Three weeks after his twenty-third birthday, Ethan missed the chance to save his brother's life when he was murdered on the steps of the courthouse in Jacksonville, Florida. Ever since that fateful day, Ethan has sensed a deep disconnect between the man he should have been and the one he has become. His days play out a beat too slow, his mind replaying the scene of his failure again and again.
But when his brother's widow appears, asking for his help in uncovering what was really behind his brother's death, Ethan is stunned to hear that she and her late husband were involved in a much larger case than he knew--one that threatens the global power structure. As Ethan joins the search for answers, he will enter into his own past--and discover a means of redeeming his future.
Bestselling and award-winning author Davis Bunn invites you into a world of intrigue as a man held captive by his failure learns how to move forward with hope.
4.5 stars. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Like so many others, I missed the part about time travel/sci fi. I most likely would have passed on this book had I realized that and it would have been my loss. This is an amazingly well written story. The time travel is not what you think, or at least not what I typically think. The depth of this story is mind blowing.
What if you were able to go back and correct the worst mistake of your life? That's exactly what Ethan has the opportunity to do. He gets the chance to go back and possibly save his brother. The way he handles this journey, the growth he has, his character and complexity are wise beyond his years.
This story is emotional, it's moving, it's thought provoking. This is a unique story that is very different from anything I've read lately. It was a breathe of fresh air.
You may not think this book is up your alley, please give it a try. I was sucked in, fell in love with the plotline and characters and just couldn't put it down. You won't be disappointed!
My thanks to Davis Bunn, the publisher and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Do you have any regrets in life and wish you could go back in time and change something? I would imagine most of us have a few. Burden of Proof by Davis Bunn is a story of second chances that make a difference.
Ethan's brother Adrian was murdered on the courthouse steps when he was twenty. They never caught the killer and they never quite solved the case. Ethan has been struggling and disconnected from life ever since. Then Adrian's widow, Sonya, appears and asks for help in uncovering what really happened that day. Ethan takes the chance to help her--and to give meaning to his life.
I enjoyed Burden of Proof more than I can put in to words. I thought this was just another "typical" suspense novel and I would be searching for who-done-it like every other suspense novel. Boy, was I wrong. Instead, I was amazed as I saw Ethan go back using the wisdom he gained from his life to make a real difference not only in solving the case but in making life better for those he truly loved but didn't cherish properly when he had the chance. I appreciated the message of this book along with the plot and the characters, all of which I came to love. This one touched me on several levels and I will be thinking about it for days to come. I haven't read a Davis Bunn book for quite awhile and I am so glad I took a chance on this one. I encourage you to give Burden of Proof a shot too.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
“For the first time since he had received the news, his fear of death was balanced with the power of choice.” Burden Of Proof is a unique story in a unique time frame. From the blurb on the cover, I was not expecting this plot. It is well executed and kept me turning pages but I thought something was missing. I kept waiting for a concrete faith message. I can see several places that this could happen. That said, it was a great story. I kept wondering what the final outcome would be on several levels. The main protagonist did do a turn around and acted selflessly. The message became clear that one should think of others, especially family, before considering certain life choices. The author used surfing as an example of how life works. The description of Ethan paddling out and riding the waves was fascinating. I have not read a Davis Bunn novel in a few years. I’m glad I chose to read this one. *A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
I have not read anything of Davis Bunn's for many years. I absolutely loved his Heirs of Acadia series, but I found this quite different from his previous writing. This book rather than being historical fiction is a time travel/speculative type book. Ethan Barrett is given an opportunity to go back to the week before his brother, Adrian, was murdered and see if he can find the killer.
