Jackals of the Night

Steven Lehman teaches English at John Abbot College in Montreal.

Charles Edward Downley is on trial for murder. He shot and killed a
juvenile delinquent who was in the process of breaking into his home.
This story follows the accused from the time the charge is laid until
the verdict is rendered.

There is little music in Langdon’s style, and only Downley and his
wife attain any real roundness as characters. Still, this novel
penetrates straight to the heart of contemporary society as it presents
the moral and legal issues involved in the case. Is Downley a model
citizen, besieged by a burgeoning army of Allan Légeres, who responds
in the only possible way? Or is he an embittered World War II veteran
looking for any opportunity to express the murderous violence growing in
his soul?

Both sides of this argument are thoroughly articulated, with
sensitivity and fairness. The reader must try himself or herself as
Downley’s fate unfolds. Langdon avoids lapsing into propaganda as he
focuses on this most crucial debate.