Defending Jacob – advance review

Once again, my Murder and Mayhem in Muskego overnighter has yielded big returns.  I got an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) of Willam Landay’s Defending Jacob.  And it was such a compelling read it was all I could do to stop reading for those necessary activities of daily living, such as showering, working, and sleeping.

Assistant DA Andy Barber’s living a nice life in a Boston suburb with the support of the love of his life and Laurie and his 14-year-old son, Jacob.  Their quiet community is rocked by the murder of one of Jacob’s classmates, Ben Rifkin – a popular boy, but a bossy and perhaps even bullying one.  Given the title of the book, it should come as no surprise that Jacob Barber is charged with the crime and the plot centers on the Jacob’s trial.

The shock – and what keeps you reading late into the night – is the backstory and the rippling repercussions.  No spoilers from me, but let’s just say that Andy’s been working hard to overcome a family secret.  Plus, there’s something more going on… Landry’s interweaving another trial with the same prosecutor, but Andy’s a witness, and it’s not Jacob in the docks.  How is this all going to come together?

It does.  Masterfully.  Defending Jacob will be available on January 31, but feel free to pre-order!

Author William Landay has credibility – he’s Boston College Law School grad and former assistant district attorney.  He has two previous books both award-winers:  Mission Flats and The Strangler.  They’re on my bedside table.