So, so, SO good!!! Charles Martin might just be my favorite author. He has such a way with writing stories. His books make me feel all the feels, and this one was no different. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. Charles Martin always does a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

Liked:
- As the novel progressed, there were a few characters that joined Murphy Shepherd and became involved in finding Angel, a teenager allured by flesh dealers: people who sell and buy people. It's basically slavery. I liked the idea of a group of people, each with their own story, joining the mission, but having their personal reasons as well.
- The dog
- Cliche or not, there are some good quotes throughout the novel
- The idea that love is stronger than many failings and mistakes
- The idea that we all need a saviour. However, I would have liked to see this point made by pointing to God, not that much to a mere man. It is, after all, what we were all made to crave: a love that doesn't stop being poured over us, no matter what we do.
- Although very heavy, the topic is relevant. I learned things I didn't know about human trafficking and how the men involved in this operated. It might be uncomfortable to read, but to think this happens more often than we are even aware is sickening and heartbreaking

Disliked:
- too many coincidences, so that everything works out just fine in the end. Even the scenes where there are fights with the bad guys (the flesh dealers, as they are called) turn out fine. They were not the scenes that kept me turning the pages because despite the many bruises, cuts, shots, or hits the hero receives, he survives and is back on his feet in no time. And he manages just fine with little sleep and little food.
- the convoluted plot - adding more and more layers to the story was a bit too much. The lost wife (two times! but third time's the charm!) and the unknown-of daughter were too much. It's difficult to follow along at times, and I wasn't always sure what was real and what not, especially since we were told in the beginning he was going to scatter his wife's ashes. Turns out, we were reading a page from the novel the main character wrote. A story within a story. It takes a while to figure this out.
- the way Charles Martin portrays women will never cease to irk me: always weak, always in need of a saviour, always so easy to fall for the good-looking, physically strong man, albeit not that emotionally strong. I know Summer was a woman who needed saving, but repeatedly saying she touched him, she kissed him, she wanted to be near him, despite knowing him for few days, was bothersome.
- the man who is a saviour. I know that Murphy Shepherd is the human potrayal of Jesus Christ, I know this is the point of the novel. However, the only thing it seemed to underline is that a man can be a saviour all on his own. Oh, wait, not really. There's Bones, the man behind the action: he offers help unseen. I know there needs to be someone who saves the women caught in human trafficking, but hammering the invincibility and saviour-like persona of Murphy Shepherd was too much to read.
- there is a lot of description about the course Murphy took in his journey to find Angel. As someone who lives outside US, I didn't care for this, and I surely didn't Google it. In the same vein, all the details about all the boats - over my head & went in one ear and out the other.
- There are many details about many things, a clear sign the author did research, but it felt too much. I wish there wasn't the plot with the daughter or the lost & found (again! and again!) wife. Towards the end I couldn't wait to finish it, but I was still curious. Very possible I'll be reading the other books in the series.

DNF @ 10%
Really don’t care to learn about the geography of Florida’s waterways etc. Also, I don’t think someone dressed in shorts and a bikini top is considered too ‘provocative’ - especially for Florida.

I wasn't able to finish this book for a variety of reasons. The topic is NOT one of those reasons. I think authors should be tackling topics like human trafficking. Unfortunately, the way this author did it didn't set well with me.

As a Christian publisher, I felt the descriptive writing of the daughter showing herself to the main character and then her mother's lack of clothing in the shower and then in bed were just not necessary and seems like it was added to the story for the provocativeness of it. They both could've stayed dressed and the author could've still gotten the message across.

Then when I finally got to the part where the main character was swearing I just had to close the story and put it aside. I just couldn't handle what felt more like a secular novel than anything Christian. It was disappointing because the storyline was compelling and I actually wanted to finish it, but if I feel like I need to send it through VidAngel to then it's just not for me. I think if this were made into a movie it would get an R rating, which I just don't think is appropriate for those looking for books in the Christian genre.

You may think I'm "prude" for my thoughts on this, but my daughter works as a missionary overseas trying to help with human trafficking and I support friends who work in organizations who are trying to save people out of that life. So, the topic isn't one that I would avoid. It's completely only the added elements that just were not for me.

