Drink Merlot and discuss Defending Jacob at Giampino's in Havertown

Thank you Gina for suggesting this book and reminding me how interesting it is. I found some good discussion questions. (spoiler alert - don't look before reading)

Merlot is a red wine we've not shared yet so let's all bring a $15ish bottle of Merlot and like past meetups, we'll share the bottles and find what we like. Merlot is a versatile grape, it's often called the insurance grape because while similar in taste to Cabernet Sauvignon, it ripens earlier and is not as tannic so it requires less aging before it is drinkable. It is grown all over the world. It thrives in Bordeaux where it is the main grape on the right bank (these are often blends) and the US (you'll find it all over CA - Napa, Paso Robles, as well as WA and OR). But you can find examples from Italy, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. We may find differences between the areas (cool vs. hot). It is often used as a blending grape, but let's try to find examples that are mostly Merlot.

Below is a link to the restaurant website for more information including directions and menus.

http://www.giampinos.com/

Defending Jacob by William Landay

About the book (only $2.99 on Amazon)

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY

Entertainment Weekly • The Boston Globe • Kansas City Star

“A legal thriller that’s comparable to classics such as Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent . . . Tragic and shocking, Defending Jacob is sure to generate buzz.”—Associated Press

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney for two decades. He is respected. Admired in the courtroom. Happy at home with the loves of his life, his wife, Laurie, and teenage son, Jacob.

Then Andy’s quiet suburb is stunned by a shocking crime: a young boy stabbed to death in a leafy park. And an even greater shock: The accused is Andy’s own son—shy, awkward, mysterious Jacob.

Andy believes in Jacob’s innocence. Any parent would. But the pressure mounts. Damning evidence. Doubt. A faltering marriage. The neighbors’ contempt. A murder trial that threatens to obliterate Andy’s family.

It is the ultimate test for any parent: How far would you go to protect your child? It is a test of devotion. A test of how well a parent can know a child. For Andy Barber, a man with an iron will and a dark secret, it is a test of guilt and innocence in the deepest sense.

How far would you go?

Praise for Defending Jacob
“Ingenious . . . Nothing is predictable. All bets are off.”—The New York Times

“Stunning . . . a novel that comes to you out of the blue and manages to keep you reading feverishly until the whole thing is completed.”—The Huffington Post

“Gripping, emotional murder saga . . . The shocking ending will have readers pulling up their bedcovers to ward off the haunting chill.”—People

“The hype is justified. . . . Exceptionally serious, suspenseful, engrossing.”—The Washington Post

“Even with unexpected twists and turns, the two narratives interlock like the teeth of a zipper, building to a tough and unflinching finale. This novel has major motion picture written all over it.”—The Boston Globe

“Yes, this book came out in January. No, we are not done talking about it.”—Entertainment Weekly