Okay, first off I need to admit that until the last ten or so pages of this book I was ready to rate this book 5 stars. The book is a mystery about the murder of a fourteen year old boy. The book is told from the point of view of the town's assistant DA, who begins investigating the homicide, but is pulled off the case when his own son becomes a suspect in the murder. 
 Because the majority of the story is told as a flashback that this character is relating to the reader, there are often little comments made that allude to events the reader will learn more about later. I was riveted as I came to know Andy Barber and his wife Laurie and son Jacob. The story is a mystery, and though mystery is not generally one of my genres, I understood that there would be plot twists, turns, and surprises. I expected that. I also guess that I expected the end to be a surprise. I certainly was not ready for the surprise I got, and was left with more questions after finishing the last page than I was comfortable with. 
 (view spoiler)[Maybe that's what makes a good mystery, and maybe most mystery lovers are satisfied with the book's ending. I just wasn't. I guess I'm one of those who needs "closure". I will say that after reading other GR reviews I have a bit of a better appreciation for the ending than I originally had. (hide spoiler)] 
 I loved the writer's voice, the excellent characterization, and pace of the story. As the mom of a teenaged boy, the book certainly gave me a lot to think about-- not just the lengths you would go to to protect/defend your child, but also the impact that certain everyday aspects of his technological world (Facebook, text messaging, etc.) could come back to haunt him ( or any of us) if we're not careful about how much we share. If you are a real mystery reader, you may find that this book is a great fit for you. It did come highly recommended from two people whose opinions I respect, so I have a feeling that my interpretation may not be about "you", Defending Jacob, but more "about me".