Defending Jacob: A Novel

Praise for Defending Jacob: A Novel

“Gripping, emotional murder saga . . . The shocking ending will have readers pulling up their bedcovers to ward off the haunting chill.”—People 

“Landay turns out to be creating a clever blend of legal thriller and issue-oriented family implosion . . . nothing is predictable. All bets are off.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times

“William Landay makes bold use of his genuine storytelling gift, his amazing ability to craft believable dialogue, and, above all, his extraordinary understanding of what it means to be a husband and father to present us with an unforgettable tale of an ordinary marriage and family in crisis.”—Nicholas Sparks

“A page-turning, stomach-clenching exploration of family.”—Chevy Stevens

“A stunning novel that will be compared to classic courtroom thrillers like Presumed Innocent and Anatomy of a Murder.”—Phillip Margolin

“So well-written, every character so movingly and convincingly drawn, the plot so utterly enthralling . . . Defending Jacob is absolutely stellar, first-rate fiction—human, sensitive, and gripping in the extreme.”—Lisa Unger

“More than a terrific legal thrill ride, Defending Jacob is an unflinching appraisal of the darkest, most poignant consequences of the love that binds, and blinds, families. It’s one of those rare books that call for contemplation and insight along with every breathtaking surprise.”—Stephen White

“Landay spins a tale of such complexity and emotion that you don’t even realize you’re spiraling deep into his world until he spits you out at his shocking, shattering conclusion.”—Carla Buckley

“Sensational . . . one of the best books of the year.”—John Lutz

“Brilliantly conceived . . . combines a harrowing family drama with riveting courtroom scenes that make readers feel they are actually witnessing the trial unfold.”—Stephen Frey

“A carefully plotted and precisely written thriller about a family put to the ultimate test . . . Defending Jacob is bound to enthrall.”—Thomas H. Cook
 
“Do you like a mystery with a good twist at the end?  How about one with the literary equivalent of skating’s triple axel? . . . Hang on for that shocking and yet believable ending—with a triple twist you won’t see coming.”—Portland Oregonian
 
“Like John Grisham and Scott Turow, Landay is a lawyer with a solid grasp of how to use courtroom scenes to advance his jigsaw-puzzle story. . . . With a grabby premise and careful plotting, he keeps you turning the pages through the shocking gut-punch of an ending.”—Entertainment Weekly
 
“[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)

“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)

“Even with unexpected twists and turns, the two narratives interlock like the teeth of a zipper, building to a tough and unflinching finale.  This novel has major motion picture written all over it.”—The Boston Globe

“Defending Jacob is a novel that comes to you out of the blue and manages to keep you reading feverishly until the whole thing is completed. . . . Landay has written a stunning novel and it is one that should draw attention to the possibilities it raises.”—Huffington Post

“The hype is justified. . . . Exceptionally serious, suspenseful, engrossing.”—The Washington Post