Five timeless old-school thrillers

Jeff Somers is the author of Lifers, the Avery Cates series from Orbit Books, Chum from Tyrus Books, and We Are Not Good People from Pocket/Gallery. He has published over thirty short stories as well.

At B & N Reads Somers tagged five old-school thrillers that would be hits today, including:

The Day of the Jackal, by Frederick Forsyth

The Cold War politics of this classic thriller are long gone, but Forsyth’s novel (which won the 1972 Edgar Award for Best Novel) still carries the punch of a meticulously researched story set in a very real world. It’s a novel of agonizing anticipation: first, as we follow the slow, careful preparations and planning of the titular Jackal, hired to assassinate the President of France; then as we follow along with the equally painstaking detective work of the man charged with identifying the Jackal as time runs out. The twin stories of detective and assassin remain separate right up until the moment the Jackal takes his shot, and it’s this element of cat-and-mouse between a devious killer and a brilliant agent—plus the elevated stakes of global politics—that make this a book that stills resonate today.

Read about another entry on the list.

The Day of the Jackal is among Sam Bourne's five favorite classic thrillers and Christopher Timothy's 6 best books.

--Marshal Zeringue