Defending Jacob

A Novel

By: William Landay

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A legal thriller that’s comparable to classics such as Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent . . . tragic and shocking.”—Associated Press

NOW AN EMMY-NOMINATED ORIGINAL STREAMING SERIES • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Entertainment Weekly • Boston Globe • Kansas City Star

Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: his fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.

Every parental instinct Andy has rallies to protect his boy. Jacob insists that he is innocent, and Andy believes him. Andy must. He’s his father. But as damning facts and shocking revelations surface, as a marriage threatens to crumble and the trial intensifies, and as the crisis reveals how little a father knows about his son, Andy will face a trial of his own—between loyalty and justice, between truth and allegation, between a past he’s tried to bury and a future he cannot conceive.

Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control.

©2012 William Landay (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Landay has proven himself to be an extraordinary writer, and Defending Jacob is an amazing novel. Do yourself a favor and read it. It’s that good.” (Nicholas Sparks, #1 New York Times best-selling author)

“Harrowing . . . This searing narrative proves the ancient Greek tragedians were right: the worst punishment is not death but living with what you—knowingly or unknowingly—have done.” ( Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“[Landay] reaches a new level of excellence with this riveting, knock-your-socks-off legal thriller. With its masterfully crafted characterizations and dialogue, emotional depth, and frightening implications, the novel rivals the best of Scott Turow and John Grisham. Don’t miss it.” ( Booklist, starred review)

Whiplasher!

I doubt you'll see this one coming--so, the less said the better....
Perhaps the greatest achievement of William Landay in writing Defending Jacob is the fact that he was able to write a suspenseful courtroom/domestic drama that is completely original, and unexpected. I can think of a particular current event from which a similar story could be extrapolated--but to say anything more would be a dirty rotten spoiler--and you deserve all the unexpected twists and pathetic ugly turns this gripping story has to offer.

I wouldn't say Landay has reached the level of polish of fellow lawyers-turned-authors Turow and Grisham with his writing style, but if you are a fan of their books you'll probably find Defending Jacob an engrossing read that can stand on its own among these big boys. The narration is split into the first person narration by Andy Barber, and the reading of the Grand Jury transcripts. Grover Gardner does an animated job of narrating; my only complaint was his voice is a bit gruff and harsh, as is very much of the language (especially during the first person narration), and while I thought it fit "Father O'Leary" and Andy's incarcerated father, I didn't personally care for the tone for most of the book. If you like a gritty courtroom drama--if you can handle the truth--this one might be for you.

An Unexpected Delight

I loved this book. The narration was really great, the plot kept my interest and it was well written. A small complaint/ is the ending, I just didn't feel like it fit the characters. But regardless it was unanticipated so I give credit for that.
The story was compelling and yes, good book.... well worth the credit

Whodunnit meets family-drama meets trial-thriller

I must admit that I've had Defending Jacob on my media player for a long time. I started this book several times. I found it slow and centered on suburban life with kids (something I don't know much about), and I just couldn't get into it. I am so glad that I gave this book one more chance. It was excellent.

The story starts with the murder of a middle school child. The asst. district attorney takes the case only to realize that his son may be involved. The story follows the trial of the son and raises some interesting questions, such as, "how far would you go to protect your child", "can violence be inherited and are we doomed to commit the sins of our fathers."

This book becomes a real page turner, and I could not put it down, which is rare for me. The book will keep you guessing until the very last moment. If you're like me, you won't see the ending coming. The story is told in retrospect and is mysterious in certain ways (perhaps a little too mysterious in some aspects).

I liked this book and I will be reading more of Landay soon. The style reminded me of Scott Turow. The narration was excellent and the narrator's style was well suited to court room dialogue, which was a large part of this book.

A gripping story with lots of twists

The story is well-written and held my attention throughout. It is a book that kept my mind racing as I listened, and is not a story you'll quickly forget. It is definitely worth spending a credit on.

Grover Gardner was a phenomenal reader for this book. I would give him 6 stars if I could.

Good not Great....

Just ok for me. I thought the narration was excellent. The story was a little too depressing and unbelievable for me. It moved at a faster more interesting pace during the first half, and despite the twists and turns I thought it slowed down towards the end. I do agree with most reviewers that the book represents a parent's "worst nightmare" though I'm not sure I agree with how the parents handled the entire situation; and I'm certain it does not make for a great book.

Superb!

Would you listen to Defending Jacob again? Why?

Oh yes. The story is riveting and nuanced. There are lots of twists and we have a bit of an unreliable narrator. Brilliant.

What other book might you compare Defending Jacob to and why?

Crime and Punishment---While Crime and Punishment is better, of course, this book is loaded with tension.

Which scene was your favorite?

Couldn't say. Great book start to finish.

If you could rename Defending Jacob, what would you call it?

Stupid question.

Any additional comments?

The reader, Grover Gardner is superb---he could be reading his own story. Perfect read.

Such a sad story

Something about this book reminded me of Gone Girl. It is a scary, sad and compelling story that could easily be true. It will haunt me for a long, long time.

A Riveting Experience

I have no desire to give anything about this excellent novel away to interested listeners so suffice to say that it's read perfectly by Grover Gardner and that author William Landay has written an excellent tale that explores the responsibilities of parenting, the consequences of accusation, the impact a family member's choices can have on the rest of the family and much, much more. The characters are well developed, the legal scenes fascinating and the book keeps the listener guessing until the end, which is memorable, to say the least.

Loved It!

Any additional comments?

Loved the back and forth with courtroom questions and the story itself was riveting. Didn't want to stop listening but had to each day and go to work. Grover Gardner is one of my favorite readers and he was the perfect choice to read this book. As a parent myself, I can't imagine the actual torment I would go through in a situation like this. Almost reminded me of the old classic movie The Bad Seed. Overall it was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed the book!

This is a 3 to 4 star legal thriller. The narrator was great, I enjoyed the inflections in his voice

Would you listen to Defending Jacob again? Why?

I enjoyed the book, however I think one time was enough. I bought it on a $5.95 special which made it a great value. Although it is worth credit.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Defending Jacob?

I thought it was touching when Jacob's grandfather involved himself despite the animosity. Grover Gardner did a really good job at adding a lot of personality to the characters.

Which scene was your favorite?

Of course, I'm sucker for happily ever after.

Any additional comments?

Defending Jacob is an entertaining book somewhat of a drama/ thriller and lastly a mystery. The mystery was very predictable however there was an unexpected twist at the end.