The Keeper….. the 4th book in a fantastic series by Charles Martin. Bones is one of my favorite characters of all time. He is “ the keeper of the record, and the keeper of the light.” Bones and Murphy are two of the most selfless humans. When asked why they risk their lives over and over again their response is…… “ because the needs of the one outweigh those of the ninety-nine.” Their fight is against human traffickers. They are determined to save the victims no matter the cost to themselves.

I absolutely love Charles Marin’s writing style and I love his characters. He never disappoints. I would love to see this series made into a movie or a tv series.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend the Murphy Shepherd series and would read them in order. I also recommend all of Charles Martin’s books,

EXCERPT: PROLOGUE
Somewhere on the dark web in an encrypted chat room:
MAN 1: "Money received. Target address?"
MAN 2: "See attachment."
MAN 1: "Security protocols?"
MAN 2: "Same package."
MAN 1: "House schematics?"
MAN 2: "Same."
MAN 1: "Target?"
MAN 2:"Three. And I want them all."
MAN 1: "Collaterals?"
MAN 2: "The mother. Hands off. Not to be harmed."
MAN 1: "Dogs?"
MAN 2: "Yes."
MAN 1: "Trained?"
MAN 2: "Very."
MAN 1: "Father?"
MAN 2: "Away."
MAN 1: "Secret Service?"
MAN 2: "Make a statement."
MAN 1: "Define 'statement'."
MAN 2: "Leave bodies."
MAN 1: "Orders following extraction?"
MAN 2: "Photographed. Then taken and held at this address until further notice."
MAN 1: "And once there?"
MAN 2: "Keep them alive."
MAN 1: "Any restrictions? I need to be specific with my men."

A pause.

MAN 2: "The spoils of war. Enjoy the fruits of your labor."
MAN 1: "Much obliged."
MAN 2: "Pleasure doing business with you."

ABOUT 'THE KEEPER': Murphy knows Bones didn't hesitate to give his life to stop the evil perpetuated by his brother, but there's still work to be done. Though Frank is gone, his organization is not, and almost even before Bones's funeral in Arlington is complete, Murph receives a call that the three daughters of presidential hopeful Aaron Ashley have been taken and there are no leads.

The girls' lives on the line and time is of the essence. But Murphy has never done this without Bones. How can he grieve his friend and mentor, figure out who he is without Bones, and navigate a new role for himself with team . . . all while putting total focus into finding these daughters?

When his daughters are finally rescued, Ashley steps back from the presidential race. But Murph knows something about the timing is a little too convenient for the senator who steps in to take his place. The far-reaching tendrils of Frank's organization are entangled even here, and Murph and his team will stop at nothing to root them out.

MY THOUGHTS: I love Charles Martin's writing and have enjoyed this series but think this may just be my last visit with Murphy Shepherd.

The Keeper is very long and repetitious. There is one very long section basically pasted and copied from the previous book, The Record Keeper. I commented in my review of The Record Keeper that I had 'a few rolled eyes at the pages detailing bullet trajectories and other technical information (just a tad TOO MUCH, Mr Martin), and I have exactly the same comment on The Keeper - FAR TOO MUCH TECHNICAL INFORMATION, Mr Martin. If you are a reader and not an aspiring marksman, just how many lectures on bullet trajectories does one person need?

And again, far too much information in the blurb. It's okay to know that the three daughters of the US presidential hopeful, Aaron Ashley, have been kidnapped. It ruins the tension of the read knowing, before we even start, that they get rescued.

Other than the unwarranted repetition and excess of technical information, The Keeper is action packed and beautifully written. I applaud Charles Martin for his recurring themes of the fight against human trafficking and the rehabilitation of the trafficked. In The Keeper, Martin also highlights the abuse of power and trust.

I love Charles Martin's beautiful and empathetic writing. Even during the darkest moments of this narrative, the was always the light of faith, love and hope shining. While I may be parting company with this series, I will continue to read his stand-alones, of which 'Chasing Fireflies' is so far my favorite.

If you are a fan of technical thrillers, the Murphy Shepherd series is for you. But please do start at the beginning to get the full benefit of the history between Murph and Bones and their relationships with the other characters.

I was able to complement reading with listening to The Keeper by Charles Martin and narrated by Jonathan Riggs. As always, Riggs narration is superb. Please note that the repetition of large chunks of information and all the technical intricacies detailed mean that this is an extremely long book. The audio is 14 hours and 52 minutes in length, the book in excess of 400 pages.

