Defending Jacob by William Landay Summary
Overview of Defending Jacob
When a district attorney's son is accused of murder, how far would a father go to protect his child? "Defending Jacob" - Lee Child calls it "a novel like this comes along maybe once a decade" - became both a bestseller and gripping Apple TV+ series starring Chris Evans.
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Key takeaways
The Perfect Family Shattered
What happens when the unthinkable crashes into ordinary life? Andy Barber has spent two decades as First Assistant District Attorney in affluent Newton, Massachusetts, building a reputation as a skilled prosecutor while creating the perfect suburban life with his wife Laurie and fourteen-year-old son Jacob. When Ben Rifkin, Jacob's classmate, is found stabbed to death in a nearby park, Andy naturally takes charge of the investigation. The community's carefully maintained bubble of safety ruptures, transforming coffee conversations into worried speculation about predators lurking in their midst. Standing before anxious parents at hastily organized meetings, Andy projects reassurance in his blue blazer and khakis, promising justice with the confidence of someone who's secured countless convictions. What he doesn't realize is how quickly his worlds will collide. When an anonymous email directs him to Facebook posts accusing Jacob of murder, followed by the discovery of a knife hidden in Jacob's room, Andy faces an impossible choice. In seconds, he makes a decision that transforms him from officer of the court to potential accomplice: he wraps the knife in paper towels and dumps it in a restaurant dumpster miles away. "I'd always believed in the law as an instrument of truth," Andy reflects later. "But when it came to my son, I discovered truth was suddenly negotiable." How quickly our moral certainties crumble when those we love most stand accused.
When Evidence Points Home
The Murder Gene
Truth on Trial
The Impossible Question
Living with Uncertainty
The Ultimate Price
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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