Burden of Proof

September 14, 2020
Christy Award winner Bunn (Outbreak) delivers another riveting inspirational centered on a murder. Ethan Barrett, recently diagnosed with terminal cancer and given a month to live, is filled with regrets over broken relationships and, particularly, the argument he had with his brother, Adrian, just before Adrian was murdered 35 years before. Ethan is shocked when Adrian’s widow, Sonya, a neurobiologist, shows up and announces she has developed the technology to time travel. She asks Ethan to help save Adrian’s life by going back in time, even though doing so will result in his own death. Having nothing to lose, Ethan welcomes the opportunity to exchange his life for his brother’s and is sent back to 1985. As he races to uncover the identity of the killer, he also seizes the chance to make better decisions and treat others with compassion and generosity. Bunn’s imaginative thriller combines propulsive plotting with sharp observations on what it means to live a good, faithful life. The author’s fans will love this entertaining story of tragedy and redemption.

October 1, 2020
Professional surfer Ethan Barrett is dying of cancer when his sister-in-law, Sonya, a science researcher, and her daughter, Delia, unexpectedly reappear in his life. Sonya has found a way to electronically scramble brains and send people temporarily back in time. Ethan knows he's facing a death sentence either way, but if he can go back, he may be able to stop the murder of his brother and possibly make amends to his former wife. So he agrees. The transition back to 1985 is painful, but armed with knowledge of the future and a bundle he won on betting on a major sports event (after all, he knows who won), Ethan is ready to reroute his life. He quickly hires security for his brother and tries to find the potential murderers, who seem to be behind a lawsuit against Sonya's fledgling company. The science is a little sketchy here, but it's fascinating to watch Ethan facing his reckless past with newfound maturity. Versatile Bunn (Tranquility Falls, 2020) does a good job setting up moral dilemmas and letting his characters rise to the challenge.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)