A story set in Virginia - about 30 miles from Harper’s Ferry - during the Civil War in 1864. Captain Westbridge of the Vermont Brigade is badly injured during a scrimmage with the Army of the Confederacy. Left to die - after losing a leg and 2 fingers - he is found by Sally, a free woman who lives with Lily Steadman, whose husband has been captured and imprisoned by the Union Army. Lily decides to take the Captain to her home to care for him - as she hopes some Yankee woman would do for her husband - but doing so puts Lily, her young niece, and Sally and her husband Joseph in danger. If they are found out, the Confederate army won’t hesitate to hang them all. Based on a true story of an amazing friendship, this story shows both the best and the worst of humanity and what we will do to each other to protect our way of life.

The thing about Chris Bohjalian is that, even if you've read every single one of his books, he can still surprise you and can make you view humanity in a whole new light with each book he writes. He even makes you want to give humanity another chance, which is tough to do in today's day and age.
This is a civil war story - classic North meets South - with drama, love, family, fear and a whole lot of humanity. This isn't a topic I would normally read about BUT the author is a favorite of mine and he never lets me down. I don't want to give any spoilers so I'll just say this: if you need some hope, read this book. It'll help you get through the coming days.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the Jackal's Mistress, a thought-provoking story taking place during the Civil War. A woman married to a Confederate officer finds a wounded Federal officer and nurses him back to health. While this one is based on a true story (the author's note at the end is quite interesting), there are so many similar Civil War stories out there. I wondered, "what's going to be different about this one?" I also was curious what prolific and talented author Chris Bohjalian would do with it.

Well, as usual, Bohjalian has crafted an intelligent, suspenseful story with memorable characters. I've had a string of dialog-heavy books lately, so it was so nice to read actual writing and story-building rather than just being talked at by characters. The desperation and bleakness of war were palpable. I enjoyed the characters, especially Sally and Joseph.

What makes this Civil War story so different from a great many I've read is how well it illustrates how complicated war is, especially for civilians who aren't involved directly but can't escape it. I think book clubs will love this novel.

I didn't quite believe the love story. I never believed Libby and Jonathan loved each other. They were cordial. They shared many late night conversations. But other than being told they were in love, I wouldn't have really known. I think that could have been developed more to show a bond between two people who shared some very intense war moments.

Otherwise, I enjoyed this book very much. I wasn't sure how the characters were going to get out of some situations and was eager to find out. The story didn't disappoint.

I received a free advance copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

If you had asked me a week ago if I would have read a civil war novel and given it high ratings, I would have said no. But Chris Bohjalian is one of my favorite authors, with the Lioness being in my top five all time favorite books. The Jackal’s Mistress did not disappoint. I would not call it a war novel but instead would call it a novel about people who lived during the time of the civil war. All the characters, the good and the bad, keep you turning the page. I loved the irony of the confederacy side of the war where freed slaves were living and the juxtaposition of those times. I found this and the entire story fascinating, along with historical facts that allowed me a closer glimpse of this war (that I was sure I wasn’t interested in!). Another great book by this wonderful writer. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

From the moment I started reading the story the premise unraveled effortlessly in my head. I loved this book. Going down as one of my favorite Bohjalian novels. The character development was out of this world. This truly has cinematic potential. Thank you #Netgalley

I received a copy of the book "The Jackal's Mistress" from NetGalley. I like to read historical fiction. This book was a good one. It takes place during the Civil War. A young woman is left to take care of her husbands land while he is away fighting in the war. Trouble starts when she finds a Soldier who has been left behind after he is severely wounded. He is the enemy since he is a Union Soldier. He has lost a leg over the knee and fingers on a hand. he is close to death. LIbbie cannot leave him to die so she has to bring him to her home. Along with a black farmhand {who was freed by her husband} he is hidden in their home. Over the next few months he slowly heals but must be kept a secret since it would be against the law to help a soldier from the other side. she is there with her 12 year old niece and her two farmhands a husband and wife who are black and still in danger of the white town folk even though they have paper showing they are free from being slaves. Libbie and "the Jackal' slowly form a friendship. He trying to get well enough to go home to Vermont to his family. a good read based on actual people. Found myself rooting for the characters.

I was so lucky to get the new Chris Bohjalian's novel and I could not wait to read it.
I was not disappointed; I like that every new book is a completely different story and something I can learn about; in this case I had the opportunity to learn a little more about Civil War (I am Italian, and I studied more about European history in High School than United States one).

The story is captivating, the characters well rounded and the complexity of the circumstances is well described. I would recommend the book to historical fiction lover who loves well researched stories.
I want to thank NetGalley, Doubleday Books and Chris Bohjalian for this ARC.

"The Jackal's Mistress" is a beautifully poignant novel that captured my heart with its exploration of love amidst adversity. Chris Bohjalian has a remarkable gift for crafting deeply layered characters, and Libby’s journey of hope and moral complexity resonated with me. The emotional depth of her internal conflict as she chooses to save an enemy soldier while her own husband remains missing is both poignant and thought-provoking.