This was not action paced suspense with high drama, but it did continue along at a steady pace. I did enjoy seeing how the events that Ethan went through made him look back on his life and realize how self-centered he'd been and what things he had missed out on. It is well written, but I found myself lost when Sonya, Adrian's wife, was giving scientific explanations of how her "time machine" worked along with her other scientific projects. I also thought the ending was somewhat abrupt.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
When I read the info on “Burden of Proof” by Davis Bunn, I missed the sentence that said it was about time travel. Some readers will this pick this book because time travel interests them and others like me will be tempted to bypass because of it. If I had I would missed one of the most interesting books that I have read in a while. I literally looked forward to being to sit down and get back in it. How many of us would like to go back in our lives to change some wrongs that we have done? Ease some hurts and change some selfish decisions. That is the opportunity that Ethan was given. The chance to save his brother from a evil act and the chance to have a do-over his young wife, Gina. If you like courtroom drama, romance, family relationships mending, and an intriguing storyline you will enjoy this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Everything I could say about Burden of Proof has already been said by so many others. I didn't realize the plot included time travel before I cracked its cover. I'm really glad I didn't know because I'd have likely skipped this one -- and missed what I found to be an awesome reading experience.
From the title, I expected to be reading a courtroom drama. And there is that. But just as central to the story is one man's quest to experience a do-over of one of the most important periods of his life. The future of those he loves depends on his actions and decisions as he travels back thirty-five years with the wisdom of hindsight.
I’m gonna be completely honest. I don’t have a lot of experience reading books by Davis Bunn. But the one I did read, called Unscripted, was no fun for me. Burden of Proof was COMPLETELY different.
The Characters
Oh man the person that Ethan became during the duration of this book was AMAZING. He had all the wisdom of a 55 year old man with all the hype and spirit and energy that came with being a 21 year old man. I don’t want to give any spoilers (which will be impossibly hard) but Ethan’s character had a complexity we don’t get from characters on a regular basis. It was really cool.
Gina was a sweetheart. Adrian was the best brother. And Sonya’s development with her relationship with Ethan was SUCH A GOOD part of the plot.
The Plot
Ok so without spoiling anything, I say this. This is a book about one time traveler. He doesn’t travel over all time. He travels back in one. Once. And it’s not confusing. It’s not overly complex. It’s so beautifully done. And the best part?
The author gave him FULL control of doing his life over with all the wisdom of his years. Davis ALLOWED Ethan to remember things, and change the course of his own history because of them. It felt like peaking into a secret tunnel of another scope of time.
It was so well paced and executed. The foreshadowing was really good, and the moods were awesome.
With the surfing metaphors around every corner, and Ethans eminent death, I had such a blast.
There was NO romantic aspects of the plot. Gina was Ethans wife in his first go at life. And he goes back to a time when they’re still dating. But there is no romantic aspects to that relationship. That’s one of the reasons I like guy authors 😂
The Content
There wasn’t really any content because the book was written in a distant sort of reflective manner (in only the good way). There are some scenes where a character gets shot. There are no sensual kisses (a couple cheek kisses I think). The thoughtful aspect of Burden of Proof was amazing. Without being boring and tedious. I loved that Ethan got to do over his life.
The ending was satisfying to me personally, but some people disagree. XD
In Summary
I gave this book 5 stars. It was something I really enjoyed. And I will be giving Davis another try. He redeemed himself after Unscripted. Granted I did procrastinate until the last day before reading it, but once I started it DID NOT become at ALL what I was expecting. And that was awesome.
This book is good for girls 14 and older! It’s super thoughtful and reflective, so it may be better for those older for enjoyment. But super good.
Thank you Revell Books and Davis Bunn for sending me a copy of Burden of Proof. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own!
The latest novel by Davis Bunn is just what I needed to end off a year that has felt like it could benefit from an extra dose of inspiration! "Burden of Proof" combines the emotive storytelling that Bunn is known for, with some mind-bending elements normally reserved for his Thomas Locke pseudonym novels. The combination was just what I was looking for!
