To those who are willing to look beneath the
surface in the search for truth.
Your perseverance will be rewarded.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
(Proverbs 25:2)

Robert Whitlow’s latest faith-based legal thriller is also a medical thriller. David Cobb and his father, Carter Cobb, have a small law practice in Raleigh NC. David’s sister-in-law, Katelyn Martin-Cobb, joined a large DC law firm after graduating from law school. She finds herself in the midst of a major career change at the same time as Carter’s health takes a turn for the worse. Arriving home to support her father-in-law, the Cobb family of lawyers find themselves handling a medical patent suit.

David and Katelyn are exploring the place faith will have in their lives - both personally and professionally. Emerson Chappelle, the antagonist in the story, will be facing similar decisions before the story ends.

This reader found the story intriguing - worthy of my time. The author weaves in themes of spiritual obedience, grace, forgiveness, and family; and he does it well. Robert Whitlow lives up to his reputation in this 5-star book.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

David Cobb and his father, Carter, are partners in a family law firm. While practicing law, both are more than happy to share the gospel along with their legal advice. When longtime friend and client, Zeke, sees his own home remedy being touted by a big pharma company, he’s ready to fight, after all he holds the patent. David is out of his league on this one and hopes that his sister-in-law, Kathryn, an up and coming high powered attorney, will step in and help out. When circumstances change for all, the Cobb family must work together to not only help Zeke, but to save their family.

Katelyn Martin-Cobb loves her fast-paced, demanding job as a litigator with a high-priced Washington, D.C. law firm. Except it doesn’t leave her much time with Robbie, her outdoors-loving husband. Just when she thinks her dreams of fast-tracking to a partner position will come true, a series of events makes her question everything she thought she wanted.

It’s taken Robbie Cobb longer than most people to settle down and figure out his passion and calling in life. As he feels pulled back to the faith of his youth, he wonders where God will lead. When his father has a life-threatening brain hemorrhage, Robbie rushes home to North Carolina.

David Cobb and his father Carter have a family law practice where they can focus on helping small business owners. David sees his job as a calling, and his unorthodox dependence on prayer rather than logic leaves some people shaking their heads. He and his wife Nan and two children enjoy living close to Carter and the slower-paced life of a small-town law office.

Zeke Caldwell, a local pharmacy assistant, and self-taught naturalist takes out a patent for one of his home remedies. When he realizes a major drug company has infringed on his patent, he goes to David for guidance.

None of them realize danger lurks closer than they ever imagined. What happens when David prepares to take on Goliath?

What I Liked About This Book

Whitlow creates a story that is half Jan Karon and half Cara Putman. The author spends a fair amount of time character-building. Readers will enjoy the spiritual transformations in both Katelyn and Robbie. They may also get impatient if they anticipate a suspense element (on a scale of 1 to 10, the suspense hovers around a three).
If you love mild suspense and enjoy stories where characters mature and change in unexpected ways as God works in their lives, this affirming story will bring you hope.

I Really enjoyed this legal mystery by Robert Whitlow. He has the unique skill of weaving a great story that keeps you wondering amidst intrigue and legal challenges with great characters who draw you in with the deep human dimension of their own struggles and transformation. This one hits on some interesting matters of aging and relinquishing control as well as just what happens as families grow and mature and the struggles that adult siblings often encounter. A solid and enjoyable read.

Relative Justice
by Robert Whitlow
Pub Date: April 12, 2022
Thomas Nelson
Thanks to the author, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for this great ARC.!
For the attorneys at Cobb and Cobb, the pursuit of justice is about more than legal expertise; it’s a family matter.

David Cobb is not a typical lawyer—he’s more interested in dispensing God’s wisdom than pertinent legal advice. High-stakes litigation is way outside his comfort zone.
This is a stand-alone novel and the publishers provide book club discussion questions.
I really liked this book and am glad to recommend it.
4 stars

Relative Justice, by Robert Whitlow, is a contemporary Christian legal story that focusses on the Cobb families. David and his father have a law office in a small town in North Carolina. When a legal matter comes that they are not prepared to handle David; contacts his brother’s wife, an attorney in Washington D.C.

