Defending Jacob

This one is on my "to read list" for sure. I tried to request it from the library - I was the 275th person in line! Ha! Guess I will be buying it!!! Thanks for the review!

To say I loved this book would not do justice to the emotional rollercoaster ride it took me on. To all readers who are also parents of teenage children (like myself) - beware, as this story tackles one of the deepest and darkest fears any parent can harbour: what would you do if your child was accused of murder? How far would you go to protect your child? How many excuses would you find to believe in their innocence?

As a father, the main character Andy is in a no-win situation from the start, which is why I easily forgave him his blind trust in his son's innocence despite his legal profession, although anyone else can see that something is seriously wrong with this child. His stalwart denial of the evidence and his stubborn refusal to acknowledge his son's problems were frustrating, but who could really blame him? My heart broke for Laurie, who unlike her husband conceded that her son may not be innocent, torn between love for her child, duty and fear. I did not for a minute want to imagine how it would feel to be in her shoes.

I enjoyed Landay's writing style, which through writing in the first person and skipping between past and present gives good insight into the whole story and paves the way for the final gut-wrenching twist. The concept of the "murder gene", a hotly debated topic, gives plenty of food for thought and a good discussion point for any bookclub (similar to the novel "We need to talk about Kevin" by Lionel Shriver), and turned Jacob into a chilling character for me - I admit that I couldn't muster up much empathy for him, and found the mere thought of being his parent unsettling. Yet Andy, in his reminiscences about cuddling the innocent baby Jacob, constantly reminds the reader that the boy is after all only a child and dearly loved by his parents.

I could not put this book down and afterwards I just wanted to hug my own children and keep them safe. An excellent novel which will haunt me long after reading the last page.