Filled with fascinating "what-if?" scenarios and woven with themes of redemption, Burden of Proof explores what it would be like if we were given the opportunity to make different choices in life. The novel reveals the emptiness of pursuing our own selfish gains with no thoughts to others, along with the gift that comes when we put the good of others first. Ethan is an admirable character who certainly has his flaws, but the way in which he confronts those flaws left me considering the mistakes I make in my own life and how I could do things differently. The amazing part is that although this novel is crafted with depth and emotion, it fairly zings along with suspense and intrigue at the same time. Although readers are granted moments to breathe and just sit and feel along with the characters, there's no time for readers to be bored, a balance that other authors sometimes struggle to find but one that seems achieved almost effortlessly here.
Davis Bunn continues to be one of my favourite authors, one whose unique perspective on life and vivid imagination results in novels that warm the heart while engaging the mind. "Burden of Proof" is another wonderful addition to his collection, and I award it 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Um, well, that is not what I signed up for, literally.
I don't even know what I expected this to be about any more, all thoughts I had on "Burden of Proof" by Davis Bunn are gone and I am left wondering what on earth the book was.
It was a thrilling read, yes.
For me?
Not really.
I don't tend to do time travel books, however, the lesson that Bunn would be perfect ... Were there elements of faith or if the characters knew Jesus and had faith. But there was no faith or Biblical content.
The character, Ethan, is not really one that I liked at first, not surprising since it is supposed to be that way, and the growth he had was great, I ended up feeling bad that the story ended the way it did since there were no mentions of faith.
I don't really think I will be reading another of Davis Bunn's book since they don't seem to be something that I enjoy.
I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
I've been a fan of Davis Bunn since he first teemed up with Janette Oke back when I was a tween. I've read quite a few of his books since, crossing genres, and even under a couple of different names, but I think Burden Of Proof is one of my favorites.
Despite the fact that it's a bittersweet story, something I'm not usually a fan of, it was so emotionally moving and thought-provoking that I couldn't help but like it. I wound up finishing it much faster than I initially anticipated because I just couldn't put it down.
I found the 'what if' questions that Burden Of Proof raises to be quite fascinating. What would YOU do if you had the chance to go back into your past with the knowledge you have now and change things? Would you fix relationships? Would you use your knowledge/experience to help people? Would you do the right thing no matter the cost? Davis Bunn also kinda gave me the chills wondering how far we really are from certain technological advances and whether the ends justify the means
Part suspense, part courtroom drama, and part sci-fic Burden Of Proof is a story that will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat. And it's a Davis Bunn book that I would definitely recommend to fans of any or all of those genres...
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
What happens when the improbable becomes reality? Ethan is given the opportunity to go back in time to correct mistakes he had made, and he threw himself into the task, heart and soul. Already facing his imminent mortality, he works to save and improve the lives of those he loves. In that quest, there is a mystery to solve, relationships to redeem, and courtroom drama.
I also loved the character of Ethan's brother, Adrian. A courtroom attorney, he worked for justice, not just to get even.
Those who are interested in the "what ifs" of time travel will certainly enjoy this book, as well as those who thrive on courtroom drama. Men and women will enjoy this book.
Author Davis Bunn has penned an excellent stand-alone novel in Burden of Proof, and I recommend it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Revell, for review purposes. The thoughts expressed here are my own.
When I first read the back cover of this book, I expected it to be a legal thriller. And in many ways it was. But this novel is also science fiction/time travel. I am not much of a science fiction reader, and had I known, I doubt I would have grabbed a copy. But, as it so happened, I actually enjoyed this book. Most of the science fiction takes place in the first few chapters, and I must admit I became quite entrenched in the story thereafter. This is not a very long novel, and certainly not all is resolved by the end. This is obviously the first of a new series and I’m looking forward to book 2.
3.5 stars "My friend said the difference between making the right moves now and making more wrong moves like before was that I had to seek the eternal perspective."
What if? What if we had the ability to travel behind ourselves in order to live out second chances? That was the choice that Ethan Barrett faced as he approached eternity for the first time. Taking the word of his estranged sister-in-law, he allows Sonya to terminate his present life so that he can attempt to exonerate himself from past mistakes and attempt to save the life of another. Ethan was going to become an older, wiser version of himself encased within a younger man again. Who would believe him? And could he possibly gather the burden of proof necessary to stop a murderer?