This is a great story that has multiple situations going on at once. David is trying to help a family friend, his father becomes ill, and Katelyn is at a turning point in her career. I enjoyed the family dynamics, the care they have for each other and how they pull together in time of need. This is a heart warming family story that kept me reading to see what would happen. The is also mystery and suspense with Zeke’s home remedies and what has happened with it.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

This is one of the best stories I’ve read in months; author developed well-rounded characters, and each chapter made me want to read more

I've read most of Whitlow's books over the years, and get really excited about any new ones--especially because they're often few and far between. Like Jan Karon, he takes a while to write them--which is fine! (And it beats the alternative, lol.) Please, take your time and do the story justice (no pun intended, given this book's title :D).

To sum up my thoughts on this book, I must turn to the glorious TV series "All Creatures Great and Small." As Siegfried Farnon once put it, in S2E14, "It's a good cake...but if you'll permit me, I am bound to say, it's not up to your usual standards."

The plot was interesting enough, and actually had great potential--especially in this day and age. But the climax and ultimate denouement unfortunately fell flat for me; with all the build-up, I came away with "Is that all we get?"

Whitlow spent much more time than I recall from other books examining characters' thoughts and actions, telling much more than showing (an unfortunate pet peeve of mine) everything that was going on. I would have liked less detail on that end, with the word count saved for the actual action--and/or visible change in the characters. Two of them in particular, development and significant change in their faith lives apparently occur, but I didn't personally find it entirely believable. I just couldn't connect with them from the get-go, though I wanted to.

So...it's just an "okay" read from me this time round. I'd recommend "The List," "The Witnesses," or "Chosen Land"/"Chosen People" instead for your Whitlow fix.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Great story for readers who enjoy legal fiction. The legalise was a little hard to follow at times. Loved the characters! Katelyn and David's differences in law practice meshed well together. I loved Ernest's desire to help others with his concoctions. Listening and following God's word was reflected throughout. Positive story with a predictable outcome but very enjoyable.

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, to search out a matter is the glory of kings." Proverbs 25:2

The characters are what made me really, really enjoy this book. (I hope they come back again in another book.)
The Cobb Family
Carter, the family patriarch, whose life takes an unexpected twist but still has wisdom to add
His youngest son, Robbie who has had a few second chances and finally gets what life is all about
Katelyn, his wife, who is a brilliant lawyer and is also getting a chance to determine what her priorities are going to be
Carter's oldest son, David, who has an interesting perspective on how to operate his law office
Nan, his wife, who keeps her family going through service, sacrifice and prayer
Their kids, Andy and Courtney, who definitely add their part to the story
The ones with the case
Zeke who wants his home remedies to help heal others
Emerson who wants to continue to gamble and stay one step ahead of everyone
Plus the extras who add their own part

I would classify this book as Southern fiction with a legal element and a bit of suspense. Faith also plays a role. I think why I enjoy Whitlow's books so much is because they feel real. I feel like I am stepping into situations that could actually happen. Perhaps he is able to write in this fashion because he is an attorney himself. The plot does not feel forced or hurried.

The readers get a glimpse into how law is put into practice. I found the behind-the-scenes details fascinating. The key case in this one involves determining whether a patent for a drug was violated. Evaluating a set of chemical compound combinations is complicated.

I wanted to keep reading because I wanted to see how everything was resolved. But I also wanted to savor the book because the story was so enjoyable. I was not quite ready for it be over. Hence the reason why I hope there is another book written featuring the Cobb family!

I was provided a copy of this book through NetGalley. I wanted to read and review it. All opinions are my own.

Relative Justice is an intricate legal thriller that is intelligently written and complex. The author’s legal expertise is evident, and the characters are well-developed and admirable.

The plot is centered around a stolen and lucrative pharmaceutical patent that the Cobb family of litigators is called in to assist with due their ties to the creator. The problem, however, is much more heinous than that. Not only does the case unify the somewhat splintered family in its cause, and allow them to dispense timely and crucial legal guidance, it also provides an opportunity for them to share their faith in practical and helpful ways.

This story has a strong faith message at its core, which is inspiring and clearly and compellingly stated. The conflict is tense and intriguing. Though it’s a bit dense in parts and somewhat complicated, it’s an impactful and interesting story, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the free advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy a good legal thriller and Robert Whitlow can be counted on to produce one. His newest release, Relative Justice, is another in a long line of captivating reads. The legal case that is involved in the story is fascinating. It involves patent infringement in a pharmaceutical case. I enjoyed all the nitty gritty of the case. But I have to say that my favorite part of the book was the dynamics of the relationships of the family members involved.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Mr. Whitlow for the advanced reader copy. ARCs are invaluable when books aren't reviewed by professional library journals. I was able to assess the content of this title and determined it met our materials management policy for addition to our collection. Thanks again!

