Defending Jacob
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Grover Gardner
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By:
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William Landay
About this listen
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A legal thriller that’s comparable to classics such as Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent . . . tragic and shocking.”—Associated Press
NOW AN EMMY-NOMINATED ORIGINAL STREAMING SERIES • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Entertainment Weekly • Boston Globe • Kansas City Star
Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: his fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.
Every parental instinct Andy has rallies to protect his boy. Jacob insists that he is innocent, and Andy believes him. Andy must. He’s his father. But as damning facts and shocking revelations surface, as a marriage threatens to crumble and the trial intensifies, and as the crisis reveals how little a father knows about his son, Andy will face a trial of his own—between loyalty and justice, between truth and allegation, between a past he’s tried to bury and a future he cannot conceive.
Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control.
©2012 William Landay (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Featured Article: Go Beyond the Courthouse with These Legal Thriller Audiobooks
While listening to real-life litigations can be a bore, some of the most exciting mystery and crime plots unravel around courtroom proceedings. There's an exciting world of legal thriller audiobooks beyond the biggest names out there waiting to be discovered. Here are the best legal thrillers featuring scenes of courtroom drama and twisty legal plots that will keep you gripped and guessing until the gavel’s rapped.
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Peter Hale is a young attorney with a lot to prove. Crossing his father, one of Portland's most powerful lawyers, was a costly mistake. Now, cut loose from his job and his inheritance, Peter's has landed in the public defender's office of a small Oregon town - and in the middle of a high-profile case that could make or break his career. His mentally handicapped client, accused of the savage murder of a college coed, faces the death penalty.
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I can't believe Phillip Margolin wrote this!
- By Carol N. on 01-14-17
By: Phillip Margolin
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Open and Shut
- By: David Rosenfelt
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Whether dueling with new forensics or the local old boys' network, irreverent defense attorney Andy Carpenter always leaves them awed with his biting wit and winning fourth-quarter game plan. But the fun stops the day Andy's dad, Paterson, New Jersey's legendary ex-DA, drops dead in front of him at a game in Yankee Stadium.
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Does Anyone Else Notice the Missing Content?
- By pewter on 02-05-13
By: David Rosenfelt
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Aftershock
- By: Andrew Vachss
- Narrated by: Phil Gigante, Natalie Ross
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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After a life in various war zones, Dell and Dolly have settled in this town, fulfilling Dolly's lifelong dream. Though she has given up her nursing career and moved smoothly into civilian life, Dell had been a mercenary, so they both have to sacrifice their prior identities. When the star of the girls' softball team shoots and kills the most popular boy in school, Dolly asks Dell to uncover the motive behind this inexplicable crime. It doesn't take him long to uncover a horrifying rite of passage.
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Vachss hits a solid triple
- By Sara R. on 09-02-13
By: Andrew Vachss
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No Lesser Plea
- Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi, Book 1
- By: Robert K. Tanenbaum
- Narrated by: Traber Burns
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Roger "Butch" Karp has been around New York long enough to realize that the judicial system can be dirty and cynical. But he still believes in justice. So when a vicious sociopath tries to dodge a brutal murder charge by convincing the court he is incompetent to stand trial, Karp teams up with firecracker Assistant DA Marlene Ciampi to unleash the full force of their relentless energy, hardboiled wit, and passion for the truth to put the killer away for good. They will accept no lesser plea.
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A Decent LIsten
- By Ted on 08-31-14
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Compelling Evidence & Prime Witness
- 2-in-1 Edition, Paul Madriani Books 1 and 2
- By: Steve Martini
- Narrated by: Joe Mantegna
- Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
- Abridged
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Compelling Evidence Paul Madriani was once a promising associate with the prestigious Potter, Skarpellos law firm, co-founded by his mentor, Ben Potter. But after a scandalous affair with Ben's wife, Talia, Paul left the firm to begin a brilliant career as a criminal defense attorney. Ben's impeccable reputation has made him a leading candidate for the Supreme Court, until he is found dead on the eve of the nomination, and Talia becomes the prime suspect.
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Terrible
- By LS1015 on 04-08-19
By: Steve Martini
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Life Sentence
- By: David Ellis
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 12 hrs
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Jon Soliday is legal counsel to a powerful politician - also his childhood best friend - who is running for governor. The two have shared political success and undying loyalty. They also share a dark secret from the summer of 1979: a party that resulted in the death of a teenage girl. Soliday was implicated, but through his friend's political connections, escaped legal trouble.
