The premise of this novel is simple. You know how when you’re out driving in a not-so-populated area and you see an empty car by the side of the road miles away from anywhere? Ever wonder where the driver is? Did they walk to the nearest gas station for help? Get picked up by a friend? Say the hell with it and go buy a new car? Grant postulates that there are families who prey on stranded motorists and the benevolent strangers who might stop to help a stranded motorist. He calls them Jackals.
The story itself opens with Rachel, one of those stranded motorists, crawling down a country lane, battered and bleeding. She’d just escaped from one of those groups and was desperately looking for help. Fortunately for her she was stranded almost on protagonist James (Jim) Scott’s doorstep. He takes Rachel in, binds her wounds, and offers to help. Jim has a secret, he’s well aware of the existence of Jackals having lost a loved one to their predations. His mission and the mission of his band of friends is to rid the world of their scourge. However, Rachel has some secrets of her own.
A classic Grant horror tale of good vs. evil with plenty of the haunting imagery that fans have become accustomed to in his books. I read the audio version which was narrated by Travis Baldree. who did an excellent job.
I requested a free review copy of this book from Audiobook Boom in return for the promise that I would leave an honest review.