Relative Justice is a legal thriller in which big city lawyer, Katelyn, leaves D.C. to join her husband's family in Wilmington N.C. She joins her brother's and father-in-law's firm to assist with a case of patent infringement.
A local ,Zeke Caldwell, has been making his own remedies for years and has never been able to patent them . Now a patent is pending for a medication that is remarkable similar to one of his remedies. The characters are likeable and well developed. What I think I liked most about this story was the way the author showed how God worked things out and not in ways we would have imagined. Robert Whitlow never disappoints!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Robert Whitlow is known for his compelling legal thrillers. In this stand alone, Relative Justice does not disappoint. The characters are believable and relatable. Robert Whitlow shines a light on patent infringement. The faith of the family is shown in a natural way and one that impacts all aspects of their life. This fast-paced story is a winner for readers who enjoy legal thrillers.

I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas Nelson Publishers, in exchange for an honest review.

I recently found that I like legal thrillers after reading some by another author. While this is my first book by Robert Whitlow, it won't be my last!

The characters were a nice mix of good and not so good people. I enjoyed the fact that it is a Christian book--no holds barred! It wasn't one of those books that claim to be Christian with characters who rarely pray, or have the people traveling down a slippery slope while claiming to be Christian. In this book, you get the real thing, including people who never thought about religion but because of other characters in the book, they warm to the idea.

I also enjoyed the legal aspects. Since I am not familiar with lawyers, I found the book to be rather educational in that department. It wasn't so filled with legal terms that I had trouble following; it had just he right mix of information for someone who would like layman's terms.

This is very solid five star book.

Another very interesting story by Robert Whitlow! I really love the family in this story!! I find the case quite fascinating as well. Robert's writing is matter of fact, and I think it's refreshing.
Thanks so much for the advance copy given to me by the publisher and NetGalley! The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Another exciting, inspiring offering from expert storyteller Robert Whitlow! I was immersed in this stirring legal drama from beginning to end. Detailed descriptions of legal strategies evidence the author’s legal expertise and make the story come to life. The amazing, well-crafted characters capture your heart and touch your soul. What I like most about this book is how faith plays such a significant role in the lives of the Cobb family as they are faced with difficult personal and professional decisions. I love David’s determination to follow God’s leading and how Katelyn’s spiritual journey evolves. I totally enjoyed this read and highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a great Robert Whitlow book! I couldn’t put it down but I also didn’t want it to end. The story itself was very interesting and captivating. The characters were very believable and natural. I want to be friends with Katelyn and Nan. I want Carter to be my favorite uncle and David and Robbie cousins. Robert Whitlow books are like that. They pull you in so that you don’t want to have to leave the story or the characters. This is a book about a small town, some of the people that live there and the legal issue of one in particular. It’s not boring legal-ese but interesting, thought-provoking legal drama. And, as in any Whitlow book, there’s some Christian aspects of the story. Not over the top, preachy aspects but just enough to make you smile to yourself and say…”and all God’s people said’Amen!’” Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review. THANK YOU

David Cobb is not a typical lawyer—he’s more interested in dispensing God’s wisdom than pertinent legal advice. High-stakes litigation is way outside his comfort zone. For many years Zeke Caldwell has been concocting home remedies made from natural ingredients found in the coastal marshes near Wilmington, North Carolina. One of his remedies proved so effective that he patented it with the help of David’s father. Now he suspects a big drug company has stolen his formula. What he doesn’t know is that the theft has deeper, more evil roots. When Zeke asks David to help fight the drug company, David knows the suit is beyond his expertise and experience. But his sister-in-law, Katelyn Cobb, is a rising star attorney in a prestigious Washington, DC, law firm. The courtroom is her second home. Could she help? Would she even consider it? Life’s circumstances compel the lawyers to face, not only patent piracy, but personal obstacles and struggles that threaten to rip apart the fabric of the family. The fight for Zeke requires all the relatives to unite for justice.

I got introduced to Robert Whitlow in my church book club and have been a fan ever since. This book is no exception. Whitlow has legal expertise which shines in this novel about patent infringement, but he also shines in his perception of family relationships and how to mend them. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me the privilege to read this book.