I was extremely hesitant to pick this up as I don't care for Civil War era historical fiction as a general rule, but what I've learned over many years of reading Chris Bohjalian's books is that while I might not know what to expect (his books have been wildly different from each other), I can trust that the storytelling will be there. And that's the case in this one, with a story that feels strikingly relevant and valuable, with heart-pounding moments and insight into human character.

It was nearing the end of the Civil War. Libby lived in the South and though she and her husband did not believe in keeping slaves, he still had to fight as part of the southern army. The family was already disparaged for their anti-slave sentiments and for freeing the slaves that they inherited. When Libby discovers a near-dead Union soldier, she drags him home. Libby wants to help Jonathon get well--she takes care of him because if her husband was dying, she would want this for him. Libby, her niece and the freed couple are placed in serious danger having a Union soldier at their home. It is remarkable--the actions she took to protect and care for the soldier and her family. The author placed me in those pages and I thought a lot about the decisions that had to be made, the brave woman that Libby had to have been and the fear and ugliness of the war. Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for the complimentary digital ARC. I am truly honored to have been able to read an advance copy. This review is my actual, true opinion and not coerced in any way.

I love historical fiction, and it had been a while since I read any set around the time of the US Civil War. Filled with well-drawn, strong, realistic characters, this book is about so many things - friendship, love, commitment, and doing the right thing even though it's the hard thing. It has action and suspense, believable dialog, and an excellent sense of time and place, whether it's on a farm or a battlefield. Chris Bohjalian is one of those writers I keep meaning to get back to - I've read a couple of his books, and have several more in my library. Reading this book was a bit of a wake up call for me - a reminder that I most definitely need to start catching up on those unread books, because this one was wonderful, and I need more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Doubleday for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by a favorite, Chris Bohjalian. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

It's 1864 in Virginia, during the end of the Civil War. Libby Steadman's husband is presumed dead in a Union prison camp. She spends her days trying to continue to operate their gristmill along with her teenage niece, Jubilee, a hired hand and his wife. All the grain they produce is taken by the Confederate Army. When a gravely-injured Union officer, Captain Jonathan Weybridge, is found left for dead in a neighbor's house, Libby makes the decision to bring him to their home to try and save him, in the hopes that someone would do the same for her husband. But just what is she willing to risk for a stranger?

Based on a true-life story (be sure and read the author's note), this book showcases how good can triumph over evil. It was a gripping story, with characters you won't soon forget. The writing will transport you back in time, where every day is life or death, and decisions can have long-reaching consequences. I loved the strong women characters - Libby, Jubilee, and Sally - and how hard they fought to do the right things, especially when it wasn't easy. As with most stories about war, it's both horrifying and hopeful, showcasing our human resiliency and strength - a definite must read!

“The Jackal's Mistress,” by Chris Bohjalian, Doubleday, 336 pages, March 11, 2025.

It is September 1864 in Virginia. Libby Steadman’s husband, Peter, has been away for a long time. He is now in a Union prison camp after being wounded and captured at Gettysburg.

Libby’s days are spent running a gristmill with her teenage niece, Jubilee, a freedman, Joseph, and his wife, Sally. All the grain they can produce is requisitioned by the Confederate Army.

Lt. Henry Morgan of the Sixth Virginia Calvary is the grandson of one of her neighbors, Leveritt Covington. When Morgan arrives to take Joseph with them, Libby points out that Joseph is over 60 and without him she will have trouble running the mill. They don’t conscript Joseph.

Union Captain Jonathan Weybridge of the Vermont Brigade, a former college professor, had enlisted. He and his men are to occupy a hilltop near Berryville. Weybridge is severely injured in the battle and one of his legs is amputated.

His unit leaves him in a confiscated house alone when they move on. Libby finds Weybridge. She hopes that her husband was humanely treated when he was wounded and she thinks she may be able to trade Weybridge for Peter. Libby and Weybridge slowly form a friendship.

This was inspired by a true story. It is a story of surviving war and depicts the best and worst of humanity. The novel accurately depicts the Civil War and medical care of the time. Chris Bohjalian is an excellent storyteller and I am a fan of everything he writes. You will root for the characters and cheer at the ending.

