Chris Bohjalian’s latest novel, The Jackal's Mistress, has its roots in the Civil War when a Vermont Lieutenant left to die in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley was nursed back to health by a Confederate soldier’s wife. This March 11 offering has taken the seed of that fact, budding into a tense historical fiction novel.

Libby Steadman has been keeping the home fires burning after her husband Peter left to serve the Confederate cause, even though he had freed his own slaves after taking over the farm from his father. While Libby clings to the hope that Peter will return, she knows that he was captured by the Union Army at Gettysburg, his future in limbo.

When her servant Sally, a freed slave, discovers Captain Jonathan Weybridge, left for dead in a neighbor’s vacant house, Libby and her servant Joseph manage to get him to Libby’s house where she nurses his amputated leg and his missing fingers. Of course, this is treason, and if the Confederate Army learns she abetted an enemy, she could be put to death along with her servants. Her goal is to restore his health in order that she may return him to the Union in exchange for her husband.

Libby and Joseph keep the gristmill going, providing food requisitioned by the Confederate Army, visited from time to time by soldiers looking for Billy Yanks. So far, they have been able to hide Weybridge, nicknamed The Jackal by her niece Jubilee who lives with Libby since her mother is dead and her father is off fighting for the South. But what might happen if--worse, when--the Rebels catch Libby off guard, finding the rumored Union captain? Already the farm has been visited numerous times, soldiers taking food and livestock, leaving Libby with little to feed herself, her niece, and her servants.

Chris Bohjalian always spins a remarkable story, and The Jackal’s Mistress does not disappoint. The author has already seen four of his books turned into movies, and he writes plays as well as novels. He enjoyed success with his book The Flight Attendant that became a series for HBO. Bohjalian lives in Vermont with his wife, photographer Victoria Blewer.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting November 4, 2024.

I would like to thank Doubleday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

I always amazed at the scope of Chris’ writing and the diversity of topics covered. I really enjoyed this and felt like it was something I hadn’t read by this author.

Chris Bohjalian is known for captivating readers with his historical novels, and he does it again with this Civil War-era historical novel sprinkled with just the right amount of romance.

This is no tale of a woman in distress needing the rescuing of a man, nor is it the story of a savior. It is the story of a woman left in the ruins of a war-torn nation, trying to do what she feels in her heart is right. Raising questions of loyalty and doing what is right even when it’s not popular, the reader is instantly enthralled in the story of humanity that quickly unfolds, moving at a pace quick enough to keep the interest of almost any reader.

Libby Steadman is a young wife, struggling to run her family’s gristmill after her husband goes to war for the Confederate army and is believed to be a prisoner of war. She relies on the help of two freedmen (a husband and wife) and her older than her years niece, whom she is raising in the absence of the child’s father and mother. Unfortunately, they also need to tap into some others’ assistance along the way, opening themselves up to even more danger.

While it’s easy to get wrapped up in the saga that unfolds when Libby and her allies make the decision to render aid to one of the opposing army’s soldiers who was left for dead, the reader can never get too comfortable. Unexpected visitors repeatedly pop in to threaten the wellbeing of our protagonists, making for plenty of adventure along the way.

What I enjoyed most was the story’s ending, which wasn’t tied up with a neat little bow, like we all too often see. Straying from the formulaic ending that is typical of many novels, the reader will find themself surprised yet satisfied. Without giving any spoilers, all I can say is this is a must read novel.

The Jackal’s Mistress presents an aspect of Civil War history that is little known, about a woman who encounters a wounded soldier and nurses him back to health—despite the fact that he is fighting for the enemy. I enjoyed the author’s note, in which Bohjalian explains how he came to know the true story on which this novel is based; I always love seeing how an author can take a story and embellish it. The main characters of this book are Libby, a Virginia woman whose husband went to war for the Confederacy and is taken captive, and a Union solider from Vermont, wounded at a battle near her home and left for dead. Libby and her household risk their lives to save the enemy soldier, whom they nickname the Jackal. Chris Bohjalian is one of my favorite authors, and once again he has created a compelling tale of friendship, dramatic but believable, and one which encourages you to think the best of humanity, even in desperate times. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Highly recommended!

