Hi all, today it’s my stop on the book tour for Burden Of Proof by Stephen Penner. Thanks to ZooLoo’s Book Tours and Inkubator Books for the gifted ebook to write my honest review.
Some people would kill for a fresh start.
Seattle attorney Daniel Raine is going through some tough life changes; he’s getting divorced, and his law partner is leaving him to become a judge. If Raine can’t find a way to stay afloat, he’ll be practicing law out of his car.
Then, the perfect opportunity – a rich socialite called Abigail Willoughby arrives at his door, wanting to divorce her even richer husband.
Raine is thrilled to take the case but gets more than he bargained for when he is forced into an unlikely alliance with high-powered realtor Rebecca Sommers who has her own motives for wanting to get close to his rich client.
What seems like a straightforward case quickly turns to chaos when Abigail threatens her husband Jeremy in front of dozens of witnesses. That same night, Jeremy is discovered murdered in their home.
All the evidence points to Abigail as the murderer. But she swears she is innocent and Raine believes her. Together with Sommers, he races to find out who really killed Jeremy and to save his client from serving a lifetime behind bars for a crime she didn’t commit.
A legal thriller always intrigues me. Burden Of Proof was one such book. Stephen Penner is a new author for me, so I just went in with an open mind and a mug of tea.
The first book in a new series, I was introduced to Daniel Raine, a lawyer just embarking on a solo career after his partner has left their practice to become a judge. He isn’t in a great place, and then Abigail Willoughby turns up at his office wanting a divorce from her husband. Raine is quietly happy to have a case and an easy one too…he thinks!
As the story unfolds, he finds himself with a new ‘partner’, Rebecca Sommers. A real estate agent who turns private investigator. His easy case turns into a murder one, and instead of a divorce lawyer, he finds himself acting as a defence lawyer. But did Abigail actually kill her husband? Raine may be about to find out
It was a book that took me a little bit of time to settle into. Once I had read a few chapters, I was immersed. I loved the intrigue that was threaded throughout the story. The characters, once I got used to them, were interesting to get to know. I did like Raine and Rebecca. She is so full of sass that I loved her!
What begins as a steadily paced story speeds up as the court case begins, and I was there, almost like I was sitting in the courtroom. It’s definitely a twisty tale with me trying to guess the murderer. The final twist did have me surprised for sure. Yet another series I have to add to my list!
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126059592-burden-of-proof
Buy Links – https://geni.us/dgJoaLV
Author Bio
Stephen Penner is an author, artist, and attorney from Seattle. He has written over 25 novels and specializes in courtroom thrillers known for their unexpected twists and candid portrayal of the justice system. Stephen began his legal career as a criminal defense attorney, appearing in federal, state, and municipal courts throughout the State of Washington. After several years, Stephen ‘switched sides’ and became a prosecutor. He has been practicing criminal law for nearly 30 years, working his way up from misdemeanor offenses, to felonies, and finally to homicides. He has conducted over 100 trials and draws on his extensive experience to infuse his writing with realism and insight. In his spare time, Stephen enjoys painting, drawing, and spending time with his family.
Follow Stephen at
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorStephenPenner/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephenpenner_author/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephenpenner
Website: https://www.stephenpenner.com
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 
Thank you for your support x
LikeLike