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my first Ellis
- By Stevon on 02-06-12
By: David Ellis
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Because You Loved Me
- By: M. William Phelps
- Narrated by: J. Charles
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
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Overall
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Jeanne Dominico's fiancé found her body on her kitchen floor. More than forty stab wounds and blows to her head with a blunt instrument had cut her life short. What monster had struck in the heart of a peaceful New England town?
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"True?" Crime
- By Shelli on 09-30-09
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Night Sins
- Deer Lake, Book 1
- By: Tami Hoag
- Narrated by: Jennifer Van Dyck
- Length: 19 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Story
A peaceful Minnesota town, where crime is something that just doesn’t happen, is about to face its worst nightmare. A young boy disappears. There are no witnesses, no clues — only a note, cleverly taunting, casually cruel. Has a cold-blooded kidnapper struck? Or is this the reawakening of a long-quiet serial killer?
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MAD MAD MAD
- By Angela on 05-22-15
By: Tami Hoag
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Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye
- Psychic Eye Mysteries, Book 1
- By: Victoria Laurie
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Michaels
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Abby Cooper is a P.I., psychic intuitive. But her insight failed her when she didn't foresee the death of one of her clients - or that the lead investigator for the case is the gorgeous blind date she just met. Now, with the police suspicious of her abilities and a killer on the loose, Abby's future looks more uncertain than ever.
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Abby Is The Worst.
- By Keri on 05-16-14
By: Victoria Laurie
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Wasted
- Inside the Robert Chambers-Jennifer Levin Murder
- By: Linda Wolfe
- Narrated by: Pete Cross
- Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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On an August night in 1986, Jennifer Levin left a Manhattan bar with Robert Chambers. The next morning, her strangled, battered body was found in Central Park. Linda Wolfe goes beyond the headlines and media hype to recreate a story of a teenager whose immigrant mother was determined to make a better life for her son, a petty thief and drug user who'd been expelled from the best schools. Wasted powerfully depicts the freewheeling 1980s society that spawned a generation steeped in violence and the fatal impulses that drove Robert Chambers to kill.
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A very thorough reporting for the time
- By Amazon Customer on 12-28-16
By: Linda Wolfe
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The Fall Girl
- By: Marcia Clark
- Narrated by: Marcia Clark, Cathy Lepard
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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When Charlie Blair left Chicago behind—and her old life as Lauren Claybourne—for a gig in the Santa Cruz DA's office, things were supposed to be easier. Or at least nothing that a couple of Xanax and a tumbler of vodka couldn't handle. The plan had been working, until the murder of a local bail bondsman Shelly Hansen. Enter: hotshot prosecutor Erika Lorman, she of the stellar record and unfailing touch with juries, a veritable legend in her own right.
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Could not get into it
- By HailtoTheVictors on 12-30-22
By: Marcia Clark
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What listeners say about Defending Jacob
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Mel
- 02-08-12
Whiplasher!
I doubt you'll see this one coming--so, the less said the better....
Perhaps the greatest achievement of William Landay in writing Defending Jacob is the fact that he was able to write a suspenseful courtroom/domestic drama that is completely original, and unexpected. I can think of a particular current event from which a similar story could be extrapolated--but to say anything more would be a dirty rotten spoiler--and you deserve all the unexpected twists and pathetic ugly turns this gripping story has to offer.
I wouldn't say Landay has reached the level of polish of fellow lawyers-turned-authors Turow and Grisham with his writing style, but if you are a fan of their books you'll probably find Defending Jacob an engrossing read that can stand on its own among these big boys. The narration is split into the first person narration by Andy Barber, and the reading of the Grand Jury transcripts. Grover Gardner does an animated job of narrating; my only complaint was his voice is a bit gruff and harsh, as is very much of the language (especially during the first person narration), and while I thought it fit "Father O'Leary" and Andy's incarcerated father, I didn't personally care for the tone for most of the book. If you like a gritty courtroom drama--if you can handle the truth--this one might be for you.