In this Civil War love story, inspired by a real-life friendship across enemy lines, the wife of a missing Confederate soldier discovers a wounded Yankee officer and must decide what she’s willing to risk for the life of a stranger, Once again, Chris Bohjalian brings to life likeable, dynamic characters in a rich, atmospheric suspense filled story. I don't think the "love story" element was necessary, and one incident near the end (no spoiler here) seemed sort of unrealistic to me, but I really enjoyed this book. For fans of Paulette Jiles' Chenneville and Simon the Fiddler. 4.5 stars

Set during the Civil War, The Jackal’s Mistress is the story of Libby Steadman, a Southern woman who is left to run her husband’s gristmill after he is wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg and sent to a Union prison camp. Libby lives in Berryville, Virginia with her niece Jubilee, and Joseph and Sally, former slaves who were freed by Libby’s husband Peter before he enlisted in the Confederate Army and left for war. In the fall of 1864 Sally finds a wounded and dying Union soldier in an abandoned house nearby. Libby, whose life has already been upended, makes a fateful decision which will change her life forever. She brings the Union soldier home to care for him, explaining to Joseph, Sally and Jubilee that she hopes a Northern woman would do the same for her wounded husband Peter.
Jonathan Weybridge, a Union infantry captain, knew he was dying. Part of his left hand and his right leg had been amputated near the battlefield and they were badly infected. His troops had moved him to the abandoned house when they fled the area, leaving him to survive or die. He would have ended his life with what soldiers called a “mistress bullet” if they had left him a pistol. Instead, he wakes up to find himself in the home of a proud Confederate wife. Libby and her niece call Jonathan a jackal, but during his months long recovery, they grow fond of the English professor from Vermont and the stories he shares with them of the life he’s lived. A life which is very different from their own. When rumors of a Union soldier being hidden in the area bring a mob of Confederates and Mosby’s Rangers to Libby’s home, she decides to help Jonathan escape and, in that moment, she becomes a traitor to the Confederate cause.
With a haunting backdrop of the terror and destructiveness of war, Bohjalian has written a poignant story of the relationship between a woman and man who have different backgrounds yet share a yearning for a life that no longer exists and a future that can never be.
Bohjalian is a very descriptive and atmospheric writer. While reading The Jackal’s Mistress, I felt I was in war torn Virginia amidst the charred fields and barren orchards around Berryville. In one vivid scene he describes a thunderous lightning storm. In another he describes the sun as a blinding white ball set against a sky the color of bread dough and I could feel the heat and humidity both armies must have felt as they battled each other in their woolen uniforms of blue and gray.
The Jackal’s Mistress is based in part on real life people whose histories were found in archival materials in Vermont.
I would highly recommend this book to other readers. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Doubleday, for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! What a page turner! It kept me on the edge of my seat. Real people doing the right thing facing what could be monumental consequences. When people who have never read Chris Bohjalian before ask me for a recommendation, I always have a difficult time choosing just one. The Jackal’s Mistress will become my go to. It’s one of his best if not the best book he’s ever written. You’re immediately pulled into this story. The characters are real, well rounded and so very likable. The story takes us to the Civil War, where we see its effects on the people who are living through it. North and South may have been enemies but underneath all the battles were people just trying to get by and hope that they’ll be reunited with their families. I highly recommend this book. Preorder now! You will not be disappointed.

This is an exquisitely told story of violence, loyalty and hope. Libby is a southern woman near a Civil War battlefield who has to decide what to do with a mortally wounded Northern Captain. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire story.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ✨ (4.5 out of 5 stars for me)

🙏 First, thank you @doubledaybooks and @netgalley for a free copy of this book! The publication date is in March 2025.

