The Burden of Proof

by Scott Turow

1991

Status

Available

Publication

Grand Central Publishing (1991), Edition: Reprint, 576 pages

Description

Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Thriller. HTML:Turow's acclaimed second novel, which topped international bestseller lists, is now available in trade paperback. Sandy Stern, the brilliant defense attorney from Presumed Innocent, faces an event so emotionally shattering that no part of his life is left untouched. It reveals a family caught in a maelstrom of hidden crimes, shocking secrets, and warring passions.

User reviews

LibraryThing member JustMe869

I could have handled a little less of the main character’s sex life, but that was the only flaw. It is difficult to put down. The plot keeps taking unexpected twists and turns.

6 more

LibraryThing member levasssp

This book is entertaining...but not Turow's best work. If you like to read about the sexual fantasies of a 60-year old attorney, this book is for you. The story is somewhat compelling but ends quite disappointingly (and quite predictably).

If you are reading this after 'Presumed Innocent' you will

likely be disappointed.

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LibraryThing member Anagarika-Sean

Another great one by Mr. Turow! I wish I had the time to read the rest of the books he's written. Maybe one day.

LibraryThing member christinejoseph

okay novel @ wife suicide + complicated family

Sandy Stern, the brilliant defense attorney, faces an event so emotionally shattering that no part of his life is left untouched. It reveals a family caught in a maelstrom of hidden crimes, shocking secrets, and warring passions.

LibraryThing member brucemmoyer

Not one to throw around star ratings, I found myself completely engrossed in this account of the life of Lawyer Alejandro Stern, a fictional gentlemen who encounters events beyond his comprehension in his extended family. Thorough, intelligent, and even handed, he is forced to apply all his legal

skills and principles to resolving the complex issues involving his family after an apparent suicide of his long time wife, whose mysterious affairs begun to unfold. While grieving for the loss of the only woman he has ever loved, he finds himself aroused as new romantic situations present themselves amidst the chaos of facing the trauma of his new situation where new surprises unfold before him.

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LibraryThing member breic

Turow has upped his game since the first book in the series. This has a more standard structure. Two mysteries, one professional and one personal, that tie together in the end. Legal and finance mixed together gives the setting some spice.

LibraryThing member BookConcierge

Digital audiobook narrated by John Bedford Lloyd
3.5***

After the international success of Presumed Innocent Turow turns his attention to the defense attorney in that first effort and centers the action on Alejandro “Sandy” Stern. It opens with a shock – on returning from a business trip,

Sandy discovers her beloved wife dead in their car in the garage, an apparent suicide. As he struggles to deal with this loss, he turns to his adult children, and becomes enmeshed in their problems as well as those of his brother-in-law.

This is a complicated legal mess, involving securities / commodities trading, that frankly lost me in its complexity. But I really loved how Turow wrote Sandy and his relationships with these various characters. Sandy struggles between his professional demeanor and responsibilities, and his personal relationships. It’s a messy situation (or three), and I sometimes struggled to keep things straight.

This is really more character-driven than most legal thrillers. But the plot complexities, however puzzling to me, were also what kept me interested and engaged and wondering and guessing right to the end … which is a stunner.

John Bedford Lloyd does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. He maintains a good pace and I really liked the way he interpreted Sandy.

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