I accidentally read The Letter Keeper before reading The Water Keeper - but I'm glad I now know the back story of how Murph rescued the Summer and the sad death of his mentor "Fingers". Charles Martin's books are truly remarkable and leaves the reader inspired and wanting more at the end. He is a true storyteller!

Honestly, I'm really struggling to put together this review. I enjoyed the main storyline. I honestly did. However, I was so distracted by all the geographical writing about Florida. And what's funny is we lived in Florida and I know about 75% of the places Charles Martin talked about! I've been on a boat in the Intracoastal Waterway and we lived in one of the cities he passed through. It became more about Florida and all the places he passed and less about the human trafficking story, which felt off to me. This major thing was happening and he was busy discussing the tides. I wanted the story to be faster paced for what the plot was centered around, and yet it was slow and I found myself skimming the pages a lot.

I can see so much potential with this book that it frustrates me to give it a lesser rating. It just didn't work for me.

The Water Keeper by Charles Martin is a different sort of novel for this author. I started reading it with great expectations. I found the premise of the story interesting, even though it was very dark. Passages here and there were beautifully written as I expected, but the story never came together for me. The characters were not very likeable or believable. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

This novel is simply a thing of beauty. It has touched my heart like nothing I have read in the last few months (and during pandemic, I have read tons). There is so much understanding of what a brokenhearted state is, so much tenderness in touching the wounds both raw and (seemingly) healed, so much of that "foolish non-logic" that given the needs of the one the priority above all the sensible mind's words, safety and even own health. So much understanding what love is, or should be (and pointing to the source of that Love).

To me, Charles Martin's writing is uneven (still, great quality). I have loved "Water from My Heart", but I am more neutral towards "Send Down the Rain". But this novel is one of his best.

Murph is a man of secrets. Some kind of secret agent involved in the fight against sex trafficking combined with lone, suffering man. Wise romantic, sensitive good soul in the body of a man kicking out the doors and freeing the kidnapped girls. But Murph is much more than any Hollywood hero - because there is one true soul within him, to which you respond.
So, Murph is on another hunt - the one that will change him. Accompanied with beautiful mama Summer, dying old man Clay, wise dog Gunner and tough teenager Ellie, the unprobable squad hunts down the kidnapped Angel, Summer's daughter. And more, because their pasts are going to be revealed and maybe they are going towards the healing.

Ah, sure. When you read this book using your logic, there are glitches. I, as a Catholic, am scratching my head about the priesthood thing (and, ahem, hoping that he author just misunderstood some aspects). And there might be too much explanations and a few logical steps missing. But...when you read using your heart (and Charles Martin is really, really good at involving you from the first moment), the things change ad you just swim in the sea of healing and grace. And it is a much needed swimming.

Also, there is a second installment of this series on the horizon!

Recommended read.

I have enjoyed several of Charles Martin's novels. This one held my attention, but annoyed me. This is a good book as long as you don't think much. The main character just keeps on ticking though he has been blown up, shot and stabbed numerous times and goes without sleep. There seemed to be many improbable events in the plot.

I found The Waterkeeper by Charles Martin to be a book that I didn’t really like. I was really disappointed that I couldn’t get into this one. I found it to be sappy. I didn’t even make it past the first chapter. It seems to be written more for a female reader than a male reader. But it wouldn’t appeal to a woman either because it’s gory. It was trying to appeal to man’s adventure side but it missed the mark by drawing out the sentimentality of the characters. An example of this is taking 15 paragraphs for a man to die. The character had a bottle of wine in the middle of nowhere with a cracker that he had to take before he died. I found this ridiculous.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


***Also posted on Amazon

Martin’s writing never ceases to draw me in. This was like a cross between Taken and RED.

Murphy Shepherd lives a very unique life. Mostly in solitude, he lives on a island of the Florida Intercoastal Waterway in a seemingly abandoned church. He has a lot of past and present secrets. He is content with where he is at in life until he meets a young girl of about 16 named Angel. She barges into the church one night while a ship is docked up by his island. It quickly becomes obvious that she is drunk and likely high. Murphy figures that she is being trafficked out of Florida but doesn’t want to get involved anymore as he is trying to put that life behind him. There are only so many you can save. As he sets out to spread the ashes of his mentor in the sea, he begins to pick up a few strangers along the way. First is the most well-trained dog swimming along in the waterway. Next is a former dancer turned waitress who wrecks a small craft in the waterway, and finally is a terminal disease-stricken man found lying in an alley. As the story of his new shipmates unfold, he finds that they link to this young girl that stumbled in and out of his life a few nights ago. Murphy finds that he has one last adventure left.

