Available instantly

Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial

Hardcover
$10.79

Paperback
$15.29

Buy used:

$10.79

$3.99 delivery March 17 - 21. Details

Or fastest delivery March 13 - 18. Details

Used: Very Good | Details

Sold by HPB-Ruby

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Other sellers on Amazon

New & Used (18) from $8.36 + $3.99 shipping

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Erin E. Adams

Follow

Jackal: A Novel Hardcover – October 4, 2022

by Erin E. Adams (Author)

3.9 1,156 ratings

Editors' pick Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

See all formats and editions

RECOMMENDED BY GILLIAN FLYNN ON THE TODAY SHOW • A young Black girl goes missing in the woods outside her white rust belt town. But she's not the first—and she may not be the last. . . .

“I read this thriller that is Get Out meets The Vanishing Half in one night.”—BuzzFeed

“Extraordinary . . . A terrifying tale of fears and hatreds generated by racism and class inequality.”—Associated Press

EDGAR® AWARD FINALIST • BRAM STOKER® AWARD FINALIST • SHIRLEY JACKSON AWARD NOMINEE • PHENOMENAL BOOK CLUB PICK

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Esquire, Vulture, PopSugar, Paste, Publishers Weekly • ONE OF COSMOPOLITAN’S BEST HORROR NOVELS OF ALL TIME

It’s watching.

Liz Rocher is coming home . . . reluctantly. As a Black woman, Liz doesn’t exactly have fond memories of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a predominantly white town. But her best friend is getting married, so she braces herself for a weekend of awkward, passive-aggressive reunions. Liz has grown, though; she can handle whatever awaits her. But on the night of the wedding, somewhere between dancing and dessert, the newlyweds’ daughter, Caroline, disappears—and the only thing left behind is a piece of white fabric covered in blood.

It’s taking.

As a frantic search begins, with the police combing the trees for Caroline, Liz is the only one who notices a pattern: A summer night. A missing girl. A party in the woods. She’s seen this before. Keisha Woodson, the only other Black girl in Liz’s high school, walked into the woods with a mysterious man and was later found with her chest cavity ripped open and her heart removed. Liz shudders at the thought that it could have been her, and now, with Caroline missing, it can’t be a coincidence. As Liz starts to dig through the town’s history, she uncovers a horrifying secret about the place she once called home. Children have been going missing in these woods for years. All of them Black. All of them girls.

It’s your turn.

With the evil in the forest creeping closer, Liz knows what she must do: find Caroline, or be entirely consumed by the darkness.

From the Publisher

A young girl goes missing in the woods outside her white rust belt town.

But she's not the first—and she may not be the last...

Kirkus Reviews calls it a "Harrowing horror with a side of searing social commentary.."

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A heady, page-turning, all-too-relevant reinvention of the return-to-home horror story—truly gut-wrenching and frightening.”—Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and The Pallbearers Club

“Real horror surrounds us in plain sight, nestled in the hearts of fiends who hide behind the barest of masks. Erin E. Adams takes you on a breathless ride with Jackal, revealing the courage it takes to stand up to monsters.”—Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor and The Hunger

“A thrilling blend of detective story, turn-all-the-lights-on-in-your-house-while-reading horror, and social commentary about how often women of color, especially Black women, go missing and get little attention . . . It’s an impressive and thoughtful debut.”—Megan Giddings, author of The Women Could Fly

“Jackal is both a gripping thriller about missing girls and the dangers lurking in the woods, and a searing and brilliant dissection of what it means to be the ‘only one’ in a small town and a Black woman in the United States of America. Liz Rocher will stay with me for a long time.”—Stephanie Feldman, author of Saturnalia

“Vicious, sharp, and inventive—Jackal grabbed me by the throat and wouldn’t let go. Erin E. Adams lures readers deep into the woods with electric prose and then cuts through the dark with a monstrous and haunting tale.”—Deb Rogers, author of Florida Woman

“Jackal is a visceral, poetic read of mythic proportions. Adams’s no-holds-barred mysterious plunge into the shadows is both tender and thrilling, buoyed by her incandescent prose and an unforgettable hero. Don’t miss it.”—Meredith Hambrock, author of Other People’s Secrets

“This book will raise your blood pressure. It’s a searing and achingly raw exploration of what it means to be Black in white spaces, of the contortionist act we are required to perform, the innocence stolen, and the monsters among us, all wrapped up in a suspenseful thriller that will fill you with rage and leave you trusting no one. Adams has created a masterpiece that will keep your neck firmly beneath its foot long after its final word.”—Lane Clarke, author of Love Times Infinity

