The Keeper is book 4 in the Murphy Shepard series. Charles Martin doesn't disappoint. The Vice President's daughters have been taken. Murph rushes to his friend's side to help find the girls. With Bones gone, Murph struggles. He has a hard time accepting Bones isn't there to help him in these times. The government will never be the same. The Vice President drops out of the Presidential race. He can't be everything the county needs while missing his girls who were taken under his watch. And in this time, the most obvious people show their true colors. Murph doesn't discount anyone. Anyone could have been behind the kidnapping.
Charles Martin is one of my favorite writers. He takes on the tough subject of human trafficking and does it with such grace. He also brings the element of love. Part action, part love story, this book does it all. I will always look for new work by Charles Martin and will always recommend his work to others. Special thanks to NetGalley, Charles Martin, and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 4 stars for me. #TheKeeper #NetGalley

Charles Martin continues his breathtaking storytelling in The Keeper, the next chapter in the Murphy Shepherd series. From the very first page, the novel is packed with heart-wrenching emotion, high-stakes action, and the kind of deep, unshakable love that makes this series unforgettable.

Murphy Shepherd—also known as David Bishop—has spent his life rescuing the lost, the broken, and the innocent. He carries the weight of a painful past, yet his purpose is clear: to save those who cannot save themselves. Through all the darkness he has faced, one light remains constant—Summer.

One of the most beautiful aspects of this novel is the relationship between Murphy and Summer. Their love is not just romantic; it is a testament to healing, trust, and unwavering devotion. Summer’s strength and steadfast faith in Murphy make their relationship one of my absolute favorites in any book. She is his anchor, his reason to keep fighting, and the perfect balance to his wounded, warrior heart. The way Martin writes their love is breathtaking—it’s raw, real, and filled with the kind of depth that makes you believe in the power of love to overcome even the darkest battles.

Beyond the romance, The Keeper is a powerful continuation of Murphy’s mission, filled with pulse-pounding moments and deeply emotional reflections. Martin’s writing is as poetic as ever, drawing readers into a world where love, faith, and sacrifice collide in the most meaningful ways.

Most importantly, this book doesn’t feel like the end of the journey. If anything, it leaves the door wide open for more—more healing, more battles, and more of Murphy’s relentless pursuit of justice. I truly hope this isn’t the last time we get to walk alongside these characters.

For anyone who loves a story filled with action, heart, and a love that withstands every storm, The Keeper is a must-read.

The Keeper
by Charles Martin
Pub. Date: April 1, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Martin is one of my favorite authors and this series is so good!
I highly recommend reading it!
The Murphy Shepherd series is simultaneously a tender love story, a heartrending search for freedom, an exploration of the terrible cost of human trafficking, and an anthem to the power of love to create change when it shows up regardless of the cost. The Keeper raises the stakes even further, so be ready--you won't want to put it down until you reach the very last page.

The Murphy Shepherd series: Book 1 The Water Keeper, Book 2 The Letter Keeper, Book 3 The Record Keeper, Book 4 The Keeper (coming April 2025!)

I was given an ARC of this book by the author and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book of Charles Martin I've ever read. And holy cow. From the absolute first paragraph, I was completely hooked. The series of turns in this book that I didn't see coming continued to surprise me. While this book contains a very hard-to-read subject, knowing there are actual people like Bones and Murph finding those ones who needs rescuing is amazing. At times, I was in tears. Then I would laugh. Then be on my toes waiting for the next chapter. I was shocked at how this book came together and it only made me want to read the earlier books, while impatiently waiting for the next book to come out! I highly recommend you taking time to read this book and many more by this author!!!

The Keeper, number 4 in the Keeper series, was full of surprises. It continues the story as it left off in book 3, with the addition of a few new characters. Often it reminded me of the "previously on..." for some tv shows, using flash backs to refresh the reader’s memory about the end of Bones’ life. I found that helpful because it had been awhile since I had read the third book, but also it is annoying when an author just jumps in without giving any back story so the reader is a little bit lost. There are a few surprises in the final third of the book and since it ended on another cliff hanger, I hope there is another book in the series coming next year.
Readers who enjoy some action-packed adventure with a true hero—one worthy of admiration—will enjoy this book, but be aware it covers some tough topics like human trafficking.
I am grateful to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the arc in return for this, my honest review.

