Welcome to the world of Jackal by Erin E. Adams. Jackal is a genre-bending work that combines elements of thriller and horror.
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Summary
Liz Rocher is a Black woman who grew up in a predominately White town in Pennsylvania. As an adult, Liz was eager to flee the town in favor of city life. You see, Liz doesnāt have fond memories of the town she called home throughout her childhood.
For one thing, one of the few Black girls in town went missing – and was eventually found dead – when Liz was in high school. This was understandably traumatic for Liz.
Now in her 30s, Liz is returning to her childhood friend. Lizās best friend, Melissa, is getting married. So of course Liz was invited. When Melissaās biracial daughter mysteriously disappears, a frantic search ensues.
Liz feels especially responsible for figuring out what happened. In the midst of her search, Liz stumbles into a larger mystery she wasnāt expecting to find. Many Black girls have gone missing – one each year for decades.
It becomes a race against time: can Liz solve the mystery and bring Melissaās daughter, Caroline, home safely?
Adamsā novel is one that seems to defy genre: the first half or so of Jackal feels like a thriller or mystery. Things are tense. Is Caroline OK? Will she be brought home safely?
But then Adams throws us a curve ball around the half-way mark of Jackal by introducing some horror elements.
Thoughts
In Jackal, Adams frequently evokes the idea of shadows. I think itās an interesting metaphor for what Liz is going through. By heading towards the lights of the big city, Liz thought she was escaping her past. But in a lot of ways, what she was doing was running away from unresolved trauma. Her shadow followed her to the city where she experienced even more trauma. In order to heal, Liz had to turn around and face the shadows of her past.
The whole concept of someoneās shadow is nothing new; it can be found in other works of fiction. One notable example of this is A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin, which tells the story of a young wizard who has to face his shadow in order to move forward.
I would be remiss if I didnāt acknowledge that race plays a large role in Jackal.
As one of the few Black people in a predominately White town, Liz stands out. Unsurprisingly, Liz experiences her fair share of racism.
There is the idea of āgoodā Blacks – who do what theyāre supposed to do – vs ābadā Blacks – who go against the grain. If you are ābad,ā you get punished.
Liz, however, lives at the intersection of race and class. She may be the daughter of a Haitian immigrant, but Liz is also the daughter of a doctor. Lizās financial stability affords her advantages that arenāt afforded to others.
Because sheās special, Liz is uniquely equipped to face the monsters in her town.
You might like Jackal ifā¦
- You like your thrillers with a touch of horror.
- You appreciate books that examine race.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means Iāll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please readĀ full disclosureĀ for more information.
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