The Day of the Jackal

I read this a long time ago and have seen both versions of the movie several times. Fascinating all the way until that final burst from a machine gun.

Very enjoyable

I was ready to give up after about 50 pages, but am glad I continued. That first 50 felt cold and emotionless. Steeped in exposition that was of little interest to me.
Then all of a sudden the real story kicked in and it was masterful. The differing points of view all slowly converged together over the course of the book in shorter and shorter sections making it feel like the net was closing in on the jackal. Very clever and very effective.
This is not my genre at all, but I'm extremely happy I gave it a go. I'll certainly read more.

How often does the author reveal the end and still keep you engaged?

Seriously, early in the narrative, the reader is told how the story will end. Then, despite knowing better, we grind our teeth right to the finish.

Complex, but accessible. Detailed, while economical. Righteous fun, though ultimately dark and morose. It's no wonder this is heralded as one of the best apt-fiction novels available. Intelligence collection, counterintelligence, investigation, espionage, assassination plots... what more do you want?