I rate it five out of five stars.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian is one of a million stories of people during America’s Civil War. Libby Steadman has been left on her small property to run a mill along with her husband’s niece and two elderly former slaves. Her husband had freed his slaves when he inherited them, but Joseph and Sally had chosen to remain and were paid a salary, when there was money to do so. They were sixtyish and smart. So was Libby. Her husband was a prisoner of the Yankees, probably dead, and here she was, at everyone’s mercy. The Yankees and the Confederates came by on a regular basis and took whatever she had. So far they had left her with a horse, a cow, and some chickens, but it was only a matter of time. Sally had heard a voice when she had been near an abandoned house a couple of miles away and came home to report it to Libby. Upon exploring, Libby found a man missing a leg and some fingers, more dead than alive; a Yankee. They had left him behind. She could not leave him so she brought him home. They nursed him back to health.

A wonderful story of the privations of war and the misery people can cause one another. No one wanted this man alive and various people came to find him, but they had been lucky and he was recovering. It was through sheer strength of will, his and Libby’s, and plenty of assistance from the others, that he survived. She killed for him and lied for him, all the time hoping someone was taking care of her husband as she took care of this man. This was not about slavery; it was about war and misery and it was very well done. Very readable.

I was invited to read The Jackal’s Mistress by Doubleday Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #DoubledayBooks #ChrisBohjalian #TheJackalsMistress

This novel is full of rich details, and in true Chris Bohjalian fashion, great prose.

This story is set in Virginia surrounded by battles of the Civil War. Libby, whose husband is a captured confederate soldier, rescues an officer of the Union Army, Captain Jonathan Weybridge of the Vermont Brigade. These two are mortal enemies but as time goes on, a friendship develops. But because of the ever changing landscape of the Civil War, life altering decisions have to be made.

These characters are amazing but my favorite is 12 year old Jubilee. Jubilee is Libby’s niece and she does not cut this Yankee any slack. She gives “The Jackal” trouble every time she is in his presence.

This story will captivate your heart. It is full of intensity and drama from start to finish! It also is filled with love and honor!

Need an all around fantastic novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

The Jackal’s Mistress is about the Civil War. It is based on a true story that took place in Virginia during the end of the war. It is a story about a Yankee soldier, Johnathan Weybridge who was saved by a confederate, rebel woman, Libby Steadman.

The story started off very slow for me. It was almost going to be a DNF book. I persevered and ended up really enjoying it. I loved the characters. I loved the strength Libby had. I loved the relationship between Jubilee and Weybridge and the relationship between Libby and Weybridge. I loved that there are good people in the world who would risk it all to save a human being even if that person was considered the enemy. My heart broke for Joseph, a slave that was given his freedom by Libby’s husband Peter. Every character in the book is unforgettable. I would have to say the characters were the best part of the book.

I always love a good story about the Civil War. The Jackal’s Mistress was the perfect name for this book. I am glad I didn’t give up, if I did I would have missed an unforgettable story written by Chris Bohjalian.

Thank you NetGalley and Doubleday Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s 1864 in the Shenandoah Valley and the Civil War is still raging. Libby Steadman’s husband has gone off to fight for the CSA leaving her, a young niece, and an elderly freed couple to fend for themselves. Together they work the mill supplying the army and hoping neither Union soldiers nor marauders come looking to take the little they still have.

But when a severely wounded Union officer is discovered in an abandoned house, Libby risks all to bring him to her home and try to help him. She believes in her humanity and the fact that she would want someone to help her husband if he were wounded in Union territory. This action endangers all she has as well as her homestead.

Based on a true story, Bohjalian captures the perils of the time, the consequences of trying to maintain one’s integrity and the horrors of war on civilians as well as the military. He does this within a love story, family devotion and people who either rise or fall when confronted with impossible choices. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

It’s the south during the civil war and Libby’s confederate soldier husband is in a Northern prison camp and the only help she has for her mill that feeds the army are a teenage niece that is now in her care, a hired hand and his wife. One day she happens upon a badly wounded Northern soldier abandoned by his regimen and decides that she will nurse him back to health, even though having him in her home is dangerous for her and those around her. This is the story of a relationship that emerges from the dust and devastation of a war.

