‘Defending Jacob’ a legal thriller not to be missed

Attorney Andy Barber learns quickly the frustration of not being able to help your own child.

Andy is a senior prosecutor with the district attorney’s office — the proverbial big fish. And when a murder takes place in his rather tranquil suburban community, he's there to oversee the investigation. Though his son went to school with the young victim, Andy insists on staying with the case.

That is until his teenage son, Jacob, is arrested for the murder.

The 14-year-old is old enough to be tried as an adult, so the stakes are high. Needless to say, Andy has to turn over the case to and is placed on a leave until the case is resolved. With his world turned upside down, Andy must deal with not only the legal issues, but with a family secret he has been hiding from everyone, even his wife, Laurie.

As the trial nears, it becomes obvious that Andy must reveal his family’s past in order to try to save his son, but he worries he will lose his wife and child in the process.

In “Defending Jacob,” author William Landay has created not only a legal thriller, but also a heart-wrenching story that delves deep into the turmoil of a family in crisis. The book is written from the point of view of Andy as he is being questioned at trial and includes his recollections of the events that had occurred, drawing the reader right inside the courtroom.

Creating a continually revolving sense of tension, Landay grabs his readers’ attention with his skillful storytelling and keeps it tightly wound through various twists and turns until the very unexpected ending.

For fans of legal suspense, “Defending Jacob” will be one of the most satisfying reads of the new year.