Charles Martin books are so enjoyable. You can’t pick one up and not be drawn into the story almost immediately. This book was no exception. I quickly found myself wrapped up in a story that was almost a bit like watching the movie Taken with Liam Neesen. Then as the story tracked further, it was he picked up a few pieces from Island of the Misfit Toys that developed into RED. Needless to say, it was a thrill ride of a story.

Although the story deals strongly with human trafficking in the sex industry, there are several redeeming qualities throughout. Some readers may be a bit squeamish during some of the scenes, but the story that unfolds is well worth it. Murphy finally lets his wounds heal throughout the story and readers get to see the real side of him. I’m thoroughly excited to see that this is the first in a series. I can’t wait to find out what happens to these characters in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The story of saving others in hopes of escaping your own sadness was enlightening in a sad way. The main character, an author, writes adventure stories focusing on a priest and his lost love. He chases her around the world and she's always just out of his grasp. There are several wounded characters in the tale, including a mother-daughter duo of which the daughter has been kidnapped for the sex trade. I doubt I will ever visit the intracoastal waterway again, without imagining the horrors possibly aboard the yachts you see. I hope the situation along the coast is not as bad as the story suggests, but it might be that bad. Thus, it can be a story that pokes at your heart.

Heart rending, heart wrenching, heart stopping with bits of heart warming thrown in. I have no words to really describe how this book made me feel. The idea of human and sex trafficking being such a well-oiled and lucrative business is heart rending and angering. How could you be that evil? While this is a work of fiction, I have no doubt that it could easily be a true story.

"Love is an amazing thing. It takes the brokenness, the scars, the pain, the darkness, everything, and makes it new." Charles Martin really stresses that and also how water can be cut through, like with a boat, but it flows back together and you cannot tell anyone has been there. I am not entirely sure what Charles meant with this analogy, but to me it is a bit like having Christ in your life. He can take the brokenness and make a person whole and while the scars may remain, a peace and calmness can fill the life that is surrendered to God.

Murph was a broken man, but maybe he's finding healing, finding a new freedom, a true freedom. And yet the story leaves you with so many questions, it feels like it needs a sequel to continue what was begun in this book.

I really enjoyed this story, if you can enjoy a story like this. I about couldn't turn the pages fast enough. While the trauma and violence was minimize, I would still say that the book has triggers and to use caution.

There were parts that confused me and I am still not sure how it all fits together, but over all I just wanted to keep reading for another couple hundred pages and find out the rest of the story.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

If my child would ever go through what the daughter in this book does I would want someone like the hero to come after her and fight for her. This story deals with modern day sex trafficking. It is happening everywhere, all you have to do is look in the news. I know there are people out there risking their lives to save young girls and boys too and I'm so thankful for that. This story is full of hope, love, tears, forgiveness. A wonderful story.

Charles Martin does it again. The Water Keeper is a wild ride down the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida. Martin tackles the difficult topic of human trafficking on this book, and if I were to pick one author to take on that complex subject, it would be Charles Martin. He doesn't shy away from the horror and reality of it, bringing awareness to it and opening the reader's eyes to this travesty that is happening right under our noses. Murphy is such a complex character and it takes the entirety of the book to unravel him, but I loved his heart. Summer was also a great character, and the supporting cast did its job--supporting the main characters while still being colorful, lifelike, and unique. All in all, I cannot recommend The Water Keeper enough. I wouldn't suggest it for young readers due to the sensitive subject matter, but it's a must-read for all adults, I'd say! Well done, Mr. Martin.


FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

I was recommended this title, and so excited to be able to get a title thanks to Netgalley & Thomas Nelson, but for some reason it kept getting shoved futher down on my TBR!

I finally got to it, and I have to say once the action started, it was a surprisingly fast-paced title I enjoyed. I will say it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting from this particular title, but it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing - just a little predictable once it got going. 3.5 stars from me.