🪖My Review🪖
I’m not a huge fan of civil war fiction, but I am huge fan of Bohjalian and his work so I wanted to read this regardless of my taste. I was afraid it was going to be like Night Watch, which was beautiful but painful to read (because of the brutality); however I absolutely adored this one. While it started a little slow it picked up pretty quickly and I loved all of the relationships that evolved over the course of the novel. This is a story about survival and how people show their true colors when they have nothing left to give. I ended up listening to about 75% of this one on audio because I enjoyed the narrators so much.

4.25 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC to review

This was an interesting and enjoyable piece of historical fiction. I loved the character and spunk of both Libby Steadman and her niece Jubilee. Bohjalian does his research and creates an absolutely believable and compelling narrative set during the Civil war. The story follows the challenges and conflicts that face a Southern woman who nurses a Yankee captain back to health. The narrative is fraught with emotion and suspense as racism and tension mount as it nears the conclusion.
This was an excellent read and I highly recommend it!

4.5/5⭐️

This was my first Bohjalian novel, and it won’t be my last.

This Civil War-era romance thriller (not sure I’d bill it as a “thriller” per se) set in 1864 Virginia, revolves around a Union army captain (Jonathan Weybridge) and the wife (Libby Steadman) of a Confederate army captain. Weybridge is a Vermont professor trying his best to keep his men alive, while Libby has taken over the running of her husband’s gristmill to keep the soldiers in foodstuffs. With the help of her husband/wife freed slaves and her teenaged niece, she struggles to keep going day-to-day until her husband is freed from a Union prison camp.

When Weybridge is severely wounded and left for dead by his regiment, he is taken in by Libby and crew. What follows is a testament to the strength of the will to survive, the fundamental principle of decency and the emergence of an unusual friendship while struggling to hold on to hope.

This is a gritty read filled with horrific images and the worst (but also best) of humanity. The world building and research are top notch, the characters flawed but tough as nails (especially Libby) and the plot tense and riveting. This is inspired by the true life story of enemies turned friends, and I found it inspiring on several levels…and a bit poignant and bittersweet in its epilogue.

Well done.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing the free early arc of The Jackal’s Mistress for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Once again, Chris Bohjalian has written a gripping and compassionate novel that will keep readers glued to their seats. Having read sixteen of this author's books, I think that this is one of his best. Inspired by the story of real people in history the author beautifully paints with his words the scenery of life during the Civil War. For the main character, Libby, it was a time when her neighbors became her enemy, and her enemy became her ally. This is a tense and suspenseful book with unforgettable characters. Historical fiction lovers who are searching for a compelling Civil War story will definitely enjoy this book. I sure did.

My sincere thanks to Book Browse, NetGalley, and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I believe this is Chris Bohjalian's best work so far--an unputdownable story of a Virginian woman who nurses a badly-wounded Yankee captain from Vermont back to health in the later years of the American Civil War, risking everything to help this one man survive. Inspired by a true story, Bohjalian brings all the fear, courage and desperation of that era back to life in the pages of his novel. His characters are so magnificently wrought and real, the setting so beautifully depicted, and the dangers they faced so immediate and intense that for a few hours, this reader was totally immersed in their story. Highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new novel of historical fiction via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

This book isn’t just for fans of historical fiction—it’s for anyone who appreciates well-crafted storytelling, deeply human characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to explore the Civil War era through the lens of captivating fiction, and one that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

With well-developed characters and expertly crafted dialogue, the novel brings the complex emotions, struggles, and hopes of the era to life in a way that’s both engaging and thought-provoking.

From the first page, I was hooked. What seemed like such a simple and straightforward story, had embedded itself deep into my heart before I even realized it with its well written, quietly powerful moments, completely wrecking me. The Jackal's Mistress has flown to the top of my list of favorite books by Chris Bohjalian.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for access to this arc!

4.5 Civil War epic

Inspired by a true story, Bohjalian has knocked it out of the park with this one! I love historical fiction like this, especially about the Civil War. I loved the storyline and the characters, especially the main character's precocious niece.

