- ASIN: B0GNHWFP6S
- Publisher: Celestial Rift Media Inc
- Publication date: 10 Mar. 202
- Genre: Supernatural Fiction
The BookViral Review:
Michael Jack Webb’s Jackal (The Justice Chronicles, Book Two) opens with the quiet before the storm—but it doesn’t stay quiet for long. From its first pages, the novel draws readers back into a world where crime, faith, and the supernatural collide, delivering a story that feels both grounded in investigative realism and charged with something far more unsettling beneath the surface.
At the centre of it all is Kate Justice, a former FBI profiler whose life has already been pushed beyond the boundaries of the ordinary. Still recovering from events that would have broken most people, Kate is not only drawn into a new case involving a brutal murder and the theft of a rare antiquity, but is also driven by something far more personal—the unexplained disappearance of her parents. That absence lingers over every decision she makes, adding urgency and emotional weight to an investigation that quickly reveals itself to be far more dangerous than it first appears.
What initially unfolds as a complex investigative thread soon expands into a layered narrative deeply rooted in ancient Egyptian lore. The stolen artifact—linked to the mythology of Anubis—anchors the novel in a rich historical and symbolic framework, giving the story both depth and authenticity. Webb’s research is evident throughout, but it never overwhelms the narrative. Instead, it enhances it, allowing the supernatural elements to feel credible within the world he has created.
At Kate’s side is Chris Shindler, whose role extends far beyond that of investigative partner. His connection to the clandestine organisation known as Angel Fire introduces a powerful undercurrent to the story—one that operates quietly but decisively beneath the surface of events. As their journey takes them from Colorado to Cairo and into the orbit of the enigmatic Bilal Ibn-al Khalid, the scale of what they are dealing with becomes increasingly clear. Figures like Vince provide the institutional grounding, while Khalid represents something far older and more complex—bridging the modern world with forces rooted in antiquity.
One of the novel’s defining strengths is the way it balances its investigative core with its expanding supernatural framework. The presence of Angel Fire is particularly effective—not fully explained, but ever-present, shaping events in ways that are both subtle and profound. It adds a sense of design to the narrative, suggesting that what Kate and Chris are uncovering is part of something far larger than a single case.
Kate Justice remains a compelling and evolving protagonist. What sets her apart is not just her intelligence or resilience, but the way her perception of reality is changing. As the story progresses, her heightened abilities and instincts become impossible to ignore, forcing her to confront a truth she is not yet ready to fully accept. Her journey is not simply about solving a mystery—it is about understanding her place within a world where the boundaries between the seen and unseen are no longer fixed.
This evolution is handled with notable restraint. Webb allows Kate’s growing awareness—her emerging identity as something more, something hinted at as a Dread Champion—to develop organically rather than through exposition. It is this gradual shift that gives the novel much of its psychological depth, grounding even its most extraordinary elements in character.
Chris provides an effective counterbalance throughout. His knowledge, his restraint, and his own ties to Angel Fire create a dynamic that is both collaborative and quietly tense. Their relationship feels earned, shaped by trust but complicated by what remains unsaid. Around them, the narrative continues to expand, drawing together its threads with increasing precision.
As the novel moves into its latter stages, the pacing tightens and the stakes rise. The investigation, the mythology of the jackal artifact, the influence of Angel Fire, and Kate’s personal search for answers all begin to converge. Webb resists the temptation to rely solely on spectacle; instead, the story builds toward a resolution that is as much about understanding as it is about confrontation.
Importantly, the novel delivers a satisfying sense of closure while preserving the integrity of the wider series. The central mystery reaches a meaningful resolution, but the deeper questions—particularly those surrounding Angel Fire, Kate’s parents, and her evolving role—remain compellingly open.
Stylistically, Webb’s writing is clean and confident, with a cinematic quality that enhances both the action and atmosphere. His settings—from the stillness of the Colorado mountains to the intensity of Cairo—are vividly realised, grounding the novel’s more extraordinary elements in a tangible, believable world.
Ultimately, Jackal is a powerful, well-researched supernatural thriller that successfully blends crime, mythology, and character-driven storytelling. It doesn’t just raise the stakes from the first book—it broadens the horizon. For readers willing to engage with its depth, it offers a gripping narrative and the sense that something far greater is unfolding just beyond the edge of what can be seen.
It is an unreservedly recommended Golden Quill read.
