Burden of Proof

Seattle attorney Daniel Raine is running out of runway. With his marriage dissolving and his law partner departing for the bench, Raine takes on what looks like a routine high-society divorce case involving a wealthy socialite and her even wealthier husband. The case quickly unravels when the husband turns up dead and all evidence points squarely at Raine's client. Forced into an uneasy alliance with a sharp-elbowed realtor who has her own agenda, Raine must untangle a web of motives and misdirection before the wrong person pays the ultimate price.

Adam Verner brings a measured, street-level credibility to Raine's voice that suits the Pacific Northwest setting perfectly. He navigates the novel's tonal shifts between courtroom tension and personal unraveling without overselling either, letting the procedural plot breathe at its own pace. At just over eight hours, the runtime moves efficiently, making this a strong entry point for the Rain City Legal series.