Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of graphic violence, death, child death, suicidal ideation, animal cruelty and death, and mental illness.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did William Landay’s use of dual timelines—the 2007 murder investigation alongside the 2008 grand jury proceedings—shape your understanding of the story? Did this structure make you question Andy’s reliability as a narrator from the beginning?

2. Defending Jacob has been compared to other legal thrillers like Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent and psychological family dramas like Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk About Kevin. If you’ve read either of these works, how do they compare to Landay’s approach to parental loyalty and moral ambiguity?

3. By the novel’s conclusion, what was your verdict on Jacob’s guilt or innocence regarding Ben Rifkin’s murder? Which specific pieces of evidence or character behaviors most influenced your judgment?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Andy Barber goes to extreme lengths to protect his son, including disposing of evidence and intimidating witnesses. How far would you go to protect someone you love?