Set in 1963, the plot follows a secret French paramilitary group, the OAS, as they hire a professional British assassin known only by the codename Jackal. His mission is to kill President Charles de Gaulle following the independence of Algeria. The narrative provides a technical log of the assassin's preparations, including the procurement of a custom-built sniper rifle and the forging of multiple travel identities. Simultaneously, Commissioner Claude Lebel leads a frantic police investigation across Europe, using telecommunications and bureaucratic records to identify the killer before he reaches Paris.
Readers interested in procedural accuracy and historical realism turn to this work to understand the mechanics of international manhunts. It appeals to those who enjoy seeing the inner workings of state security services and the cold logistics of high-stakes crime. The audience gains a clear view of how forensic police work functioned before the digital age, relying on physical surveillance and cross-border cooperation. It offers a detailed study of a professional operative operating under extreme pressure while showcasing the tension between individual cold-bloodedness and state intelligence infrastructure.
- Published
- 1971
- Language
- EN
