An assistant DA's …

The limited drama series is a gripping, character-driven thriller based on the 2012 New York Times best selling novel of the same name by William Landay. (CNN) Chris Evans might not have a shield in "Defending Jacob," but the eight-part miniseries -- based on a bestselling novel -- is all about shielding his son. “Defending Jacob,” based on the hit book by William Landay and directed by Oscar nominee Morten Tyldum (“The Imitation Game”) suffers greatly from its format, stretching 120 minutes … A family’s lives are irreparably disrupted when the son is accused of murdering a fellow classmate in this dramatic legal thriller. Defending JacobDRAMA. Defending Jacob.