Inspired by a true Civil War story - in The Jackal's Mistress, Libby Steadman finds herself grappling with both loyalty and survival as she nurses a wounded Union officer left to die near her Confederate-run homestead. As the brutalities of the Civil War unfold, her forbidden compassion drives them both into deeper danger, testing every ounce of her courage.

From its gripping opening scene to the emotional complexities Libby faces, this novel doesn't shy away from hard truths. The suspense had me on the edge, and I loved the clever banter between Libby's niece, Jubilee, and Weybridge, the Yankee officer.

At its core, The Jackal's Mistress explores humanity's blurred lines in wartime - how bonds can form even across battle lines and how love and loyalty are rarely simple.

This book is perfect if you crave historical fiction with high stakes, vivid tension, and unforgettable characters who fight not just to survive but to find some sliver of humanity in a harsh world.

P.S. Plus, who doesn't love a badass, strong heroine?!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

This novel started out a bit too slow for me, and I was concerned that it wouldn't hold my interest. The beginning takes part on a Civil War battlefield, not the easiest story to read about. I kept going, and the plot did eventually pick up. Captain Weybridge is a wounded Union soldier discovered by Libby, a Virginian whose husband is fighting for the Confederacy. She takes Weybridge into her home and secretly nurses him back to health. Throughout the novel, there are tense conflicts between renegade soldiers and those who are looking for this fugitive. I just wish there was a bit more to the very end, as the epilogue just super quickly wraps up, whereas I wanted to know more about what happened to these characters.

The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian is an extraordinary work of historical fiction that exceeded my expectations. As a longtime fan of Bohjalian’s novels, I was thrilled to receive this ARC, and it’s easily one of his finest yet. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, the novel explores the unlikely and gripping friendship between the wife of a missing Confederate soldier and a wounded Union officer left for dead. The depth of their connection, inspired by real-life events, is beautifully written, and I was completely captivated by both main characters. The well-developed side characters added layers of emotional richness, enhancing the story in meaningful ways. Bohjalian has a talent for bringing history to life, and this novel is a powerful example of his storytelling mastery. Five stars, without question!

This title captivated me from the very first page. I hadn’t been able to finish his most recent title and even the one before I found hard going-but this is the Chris Bohjalian I remember. Strongly developed cchaeacters, well developed plot line. A book about compassion. A book about war. A book about family. It is well worth your read.

I have been a fan of this author since Transister Radio . His writing is like fine wine it just gets better with age .
I loved the premise of this book during the civil war and the choices people made then hard choices that we could face now .
It is well researched.. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE JACKAL’S MISTRESS by Chris Bohjalian in exchange for my honest review.***

THE JACKAL’S MISTRESS wouldn’t have interested me, if written by anyone other than the incomparable Chris Bohjalian, a writer with whom I fell in book-love way back in the beginning of his career. I don’t particularly enjoy historical fiction, but Bohjalian could probably interest me in any topic.

While Libby’s husband is held as a POW in the North by the Yankees, she cares for her niece Jubilee. Also on the property are an older couple, freed slaves Johnathan and Sally. Risking hanging, Libby takes in a gravely injured Yankee captain Jonathan,, hoping a northern woman would do the same for her husband should the opportunity arise. Amid war, hunger, hiding from confederate soldiers who would hang them all for treason, Libby nurses the soldier back from near death. Jubilee calls him The Jackal, certain he can’t be trusted. Though loyal to their spouses, feelings develop between Libby and Jonathan,

Bohjalian’s characters always feel like actual people, flawed, complex, never one dimensional . Warming to Libby and Jubilee took a minute as both expressed hatred for Lincoln and Grant. Bohjalian’s writing helped me get into the headspace where I could feel their points of view in my heart.

THE JACKAL’S MISTRESS takes place during the civil war, based on the true experiences explained after the epilogue. I found myself thinking about today’s politics, the vitriol between supporters of one presidential candidate or the other, glad our battles are only metaphoric.

Five patriotic stars for THE JACKAL’S MISTRESS.

