Customer Reviews

Defending Jacob: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Very good story, and not at all predictable.....keeps you guessing until the very end....and even then your surprised. Masterful writing, amazing characters.

This story is plain brilliant, with deep and moving characters, lofty ideas and an insight that gets my full respect.The descriptions are vivid, the setting wide and varied, and William Landlay has a good sense of things and knowledge. The connections made between Jacob and Andy Barber, his father, are well observed. The twists and interconnections in the story also reminds me of Triple Agent Double Cross.The story gripped me all the way to the end, made explosive by the final twist in the story.

I found the book grabbed my interest immediately and I could not wait for the next chapter. I felt I knew the characters -and had great empathy for them - particularly the parents. The court scenes made me feel feel I was right there. A great book

One of the worst reads I've experienced. A plot so thin it's practically non existent. Ridiculous convenient weekly television series style plot twists. An ending so stupid I threw the book into the recycle bin so family members wouldn't unwittingly read this piece of tripe. HATED it, HATED it, HATED it. I had to give it one star because you couldn't give it less. Defending Jacob

This legal thriller signals early on that there are no tidy solutions. You can't say you haven't been warned. Landry is simply brilliant at stringing you out with tension and surprising but completely believable twists along the way. The core theme of a father who may not know his son as well as he thinks he does, refuses to admit doubt, and tries to show unconditional love the only way he knows how makes this novel breathtaking and terrifying. It's obvious this book is about a father who defends his son against a murder charge. The rest you must discover for yourself.

so well written that even a non-parent could understand the father's "blind eye". Once you start reading this book, you'll find it very difficult to put down.

As a parent, what would you do if your only son suddenly became implicated in the horrible murder of one of his class-mates? This is precisely the question Jacob's parents must answer. In the quiet suburban town of Newton, Massachusetts, Jacob's father, Andy Barber, is a highly respected assistant district attorney. When the body of a 14-year old boy is found stabbed to death in the town's park, Andy is immediately on the case. But the case is going nowhere fast and the police have no suspects and no leads. Then clues and details start pointing towards Jacob as the prime suspect and Andy is taken off the case. How well does Andy really know his own son, and just how far will he go to protect him?

You can read the rest of the review on my blog: [...]

This is one of the best books that I have read.
The book is such a good mix of courtroom drama & current social issues,ie: family, parenting, kids, communication, gossip & rumors.
But the genius of the book is how well all the above are told in such a good story, and as well in the fact that
William Landay's writing style is exceptionaly good. At times you are reading fast because you cant wait to see what happens next, and at other times you are reading every word slowly to absorb it and not wanting the book to end.
This is a book that is good to the very last..word. Just read it and find out!!

Two themes are explored in this book. First, as hinted at by the title, a parent will often defend his offspring no matter how horrible the crime and no matter how guilty they may seem. Jacob Barber has been accused of murdering a Ben Rifkin, another fourteen-year boy by stabbing him in the chest numerous times in a park. His father is the first assistant district attorney and at, first is put in charge of the case despite the possibility that his son might be guilty. Andy Barber, the father, never wavers in the defense of his son while his mother, Laurie, always questions. The second theme is the question of nature versus nurture as a primary motivation for behavior. Many new theories are leaning towards nature however, the case for a murder gene is questionable. So, there you have it. A father defending his son for a crime that's been committed by both his grandfather and great grandfather. Is he guilty? If he's guilty, is he culpable. Stupid premise, good story.

This is one of the best leisure time reading that I have done in a long time. The plot is complicated enough to keep you reading and the ending is totally unexpected. Landay is masterful in broaching a topic that is heart-wrenching and unimaginable.