Libby’s home. When Libby learns of Weybridge’s plight, she is faced with a difficult decision: to leave him to die or to bring him to her home and help him recover from his injuries.
There are several aspects of the book that I enjoyed. For instance, I found all the characters entertaining, particularly the young and spirited Jubilee. I deeply respect the author’s efforts in writing this story and the extensive research he conducted to ensure its historical accuracy. I appreciate the true story upon which this novel is based and the courage displayed by the real-life individuals involved.
I found the narrative to be extremely slow, which made it difficult to get engrossed in the story. I often felt bored and anxious for the book to have some excitement. While I liked the characters, they lacked emotional depth. When they engaged in storytelling conversations that had the potential for emotional expression, they often shut down and refused to share their feelings. It wasn’t until the very end that anything truly captivating happened.
Overall, this book was quite dull and uninteresting for me. Although I couldn’t connect with The Jackal’s Mistress, I’ll still keep reading Chris Bohjalian’s books.
I borrowed the audiobook of The Jackal’s Mistress from my local library using the Libby app. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the narration by Marni Penning. While her voice was pleasant to listen to, I felt that it lacked the maturity required to bring this particular story to life.
You’re welcome to read my review for another book by Chris Bohjalian, which is linked below.
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