Turow's acclaimed second novel, which topped international bestseller lists, is now available in trade paperback. Sandy Stern, the brilliant defens...
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reviews
Jan 27, 2011
Dick
rated it: 
For some reason, I found this book difficult to read. Mr. Turow has a peculiar way of wording sentences (some of them, not all of them), such that some sentences I find myself reading 2 or 3 times, and still not understanding what he is saying. As in PRESUMED INNOCENT, there is much insight into interpersonal relationships, and he will frequently (when introducing a new character) go back into a somewhat detailed description of past history with that character. His introspection into Sandy’s
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Jul 30, 2011
Chris
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Scott Turow is more than a writer of legal thrillers. He is a real novelist using the law to reflect on human ego and weakness. His Kindle County, where all of his novels actions take place, is not exactly a moral wasteland but a soiled and imperfect place where there are no easy solutions. His main character in this novel, Sandy Stern, a cosmopolitan defense attorney, lends this novel real gravity with his impressions and his understanding that the law is something of a slipshod negotiation bet
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Mar 14, 2011
John
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Brave writer, to begin with a suicide, a mother of four grown children found dead in her car in the garage. That sent fair-weather readers scurrying....
Turow sees us inside and out, by our own laws, more deadly than any laws courts can touch.
"Thirty-odd years ago, Clara Mittler had drafted a composition, called it Clara Stern, and remained intent on playing it to the end. It was a woodwind part of austere and unwavering beauty, and he [Alessandro Stern] was the uncritica More...
Turow sees us inside and out, by our own laws, more deadly than any laws courts can touch.
"Thirty-odd years ago, Clara Mittler had drafted a composition, called it Clara Stern, and remained intent on playing it to the end. It was a woodwind part of austere and unwavering beauty, and he [Alessandro Stern] was the uncritica More...
Dec 10, 2009
I had about 2 minutes at the library book sale after spending forever with the kids! So I grabbed 3 Scott Turow books. I used to enjoy courtroom dramas and hadn't read them in a very long time since I got involved in a book club that chose far more intelligent books! Every book seemed similar to me. In fact they were set in the same place and had some of the same characters. It's been a couple months since I read them all and I've already forgotten them. They are entertaining as you read th
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Aug 08, 2011
Carin
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I read Presumed Innocent more than 10 years ago and it saved my opinion of legal thrillers, which I thought had been irreparably damaged by John Grisham. Ever since then, if I hear of a Grisham fan, I always tell him/her, "well if you like Grisham, you really need to try Scott Turow, because he can actually write." While that does remain true with The Burden of Proof, I do understand why it isn't as popular as his other books.
Sandy Stern, the defense attorney in Presumed I More...
Sandy Stern, the defense attorney in Presumed I More...
Sep 01, 2010
Rebecca
rated it: 
A very good novel, and probably my favourite of all of Scott Turow's books. A tale of marriage, family and suicide not to mention a fairly decent thriller. Sandy Stern (first seen in presumed innocent) comes home to find his wife has committed suicide -- and we follow his life in the months that follow as he tries to keep his life together and understand why his wife would do something like that.
For a longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_29816295...
For a longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_29816295...
Sep 20, 2011
Diana
rated it:
Within the opening pages, Turow presents you with a dead body. Intriguing interaction of characters and lots of family drama. I was not so big on the stock market/money grubbing details, so I skimmed through a lot of that--just enough to get "the just". Thought I had the guilty parties dead to right but was wrong. That's what makes this an engaging book, trying to second guess the outcome.
Jun 24, 2011
Rose
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This was a good book - really got into the emotions and turmoil the main character, Sandy Stern, felt after his wife committed suicide. But these emotions were exposed slowly throughout the book, while he carried on his business life as a lawyer, attempted to mend his relationships with his grown children, and fumbled through his new personal life, trying to get a grip on being widowed at 56.
Nov 16, 2011
Robert
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This one was a struggle for me to get through. Just found it highly unbelievable and quite frankly-a big disappointment after Presumed Innocent. Sandy Stern was unforgettable in Presumed Innocent-in this one-he is just an old horn dog lusting after everything that moves. He doesn't seem to be the same character at all-ridiculous.
Hopefully the next book by this author will be better.
Originally read in 1991.
Hopefully the next book by this author will be better.
Originally read in 1991.