“[A] stellar debut . . .an unforgettable gut punch of a horror thriller . . . This novel is a masterful and emotionally wrenching gem of Black storytelling.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Harrowing horror with a side of searing social commentary . . . Plentiful twists, keenly rendered characters, and atmospheric prose keep the pages turning.”—Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Erin E. Adams is a first-generation Haitian American writer and theatre artist. She received her BA with honors in literary arts from Brown University, her MFA in acting from The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program, and her MFA in dramatic writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. An award-winning playwright and actor, Adams has called New York City home for the last decade. Jackal is her first novel.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

ONE

June 17, 2017

Welcome to Johnstown: Home of the World’s Steepest Vehicular Inclined Plane.

All of that, every single word, is emblazoned on a massive billboard visible about a mile outside of town. Because of the angle of the train’s approach, the Inclined Plane is the first and only landmark I see. It means I’ve reached my final destination. The journey here has been rife with spotty cell service, dotted with tiny towns and abandoned industries consumed by thick forests. Yes. After fourteen years away, I, Liz Rocher, am returning to Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The rust belt.

Home.

I take another gulp of my train wine. The cheap varietal burns my palate. Varietal. Palate. Who do you think you are? There it is. Judgment. One of the many things I ran from when I left.

The train slows. I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the window. With my thick natural hair and dark skin, my Appalachian origins are unexpected. I buzzed all my hair off a little over three months ago. It’s finally settled into its new length. Returning home with no hair means no protection. That’s why this trek required a trip to Harlem to get a decent wig. Her name is Valerie. On the box, she looked like a pop star. On me, she looks like a PTA mom. Between the wig and my rumpled business casual, I look like a mockery of what I’ve become: a “city girl.” You’ll never be rid of that backwoods, small-town stink. There it is again. My therapist, a tall white woman who gives me names for my feelings, would call that voice my anxiety. The tightness in my chest is my imposter syndrome. The occasional inability to catch my breath is a perfectionist tendency. Neat little notes in her records. My next sip of wine becomes a full gulp, finishing off the split.

“This stop is Johnstown, Pennsylvania.”

I gather my things. My phone lights up with a notification from the office. Sales never sleeps. I’ve taken the weekend off, but I have work to do. I always have work to do. If I don’t, I ask for more. The first time I did, my then-boss laughed and asked, “Trouble at home?” Implying that I didn’t have ambition, I had misplaced avoidance. I smiled back at him with all my teeth. In two years, I had his job and an engagement ring on my finger. I don’t have the ring anymore, but the work is a constant. Sometimes I wonder how he knew. I try to open the document but it refuses to load. A single bar of service flickers in and out. Great. I cling to my technology, like the rind of this place won’t get on me if I’m shiny enough.

Moving into the aisle, I have to peel my dress pants off the backs of my thighs. I chose slacks over sweats because I feel powerful in a suit. In control. Every sweaty wrinkle threatens to break that illusion.

The train comes to a stop. What should have been an eight-hour journey became ten because of delays, and my body is sore and stiff. I turn my head to stretch my neck. A ligament pulls tight all the way down the center of my back, pinching right behind my heart. My eyes land on a red sign at the top of the open train door.

Exit.

My suitcase is above my head. One good pull and I can roll off this train. Or I could stay? Ride on to Pittsburgh. Take a flight back to New York.

My phone rings.

Melissa Parker.

How does she always know exactly when to call? I answer it.

“You’re here!” she says.

I glance across the car, half expecting her to pop out from one of the empty seats. “How do you— I’ve been delayed for—Are you tracking my trip?”

“Someone won’t stop asking when you’re going to get here.” Mel is more than enough reason to come home. Her daughter, my goddaughter, Caroline, is another.

I lift my bag into the aisle, but I don’t leave the train just yet. A few passengers slide by me.

“Last call for Johnstown!”

I look back at my seat. Seats. Plural. I paid for both of them back in January when Mel called me and said, “I’m getting married.” No hello. No how are you. No delighted scream. No girlish cheering. Mel started the call with a statement. She ended it with a date. That’s how I knew she was serious. I bought tickets. The details would come later. She’d made a New Year’s resolution to live in the “present.” After more than ten years of living with her boyfriend, Garrett Washington, Melissa Parker was going to take his last name. Then, I had been all too eager to attend because I was finally who I imagined myself to be: Successful. Great job. Great fiancé. I’d become a New Yorker who had plans to move to Connecticut in three years.

