House Rules (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Jodi Picoult |
| Products | Book |
House Rules (2010) marks the eighteenth novel authored by American writer Jodi Picoult. The narrative centers on Jacob Hunt, a young man diagnosed with Asperger syndrome who resides in Townshend, Vermont, and faces allegations of murder. The plot delves into the difficulties Jacob endures alongside his family—his mother Emma and younger sibling Theo—as they confront both the judicial process and the complexities of his condition.
Plot
Eighteen-year-old Jacob Hunt lives with his mother Emma and younger brother Theo. Having been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, Jacob depends heavily on a consistent daily regimen and excels in intellectual and academic activities. Emma organizes her own and Theo’s routines around Jacob’s requirements to reduce his stress and prevent emotional outbursts, a situation that frequently causes frustration for Theo.
Jacob’s fascination with forensic science prompts him to recreate a crime scene as a form of amusement for his mother. The storyline intensifies when Jacob is charged with the murder of his tutor, Jess Ogilvy. It emerges that Theo inadvertently caused Jess’s death while secretly entering the house she was caring for. To shield Theo, Jacob fabricated the crime scene to falsely implicate Jess’s boyfriend, Mark Maguire, and create the illusion of a kidnapping.
Following this, Jacob is taken into custody for Jess's homicide. During the trial, he reveals that he altered the crime scene to protect his brother, citing a "house rule" established by Emma that emphasizes mutual protection. Jacob asserts he would take similar actions again if necessary.
Characters
- Jacob Hunt – The eldest son of Emma and elder brother to Theo, diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. His conduct leads law enforcement to suspect him in the murder of his social skills tutor, Jess Ogilvy.
- Emma Hunt – A single mother working as an advice columnist. She dedicates herself to supporting Jacob by enforcing strict "House Rules" designed to manage their home life and care for her children.
- Theo Hunt – Jacob’s 15-year-old younger brother, who often portrays himself as independent and defiant.
- Rich Matson – The chief detective assigned to investigate Jess Ogilvy's death.
- Oliver Bond – Attorney representing Jacob Hunt.
- Jess Ogilvy – The social skills tutor who becomes the victim of murder.
- Mark Maguire – Jess’s abusive boyfriend and initial suspect, later cleared when Jacob is apprehended.
- Judge Cuttings – Oversees the court proceedings during Jacob's murder trial.
- Helen Sharp – Prosecutor responsible for presenting the case against Jacob.
Narrative style
House Rules utilizes multiple first-person narrations from characters including Emma, Theo, Jacob, Rich, and Oliver. Each chapter offers a unique perspective on events as they develop, with distinct fonts employed to differentiate each narrator’s voice. This technique of multi-narrative viewpoints is a hallmark of Picoult’s writing style seen in works such as My Sister's Keeper, Songs of the Humpback Whale, Change of Heart, Sing You Home, and Handle with Care.
Murders discussed
The book references several real-world murder cases involving individuals such as Ted Bundy, Richard Crafts, Christopher Hightower, Darryl Littlejohn, Jeffrey MacDonald, Stella Nickell, Dorothea Puente, Dennis Rader, Gary Ridgway, and Bill Sybers.