British author Frederick Forsyth’s 1971 novel “The Day of the Jackal” revolutionized the thriller genre by abandoning traditional character-driven storytelling in favor of intriguing detail and suspense.
When Forsyth penned the book, he was unemployed and struggling financially. However, he found inspiration while doing a true-crime feature about recent events. The result was a novel that reset the thriller genre and changed the way writers approached their craft.
Forsyth’s bold approach involved creating a cipher-like main character with no backstory or description, yet readers secretly admired and rooted for him. This unconventional approach proved that intriguing detail and suspense can be just as compelling as well-crafted characters.
“The Day of the Jackal” has become a classic example of how to craft a thrilling story by focusing on plot and atmosphere rather than character development. Forsyth’s innovative style not only influenced generations of writers but also earned him a dedicated fan base, including the author himself, whom he met in the 2010s.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jun/10/lee-child-remembers-frederick-forsyth