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)

A well written legal mystery

The novel is well written and Grover Gardner is one of my favorite male narrators. The storyline is quite believable until the last 1/3 of the book when it veers off into the unbelievable. But by that point, I was hooked and so listened until the very end.

Good listen

If you could sum up Defending Jacob in three words, what would they be?

Believeable characters

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

I liked how eventhough a serious situation is at hand. The author finds different moments for the family to have light hearted conversations. For me it softens the story and makes it believable.

What does Grover Gardner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Grover has a compassionate voice. Brings life and personality to each character.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

i would leave the tag line ...Defending Jacob...

Any additional comments?

I am more of a contemporary romance sort of a person. Moving away to spend my credit with this selection did not disappoint. Thanks to everyone that made this story possible.

Mediocre story with no narrative momentum

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Characters are deeply, frustratingly foolish. Almost everything they do will make you cringe, like watching the poor ingenue wander upstairs alone in a bad horror movie.

Would you be willing to try another book from William Landay? Why or why not?

No. Not a compelling storyteller.

Which character – as performed by Grover Gardner – was your favorite?

The main character, but all were well done. Gardner is excellent as always, infusing the characters with individuality while steering safely clear of the fake accents and melodrama that characterize some narrators.

Could you see Defending Jacob being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No, because the first-person perspective is baked too deeply into the story, such as it is.

Any additional comments?

This is not a terrible book, just not a very good one. The ambiguity surrounding Jacob's guilt is one bright spot throughout the book, but the final twist/resolution left me unfulfilled.

Starts out slowly

I did not like this book much in the beginning. However, it's worth hanging with it because all the complicated psychology is fascinating and, if you're like me, you'll find yourself in the Barber's shoes and you'll wonder what you really would have done.

Interesting read.

Which character – as performed by Grover Gardner – was your favorite?

I liked the mother- she was smart character. While the father could not recognize or fathom that his son would ever do anything wrong the mother listened to her senses and followed her gut.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was shocked at the ending, it's a bit disturbing. I was not expecting the book to end the way it did.

Thought it was over, but wait there's more!

Great great and a lovely performance. I thought I had the plot figured out, but was happily surprised.

a courtroom mystery/drama

First, the performance.

I didn't like it too much. The man sounds like he is performing in a movie in 1943 - you know how they spoke so quickly, the sentences tumbling over each other. He can't do women, but few of the narrators can effectively do the other gender. He can't really do other voices for men, either. Luckily for him, most of the book is narration, internal musings, or a transcript, so you know who's talking. Maybe that's why it sounds so much like a screenplay; you get scenes like:

LaJudas: blah blah incompetent blah
(internal musings)
Witness: blah blah blah, so there!
(internal reflection on the situation)

The story itself is fairly riveting: a teen is murdered, and his classmate is charged with the crime. The narrator is the accused's father, so he is fairly biased - even internally. He is a DA, so this is sort of a hybrid crime mystery/courtroom drama. He tries to unravel the situation, learning little other than how out of touch most parents are with their children.

The structure of the story is classic, switching among courtroom scenes, reminisces, and sleuthing. It's easy to follow along, even when listening, as the narrator uncovers clues and then interprets them one way (being the father) as others occasionally intrude to interpret them differently, and the listener is left to make his or her own choice about who has the better argument. The mystery, did Jacob do it? is riveting, and the ending has a surprising twist.

If I liked courtroom and crime mystery novels more, I'd overlook the annoying narrator. But since it's not really my thing, I give it three stars even though I recognize that "Defending Jacob" is a pretty good example of the genre.

Grover nails it!

Would you listen to Defending Jacob again? Why?

Interesting and intelligent. The author takes us on the journey and throughout the twists and turns I never felt that any part of the book was overly dramatic. I can see a family behaving exactly like Andy and Laurie.

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

The family vacation it was well written and engaging.

Which character ??? as performed by Grover Gardner ??? was your favorite?

ALL of them! I will admit I read this because of Grover Gardner (love the David Rosenfelt novels) so I did have some trouble separating this book and had to start over several times. Both authors use Andy and Laurie as main characters. I think his gruff voice was just fine for all of the characters, maybe because I am accustomed to him reading in the female role from previous books. His easy humor and flowing style really enhanced the book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Can't tell w/o a spoiler - so you will just have to trust the reviewers. It is well written and touching in many ways. The characters are human.

Good read

For me this book was a little slow with too much non resolution. That being said I think it was very original and well written.

amazing curve balls

Great story and amazing curve balls you won't expect! Great narrator and good story line. all the characters are well done.