Thank you NetGalley and published for an ARC. Another 5⭐️ read from Charles Martin after 2018’s Send Down the Rain. This too was set in Fl. This time a thriller that takes place from north to south along the Intercostal as well as a story of broken people healing as they come together rescuing victims of a sex trafficking ring. Both lyrical and edge of your seat.

This was one of the books that kickstarted my latest reading binge. In the beginning, I found the story only mildly interesting and was reading only solely because I felt like I had to. The writing was smooth and introduced an enigmatic character who is alone and harbours a secret past. I had to give him a chance. It quietly led me to become very invested in what this man was doing.


On the flip side, the one thing that should not be studied too closely was the serendipity involved that brought Murphy to be involved in the first place as well as some later introductions, all too timely. The credit is given to a higher power, and that was believable because it went with the story.


In the mood that I was in, one other thing stuck out to me—the geographical descriptions of the location at all times. I have seen this often in some books written by men, and since I am not personally very vested in that specific aspect, I tend to skim those parts. There are multiple boat chases, and in each case, we always know the position of all the boats involved, every time there is a change. (e.g.: right turns,left turns etc.). That said the emotional quotient was pretty high. Everyone from the dog (especially the dog) to the last man in our little circle of misfits made at least one move during the story that had me tearing up.


It is a thriller of sorts, with Murphy and the gang on the hunt for a missing girl and some extra secrets. But more importantly, the book is about the very three dimensional characters. Some twists I saw coming, but that did not bother me in the least. It was still fun to watch it unfold.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Recommended! THE WATER KEEPER by Charles Martin thrashed me through a range of emotions. From laughter to deep sadness, from anger to happiness, Martin paced me through a wringer, anxious for that happy-for-now I hoped was coming. This time, I’m begging for a sequel because I don’t think this amazing story is done yet. At least I hope not.

Murphy is quite a protagonist. We learn about all the characters from his point of view and he’s sparse with the words sometimes. He reveals what he wants to for the moment, so you’re always wondering when he’s going to spill the beans and let you in on his secrets. The best part of this book is that Murphy is as surprised as we are when the truth comes down.

I did guess some of Murphy’s secrets early on, but that didn’t sacrifice my enjoyment of this book. It actually enhanced it because I wondered how his truth would finally be revealed.

This book isn’t fluff. It’s hardcore at times with a reality many of us don’t really want to know. Don’t stop reading, because truth is necessary and sometimes books help us understand what we don’t realize we need in our arsenal.

There are many enjoyable characters in this book. I loved all of Murphy’s tagalongs he picked up on his journey. They each played their part, but I was especially enamored by the brave dog. He was what we know dogs can be – protective, loyal, and resilient when it comes to their people.

I think this book will appeal to many different types of readers. It has the action-packed adventure that a male reader may love. Halfway through my review copy, I ordered the audible for my husband. This is the kind of book I think he’ll sink his teeth into, even though he’s not a huge fiction reader. Personally, I think it would make an amazing movie or series, and that would definitely appeal to him.

THE WATER KEEPER has some faith-based elements that will tug at your heart and hopefully, touch your life. It’s not preachy or overly religious, so if you don’t normally read Christian fiction, don’t worry – this should sit right with you. It makes sense as part of the story.

As for those who love relationship stories, this one left me with some significant feels. I cried for Murphy and others. Their endurance is a true testament to the human spirit. It sends a message of hope to the hopeless.

This book is very rough around the edges when it comes to the harsh reality of human unkindness. If you’re like me, it will make you angry enough to scream at the horrors of some evil. There is a special place for the bad guys like the ones in this story. Their punishment is well-deserved.

Finally, if you’re a boater, then you will LOVE the detail of Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway. We explore it thoroughly, and Murphy is a master captain who scared me as much as his passengers. I could feel the chop of the waves and my stomach flip-flopped.

There are a few over-the-top, unbelievable bits, but what grand adventure doesn’t include some things we find too outrageous to believe, even if they’re possible?

THE WATER KEEPER is full of heart, action, bad guys, people who don’t deserve the bad guys, and surprises that are fun to experience – both shocking and joyous. I highly recommend this book if you love twisty, gut-wrenching adventures with love entwined. Expect the unexpected is what I rely on from Charles Martin.

Review by Dorine, courtesy of TheZestQuest.com. A digital copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review.