Book Review: Defending Jacoby by William Landay

I seldom read suspense novels but I do enjoy courtroom dramas and true crime on TV, so I thought I would get this best-selling book a try. Once I got over the fact that everything that causes me to love a book was missing: complex characterization, rich settings, interesting language -  I enjoyed the book for what it what it is,  a good, fast-paced story.

The "Jacob" of the title is the son of a Massachusetts assistant district attorney who is been charged with the murder of a classmate. His parents are of course sure of his innocence, but the reader is not so sure. The courtroom setting and the legal maneuvering is fun to read, but what really makes the book stand out are the family dynamics. Essentially this is a cross between a legal thriller and We Need to Talk about Kevin -  if that book had been narrated by the clueless father. It's not remotely as interesting and well-written as Kevin, but it's a satisfying read.