“How does it feel to be home?” Mel asks.

“My home is dead.” The phone is warm on my ear by the time this unprompted observation spills out of me.

“Liz,” she replies. “Stop being so damn dramatic. It’s one weekend.”

“Fine.”

Let it be known, I buried this place. When I look at a map of the United States, my eyes drift over all 309 miles of a state that isn’t quite the heartland or the coast. As I stand in this Appalachian intercostal of America, I find myself in a liminal expanse. A cruel riddle.

“Can I get a weekend for my wedding?”

I see the conductor waving at me. This is it. Last chance, Liz.

I knew Melissa Parker was a good person when she shielded me from spitballs in the cafeteria in middle school. I’d stumbled into some quintessential ’90s bullying. My sin? Being the only Black kid who wasn’t “Black.” One of three in my entire school, I was the one who didn’t fit in. I didn’t sound like them or listen to rap or have any rhythm. To my white classmates, these were compulsory to the definition, leaving me at the mercy of this shameful smattering of stereotypes. Cue the spitballs. The other Black kids were no help. I don’t blame them; they were swimming for their own social lives and I was tainted water. Branded an Oreo, through and through. Whiteness influenced my speech, mannerisms, and pop-culture preferences. Mel and I hadn’t said more than a few words to each other before then, but when she saw my matching lunch of a soft pretzel and fries, she knew we were meant to be. That’s what she says. We both know it was because she herself was a white girl who didn’t fit in. She wasn’t rich, her blond wasn’t from a box, and she wasn’t interested in power over kindness.

“You get exactly forty-eight hours,” I say before yelling to the conductor, “Wait!” A quick hoist of my bag, a sprint down the aisle, and I’m off the train. It lets out directly onto the tracks. “My god, this place is remote,” I say to Mel.

“That’s just the station.”

The train pulls away. The landscape mounts. The flat coast is a distant memory now. Eastern hemlock trees crowd in, bringing darkness with their density despite the dwindling daylight. I’m in the wild. Breathe. I name the things around me:

Phone.

Gravel.

Trees.

“Garrett just sent me a picture of the view at the venue. It’s stunning,” Mel says. I can hear the tinny sound of her mixing something in her kitchen. Baking. Probably her cake. Mel got the idea to get married in January. She only seriously started planning two months ago. This ceremony is the definition of haphazard, last-minute, and thrown together with a hope and a prayer.

“Glad you finally decided on a place the day before the ceremony,” I tease. “Where is it?”

“We’re using Nick’s place?” The upward inflection is there to make sure I’m okay. I’m not the biggest fan of her brother, Nick.

“Like, his house?”

“His land,” she clarifies. “It’s . . . picturesque?”

Saliva pushes past the wine on my tongue. I don’t reply. I’m not gonna say it until she does.

“It’s . . . the woods. We’re in the woods, okay?” This double insistence tells me all I need to know. “Elizabeth Rocher. Please tell me you’re gonna be cool.”

“Wh—what do you mean?” I almost fool myself with the validity of that question.

“I don’t know—we were going to grab the ballroom at the Holiday Inn, but they’re closed for the weekend because a pipe burst. We were gonna do it in the yard, but Nick offered. It’s beautiful, Liz. Just beautiful—”

“I understand, but I—”

“Please don’t tell me you’re gonna run?” Her voice gets tight with emotion.

I choke back my laugh. Too late.

“I didn’t mean that,” Mel backtracks.

“Yes, you did.” Mel is the only reason I survived Johnstown. I know what this wedding means to her. “You are so lucky—” I start.

“Thank you!”

“So lucky,” I repeat as I walk toward the station.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bantam (October 4, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593499301
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593499306
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.21 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.36 x 1.14 x 9.55 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #653,035 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #116 in Black & African American Horror Fiction (Books)
- #1,142 in Black & African American Mystery, Thriller and Suspense
- #33,262 in Suspense Thrillers

Customer Reviews:
3.9 1,156 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Erin E. Adams

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Erin E. Adams is a first-generation Haitian American writer and theatre artist. She received her BA with honors in literary arts from Brown University, her MFA in acting from The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program and her MFA in dramatic writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. An award-winning playwright and actor, Adams has called New York City home for the last decade. Jackal is her first novel.

