Guilty Until Innocent is a mildly interesting story of a charismatic young lawyer in a new firm after having been fired from two previous positions. The plot concerns the filing of a motion for appropriate relief for an inmate imprisoned for 26 years. There are diversions re a pregnancy, a heart attack and many dull passages about harmonica lessons. Before very long, the book becomes enmeshed in religion, prayers and Bible study. This reader found it extremely tedious and felt the book was incorrectly listed in the mystery and thrillers category instead of religion and spirituality. If properly categorized, I would never have read this novel but thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC.

Positive: It's a solid, enjoyable story.
Negative: Clunky dialog and, I can't put my finger on it, but something about the portrayal of women in the story rubbed me the wrong way.

This novel is an intriguing story about an old case and a young lawyer who slowly comes to understand that probably the wrong man was convicted.
A man convicted of murder in prison can be freer than those outside prisons. There's to hope than many like Joe are working from the inside and I believe that inmates often are more open to see that they indeed need a savior and forgiveness.

This is an intriguing legal thriller that will keep you guessing. It starts off slow but gives you a chance to get to know the characters before it really takes off.

Joe Moore is serving a life sentence for attempted murder but he has gotten to really enjoy prison life, as much as one can. He is a devout Christian and serves as ministry leader, so all of the other inmates trust him and like him. When one day out of the blue, his niece shows up for a visit, he is stunned to find out that she hired a lawyer to try and get him freed. Joe was strung out on drugs when the crime was committed so he can’t remember a thing about that night. When his new lawyer comes across some new information, things get very interesting. It seems that someone doesn’t want the truth to come out because both Joe and his lawyer are getting threats.

This is a riveting whodunnit and you’ll be antsy to finish this one for the thrilling ending. If you like legal thrillers, you’re sure to like this one.

The more I got into this, the harder it was to put down.A really good legal thriller filled with interesting characters some good, some not so.
It was a very unique read that left me thinking well after the last page.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC.

Besides the 2024 presidential elections, I had some personal issues going on and knew I needed something to read to keep me involved in the story. Robert Whitlow was the perfect solution. I am a big fan! This book is very good. Of course it is a legal-kind of mystery genre. It’s set in the south and the characters are definitely realistically southern. I am not going to write a review of the story but this could have really happened in the small town where I live. Paige and Ryan could go to our church. I wish the story had lasted a few more chapters so we could know more of the story. I will definitely recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy for my honest review.

This book reminded me that God can and does change people!

The characters are memorable, I love the double storylines. It is an amazing story with lots of takeaways for me and it will make such a good movie. It is a 9/10 for me

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are mine and freely given.

Every time I read a book by Robert Whitlow; I find myself thinking it's his best work yet. His stories are always intriguing and impossible to put down, keeping me turning the pages until the very end.
In his latest novel, we meet Ryan, a young attorney who just started a new job at a law firm run by a distant cousin. Recently moved to a small town in North Carolina with his wife, Paige, Ryan is eager to succeed after two earlier jobs in law that didn’t end well. He is committed to supporting his cousin Tom, who manages the firm's high-profile cases.
When the family of Joe Moore—convicted of murdering a prominent couple while under the influence—hires Tom’s firm to prove Joe's innocence, the case becomes the spotlight for the firm. Initially assigned to investigate, Ryan suddenly finds himself in charge when Tom unexpectedly ends up in the hospital with a life-threatening condition. With just two assistants to help him, Ryan feels overwhelmed but is determined to dig into Joe's case. He visits Joe in prison, where he discovers that Joe is surprisingly content, participating in Bible studies and making a difference for many fellow inmates.
As Ryan delves deeper into Joe's case, he realizes that his pursuit of the truth could endanger not only his life but also his wife’s and others around him. Although the risks are palpable, abandoning the quest for justice doesn't sit well with him.
This fast-paced thriller is a wild ride that’s hard to put down. The characters are both lovable and memorable, making for a captivating read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Joe Moore has been locked up for years for a murder he committed…or did he?

This story is so interesting! Robert Whitlow has done an excellent job weaving this story together. I love the radical change that has happened in Joe’s life and how God uses him to minister to so many, both in and out of prison. And, the mystery truly kept me guessing until the very end. I would definitely recommend this book!

