The Burden of Proof

Nobody wants to risk losing it all... Roger Ventnor has inherited his family estate. Its rundown state shows potential. Unfortunately, he also inherited all the debt, including death taxes. Roger knows he could lose everything. Unless, that is, he can marry well... Elizabeth Wheeldon is somewhat attractive, in love with Roger and wealthy. Through her, Roger can see glimpses of his future stability. News of the engagement spreads and banks are finally offering him the loans needed to restore the estate. Until an old flame contacts him... Margaret Stukeley is pregnant and the father is not interested. Reaching a state of desperation, she pleads with Roger for help with an abortion. Shortly after their meeting, Margaret is found dead and as one of the last people to see her alive, Roger is questioned. Everything seems routine in the investigation, until he is arrested and charged with her murder. No one will believe his side of the story. The speed at which the case proceeds is startling, however, all evidence is circumstantial. Why is there such a rush for a trial? Why are there no other suspects? Roger knows his innocence, but can he trust the system? Will justice be found before Roger loses everything? The Burden of Proof is overflowing with suspense, tension and the hunt for the truth, written by a master of the genre. Roderic Jeffries was born in London in 1926 and went to sea in 1943. Six years later he left that trade to become a lawyer. He again changed profession to become a writer. Since 1951, he has written over one hundred and sixty novels under his own name and several other pseudonyms. He began his career by writing books featuring his father's character, Blackshirt, a popular detective whose adventures have appeared in print for many decades. In time Jeffries branched out and began to write a variety of mystery novels under his own name and several pen names, including Peter Alding and Jeffrey Ashford.


Genre: Mystery