Anyone read "Defending Jacob" by William Landay? (characters, author, written)

[Coolcin]

I just got done reading Defending Jacob. I loved the book but am still not sure if Jacob was guilty or not.

Anybody read it?

[dittoCO]

Man, was this book riveting! I could not put it down and now can not get it out of my head. I was unsure about Jacob as well, until their family vacation and looking back at some foreshadowing in the book. I think he was guilty. The end shocked me though!

[Coolcin]

Originally Posted by dittoCO

Man, was this book riveting! I could not put it down and now can not get it out of my head. I was unsure about Jacob as well, until their family vacation and looking back at some foreshadowing in the book. I think he was guilty. The end shocked me though!

I agree with you about not putting it down. For me I couldn't wait to read it at the end of the day. After I got done reading it I also thought about it a lot. I thought it was really well written and one of the better books I have read.

Who do you think planted the knife in the lake? I was thinking it was the mother.

[dittoCO]

Hmm. I don't remember that part. Sorry.

[greatblueheron]

Loved the book

And think he was guilty...mom knew it too...
Why else deliberately kill him, and herself as well?

[SadieLu]

Hmmmm...I'm not sure how one could be unsure of his guilt, especially after the girl disappeared AND the car "accident". But regardless, maybe the original poster should put "spoiler" in the subject line.
(and I don't remember the mother dying. Isn't she the one he's being deposed about??)

[greatblueheron]

Correct me if need be...you all might have read it more recently...

I believe mom was driving the car that headed toward the overpass concrete support....and killed them both. And wasn't it dad deposed after that "accident"?

At any rate-stunning book, stayed up very late reading it!

Originally Posted by SadieLu

Hmmmm...I'm not sure how one could be unsure of his guilt, especially after the girl disappeared AND the car "accident". But regardless, maybe the original poster should put "spoiler" in the subject line.
(and I don't remember the mother dying. Isn't she the one he's being deposed about??)

[Ketabcha]

Spoiler

Mom was not killed in the accident The Grand Jury was determining whether to charge her or not.

Mom planted the knife in the pond in the park. Andy told her "I wish you had consulted me first."

I think Jacob was guilty of both murders, Ben's and Hope's. I think he was a sociopath.

This is a good book. It's easy reading and spun like a spider's web. I enjoyed reading it.

[greatblueheron]

Thanks---it's coming back to me now!

Originally Posted by Ketabcha

Spoiler

Mom was not killed in the accident The Grand Jury was determining whether to charge her or not.

Mom planted the knife in the pond in the park. Andy told her "I wish you had consulted me first."

I think Jacob was guilty of both murders, Ben's and Hope's. I think he was a sociopath.

This is a good book. It's easy reading and spun like a spider's web. I enjoyed reading it.

[Ketabcha]

Remember the book and movie "The Bad Seed?"

That is what this book reminds me of. The big difference is that I didn't like Rhoda in "The Bad Seed" but I did like Jacob in "Defending Jacob." Until the situation with Hope, I felt he could be "fixed."

I have to admit that when I first started reading this book I was not all that impressed. But then as the characters were unfolded I began to realize that the author was doing a good job and I was drawn in. These folks were so real to me. I liked so many of them and could even identify with them.