The Keeper is the 4th book that follows Murphy Shepherd and his team as they work to find missing girls.

The beginning was a bit slow to get through, and I feel like without Bones there was too much back and forth in Murphy’s decisions that caused the storyline to be harder to follow.

Thank you for the opportunity of an eARC, and I am leaving this review willingly.

Oh Murph, how I have missed you!! So a couple of good and bad things in this novel. I loved seeing the friendship between Murphy and Camp start developing into what Bones and Murph had. Camp brings out an extra layer to Murph’s personality. Seeing Aaron Ashley come back and have a greater role was an interesting plot line. Clay and Gunner, as always, are highlights.

Now for some of my not-so-favorite parts… there are a lot of flashbacks and repetitive scenes/language. It slows down the pace of the book. There are moments of action but much less than the first three in this series. This is more of an introspective book as Murph deals with the loss of Bones. As someone who has read the rest of the series, I felt like some of these flashbacks were unnecessary.

While I didn’t mind the pace being slower, it was just unexpected. I thought the last book should have been it, but with the ending in this one, I am hoping there is another installment.

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

Charles Martin has written another fantastic book. The plot is based on human trafficking and is fast paced and a real page turner. I definitely recommend this book.

This series overall is for sure one of my favorite sets of books ever. I was excited to find out it was continuing after the first 3, however, I was so conflicted on this book after finishing it.

The “new” parts of this book were fantastic. Same great storyline, characters, action, and struggles as the first 3. I loved the plot reveals, and while I had figured they were coming, rolled out in a great way and still offered a couple fun additions you didn’t know would show up. It also sounds like the series will continue, especially now that Camp has shown up as a new protege with a lot of skin in the game.

The difficulty I had was in the “old” parts of the book. Especially in the first half, there were a ton of flashbacks to the prior 3 books. Not just summarized recaps (which I’m all for) - verbatim, word-for-word, paragraphs or chapter majority sections of previous content. I’d maybe estimate 25+% of this book was from the previous books. It just made it difficult to get into and had me skimming because I knew all this already, and just wanted to get to the story at hand, which was frustrating.

I still love the series and that it sounds like it’s going to keep going which I’m all for. These are such a great mix of action, hope, great characters, and a little bit of romance, and I’ve enjoyed them a lot.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of these books. All opinions are mine.

"The needs of the one outweighs those of the ninety-nine." Another stellar installment of the Murphy Shepherd series by Charles Martin. I was super excited to hear that a fourth book was coming after reading the trilogy of the Keeper series books. This book will keep you guessing and has many plot twists and lots of action. Similar to the others, the focus on the atrocities of trafficking are detailed in a way easily understood, although it is sickening to digest the horrors that befall so many who are subject to such terrible actions. Martin shows with great insight the web of deception and evil that is so prevalent in our world today, and he also does a wonderful job of sharing what is means to have redemption, healing, growth, and an understanding of unconditional love. "Identity precedes purpose. You can't know who you are until you know whose you are. Belongingness matters."

I highly recommend this book to not only give you insight into the dark side of evil, but also how those enmeshed in darkness cannot truly know they are in darkness, as Martin describes, unless someone turns on a light, or becomes the light for them! Exceptional depth pointing the readers to the true Savior. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the early review copy. All opinions are my own.

Charles Martin always delivers such excellent stories and this one was no exception. The Keeper was thought-provoking and kept me emotionally invested. Though the topic can be difficult to read about, Martin handles it with care and provides hope that there can be healing and restoration.

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

The ability Charles Martin has to give you an action packed story with wit and charm from the narrator, while also weaving in deep emotional and inspirational paragraphs always amazes me. The Keeper is the fourth installment in this series. While it did start out a bit slow for me with lots of backstory from the previous books it was needed for the story. The first half of the book was 3 stars and the back half was about 8! Do yourself a favor and start at book one of this series and enjoy the ride! I hope Martin keeps the The Keeper coming!

I was equally thankful and torn in parts of this book for how much of the story was retold. I was thankful because it had been a few years since I had read the previous books in the series, but I was torn because there was a LOT of description and detail given to parts of the story previously told. It seemed at times that it was dragging out the book... I wanted to get on to the new parts of the story. Other than that, I liked the book very much and hope there will be more in this series!

In the fourth installment of the Murphy Shepherd series, Murphy must confront the evil that has brought down his best friend and mentor Bones. He must face the loss that has almost crippled him as he fights to find the kidnapped daughters of his friend Ashley, the Vice President of the United States. Evil abounds through the world of trafficked boys and girls and Murphy must rescue Ashley’s daughters without Bones by his side.

I could not put this one down. The characters are so real that you become part of the story fighting the battle of evil right along beside them. I cried, I laughed and I cheered Murphy on through his quest to once again fight the evil that exists at the hands of sick twisted and most often powerful people.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for my ARC.