Customer reviews

1,156 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Review this product

Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book captivating and thought-provoking with an unexpected ending. They praise the well-written, literary prose that keeps the narrative pacing fast. The story is described as thrilling and frightening with a twist. Readers praise the author's talent and consider it a quick read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Pacing Story quality Writing style Pace

17 customers mention "Pacing"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book captivating, thought-provoking, and poignant. They appreciate the human details and consider it an ideal spook for study and further pondering.

"...I enjoyed the way she would include small details throughout the book that would eventually come into play at the climax...." Read more

"This Book is one of those stories that takes you on fast paced, and exciting ride. Timing is used to great effect here...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the authors writing style and ideas for this book...." Read more

"...It was thought provoking and sad and frustrating all at once. The twists and turns kept me begging for more and had me guessing until the very end...." Read more

17 customers mention "Story quality"15 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the story's plot and unexpected ending. They find the book captivating with its twists and turns that keep them guessing until the end. The spooky elements and various voices also appeal to readers. Overall, they consider the book an engaging read with potential to be a masterpiece.

"...with this being the author’s debut novel, I think she did a great job with this story...." Read more

"...Liz’s internal struggles touched me and I loved the spooky element of this...." Read more

"...It gives us slaughter horror with semi paranormal. - Jack's character had major potential but was missed...." Read more

"This was a fascinating and terrifying read. Fear comes in literally all forms...." Read more

10 customers mention "Writing style"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style engaging and well-crafted. They appreciate the literary quality of the prose while maintaining a fast narrative pace. The author's talent is evident, as the book is described as a quick read and easy to follow.

"...Everything falls nicely into place, and it’s very easy to follow all things considered...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the authors writing style and ideas for this book...." Read more

"This was well written and engaging. I read it quickly and am honestly not sure why it hasn’t gotten more attention...." Read more

"...It’s a quick read and I blew through it in three days." Read more

4 customers mention "Pace"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's fast narrative pace. They find it an exciting read, with great pacing and timing.

"...Timing is used to great effect here. Everything falls nicely into place, and it’s very easy to follow all things considered...." Read more

"This was well written and engaging. I read it quickly and am honestly not sure why it hasn’t gotten more attention...." Read more

"...Prose is elevated to the literary while keeping a fast narrative pace for the thrills." Read more

"Fast read but I didn’t care for the ending. The author was trying to help us all face our fears." Read more

Reviews with images

See all photos

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Amazon Customer
Great Condition/Read
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2023
Verified Purchase

Physical condition: I ordered this new and that is what I received. There didn't appear to be any damage to the outside of the book or jacket sleeve. There were no weird print issues or anything that affected reading the story.

Book Review: This book reminded me a lot of The Outsiders by Stephen King. The creature in the shadows, the way the supernatural begins to mix with the natural world, and the very real, brutal murders that go on for too long before someone takes the time to find out the truth. Even with this being the author’s debut novel, I think she did a great job with this story. The book never felt like there was something missing and it easily had me questioning everybody on if they were the killer or not. I enjoyed the way she would include small details throughout the book that would eventually come into play at the climax. Even the story her mother told, at what seemed like just a breakthrough bonding moment, ended up being a major clue as to who the killer was. I liked how the author gave us multiple point of views too. It gave us some insight into the girls who were murdered, the shadow monster, and even the main characters through someone else’s eyes. There’s also a good amount of suspense as we finally find out the truth and wait to see what Liz decides to do with it. The one thing I really didn’t care for was how things ended with Chris. Considering he was technically one of the main characters in the story, I don’t like how their relationship was just kind of brushed off. I get her not wanting to rush into a romantic relationship, but it would have felt better if it was just clearly ended rather than left without them speaking. Everything else seemed to be wrapped up, but that was just left unresolved. Also, while this book is technically a work of fiction, it does have some truth in it. She addresses some very real issues such as racism and classism that exist more than just in small towns. It gives perspective to those who don’t experience it or choose to be ignorant to it. What made it more interesting was getting to the author’s notes and finding out that quite a bit of the history mentioned of Johnstown did in fact actually happen. It’s not hard to believe, but it’s also really sad and frustrating to think about. I was even surprised to see my own hometown mentioned in the book. It brings up an ugly history that most would choose to ignore, and one we are not taught about enough in school. I am looking forward to seeing what books this author writes in the future. The only reason I gave it four and not five stars is because it unfortunately wasn’t a book that was super hard to put down. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heads up/Good to Know: Racism, Social Issues, Use of the N-Word, Violence Against Children, Graphic Violence, Multiple POV/Storylines, Some sexual content, Three Parts

