The Burden of ProofThe Burden of Proof
Score Modern
What it's about
Sandy Stern, the brilliant defense lawyer from Presumed Innocent, comes home to find that his wife of thirty years has killed herself. As he grieves, he discovers she had secrets he never suspected, and at the same time he is defending his wealthy brother-in-law against a federal investigation. The two mysteries turn out to be connected.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 11 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It's a legal thriller that's also a moving portrait of a widower discovering his own life.
You'll love it if you liked
Presumed Innocent
The Rainmaker
The Pelican BriefGood to know
It opens with a suicide, and there's frank sexual content. It stands alone, though Stern first appears in Presumed Innocent.
By the numbers
- Readers50 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller55 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #215 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #773 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1448 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Moving
More by Scott Turow
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Quick answers
Is The Burden of Proof worth reading?
Yes. It spent 11 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #1,448 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Burden of Proof about?
Sandy Stern, the brilliant defense lawyer from Presumed Innocent, comes home to find that his wife of thirty years has killed herself. As he grieves, he discovers she had secrets he never suspected, and at the same time he is defending his wealthy brother-in-law against a federal investigation. The two mysteries turn out to be connected.
How long does it take to read The Burden of Proof?
About 14 hours (564 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Burden of Proof?
If you liked it, try Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow, The Rainmaker by John Grisham or The Pelican Brief by John Grisham.