Feb 09, 2011
Linda
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When Alejandro Stern's wife of 30 years commits suicide leaving a single sentence in a note "can you forgive me?" Stern finds his life in disarray. At the same time Stern is confronted with defending his beligerent brother-in-law from possibly Ricco charges. The amazing twists and turns throughout this book leads Stern to the truth behind his wife's suicide, the part he inadvertently played in it, and how twisted one's life can become without even trying. Each of Stern's awakenings lea
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Mar 21, 2010
Jeff
rated it:
Bam, the book starts off with the discovery of the suicide of the main character's wife. Ha, no spoilers because it was so early on. There are many betrayals, and that adds to the dark nature of the book. The book starts off bad, and proceeds to get worse (in tone, not quality). I remember this book mainly for its characters who were supposedly friends with the greatest trust.
Feb 23, 2011
David
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I have mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand, Turow's courtroom drama is as good as ever. On the other hand, there was surprisingly little of it in evidence. Most of the book tracked the dysfunctional family interactions of the protagonist, a fussy, officious lawyer who is at times casually immoral, and at other times, so devoted to his principles that he's willing to go to jail rather than violate them. Like all Turow novels, it's full of unexpected surprises that force you to reinter
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Nov 27, 2011
Dan
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Turow is an even better writer here than his previous books. His main character is dignified, reserved, intelligent. Something shocking happens that compels him to understand his world perhaps better than he wanted to. He is endlessly disoriented. He finds he didn't really know anyone around him. Lots of twists.
Aug 26, 2011
Michelle
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Started with "Presumed Innocent" and then this one to prepare for his new book, "Innocent". Although the storyline is totally different,I like how characters from the first book make minor appearances that let you see what happened to them after the book ended. An enjoyable, engaging story.
Jan 29, 2010
Susan
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This is a compelling page turner mystery with the protagonist an interesting lawyer type of a tolerant, nonjudgmental pursuasion. I found his underlying philosophy of life intriguing, apart from the drama of the story. I could hardly put it down and plan to read more of his books.
Jul 20, 2009
Susan
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The Burden of Proof was a big disappointment after Presumed Innocent. What might have been a great second story with Sandy Stern, another interesting lawyer character, turned into a long-winded not very interesting book. Not really enough in this to make up a novel, in my opinion.
Jun 10, 2011
Jesse
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The mystery was fine, but it's constantly interrupted by the rambling thoughts of the protagonist, a recently widowed middle age man. Really slowed the book down, and I really didn't get anything out of them. I'm not looking to find my purpose in life from a mystery.
Nov 07, 2010
Richard
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Mostly a long slow slog with much soap opera drama and very few courtroom theatrics or thrills. Turow is a gifted writer and Sandy Stern is a great three dimensional character but there's really not anything of interest going on here; Presumed Innocent this ain't.
Apr 27, 2011
Sylvia
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The Burden Of Proof was my first Turow book to read. It was not the typical legal thriller and not a page-turner for me. There were no cold-blooded murderers to defend, but a lot of attorneys talk analyzing the law. It is also full of the mechanism of financial markets and the concept of future trading. Too much boring parts than good parts.
Apr 07, 2009
Anne
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Purchased in the Buenos Aires airport from a very limited selection in English, this book was a perfect travel partner:a plot with twists and turns, balance of legal intracacies, family dynamics and moral ambiguity.
May 12, 2009
fyc
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This book was fun to read with all of its twists and surprises! It also stimulates one's intellect with its sentence structure and vocabulary. The characters are deep and reveal much about human nature.
Jan 10, 2010
Maria
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I saw the movie years ago, Though I remembered the plot pretty accurately, still enjoyed the book tremendously. Scott Turow is really a cut above the usual airplane-reading writer.
Apr 15, 2010
R.
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This was one of the most tedious books I've read in a long time. The ending was something of a surprise and thus a little redeeming, but overall this is not a book I'd recommend.
Jul 21, 2010
Patty
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While attorney Sandy looks into the cause of his wife's suicide, he is also defending his son-in-law from messy financial scandal and learning to live as a widow.
Apr 06, 2010
Adziah
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To unravels some problems may be easily quicken by sharing the truth confidently.
p/s: My son presented this book due to the day he visited Book Garden, USM,Penang.
p/s: My son presented this book due to the day he visited Book Garden, USM,Penang.
May 29, 2009
Kelly
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I liked Sandy, the lawyer in Presumed Innocent, so I read this because he's back in this one. Fans of John Grisham should read Turow's books.
Jan 21, 2009
Jackmccullough
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He can really move the plot along, but there is nothing of substance there. I really don't see what all the hubbub is about this guy.
Jun 04, 2010
Cheri
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well, Turow did it again. I just finished Innocent, his newest one. That book was so great, I am now on a Turow kick. What an author!!!!
Aug 19, 2011
MaryEllen
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Very interesting, cute and funny! A hugely loveable main character that you will miss when the book is finished!
Jul 05, 2011
There are some twists I've enjoyed. I wonder if Sandy's girl friend got the same disease as his wife or Dixon.