Libby Steadman runs the mill with two freed slaves in Virginia while her husband languishes in a Union prison. However, he could be dead since it’s been months since she’s heard from him. Her niece Jubilee also lives with them as her father is also away in the war and her mother died. They provide grain to the Confederate Army.

Captain Jonathan Weybridge is from the Vermont Brigade, and we get some battle scenes from his perspective, including his injury near Libby’s house.

When Libby gets word that a Union soldier is potentially at a nearby farmhouse, she goes to investigate. They find seriously injured Weybridge, who has been left behind, believing he is near death. Libby can’t leave the man to die and makes the risky decision to bring him back to her house.

The group nurses Weybridge back to health. I loved his interactions with Jubilee. She would show up in his room, ask him what chores he did that day, and complain that all he did was lay around. He lost a leg and some fingers during the battle. She even gets him to play cards.

There is a lot of tension and danger in this one, as well as hatred between neighbors and others who live in different parts of the country. With a powerhouse ending, this one was clearly meticulously researched. It was well worth my time to read, and I will remember these characters.

Gripping, wonderfully written, well thought out, and hard to put down, Chris Bohjalian delivered a powerful and moving book with The Jackal's Mistress. I loved the writing, the vivid descriptions, the characters, the tension, and the dread. This book is set during the later stages of the Civil War and shows both the good and bad sides of humanity.

Virginia, 1864

Libby Steadman is barely holding things together while her husband is off fighting for the Confederate Army. She fears her husband dead but carries on with the help of Jubilee, her niece, two freed slaves, Joseph and Sally. They work the land to provide for not only themselves but for the confederate army. Then one day, she finds Captain Jonathan Weybridge of the Union army, badly injured and clinging to death. She is left with a HUGE decision to make. What a choice to have to make. To make a decision/choice about the life of someone she has never met or had an issue with. But a decision is what she must make, and it will have long lasting consequences.

This was such a wonderful book about choices, humanity, friendship, love, family, found-family, trust, survival, and resiliency. I found this book to be moving, riveting, and hard to put down. With Chris Bohjalian's wonderful writing and research, I was transported to the Shenandoah Valley, in a time and place ravaged by war. I became a silent observer, feeling for all the characters. I felt for their despair, not knowing if a loved one was alive or dead, not knowing who to trust, not knowing if this would be your last day, and not knowing how your choices would affect not only your life but the lives of others.

Beautifully written, moving, atmospheric, and hard to put down!


*The Jackal's Mistress was inspired by a real life friendship. Be sure to read the Author's note at the end of the book.

The Jackal's Mistress, set in the south during the Civil War, transports the reader to a family just barely surviving in the ravaged south. A confederate women, her freed slaves, her niece and a Yankee soldier bring this setting to life.

Libby, courageous and grieving her husband captured in the North, upends her life to save a Yankee who has been badly injured. Stedfast in her convictions, Libby risks it all to do onto others what she's hoping someone did for husband.

Beautifully written and executed, the war rages around this home as one man fights to return to his college profession and his family back in Vermont only for his world to be turned upside down by one women and her homestead.

This is my favorite book by Bohjalian to date.

Thank you, Doubleday Books | Doubleday

The Jackal's Mistress is a Civil War story from Chris Bohjalian.

"The wife of a missing Rebel soldier discovers a wounded Yankee officer and must decide what she is willing to risk for the life of a stranger."

The Civil War is near it's end. Libby Steadman just wants it to be over and to get her husband back. She runs a grist mill along with her niece and two slaves her husband freed. Her home is in Virginia near a very fluid front. Soldiers from both armies are nearby - fighting is nearby. She faces a choice and chooses humanity and kindness. Bohjalian captures the desperation that families had to feel then when life was pretty much survival. This is not a fast-paced thriller or a feel-good story. There are some terrible characters here - not just unlikable, but evil. You're always wondering - "Is this it?" It's surprising when that moment comes.
One thing I kept asking myself as I read this - "Have people really changed?"

Different ending than what you might expect. Well written story from Bohjalian.