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

What an amassing book. I was unable to put it down once I started reading. It filled me with courage and encouraged me to walk on the path God has for me today.

This book was amazing! It grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I couldn't put it down! Not only was the law information interesting and kept me reading, but the double storylines that intersected (Ryan, the young lawyer and his wife along with Joe and his friends) but I loved the mystery and suspense. Definitely an A+ rating and one I will be talking with to my friends. Needs to be a book club pick because there are SO MANY layers in this book to dissect.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from netgalley and was not obligated to write a review. All opinions are mine.

Would be such a great movie! I shared this story with my husband as I read it. I shared this story with my husband as I read it. He isn’t a fan of reading but loves to hear about the good books I am reading. I couldn’t read this one fast enough for him. It was a great book for discussion and so intriguing. I have found another great author through Netgalley. I look forward to enjoying more Robert Whitlow books. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are complimentary my own.

Very interesting read. My problem is that the beginnings just drags on and on.
Maybe would have been better use of the time developing the characters instead of all the scripture talk by Joe.

Thanks to NetGalley for advance c copy
3,.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this story. The writing is so good and the way this author incorporated scripture was refreshing to me.
I haven’t read anything by this author before and will be looking for more books by him. The twist and turns made me want to keep reading. A man who doesn’t know if he is guilty and a young lawyer come together to make this story interesting.
Thanks for the advanced copy.

Robert Whitlow writes Christian legal fiction. I have been a long time reader and was excited to see his newest available to request. Another reviewer called him the Christian Grisham and that is a true assessment. There is quite a bit of scripture woven throughout this story of a man so wrongly accused and convicted of a crime that even he believed he had done it. This is an engaging story that you just have to keep reading to see how it all plays out. Another winner by Robert Whitlow!

Guilty Until Innocent is written by Robert Whitlow (a Christian author) so quite naturally, it contains quite a bit of faith content including Scripture verses and prayers. The story is about someone who was accused and convicted of a crime that even he believed he had committed. He had been high on meth and did not remember the events of that night. A young lawyer who has lost a couple of jobs is given another chance by his uncle who happened to be the one who had defended the guilty party many years ago. When his uncle goes into the hospital with heart problems, this young lawyer must shoulder the burden of representing the felon whose family is trying to get his conviction overturned with a Motion for Appropriate Relief (MAR).

When death threats are made to the young lawyer and his wife, he knows he is on the right track but agrees to stop pursuing this case for the sake of their safety. Surprising twists and turns end the book.

There is no crass language, sexual content, or explicit violence. It was a very enjoyable read and kept me engaged throughout.


Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this one!!

Another great read by Robert Whitlow! His ability to weave story lines with issues that are relevant to today and keep the reader guessing until the end is unmatched! Love the way that he stands up for the gospel and presents people with truth in a way that every reader can appreciate and enjoy!

How this author is able to turn out unique book after unique book amazes me. I’ve been a fan for a long time, and this book further solidifies my loyalty. The story line was engaging, the characters likeable, and the faith element believable and winsome.

I haven’t read a Robert Whitlow for a bit, but I have some definite catching up to do. I think of him as the Christian Grisham. This is an awesome read and in classic Robert Whitlow style. Deserves way more than 5 stars. Now to catch up on what I’ve missed from him.

I received an advanced readers copy from Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

I have always loved books by Robert Whitlow and I’m sorry to say that this is not one of them. This is not a bad one, but it didn’t intrigue me as much as his other work. The book kind of chugs along with nothing that makes you want to keep turning the page. It’s an enjoyable read, but there was an unusual amount of telling instead of showing. I’ve never noticed that in Whitlow’s books before. He drops hints and I figured out who the bad guy was way before the end. That said, the spiritual (which might make people feel uncomfortable) and the prison aspect of the story are very interesting and I wonder if it is meant to be more about that than finding out who the player behind the scene is. Favorite character: Joe Moore, hands down. We can learn something from this man. True action and suspense can be found past the 90% mark. That’s a long time coming. If you’re looking for an edge of your seat novel, this is not it. If you’re looking for a wholesome novel centered around life with God, you’ve found it.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.