Defending Jacob: a Novel by William Landay

Defending Jacob is the summer read you'll have trouble putting down.  Landay is the winner of the Dagger Award for best debut crime novel for Mission Flats.  His other novel, The Strangler was nominated for best crime novel of the year.  Defending Jacob is an intriguing crime novel, thrilling court room drama and disturbing psychological drama.  Jacob, the 14 year old son of Andy, the local District Attorney, is indited for the murder of his fellow classmate.  Both Andy and his wife Laurie, do whatever is necessary to protect and insure their son will be vindicated.  The investigation and court room battle are fast paced and clever and leave you wondering whether Jacob will be found innocent.  It's during the trail that Laurie begins to question her son's innocence whereas Andy remains steadfast in belief of Jacob's innocence.  Andy has kept his wife and son unaware that his father is serving a life sentence for murder until the time of Jacob's inditement.  The novel calls into question whether sociopathic behavior is a result of genetics and to what extent are parents responsible for their child's behavior.  The differing views of their son's behaviors is reminiscent of the novel, We Need to Talk About Kevin.  This is an enjoyable, fast paced novel which raises disturbing dilemmas leading to combative debate.