Burden of Proof

Author: Davis Bunn

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: November 3, 2020

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

Bunn continues to show why he’s a master at crossing sci-fi into other genres with this new legal thriller!

Ethan Barrett has been handed a death sentence by means of skin cancer.  His reflection on his life is anything except to be proud of.  He regrets his selfish decisions that have caused hurt to so many others.  His late brother’s widow unexpectedly finds him one day while he is making his final kayak paddle in Cocoa Beach, Florida and offers him an impossible, yet alluring offer.  As a neuroscientist, she can match his brain wave frequency that will have the effect to transport his consciousness back in time to a certain point where he will be able to pick up at that point in time with his future knowledge, giving him the chance to save his brother.  The only catch is, he will die, both at the present time and shortly after he transitions to the past.  With nothing to lose, can Ethan alter the course of history?

So, fun fact about me, I’m a huge fan of quantum mechanics research dealing with string theory and time alternation, so this book was right up my alley.  It wasn’t completely originally as Blake Crouch published Recursion last year, which had a lot of the same replaced consciousness perspectives, but I was glad to see that Bunn took this in a different direction and pushed it more into a legal thriller than medical based.  He doesn’t get too detailed in the science, so the average everyday reader will enjoy the story without getting too bogged down in the whole science of things like some geeks so as myself thrive on. 

One of my favorite aspects of this book is the theme of the prodigal son compared to Ethan.  It is a progressive retelling for sure, but he is able to realize his past for what is was and when given the chance, make amends and return to the family that he loves with forgiveness even when he doesn’t deserve it.  It has a resounding theme of treating others with kindness and truthfulness while not being selfish can cause a completely different relationship between people.  High recommended read for the end of the wacky year of 2020!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.