Read more

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Alissa
AHHH SO GOOD
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2025
Verified Purchase
I literally had to stop myself from reading this in one day! I wanted to take my time enjoying this, but it’s just too good to put down sometimes! It’s very much like Get Out but I live for the twists and turns that are in it. I need to read more from this author asap no rocky

Read more

Helpful

Report
Sonia
The Ending?! What The … ??
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024
Verified Purchase
Okay, what was going on with the ending?? This book started off good, with a good mystery of missing black girls that nobody seems to care about, but then she (the author) had to add the supernatural element at the end. WHAT?!?! I did not like that part at all!! Like I appreciate the storyline drawing attention to the injustices between blacks and whites, but why add the supernatural element to it?? I like it up until the supernatural part—hence, why I gave it 3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️—and I’m not typically a mystery reader type of person. (I read this for a book club & it wasn’t my choice this month.) I also didn’t understand the romantic subplot at all, especially ‘cause it didn’t really go anywhere in the end. It was kinda like, “Okay, so you’re just gonna have s*x with a guy who you’re not even sure is a murderer or not … Okay … Whatever … That completely came out of nowhere … ” Anyway, I liked it, but probably not well enough to read another book by this author if she writes another book. 😊

Read more

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Catharina Diaz
Enjoyed but Could have been better
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2024
Verified Purchase
Wanted to read this given the author is Haitian-American for 1 and for 2 wanted to try a horror/thriller

Liz Rocher returns home for her best friends wedding and Mel (her bff) daughtrer goes missing in the woods.

This was a gripping read that kept me going. I wish there was more on Jack for the story. The execution at the end left a lot to still unpack.

Trying to figure out who was behind the missing girls at first was hard but then kinda predicted it. Will really be trying another book from this author.

Read more

Catharina Diaz

Enjoyed but Could have been better

Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2024
Wanted to read this given the author is Haitian-American for 1 and for 2 wanted to try a horror/thriller

Liz Rocher returns home for her best friends wedding and Mel (her bff) daughtrer goes missing in the woods.

This was a gripping read that kept me going. I wish there was more on Jack for the story. The execution at the end left a lot to still unpack.

Trying to figure out who was behind the missing girls at first was hard but then kinda predicted it. Will really be trying another book from this author.

Images in this review

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Alan Hill
Well Written and Carefully Crafted *4.5*
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2022
Verified Purchase
This Book is one of those stories that takes you on fast paced, and exciting ride. Timing is used to great effect here. Everything falls nicely into place, and it’s very easy to follow all things considered. Missing Child, Magical Realism, and Racial Tension create the bones of this story (no pun intended). Adams figures out how to lay all the pieces in your face but still throw you off the trail now and then.

This is one of those stories about a emigrant visiting town when an impossible mystery gets thrust in her lap. I went into this completely blind except for vague genre tags and the vibe I got from the cover. I’m lucky that this is right in my alley. If you don’t like those shows where one case is the whole season then this probably won’t be for you. This book has a horror bend to it that keeps it fresh in my opinion, but I could see how some people might have preferred it to pick a lane a little more.

Overall, Jackal is probably one of my favorite reads of the year so off of enjoyment alone I have to give it props. It’s definitely not for everyone, and some of the choices get a little side eye (a lot of the side characters are going straight to hell and they got off too easy), but this was right up my ally!

Read more

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report

Follow the author

Jackal: A Novel Hardcover – October 4, 2022

Frequently purchased items with fast delivery

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

About the Author

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Product details

Videos

About the author

Erin E. Adams

Customer reviews

Review this product

Customers say

Select to learn more

Images in this review

Reviews with images

Enjoyed but Could have been better

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Condition/Read

5.0 out of 5 stars AHHH SO GOOD

3.0 out of 5 stars The Ending?! What The … ??

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed but Could have been better

Enjoyed but Could have been better

Images in this review

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Written and Carefully Crafted *4.5*

Great Condition/Read

AHHH SO GOOD

The Ending?! What The … ??

Enjoyed but Could have been better

Well Written and Carefully Crafted 4.5