Honestly, this was a very difficult book to rate. Due to the subject matter, it took some time to understand the nuances of futuristic biological possibilities, but once the story took off, it was actually quite hard to put down. Even knowing how the book was sure to end didn't prevent me from wishing things could have been different, so that fact in and of itself cast a shadow of solemnity over the entire plot. The core of the story was definitely impactful; having an eternal perspective is the only way to face the certainty of eternity with confidence, but the author missed a wonderful opportunity to share "the way, the truth, and the life".
It will be interesting to see how other readers gauge this interesting story written by an author who continually embraces the challenge of writing in various genres, and does it well.
I received a copy of this book from Baker Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
"Burden of Proof" is a futuristic type mystery that tugs at each of our hearts. What if we had the opportunity to correct past wrongs? I sympathized with the main character. I found the book a little slow due to the large number of technical explanations incorporated in the main character's care and the legal trial. I was also a little disappointed in the ending - but sometimes it is fun just to imagine my own happy ending!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
Ethan is dying from a rare condition caused by melanoma skin cancer invading the lining around his heart and lungs. Soon, he will face death and he will face it alone. And then, his sister-in-law visits with a niece he never knew about, and Ethan is offered a chance to relive and undo many of the mistakes he has made. Ethan can save his brother's life, reunite with the love of his life, and finally live a productive and unselfish life. As he begins a do-over, Ethan realizes that the way we treat others determines our eternity. I especially love this observation from Ethan's one-time surfing idol: "The answer, brother, is to aim for the eternal. Long as you do that, you're good to go. Even if you miss your target, even if you fall flat on your face, you know you've given it your best. You know. Because it's not for you."
Burden of Proof is a legal thriller that centers around a murder case that could have everlasting affects and a negative global impact but it is also an intense study of human nature. I absolutely loved this story of regrets, second-chances, and redemption. In the end, Ethan finally understands that he is a prodigal son, allowed to return home and welcomed with open arms!
Burden of Proof isn't overtly religious but it is certainly a clean and inspiring read. Author Davis Bunn reminds us that our life should be lived so that we don't face its end regretting what we did or didn't do. I was captivated by Bunn's creativity and I often found myself going back to re-read parts of his story again. This is a book that I gladly recommend!
I received a copy of this book from Revell. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my honest opinions.
Ok, so Burden Of Proof is most definitely unlike any other book I've ever read. The synopsis really was what made me sign up quickly, as it looked to be exciting clean thriller, which I usually love. And it was a thriller in a way, but not how I expected.
To be honest, I had the hardest time just starting this book, as the writing style just didn't work for me. Once I got past the first few chapters, I felt like Alice plunging down the rabbit hole into a strange Wonderland where anything is possible, and you are constantly dumbfounded with each new twist and scientific impossibility.
Some of the biologic and mental jargon gave me a headache, it was so deep and out there. Also, I couldn't tell part of the time where the characters where age-wise, and health wise.
But I did love the change in relationship between the brothers Ethan and Adrian, becoming more caring and learning to lean on each other to deal with life's battles.
I also enjoyed seeing Ethan's bond with his wife Gina change and mature, becoming more selfless and compassionate. He was originally quite the beach bum, and didn't take marital life seriously enough, but Gina was also demanding and unnecessarily dramatic.
She also sports a couple immodest outfits, including a shirt tied in the Daisy Duke midriff-baring style, as well as a bikini with a t-shirt thrown over it.
Although God is not directly mentioned anywhere, Ethan learns a major life lesson from his surfing friend Hennie and there's a thread of redemption, sacrifice, forgiveness, and the importance of eternity three-fourths through the book. The crux of the story and life in general in summed up by Hennie-
"The answer, brother, is to aim for the eternal. Long as you do that, you're good to go. Even if you miss your target, even if you fall flat on your face, you know you've given it your best. You know, because its not for you. It's...." Ethan breathed in and out, feeling a link to the man and the power of that lone word. "Eternal."