The historical context is richly detailed, immersing the reader in the atmosphere of the Civil War, complete with its emotional and physical toll on those caught in its wake. The dynamic between Libby and Jonathan evolves in a captivating way, showcasing the power of human connection in the face of division and despair. Their relationship is tender yet fraught with the unspoken barriers of loyalty and duty, which makes their bond even more compelling.

Bohjalian's narrative is gripping, and I found myself unable to put the book down, eager to see how Libby would navigate the impossible choices before her. "The Jackal's Mistress" is not only a love story but also a powerful commentary on the themes of sacrifice, survival, and the human spirit.

I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to readers interested in historical fiction that delves deeply into the moral complexities of war and love. Chris Bohjalian has once again proven himself as a master storyteller, and this heart-wrenching tale left me reflecting long after the final page.

You can always trust author Chris Bohjalian to deliver a compelling story. This Civil War novel “inspired by a real-life friendship across enemy lines” is a winner. Yes, there are some tough things to read—surgery during the Civil War was brutal. And, yes, the fear and grief is palpable. But, oh, the characters!

I fell in love with newlywed Libby Steadman whose husband, a Confederate soldier, is missing. Libby is strong, capable, and shrewd despite her youth. She is someone you can count on to do the right thing. Her teenage niece, who has been assigned to her care, is a spunky, sassy survivor and I adored her too. But, I loved the Union officer, Captain Jonathan Weybridge, and the two freed slaves who help Libby run the Steadman’s gristmill just as much. And the antagonists are wonderfully rendered too!

It's billed as a love story, and I suppose it is, but I find it’s more of a morality tale with elements of mystery and suspense. Bohjalian is so gifted and amazingly diverse in what he can write that I’m consistently blown away.

Thank you Doubleday and NetGalley for an advance copy to review.

One can never go wrong when picking up a Chris Bohjalian book, so I knew I was in for a great read - but even I was blown away by how good this was! Unputdownable and kick-ass are the two words I would use to describe this!. Fantastic and utterly addictive would also suffice :) Either way, you are in for a treat!

Chris Bohjalian has become one of my favorite authors. The Jackal’s Mistress is his latest work. As expected, it was phenomenal!

4-1/2 stars, rounded up. Chris Bohjalian has long been one of my favorite authors, and his latest novel does not disappoint. Set in Virginia during the Civil War, it centers on Libby Steadman, a young woman managing her family's mill while her husband is off fighting for the Confederacy. An unusual southerner, he had released all of his family's slaves when he inherited the small plantation upon his father's death; only one elderly couple remained, no longer enslaved, but choosing to remain and work for the family for a wage.

The other main character is Captain Jonathan Weybridge, an officer in the Union Army who is badly injured and believed to be near death when his comrades leave him behind in a vacant house near the Steadman property. Learning of his presence, Libby is determined to try to save him despite the danger this poses for herself and those around her, knowing that if her husband were injured, she would hope someone would do the same for him.

Based on true events and similar characters, The Jackal's Mistress is a compelling story, beautifully written, and filled with well-drawn characters in dangerous circumstances, at a time when good and evil were defined quite differently by the two sides in America's deadliest war.

Thank you to #Doubleday publishing and #NetGalley for providing a free advance copy in exchange for an objective review.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

It’s 1864. With her husband languishing and probably dead in a Yankee prison, Libby Steadman is left to run the family gristmill that serves both Yankee and Confederate soldiers in this battleground area of Western Virginia. She has the help of her young niece Jubilee and two freed slaves, Joseph and Sarah. Daily life is both tedious and dangerous until it becomes more so when Sarah hears a voice calling for help.

Days earlier, Captain Jonathan Weymouth of the Vermont Brigade had been writing a letter home to his wife. A skirmish erupts and his leg and part of his hand are blown off. His men carry him to a nearby house, give him rudimentary treatment and abandon him there when they retreat. When Sarah tells Libby that she heard a voice crying for help, Libby immediately plans a way to move Weymouth to her bedroom, a place where no gentleman Confederate officer would search. She is wrong, of course, but clever and manages to keep the Captain alive.

The Jackal’s Mistress, loosely based on a true story, is a love story, a story full of the minutiae of everyday life during the Civil War in a remote part of the Shenandoah Valley. This is not a glory filled novel waiting to be made into a movie or streaming series. There is no glory here, only the sad deaths of soldiers far from home. It’s a story of survival, of cowardice and bravery, and of the joy of finding love where you least expect it. Bohjalian, a master storyteller, teases out an ending that you don’t want and won’t see coming. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Doubleday Books and Chris Bohjalian for this ARC.

Bohjalian is a fantastic storyteller. Despite not being typically interested in the subject, I wanted to read more about the characters crafted by Bohjalian. Overall, not my favorite, but still an excellent book.