⭐⭐⭐.5

#TheKeeper #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Christy and I married in 1993. If you include dating, I’ve known and loved her for more than half my life. She is and always will be the home for my heart. We have three boys. Charlie, John T. and Rives. Folks often ask me, which of my books do I like the best. You might as well line up my sons and ask me who I love the most.

My hobbies are bow hunting, working out (a blend of old school stuff and martial arts, called Fight Fit) and Tae Kwon Do. In October 2012 I earned my black belt but I’m still the least flexible person you’ve ever met. The guy that trains me, laughs everytime I start warming up. My boys are far better at Tae Kwon Do than I but I doubt they have as much fun – I get to do and watch. They just do.

I also like to write, but that’s another story. (source - charlesmartinbooks.com)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC and an audio ARC of The Keeper by Charles Martin for review. The audio ARC is narrated by Jonathan Riggs. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Not read any books by this author before and from turning the first page I realised this was book 4 of the series. Read the first few chapters and wow it sucks the air out of where it punch's. Decided I will read the other books in the series first but can tell if they are as good as the first few chapters of this book I will so enjoy them, characters are great and the story is so well written
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Thomas Nelson Fiction for the introduction to a new author and the exciting first few chapters of this book, bring on the first three and then back to this book.

This is the fourth installment in the Keeper series, which do need to be read in order for full understanding and context. Charles Martin is a favorite author for a reason...he crafts stories with beautiful prose, lots of depth, a faith-based message and characters who make real mistakes with messy, relatable pasts and hope for the future.
There are some surprises in this one sure to bring a tear or two. Like the others in the series it had action scenes and strategic lead-ups in the continued fight against trafficking. I am so glad Martin does not shy away from this topic and puts it out into the light.
I also love Martin's Southern-style stand-alone novels and can't wait to hear when that next one might be. In the meantime hopefully we'll get to see some more of his stories adapted for the big screen!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

"We are in the business of hope."

Murphy and his faithful canine Gunner are battling the bad guys once again. The main storyline involving a Vice President and his three teenage daughters is an engaging one. The frequent glimpses back in time could have been scaled back quite a bit. It was the present day that captured my interest.

This conclusion to the series is full of heart and the triumph of good over evil.

I look forward to what the talented Charles Martin will release next.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced copy of The Keeper.

Murphy has just lost his mentor and best friend but he has no time to grieve because he has to get back to work of saving children. There is a plan in motion to abduct the daughters of a very high profile family. Murphy must stop them before it is too late.

I wish I would have known that this was part of a series because I think I would have connected to the characters more if I had read the other books. It does talk about the horrible atrocities of human trafficking in a very respectful but truthful way.

Similar to the other books in this series, this story is filled with hurt and darkness due to the trafficking plot, but also hope and healing as part of the journey after being rescued.

I actually enjoyed the flashbacks of the start of Murph’s journey. It was nice to see how helping others was just part of who he was and though he struggled with the harsh realities of the path he chose, he could not help but step up.

With action and secrets and a few twists which caught me by surprise, this was an engaging read and a good conclusion to the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars (Outstanding)
Setting: From Washington, D.C., to dark corners of the world where human trafficking networks thrive
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

The Keeper is a powerful and fitting conclusion to an unforgettable series; oh, how I hate for this series to end!
It is a breathtaking, emotional, and deeply satisfying conclusion to Murphy Shepherd’s journey—one that is equal parts heart-wrenching and hopeful. Charles Martin delivers yet another masterful story filled with high stakes, relentless action, and profound moments of grace.

Murphy’s grief over losing Bones is palpable, and his struggle to carry on the mission without his mentor adds a depth of vulnerability we haven’t seen before. The weight of responsibility on his shoulders is immense, but in true Murph fashion, he doesn’t hesitate when faced with the impossible: rescuing the kidnapped daughters of his longtime friend, Vice President Aaron Ashley. The urgency of this mission propels the story forward, but it’s the quieter moments—Murph’s reflections on loss, love, and faith—that make the novel truly unforgettable.

Martin’s writing is gripping, balancing fast-paced action with deeply personal introspection. He doesn’t shy away from the horrors of human trafficking, yet he also weaves in hope, redemption, and the belief that even the darkest evil can be confronted. Murph’s journey is one of sacrifice, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of justice, reminding us that the fight for the one lost soul is always worth it.

