“Top-notch.... Based on a true story, The Jackal’s Mistress brings all the propulsive plot and sensitive character development one has come to expect from Bohjalian; here, he spins a tale of unlikely romance between a wounded Union soldier from Vermont and a gritty Virginia woman.”
—Kate Tuttle, The Boston Globe
“Inspired by true events....A moving tale about the difficult choices people must make in dangerous circumstances.”
—The Washington Post
“It’s hard not to get pulled in from the first sentence....The Jackal’s Mistress gallops along, sweeping us up in its heart-pounding final pages.”
—Minnesota Star Tribune
“The true story of a wounded Union officer saved by a Confederate woman… adding imaginative twists to the original story line… when Capt. Jonathan Weybridge is severely wounded in battle and left to die… Libby feels honor bound to do for him what she hopes a Union woman would do for her husband. Thus 'the Jackal…' becomes a secret member of their household and a perilous friendship blossoms.”
—Alida Becker, The New York Times Book Review
“Propulsive and tense with each plot turn....A flawless novel, emotional and poignant while showing humanity in all its good and evil during war.”
—The Historical Novel Society
"A real-life Civil War friendship inspired this powerful novel, told in gorgeous prose by Bohjalian....The Jackal’s Mistress is a sure-bet for fans of Cold Mountain and The Red Badge of Courage."
—CJ Lotz Diego, Garden and Gun
"The Jackal’s Mistress is a story that needs to be told. Immediately, readers will be immersed in the narrative and, as with all of Bohjalian’s books, invested in the characters. The book is thrilling and suspenseful, with detailed descriptions that appeal to the senses. This reader highly recommends Bohjalian’s 25th novel, another masterpiece in his prolific career."
—Pauline Getzoyan, Armenian Weekly
“Like much of Bohjalian's historical fiction, The Jackal's Mistress gallops ahead with cinematic pacing and intensity....Among Bohjalian's many strengths as a storyteller is his ability to create strong female characters, who are the backbone of The Jackal's Mistress....Exhaustively researched and eminently readable, The Jackal's Mistress illuminates a tale that was previously known to only a handful of Civil War historians—told by one of Vermont's best storytellers.”
—Ken Picard, Seven Days
"Bohjalian....is a true American original who has mastered every genre he has tackled....The Jackal's Mistress...is destined to be a classic worthy of Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway, and is easily one of the most powerful novels I have read in a long time....An unforgettable read that cements Bohjalian’s placement on the literary Mount Rushmore of American writers."
—Ray Palen, Bookreporter
“This page-turner from bestselling Bohjalian…will not disappoint fans of American Civil War narratives. The vividly drawn characters and historical details make for a compelling read.”
—Library Journal, Starred Review
“Elegant, poignant, and richly atmospheric....Bohjalian once again demonstrates his profound respect for women, endowing his female protagonists with depth and nuance.”
— Booklist, Starred Review
“A masterful yarn...A compelling story about two people who long for their spouses in a time of war.”
—Kirkus, Starred Review
"Bohjalian skillfully rachets up the tension....Readers will be glued to the page.”
—Publishers Weekly