I received a free copy of, The Keeper, by Charles Martin, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book 4 of in the Murphy Shepherd Series. Murphy Shepard is lost and grieving his best friend, mentor, Bones is missing. This book has a lot going on. It was an interesting read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! The Keeper by Charles Martin is an intense novel about a secret government agency who’s sole purpose is to find and take down human traffickers. But when one of their own’s children go missing, they will stop at nothing to get them back even if it means making a deal with a criminal. As Bones, one of the leaders of the secret agency, loved to say « the needs of the one outweigh those of the ninety-nine. The story was anything but predictable and I was surprised every time the story took a turn. It definitely kept me guessing. Overall, a great story!

The plot reminded me a little of the film White House Down, in which the underground forces attempt to assassinate the President and his men. The President is unsure who to trust. Then the A team arrives to protect him, and they are unable to determine who all the bad guys are; their tentacles go deep, just like in this novel. The vice president would have preferred taking a bullet for his daughters, then have them abducted by evil forces.

This was a fast-paced action-adventure story I couldn't put down. The subject matter is serious, and important. The author does a great job of explaining how sex trafficking works, and why it exists. it’s something I've never understood. Charles Martin shows how it takes a collaborative effort to keep up and stop traffickers, which explains why they’re hard to catch, and how they get away with so much.

I also liked the way the author talked about spiritual challenges in a natural way, with themes of grief, healing, love, and recovery, just to name a few. This novel is heart-breaking, yet a hopeful must-read.

This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend reading book one in the series first. You’ll have a richer experience. This novel makes for a wonderful book club pick. There is so much to talk about.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!

It is my fault that I jumped into this series with this book. It meant that for the first 10-15 % everything seemed unclear and jumped from point to point. But as soon as I got an idea what might have happened, things got clearer and quite suspenseful.
You want real heroes? Here they are, at an incredible measure. Bones is more than just a man. He's a model.
Human trafficking is a terrible problem and I wish there were such heroes, but I doubt it.
If you want to dive into this interesting series, start with the first volume.

Charles Martin

Murph hasn’t even had time to grieve Bone’s death before he is asked, well maybe not asked but it is assumed he will find presidential hopeful, Aaron Ashley’s daughters who have been kidnapped.

In flashbacks of his relationship with Bones, Murphy and his team tangle with Bones' brother Frank’s former associates.

I’ll admit I didn’t read the third book in this series, but I did the first two. As with the first two, there is a lot of information dumped on you. In some ways, it’s a good thing, and some not so good. I like solid characterization, and you can always expect this from anything Charles Martin writes. Even if it isn’t a faster-paced story like some of his more character-driven stories, he is detail-oriented.

This was a disappointment to me. It was too long, like 100-150 pages too long, and I ended up slogging through a lot of it. There were parts I did like but to be honest I didn’t learn anything new, and there was one part that I didn’t care for and thought was confusing. Yes, the good guy wins in the end, but a tighter plot and fewer pages would’ve kept this reader happier.

My gratitude to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson. All opinions expressed are mine and honest.

Thank you, thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of The Keeper! I am a huge Charles Martin fan and couldn't wait to continue reading about Murphy Shepherd. I love Mr. Martin's style of writing and how he can take such a dark subject and make it eye opening and informative.I believe this book will appeal to the mainstream market as well as evangelicals. Personally, I loved the occasional reference to scripture but not overly preachy. I have already told many they have to continue reading this series. I sure do hope this is not the end of Murphy and we will hear from him again. Thank you Charles Martin for being the gifted writer you are!

How I wanted to like this book. I have read everything by Charles Martin and have really liked most of them. Not all are my favorites, but I do enjoy his writing style. The problem I have with this one is it felt like Martin had a sermon he wanted to give, and this is it. There was way more "talking" instead of storytelling. To not give anything away I will use this example, At one point Murph goes to get ready for a mission and instead of packing and going, Martin has him touch almost every gun and go over the story of when and how it was used. Most of those stories we readers have already read in the other of the Shepherd stories.
I felt like I was just re-reading lots of the other 3 books throughout this one. So I am sad to say that I can't give this a glowing review like most of Martin's other books.

The Keeper is an introspective look at friendship, loss and overcoming the many facets of grief. In the fourth book of the Murphy Shepherd series, Murph must work without his beloved Bones to track down child traffickers who are very skilled at their jobs.

Charles Martin can weave one heck of a story. His writing is uniquely thoughtful and compelling. It’s near impossible to set the book down once you’ve started it. I highly recommend this 5-star book, which can also be read as a stand-alone.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the eARC.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. The Keeper is number four in the Murphy Shepherd series. I do love this series but I didn’t find this book to be quite as catching at the beginning. I do love that we are continuing on with characters that have already been established and basically picking up where the last book ended. This book ended with the premise that there is going to be another in my opinion. This book was very enjoyable and I look forward to the next installment if there is one.

This book will stay with you. It will stay on your forever shelf and on your heart. A great book in the series or even as a stand alone. Murph and Bones share so much words of wisdom and inspiration overcoming the darkness within the world we live in. Tough subject that needs light to be shined on. Highly recommend this series. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was my first time reading Charles Martin’s work, and I understand now why this author is so popular. Although this is the latest book in a series, I wasn’t lost in the plot, and I didn’t feel like I was missing important information, so I believe this is fine if read as a stand-alone book. The characters are all intriguing, and the storyline kept me hooked from beginning to end. I would highly recommend it, and I look forward to reading more of Martin’s work.