This book—and the entire series—left a lasting impact on me. It’s rare to find a story that blends action, faith, and raw emotion so seamlessly. If you’ve followed Murph’s journey from the beginning, The Keeper will break your heart and heal it in equal measure. A stunning conclusion to an unforgettable series. #netgalley #thekeeper #booked_this_weekend

Thank you kindly to the author and publisher for an advanced copy of The Keeper! This review and my opinions are my own.

I am a big fan of Charles Martin's books, especially this series. While the beginning started off rather slow for me, the last 25% of the book was pure gold. I had a feeling Bones was not truly dead, but in some ways the author had me questioning that. When we found out he was alive and had "resurrected" it made me gasp. That part of the story was so beautifully written and carried on the true picture of Bones/Jesus. Well done, Charles!

David Bishop, AKA Murphy Shepherd, is a best selling novelist; writing is the way he processes life's difficulties and its joys. However, that is not all he is. As Murphy Shepherd he rescues people who have been abducted and trafficked. Shepherd says he rescues them twice, once when he knocks the door down, and again when he works to help them to be able to love and trust again as well as to once again feel worthy of being loved. This has been Murphy Shepherd's goal in life, placed in his heart by his beloved mentor, Ezekiel Walker, better known as Bones, throughout Charles Martin's Murphy Shepherd series of novels. The difference in this novel and its predecessors is that this one takes place after Shepherd has watched Bones' bullet-riddled body falling a hundred feet down a well shaft into a rushing underground river. Being forced to do this job when a close friend, and highly public figure, called saying all three of his daughters were abducted from their highly-secured home, is almost unimaginable without Bones there to accompany him, but with the support of his family, friends and colleagues, Murphy manages to do the unimaginable.

The Keeper is no less intense than any of the other novels in this series, all of which evoke strong emotions from the reader. Research says fiction reading builds empathy. These books exemplify that. Sometimes the reader will want to stop reading just to catch their breath and let their emotions calm down, but putting the book aside even for a short time is easier said than done. This series is best read in order; much would be lost in doing otherwise. If you haven't read any of the books in this series yet, you have the advantage of not enduring the wait until then next one is published, at least not until you reach this fourth book in the series. I give The Keeper five stars. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

3.5 stars, rounded down for too much repetition.

I love Martin's writing and I really like this series, but I felt like this book was much too long and repetitive. There is a huge amount of backstory and lots of telling. There's a bit of action but it gets really lost in the reminiscing and remembering. It could have been 100 pages shorter and still been very impactful.

This is the fourth book in the series and I think it is necessary to read the first three before this one as you will be incredibly lost as to who the people are and how they are connected to each other.

The faith message is beautiful and the examination of human trafficking, loss, grief, and power is both fascinating and touching. I have really liked this series, but I feel like the story is been there, done that, we need to move on now. I listened to most of this series as audiobooks, and the narrator Jonathan Riggs does a fantastic job giving voice to David's first person storytelling.

Overall I do recommend this series with its beautiful message about how valuable and important each person's life is and is worth saving.

I have been hoping for a 4th story in this series for what feels like forever! I am so glad Charles Martin decided to continue and give us The Keeper! I absolutely love his stories and this series is one of my favorites of his! I love Murphy and Bones, and their mission and that each and every secondary character adds such depth to this series!

I can’t really say a lot about this story since it is book #4 and I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say, I really loved how everything worked out in this book. The heartfelt way Mr. Martin writes just brings you into the story and has you rooting for these characters. Speaking of the characters, so many of them have grown and healed so much since the first book. I love to see the hope and the healing! My heart hurt for Murphy so much as he was trying to heal. The human trafficking parts, as usual, broke my heart and made me ache that this really happens.

I thought this was the final story in this series, but I love that the door was left open for more! I am so hoping this series continues. Do not miss these stories!

I received a complimentary copy of this story. All opinions are my own. The faith thread is light. 4 stars.

The Keeper, book four in the Murphy Shepherd series, begins days after the events in The Record Keeper. Murphy is suffocating in grief and regret that he couldn’t save Bones. After both a private and a public funeral for Bones, Murph is asked to help find the kidnapped daughters of the VP who is running for president. With almost nothing to go on and continuous memories of losing Bones hounding his dreams, Murph and his team start the search.

