Defending Jacob by William Landay

         I finally have some time to catch up on my blog!  This summer, I read several great books, but the one that stuck with me the most was the novel Defending Jacob by William Landay.  The topic of the book is one that shook me, but the ending!  Wow.  I didn't see it coming!
         Defending Jacob is a story about a small town lawyer and the murder of a teenage boy. When the body of the murdered teenager is found, Andy Barber, the town's assistant district attorney, goes to the scene to work with investigators.  He quickly discovers that the murdered boy went to school with his son, Jacob.  This revelation spurs Andy to work even more quickly to find the killer and protect the children in his town.
         During his investigation, Andy learns that the murdered boy had bullied his son over the past months.  He also discovers that Jacob made disturbing remarks about the boy's death.  As the weeks go on, the evidence leads police to Andy's door.  Authorities arrest Jacob for the crime.
Determined to prove his son's innocence and find the real killer, Andy enlists the help of his father who is a convicted murderer himself.  While visiting his father in prison, Andy begins to worry about his family history.  Not only was his father convicted of murder, but so was his grandfather.  Could there be a murder gene in his family?  Could it have been passed on to Jacob?  In spite of his family history, Andy refuses to believe Jacob could commit such a crime.  However, his wife isn't so sure.  After learning about Andy's father and grandfather, she starts to doubt her son's innocence.
         The book takes readers from the discovery of the body to events that occur after Jacob's trial is over.  After finishing the book, I couldn't get it out of my mind!  It raises questions about how well we really know our loved ones and to what lengths we would go to protect them.  It makes the reader think about behavior and genetics, as well as mental illness.  This book has so many layers to it.  It is a fast-moving novel that is not for the faint of heart!