Most definitely though, this book will hit you like a wrecking ball, angst and loss, full force. I probably won't re-read this book, but it was pretty good, just not my cup of coffee. ☕ This book was given to me from Revell, free for an honest review. The expressions, impressions and thoughts above are my own.
This is the second book I've read recently that bases part of its story on quantum entanglements. Thankfully, it is not necessary to fully understand that theory in order to read the book. As far as whether the science presented is a real avenue of research or a real possibility--I will have to leave that to more scientific minds than mine.
If you could go back to one point in your life and make a different choice what time would you choose? Ethan Barratt has long thought that the death of his brother Adrian is that point. In the final stages of terminal cancer, his former sister-in-law and a niece he never knew he had appear to offer a chance to change history.
I enjoyed: *the brothers having a close relationship. *Adrian's love of tennis. *That when Ethan got a chance to relive part of his life, he was less self-centered about it. *Seeing how Ethan's relationships with some of the other characters changed from what it had been. Most for the better but some for the worse.
I disliked: *Ethan gambling on tennis to get a big enough stake to finance his security plan for keeping Adrian alive. *The ending didn't really provide a resolution to the story (though it is implied that Adrian and Sonya will win) *It's a bit deus ex machina to have a machine that sends a consciousness back through time to begin with but then to be able to time it so that Ethan's death occurs just after they score a major point in the trial but before the trial ends . . .
I have read Davis Bunn before (including when his book covers read T. Davis Bunn), so I do wish I could rate this higher than average. Many of his early books had much more Christian overtones than this one did. There's only one mention of anything I'd consider spiritual and it's more about the eternal than about Christianity. The eternal is part of Christianity, but eternal is also part of many other religions so it's unclear what Ethan was being told to seek out.
*NOTE: I received an ARC of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Program in exchange for the request for an honest review.
If you love John Grisham’s intense courtroom drama and stories about second chances, you will love this novel. The characters and their situation grabbed my heart and never let it go. Ethan comes to terms with the fact doctors gave him a few months to live. Just when he was coming to terms with his new reality, in walks his estranged scientific Professor sister-in-law with an opportunity he would not have considered if cancer were not eating up his body. It is an out of the box, wild option but what did he have to lose. He would be her human lab rat.
This story had throwback elements from the 1980’s on Coco Beach Florida, there were no cellphones, no internet, no video games, and the Nasa Program was in it’s heyday. Life was simple back then. One thing remained constant, how people prepared for hurricane season. Ethan loved to surf, and the best surfing could be had on Coco Beach during dangerous times. I enjoyed surfing with Ethan and his friend.
Another fun thing is the Back to the Future elements sprinkled throughout this intense page turning novel I could not put down. This would be a wonderful book club pick. There is so much to discuss. If you have not read a book by this author, I highly recommend this one.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org
Ethan Barrett was handed a very hard task to deal with, and to make others understand. He had great motivation to take it on with his displeasure with his own choices and how his life was going. He was living with a ton of regrets and had a chance to change some of them.
There was a group of characters that he was able to bring in to help him. I enjoyed getting to know them and see how they interacted with each other throughout this book. It wasn’t easy on any of them and they each grew as the story progressed. I really like Hennie. He was very wise and shared his wisdom with Ethan.
