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)

Updated Bad Seed!

Enjoyed this story of parents struggling with unthinkable allegations against their son. When does love become a dangerous, blinding risk? What should a "good" parent do?

Title Misleading Until the End

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have recommended this book to several friends, who like me, are teachers to 8th grade boys...an age so misunderstood, but well understood and portrayed by this author.

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

The end....very sad, though foreshadowing throughout led me to other conclusions.

Which scene was your favorite?

Many scenes in courtroom where public defender and Andy Barber spar. Stellar narration/reader for this book!

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

Perfect title though it misled me for entire story.

Couldn't stop listening but didn't want it to end

I'm an attorney and so very fussy about my legal novels. This more than sufficed, and it's clear that the author is qualified to be a lawyer even if he isn't practicing at present. I'd be very surprised if the author hasn't also been a criminal prosecutor at some point.

I just cannot tell you how much I enjoyed listening to every word of this novel. The book would have been an excellent read in print, but was just one of those works that was made even better by excellent narration. I'm a fan for life of this author and this narrator!

Powerful Plot

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book makes for an intriguing read. You won't see the end coming.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I especially related to Lori, Jacob's mom. She loves her son but is reasonable and practical.

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

The ending was very much unpredictable but so very "relatable."

Thought-provoking

As a parent, this book really made me think. How would I react if my own child was accused of a terrible crime? How would I react if, upon that accusation, I realized I didn't know my child as well as I thought I did? The author takes us on an emotional journey. I won't soon forget this story.

Very Good Book!

What did you love best about Defending Jacob?

I enjoyed the fact that the book was not predictable and that the characters were not just your run of the mill characters. The author and narrator brought life to them.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character, Andy Barber. He was a character that was complex, all of his secrets and the story of his past did not come out too quickly, so you "learned" about the character throughout the book.

Have you listened to any of Grover Gardner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

If you could take any character from Defending Jacob out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Mr. Lajudas, the prosecutor. I would want to ask him what were the real motives for prosecuting the case? Did he really believe in the guilt of the suspect or was he trying to get a big win to boost his career?

Any additional comments?

This was my first audible book and I enjoyed both the book and the narrator. I have purchased more books, made a wish list and really gotten in to audible books because of my first experience with this book, author and narrator.

Didnt see that coming!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend this book. It's a good courtroom drama, and the end is crazy!

Who was your favorite character and why?

The DA, he was really trying to keep it together above all else.

Any additional comments?

Keep reading and see if you can figure out the twist at the end!

Very engaging

I loved this book, it was very engaging. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good read.

Defending the plot may be more difficult....

What did you like best about Defending Jacob? What did you like least?

The story had compelling characters with great potential for the storyline. However, the longer the story went on, the less I was impressed. It became difficult to tell who was the main character, Jacob or his father. I suppose I might have forgiven the muddled character lines had I been enticed to care about Jacob at all. There was never interjected any insight to his character. Only a steady stream of reflections by the narrator, Jacob's father.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The initial intrigue of the murder was a draw in the first part of the narrative. The boy had been accused of the most horrible crime and his life was hinging on his father's determination to prove him innocent. However, Andrew Barber, attorney at law, cannot seem to separate himself from his son. He goes on and on defending his son, but the story is really about himself. It becomes a lengthy exercise in self-awareness and guilt-mongering which never reveals Jacob at all. Perhaps the plot was designed to leave the reader uncertain, but it only made me less interested as the story played out.

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

The old Irish thug, Father O'Leary. He was a minor character, but at least he was mysterious enough to be interesting.

Was Defending Jacob worth the listening time?

No. I would not recommend it.

Any additional comments?

In fairness, I am not a fan of this type of story. It was told me that William Landay's writing was very John Grisham-like. I can't see that comparison at all. The story was not a complete flop, but had I not been vested with hours of travel time with the audio, and had I been reading the novel, I likely would have tossed it aside well before I reached the end.

Defending Jacob

Good book with a twist at the end. Interesting perspective of parental coping and the flaws in the justice system.