4.5 shining stars for yet another phenomenal book by Chris Bohjalian - I am such a fan of his fiction that I'd probably read anything he wrote - and this was another winner. Bohjalian's books are so well researched and so interesting. It's like he took a little tiny part of history and enveloped this entire novel around it to where I was so invested in these people I had to finish it right away.

This takes place is 1864, Civil War, and I love reading about that time in American history. A Union Captain is injured and left to die when a Rebel wife finds him and tries to nurse him back to health along with her two slaves, who were freed by her husband earlier but decide to live on their land and help them out. Her husband was taken as a prisoner fighting for the Confederates. The juxtaposition of living in Virginia and freeing your slaves while neighbors are upset with that choice and then nursing a Union Captain to health is written really well and comes to a head as the novel progresses. The never knowing who you could trust, the secrets, the scary thoughts of survival, not knowing what tomorrow would bring was brought to life in this book.

Put this book on your TBR list - publishing March 11, 2025 - it's one you won't want to miss if you like well researched historical fiction (do NOT miss the author's note at the end of the book). Thank you, NetGalley, Chris Bohjalian and Doubleday Books for an advanced e-copy of this fantastic book.

I enjoyed this novel set in the period of the Civil War. Lilly is not yet a widow, her husband is missing in the war. She works at her gristmill with two former slaves her husband freed before the war. Lilly comes across a Northern captain who was abandoned by his men due to his injuries. She helps him. She would want someone to help her husband and she might be able to trade information in hopes of finding her husband. A very moving story.

The Jackal's MIstress
by Chris Bohjalian
Pub Date: Mar 11, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
In this Civil War love story, inspired by a real-life friendship across enemy lines, the wife of a missing Confederate soldier discovers a wounded Yankee officer and must decide what she’s willing to risk for the life of a stranger, from the New York Times bestselling author of such acclaimed historical fiction as Hour of the Witch and The Sandcastle Girls.
Beautifully written and perfectly executed, this is one of Chris Bohjalian’s best novels to date. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
I have read nearly all of Bohjalian's books and this one does not disappoint. Grab it as soon as you can- the release date is March 11th!
5 stars

I seldom read American Civil War novels of the type this appears to be at first glance, but - Bohjalian. Inspired by a true story, Union Captain Captain Jonathan Weybridge is seriously wounded and left to die by bis army, Libby Steadman and her freedman mill manager rescue and save him. Libby’s husband, a Virginia/Confederate Captain was captured and is presumed dead. Well written, good storyline, good character development. The passages about enslaved people are not white-washed, not Disney-died, and not salacious, yet honestl expressed as a the reason for the war and not the “states rights” bull. However, SPOILER, the brief one-time love scene was not necessary and did not add to the story. Indeed, I think the “mistress” in the title of the book somewhat cheapens it. That was my only disappointment.

Chris Bohjalian’s latest novel is partly inspired by the true story of a Union Captain who was rescued and nursed back to health by the wife of a Confederate soldier. Libby Steadman discovers Jonathan Weybridge alone and close to death in a house after his own troops abandoned the post, believing he was dead. He is missing a leg and two fingers on one of his hands. After Lily and her former slave Joseph manage to get him back to her house, Lily begins to try and save him. She is helped by Joseph and his wife Sally, who, although freed, have stayed on because they believe they are too old to leave and start over elsewhere. Also living in the house is Libby’s niece Jubilee, who dubs Weybridge. “The Jackal”.
Although there is a growing attraction between Libby and the Captain, the book is less romance and more a depiction of life during the Civil War. The horrors of battle, the deep divide in our country, the scarcity of food and supplies, and the risks people took to protect loved ones, and sometimes, total strangers. Libby and Jonathan only come together once, close to the end of the story. Still, Bohjalian keeps the reader’s interest throughout by emphasizing the constant danger the characters are facing. A good read if you enjoy books set in this time period.

An excellent portrayal of humanity during the American Civil War. Based loosely on a true story, this was a fascinating read, with well researched details about the impact of war on everyday life, loyalties, and survival.

I really liked this book. And was glad that everything worked out in the end.

#netgalley #TheJackalsMistress