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83 people found this helpful
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- Suzn F
- 03-25-12
An Unexpected Delight
I loved this book. The narration was really great, the plot kept my interest and it was well written. A small complaint/ is the ending, I just didn't feel like it fit the characters. But regardless it was unanticipated so I give credit for that.
The story was compelling and yes, good book.... well worth the credit
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42 people found this helpful
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- Brett
- 07-19-14
Whodunnit meets family-drama meets trial-thriller
I must admit that I've had Defending Jacob on my media player for a long time. I started this book several times. I found it slow and centered on suburban life with kids (something I don't know much about), and I just couldn't get into it. I am so glad that I gave this book one more chance. It was excellent.
The story starts with the murder of a middle school child. The asst. district attorney takes the case only to realize that his son may be involved. The story follows the trial of the son and raises some interesting questions, such as, "how far would you go to protect your child", "can violence be inherited and are we doomed to commit the sins of our fathers."
This book becomes a real page turner, and I could not put it down, which is rare for me. The book will keep you guessing until the very last moment. If you're like me, you won't see the ending coming. The story is told in retrospect and is mysterious in certain ways (perhaps a little too mysterious in some aspects).
I liked this book and I will be reading more of Landay soon. The style reminded me of Scott Turow. The narration was excellent and the narrator's style was well suited to court room dialogue, which was a large part of this book.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Brock
- 10-17-13
A gripping story with lots of twists
The story is well-written and held my attention throughout. It is a book that kept my mind racing as I listened, and is not a story you'll quickly forget. It is definitely worth spending a credit on.
Grover Gardner was a phenomenal reader for this book. I would give him 6 stars if I could.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Matt
- 05-15-12
Good not Great....
Just ok for me. I thought the narration was excellent. The story was a little too depressing and unbelievable for me. It moved at a faster more interesting pace during the first half, and despite the twists and turns I thought it slowed down towards the end. I do agree with most reviewers that the book represents a parent's "worst nightmare" though I'm not sure I agree with how the parents handled the entire situation; and I'm certain it does not make for a great book.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Chris Reich
- 12-17-12
Superb!
Would you listen to Defending Jacob again? Why?
Oh yes. The story is riveting and nuanced. There are lots of twists and we have a bit of an unreliable narrator. Brilliant.
What other book might you compare Defending Jacob to and why?
Crime and Punishment---While Crime and Punishment is better, of course, this book is loaded with tension.
Which scene was your favorite?
Couldn't say. Great book start to finish.
If you could rename Defending Jacob, what would you call it?
Stupid question.
Any additional comments?
The reader, Grover Gardner is superb---he could be reading his own story. Perfect read.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Elaine
- 02-03-13
Such a sad story
Something about this book reminded me of Gone Girl. It is a scary, sad and compelling story that could easily be true. It will haunt me for a long, long time.
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- Jim N
- 08-03-13
A Riveting Experience
I have no desire to give anything about this excellent novel away to interested listeners so suffice to say that it's read perfectly by Grover Gardner and that author William Landay has written an excellent tale that explores the responsibilities of parenting, the consequences of accusation, the impact a family member's choices can have on the rest of the family and much, much more. The characters are well developed, the legal scenes fascinating and the book keeps the listener guessing until the end, which is memorable, to say the least.
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- Petice
- 09-07-17
Loved It!
Any additional comments?
Loved the back and forth with courtroom questions and the story itself was riveting. Didn't want to stop listening but had to each day and go to work. Grover Gardner is one of my favorite readers and he was the perfect choice to read this book. As a parent myself, I can't imagine the actual torment I would go through in a situation like this. Almost reminded me of the old classic movie The Bad Seed. Overall it was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed the book!
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- Val
- 10-19-13
This is a 3 to 4 star legal thriller. The narrator was great, I enjoyed the inflections in his voice
Would you listen to Defending Jacob again? Why?
I enjoyed the book, however I think one time was enough. I bought it on a $5.95 special which made it a great value. Although it is worth credit.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Defending Jacob?
I thought it was touching when Jacob's grandfather involved himself despite the animosity. Grover Gardner did a really good job at adding a lot of personality to the characters.
Which scene was your favorite?
Of course, I'm sucker for happily ever after.
Any additional comments?
Defending Jacob is an entertaining book somewhat of a drama/ thriller and lastly a mystery. The mystery was very predictable however there was an unexpected twist at the end.
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