Book Review: Defending Jacob

Whether innocent or guilty, 14-year-old Jacob is a powerfully disturbed boy, something his parents grapple with understanding as they undergo his trial for murder of a classmate.  As details of the murder emerge, Jacob's parents (and the reader) wrestle with the distressing possible reality that their child may have done something heinous.

Jacob's father Andy is the Assistant DA in their wealthy Boston suburb, giving him insiders knowledge of how the system works.  However, his know-how may not be enough to help Jacob when there may be more powerful, genetic factors at play.  

In Defending Jacob, author William Landay examines just how far a parent's love can stretch.  He does so with sufficient plot twists to keep you on edge, reminiscent of a Jodi Picoult novel but without the cheesy romance aspect she always seems to add.

4 out of 5 stars.