Burden of Proof is the start of the FBI Rapid Response series by DiAnn Mills.  It starts out in such a way as to draw readers in, but also to get them emotionally involved.  One of the readers in my house was looking over my shoulder and was caught up in the mystery and intrigue of the story.  The whole thing seems crazy, but it also demonstrates the desperation the characters feel. 

The unknowns keep the story going, but a lot of the supporting details are predictable.  Yet somehow the end results are uncertain.  Near the end, it seems like things will end a certain way and it is not quite what this reader is expecting.  Of course, as with all mysterious events, it seems like the story is headed a certain way, but the way things happen is a bit different.

The main characters are interesting and likeable.  Especially admirable is FBI agent April Ramos and her desire to bring justice and support truth over protocol.  She is an interesting character and her actions take a great deal of courage.  The other main character is Jason and as the story unfolds, it makes one wonder what could have happened had he decided to just allow the FBI to handle things.

Review of a Digital Advance Reader Copy

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Tyndale House Publishers

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  A man jumps off a roof to his death, this suicide is referenced several times; report of a man striking his wife and child, multiple references; report of a man being shot and killed, multiple references including the mention of blood; several scenes in which a person is threatened with a gun; report of a young man shooting a deer to bits just for sport; a person cuts someone’s arm with a knife; report that a person was transporting a dead body.

Sex/Nudity:  Non-married characters kiss and embrace.

Mature Subject Matter:

Domestic abuse, murder, kidnapping, death of a spouse, suicide, corruption.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Report that a person was a drug addict and an alcoholic.