The beginning of this book took a little longer to lay the groundwork for the situation that Ethan was in then I’m used to. The plot was definitely intriguing and kept me engaged once it got going. There were a couple of points in the story when there was a very detailed scientific explanation that totally lost me. I struggled to get through them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
This was the first book that I have read by Davis Bunn, and I was absolutely engrossed in it from beginning to end. I didn’t know what to expect at first because it seemed to combine sci-fi with mystery and thriller, so I wasn’t convinced that the combination would work. I was pleasantly surprised as this book exceeded all of my expectations. The basic premise is that Ethan uses advanced technology discovered by his sister-in-law Sonya in order to travel back in time and attempt to save his brother Adrian’s life. The whole idea for the plot seemed so wild to me, but the author not only made it work, but he made it work well, tying up loose ends and explaining the unexplainable. The Christian aspect was the story of second chances and a prodigal brother who had spent his life living for himself only to find that he had wasted it and done nothing for the brother who had sacrificed for him. I really enjoyed getting to know the three dimensional characters and all of their facets, both in the past and in their current lives. Since the time frame was dual, the author faced the challenging task of making sure that I understood exactly where the story was going and who the most important actors were. Masterful job! At the end of the story, I just wanted to immediately find another book by this author because he demonstrated such talent in plot and character development. I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy high-octane, fast-paced thrillers, with mystery and sci-fi stirred into the mix. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I usually don't enjoy books that have an element of science fiction in them. I find that I spend my time being skeptical and not able to just lose myself in the story. Burden of Proof isn't overly science fictiony but it does have an element of time travel in it. Once again Davis Bunn has made me rethink my snubbing of this genre.
We all have regrets in life that given the chance we would change. In Burden of Proof Ethan Barrett is living with overwhelming regrets. But out of the blue he is given the chance for a do-over. He's transported back to a time just before his biggest regret. The story of how he changes things is heartbreaking and beautiful.
I enjoyed this story so much that I really didn't even think about it being a time travel story. It was clever at times, incredibly sad at times, and joyous throughout. Without giving anything away let me tell you a secret I learned just in case I ever time travel . . .buy stock in Apple and Nintendo! (That's the clever part.)
Davis Bunn is a talented author and I've enjoyed every book of his that I've read. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this is now my favorite. Not everyone has the opportunity for a do over with some of their deepest regrets but we can probably all relate to the family dynamics that this story explores. If you enjoy a story that will tug at your heartstrings, pick this one up!
This author has a wide range of genres...I’m not sure what this one is called, but it includes time travel. This type of time travel was totally different than any other to which I have been exposed.
The plot is a fascinating one, and it really kept me engaged. The mystery part was well done. I didn’t find myself thoroughly connected with the characters. I felt like I wanted a bit more there, but I was glad to see the characters grow from the beginning.
What really stuck with me was the talk of doing things for the “eternal.” None of us are guaranteed tomorrow so each day should be spent on those things that have eternal consequence.
It had a rather abrupt end, characters felt distant, and I was disappointed in the lack of any spiritual content. However, I did finish this in one sitting because it was somewhat fascinating, and the plot/mystery kept me plenty engaged ( and because I’m a ridiculously fast reader which does bother me at times.) If you have read the book, I would love to hear your thoughts. This might be an interesting book for a book club as I think it does provoke thought...that was the best gift this book gave me.
This book was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
when i utter this from my mouth i know the answer ...but it still amazes me that there are mystery (from that genre, so like thrillers, all that kind of genre included in there) authors that i don't know ... i am not familiar with Davis' writing ... i am such a new fan ...glad i got to read this one ...i did it through my local library leaning program ...great book cover. had me from the beginning to end. so curious. Christian mystery & suspense romance (kindle store & books). Christian suspense. came out on November 3, 2020. wait a moment i think i am lying ...i think i have read Christmas hummingbird (oh good. i think maybe i have seen the book cover before. not read that yet??! i will look into it soon. bye. so many books so little life and time there for it all. bye!!!! ) story ... gotta check ...that book cover looks familiar?? will see??! point being this was a good read. and i will read more soon ....so many books to read ...never enough time for Beth ...she is so busy she has to talk about herself in 3rd person ... LOL!! have a great weekend. laters. book reading to be done around here. tooties!!
