William Scott LandayMartindale-Hubbell Online Directory1981 Roxbury Latin High School Yearbook (born July 23, 1963)Mehegan, David, "His cases have become mysterious: Lawyer-turned-novelist digs up dirt in old Boston", The Boston Globe, March 20, 2007; "Author Profile: William Landay", Bookreporter.com, February 2, 2007. is an American novelist and former lawyer.
Early life and education
Landay graduated from the Roxbury Latin School in Boston, Yale University and Boston College Law School.Mehegan, David, "His cases have become mysterious: Lawyer-turned-novelist digs up dirt in old Boston", The Boston Globe, March 20, 2007.
Career Prior to becoming a writer, Landay served for seven years as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.Harris, Nancy, "William Landay Speaks About 'Defending Jacob': Crime fiction takes on a child murderer", The Boston Globe, June 17, 2012.
Novels Landay's first novel, Mission Flats, was awarded the John Creasey Dagger (now called the New Blood Dagger) as the best debut crime novel of 2003 by the British Crime Writers' Association. His second novel, The Strangler, was shortlisted for the Strand Magazine Critics Award as the best crime novel of 2007."Strand Magazine Announces Nominees for 2007 Critics Award: Award honors excellence in the field of mystery fiction" , Strand Magazine , March 20, 2008.
Landay's third novel, Defending Jacob, was released in January 2012. It was well received by criticsMaslin, Janet, "A Savvy Prosecutor, but Clueless About His Son: ‘Defending Jacob,’ by William Landay", The New York Times, February 12, 2012.Anderson, Patrick, "Book review: ‘Defending Jacob,’ by William Landay", The Washington Post, February 05, 2012. and became an immediate New York Times best seller."Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers", The New York Times, February 26, 2012. It was awarded the Strand Magazine Critics Award for best mystery novel of 2012, and was nominated for several other awards, including the Barry Award and the Hammett Prize, both for best crime novel; the International Thriller Writers Award for best thriller; the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction; and the Goodreads Choice Award for both best mystery/thriller and best author.Cf. author's website . The book was later adapted into an eight-episode miniseries on Apple TV.
His fourth novel, All That Is Mine I Carry With Me, was released on February 6, 2024.
Personal life Landay, who is Jewish,"JCCNS Jewish Book Month Speaker Series; JBM Author Series Opening Night With William Landay", JewishBoston website, Oct 12, 2023. lives with his wife and two sons in Boston.Interview: William Landay, Author of Defending Jacob
References
Further reading Malandrinos, Cheryl C., "Interview: William Landay, Author of Defending Jacob", Blogcritics, February 13, 2012
External links Official site