Rating: 
Summary: Less than Presumed Innocent, but better than Grisham.
Review: Yes, this book is complicated and long. But for those with a keen literary eye, it delivers. I've been so disappointed with recent John Grisham novels that I found the weightiness and substantive content of this Turow novel very satisfying. I would agree with those who say that this book transcends the genre. This is no mere courtroom drama or legal thriller. It's really several novels in one; the flashback sequences to the 60s could even stand on their own. As a post-60s Gen Xer, I was intrigued with the seemingly eyewitness account of what life was really like back then. It is possibly true that this book may be a bit long. Yet I was so impressed with Turow's narrative voice and the authenticity of such a diverse cast of characters that it held my interest. A good deal of thought and research went into this one, and it really warrants a more thoughtful read than your average formulaic legal drama. Two thumbs up.
Rating: 
Summary: A Mixed Bag
Review: While giving the reader twice the substance of a Grisham novel, Turow also manages to deliver half the suspense. The book is filled with complicated characters who wear out their welcome after the first three hundred pages. Even though Turow has many clever and even humorous moments, the plot simply runs out of steam by the end. This is quite unfortunate since a streamlined version would have been powerful and memorable. As is, it is only marginally satifying.
Rating: 
Summary: Snoring and disappointing
Review: I have to admit that I listened to the audio version first, then for what I have yet to determine reason, I punished myself with the book. I was so disappointed. A waste of time. I had eagerly awaited the tapes for a cross country motoring trip. I had to listen to it on a personal cassette player or wear earphones when I used the builtin player because my husband thought it was so boring he couldn't drive and stay awake! I had trouble as well listening to the tapes and reading the book! I finally got through it, but I think it was mostly because we were on vacation.
Rating: 
Summary: Sloppy, dull
Review: I agree with others who find this over-written. I was also SO annoyed with the typos and grammatical errors that riddled the book. NOTE TO TUROW - learn the difference between "which" and "that." I returned it to the library only half-read.
Rating:
Summary: A book for the right person
Review: When I first started this book, I read the reviews of other readers and was amazed by the variety of responses. I was curious to see what my own response would be. If you want a "nothing but the facts" straight whodunit, this is not the book for you. However, if you want a book in which the characters slowly unfold before your eyes the way people do in real life and scenes that are so real that you feel as though you are there, then this is the book for you. An added bonus is the reminder of the 60's. It doesn't matter if you were an Okie from Muscogee or a hippie in San Francisco or anything in between, you were a part of what was going on and had an opinion. For those of us old enough to remember, it brings back memories of where we were. For those not old enough, it can open a door to where your parents were. You do have to love reading as the book is long and unfortunately, the beginning is a little bit slow and confusing. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it for the right person.
Rating:
Summary: MUDDLED
Review: I am an avid reader of legal novels and I found this to be one of the worst I have ever picked up. I too was seduced by the outrageous comparision to "Bonfire of the Vanities" and "The Big Chill, both of which I thought were great entertainment. This book no way compares to either of those books. I liked Turrows early novels. Sometimes an author who is successful just get "too full of himself" and fails to reach out to his readers. I am just glad I picked this book up in a used book sale for half-priced. At least I didn't waste too much money on it!
Rating:
Summary: Rich, dense, compelling
Review: I'm astonished with some of the negative reviews from readers. To them all I can say is, stick with Grisham. Turow expects more from readers. Multi-layered plotting, rich characters with personal histories, complex motivations. Don't expect a light read. I enjoyed this one as much if not more than previous Turow works. If you want something more satisfying than a page-turner, give it a try. If you simply want a straight-forward courtroom thriller, take a pass. The rewards from this book are more lasting, but more demanding.
Rating:
Summary: Flawed, but Turow's gifts carry the day
Review: Presumed Innocent is a classic, but I disliked Burden of Proof. This book was long, and the Sixties sections were overly talky, but the way Turow wove many of his past characters into an intricate, compelling plot was masterful. Turow has a gift for capturing dialogue, especially in the scenes in the projects. I could not put this book down because I wanted to know what really happened during the opening crime scene. It is so far beyond the typical quality in this genre (Grisham, Patterson), that I am surprised by the bad reviews here.
Rating:
Summary: Boring, boring, boring
Review: I agree with most of what's already here--that is, with the reviews that gave it less than a 5. I wanted to add this: It's the only book I've ever read that I put down with 10 pages ago and didn't care to pick it up for about a week. Finally I finished it just to get it off of my bedside table. For a Turow book, this is amazing. I just didn't care at all what happened to these people. I feel like an idot for wasting my time. Perhaps if 200 pages were cut out of the book it could have been something. Maybe the novelization of the movie script?
Rating: 
Summary: Great book!! A must read for legal buffs.
Review: The book starts off slow .... but builds steam swiftly. Legal Thrillers are my favorite. This is surely a rollarcoaster ride of emotion.
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