Description

Instant National Bestseller, #1 Boston Globe Bestseller and USA Today Bestseller.

Inspired by true historical events from America’s Civil War, this moving novel by the New York Times bestselling author of acclaimed novels including Hour of the Witch and The Sandcastle Girls brings to life a profound connection forged across enemy lines. The Jackal’s Mistress presents a compelling love story set amid conflict and uncertainty.

Virginia, 1864: Libby Steadman’s husband is missing, presumed captured or dead in a Union prison camp, his absence heavy in Libby’s thoughts. While she struggles daily to keep her family gristmill running along with her teenage niece and two hired helpers, nearly all their harvested grain is continuously requisitioned by the Confederate military. Life in the Shenandoah Valley is precariously unpredictable, with Northern and Southern forces constantly trading control, and violence always looming at her doorstep.

One day Libby discovers a severely injured Union officer—Captain Jonathan Weybridge of the Vermont Brigade—left behind and fighting for survival in the abandoned home of a neighbor. Although he’s technically a sworn enemy, Jonathan is unmistakably human, compelling Libby to make an impossible choice: Should she leave the wounded man to his fate or risk the consequences of treason by helping him heal? And if she succeeds, will she attempt to secretly return him to Union territory and bargain for information on her husband’s whereabouts?

Rich in historical detail and emotional depth, The Jackal’s Mistress is a stirring exploration of love, compassion, and moral courage set against the brutal backdrop of war, revealing a fascinating and little-known chapter of American history by one of today’s most talented authors.