Gear up for a wild ride along with some mystery in the mix. I simply love when authors add mystery. It makes the story that much more interesting. I didn't really like the 1st book in the series but I liked this one. Something about this one just I don't know stayed with me. I'm still thinking about these characters. Ethan especially. He made me root for him the whole entire time. You gotta love this story. It offers many things and something for everyone. I also liked the story as it was about life. Live each day as it comes. We never know who, what ,when and where our lives may take a turn. This book can teach a person to appreciate life while we are here. Bunn has done an excellent job in portraying this. His writing style is wonderful! I'm looking forward to seeing what he comes out with next. Thanks for a cool story Mr. Bunn! My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Ethan wasn't able to save his brother Adrian, a lawyer, from being murdered. But many years later, Adrian's widow presents Ethan with a chance to uncover the truth about the last legal case Adrian was working on in Burden of Proof by author Davis Bunn.
I wasn't ready for this novel. And no, it isn't because I didn't first read the book blurb, which doesn't reveal much about what this story is anyway. But I certainly wasn't prepared for a sci-fi legal suspense mash-up.
Now, the pace of this story stalls here and there, going on about details that seem like they're mostly there to stretch out the time. Still, this relatively understated story goes to some deep, even ethereal places. I can't describe all the ways it resonated, but sometimes a human like me needs a read that lets me...
...go there. Whether I can or need to describe it or not.
I'm not sure if the novel's ending is an abrupt one or if, like this book in general, I simply wasn't ready for it. But I had to close my eyes and just let the ending echo in my psyche, after I finished it. ________ Revell provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
Another captivating suspense book from one of my favorite authors. Davis Bunn has blended well a bit of several genres in Burden of Proof...murder, time travel, romance, legal suspense. After living a pretty self-centered life--as one character noted, he had lived a 'thin life', Ethan has a second chance to save his brother's life. Will he take the chance, regardless of the consequences? Perhaps this time he will aim for the eternal, not the temporal things in life. The book kept my interest from the first page to the last. Readers who enjoy a great suspense book will not want to miss this one. I was given a complimentary advanced reader copy of the book from LibraryThing and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
This is Quantum Leap meets courtroom drama. Ethan travels back in time to help stop the assassination of his brother on courthouse steps. Young Ethan is a surfing, wanderer who doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. He marries Gina and they end up divorcing.
Now old Ethan going back in time has to convince people on how to stop the killing of his brother when there's not threats or indications that his life is in danger. Prevent his relationship with Gina to prevent her heartache.
Slowly he reveals who he is and how he got there. His sister-in-law is a scientist working on brain wave technology. She visits him in the current/future and asks him to go back and prevent the killing thereby changing history.
Part suspense, part courtroom drama, and part sci-fi. The writing seemed disjointed and stilted at times, but as a whole story to digest it was interesting. Had it be known it was both or either of a time travel or just court room drama, readers might not pick this one up.
Davis Bunn's latest novel, BURDEN OF PROOF, mixes genres a bit to create a compelling can't-stop-turning-the-pages novel that is part science fiction, part mystery, and part courtroom drama. It's almost like Bunn, known for works like WINNER TAKE ALL, co-wrote the book with the pseudonymous Thomas Locke (also Bunn), author of the Fault Lines series.
Ethan is given the chance to go back to a major turning point in his life in order to save the life of his brother, a lawyer who was killed on the courthouse steps in Jacksonville, Florida. Because he is dying, Ethan doesn't hesitate. Reliving the events keeps Ethan moving forward, developing a better relationship with his brother Adrian, sister-in-law Sonya, and girlfriend Gina, and working to solve the mystery surrounding what becomes the attempted murder of Adrian.
Intriguing idea of how to go back in time that doesn't get bogged down with the weighty issues of ethics (Is it right to go back in time to change the past?), which is good because it would have made an exciting book hard to read.
Highly recommended!
Thank you, Revell and NetGalley, for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
I could not put this book down. I loved the use of time travel though it is different how this story ends. The characters all learn some very nice lessons. I love that Ethan is willing to help his brother by doing something no one else had ever done. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.