Book info

• Title Defending Jacob
• Author William Landay
• Year 2012
• Genre Thriller

If your son was on trial for murder, what would you do? Andy Barber's job is to put killers behind bars. And when a boy from his son Jacob's school is found stabbed to death, Andy is doubly determined to find and prosecute the perpetrator. Until a crucial piece of evidence turns up linking Jacob to the murder. And suddenly Andy and his wife find their son accused of being a cold-blooded killer. In the face of every parent's worst nightmare, they will do anything to defend their child. Because, deep down, they know him better than anyone. Don't they?

Thoughts

I must have bought this after watching the Apple TV adaptation, so it’s been sitting in my to read pile for quite a while, but I finally got around to it. It’s written really well, you get drawn in and want to know what’s happening and what’s happening next. A good legal drama is hard to find, so this works very well. Ultimately the ending is a little bit disappointing as it gives you no closure, just like the TV show, but the author himself admits that’s kind of the point. Sometimes life doesn’t get wrapped up in a nice happy bow of conclusion!

Rating: 3 / 5