Important to note: if you haven’t read the first three books in this series, you will be completely lost. Also, this series is about sex trafficking. While the descriptions are in no way graphic - most are just hinted at - this is not a series for you if you are easily triggered. And it is not for the faint of heart. These are tough subjects handled delicately and graciously, but the horror comes through loud and clear.

Murphy is completely overwhelmed by his grief which causes the story to drag in places. Flashbacks to his training with Bones occur often, giving a sense of who both men are and why they do what they do.

This is also a story about redemption, the value of a human life, and what it means to love. While this is not an allegory, Bones is a man who was willing to give his life out of love for a brother filled with evil and in need of salvation. If you are know anything about the Bible, that story will sound familiar.

This is Christian fiction so expect references to God and faith.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to readers who like books that make them think.

Not family friendly due to the above mentioned storylines.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In true Charles Martin fashion, The Keeper did not disappoint! The beginning of the book starts off slower, and a little repetitive. But after about 1/3 it picks up and turns into the dramatic, uncertainty that we have come to know & love. He leaves the ending wrapped up but yet set up for more books if he wants. Wonderful story!

A new to me author, I disliked this book , not because of the subject matter - human trafficking - but the writing style.

I found it filled with pages of repetitious, tedious sermonising, memories and lectures. The character Bones was eulogized like a superman of sorts as was Murphy. That turns me off right away.

I was looking forward to enjoying a well paced, excellently written novel on human trafficking - a subject dear to my heart, but was disappointed.

There are amazing twists and turns in the plot and it is beautifully dramatized, but the repetitious sermonizing blather turned me off completely.

I kept feeling the writing was trying to ape better secular writers of suspense, but it failed miserably as far as I'm concerned...

Storyline - excellent. Execution - lacking.

I was given an ARC for me reading pleasure by @NetGalley and publisher @Thomas Nelson Fiction. However, the opinions are my own.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was a deep emotional read and not one for the faint of heart but definitely an emotional read. It may have some sensitive topics for some. Murph is mourning his mentor but the work is never done and his mourning may need to be placed on hold as another group of girls have been taken. As him and his crew rush to solve and capture those who wish to harm the innocent in the name of power, he will learn and discover more about himself than he ever thought. Summer of course is a stronghold through it all.

This was a great read and I am hoping to go back and read the previous books in this series.

The Keeper by Charles Martin is the 4th book in his Murphy Shepherd series. I have read and loved Martin's previous books, but had not read any from this series. It took me a bit to understand and follow all the references to what happened in previous books in the series and how all the characters fit together. But I was instantly drawn into the action and suspense in this story. Charles Martin is such a gifted writer, one of my favorites.
Even though much evil exists in this storyline, Martin weaves a beautiful storyline with his Christian values evident. And he really knows how to engage his readers. This series is a departure from his earlier books which were more Romance, whereas this series was more Thriller. Same beautiful, amazing writing though. Glad I read it!
Thanks to NetGalley from the advance copy.

The epic story of Murphy Shepherd continues in this fourth installment. The action takes us as far north as Alaska and all the way to Majorca with time spent in Colorado at Freetown, Washington D.C., and more.

If you have read the other three books, you will find yourself right back in the fight for the lost. Gunner, the German shepherd, is especially faithful in his service and earns his share of grilled rib-eyes. Murphy Shepherd is truly the hands and feet of the Good Shepherd as he gives his all to rescue children and women who are enslaved by the depraved.

All of our old friends are here with new characters added and new missions to be accomplished. In addition to the high stakes of saving the vice president's daughters, they are mourning the loss of Bones. Will the spirit of their leader inspire them to keep the rescue work alive?

This series is a mix of James Patterson and Nicholas Sparks plus a large serving of John 15:3. You will laugh, cry, and be inspired to love and pray for your neighbors.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is the 4th book in the Murphy Shepherd series. This entire series focuses on love overcoming evil and light casting out the dark. I love the whole meaning of this series, and how it has multiple heart wrenching messages throughout the books.

I really enjoyed this new installment to the series. The plot had multiple points to it that will keep you turning the page. I loved Murphy, Camp and Gunner being the main characters. I actually liked that this book focused on the main character's emotions and how much the ending of book 3 affected him. It also helped me have a deeper understanding of how and why Murphy can do what he does. I will never tire of these books!! They do focus on the topic of sex trafficking, so be aware of that before starting the books.

This one did seem a little repetitive a handful of times throughout the story. I felt like I read the same sentences and paragraphs a few times. But I still enjoyed it!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read and review this story. This review is my own opinion.