The writing in this book is truly something special. From the first few lines, I found myself completely drawn into the world the author created. There’s an authenticity to the way the characters’ emotions are portrayed—everything felt genuine, from their struggles to their quiet moments of reflection. The author has this incredible ability to capture the complexity of relationships and personal growth in such a natural, unforced way.

I especially appreciated how the emotions weren’t rushed or overly dramatized. The story unfolded in a way that felt real—no shortcuts, no gimmicks—just honest moments between characters that left a deep impact. Even the smaller, more intimate exchanges carried weight, and that’s something I don’t come across often in stories like this.

The narrator’s voice truly brought the characters and the emotions to life, adding depth and resonance to the writing. The way they brought out the subtleties of the dialogue made each moment feel even more poignant. It wasn’t just a performance—it was an experience.

As this is the last book in the series, it was clear that the author put everything into giving the characters and their journey the proper resolution. It felt like a fitting end, with everything wrapping up in a way that felt earned and fulfilling.

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Suspensefilled!!! Murphy's story never ceases to amaze. Murphy is dealing with so much grief from loosing Bones. One can see that grief is a powerful emotion and can derail one's purpose if not properly handled. Even in the throes of grief, Murphy and all the other characters fight the strong hand of evil determined not to allow evil triumph over good. The fight to rescue the Vice President's daughters, the deep love of a father is beautiful to see. Ready to give up everything, Ashley shows strength of character and resolution to conquer evil.
Murphy's fight against evil as he navigate through his grief brings about a delightful unexpected gift, one which brings peace and joy to all of his loved ones. This book is a must read for anyone who has followed Murphy and Bones journey from the beginning. As the men fight against the wickedness, hope and faith keeps being renewed. Good is always triumphant over evil irrespective of how deep the tentacles of evil is embedded. Beautiful story.
I received a copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another absolutely beautiful installment in this series. Charles Martin has long been a favorite author of mine but this series has been some of his best writing.

Murph is on the hunt for the Vice President’s daughter who were stolen by some “bad men with bad intentions.” Unfortunately this time he is without Bones. The journey made me laugh and cry. I won’t give it away but there is one spot where I was actually sobbing.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

This is the fourth book in the Murphy Shepherd series, where Murphy is attempting to move on without Bones. He receives a call after the three daughters of the Vice President of the United States are kidnapped and there are no clues about who or why they were taken. This book had quite a few passages of reflection as Murphy remembers working similar cases with Bones in the past. I was at first put off by these longer passages, but after the first 20% of the book it felt like the present storyline took over more.

There is suspense, action and lots of good work from Murphy and his counterparts as they root out the evil behind the kidnapping of these girls and others.

The Keeper by Charles Martin is a fast-paced suspense novel. It is the fourth entry in the Murphy Shepherd series but can be read as a stand-alone. The character of Murphy is reflective but with this writing style, the reader understands the richness and depth of Murphy. It also helps the new reader of this series to jump right into the plot and take the ride. The relationship between Bones and Murphy is complex and intriguing helping to move the plot and suspense in this novel. Mr. Martin is a master storyteller and grabs the reader from the first chapter.

Highly recommended but, read the first in the series The Water Keeper to really enjoy the ride!

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

The Keeper is the fourth book in the Murphy Shepherd series. I had read the first book in this series and had very much enjoyed it. I didn't realize that I had not yet read the second and third books, and I do think that that impacted my enjoyment of this one. It was a well-written story with characters who I was certainly intrigued by, as has been the case with Charles Martin's other books... but I did struggle to get into this one. There was a lot of information thrown at readers, and I found myself feeling a little lost at times. Realizing now that I'd missed a few books, that definitely makes more sense, and I think having that history would have made a big difference for me. As such, I do think this is one that is absolutely going to be best read in order to really get the most out of it. Charles Martin is a captivating storyteller, I'd just missed some of the story!


**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

I read absolutely everything Charles Martin writes. He is a fantastic author in every way, especially his skill at describing the inner movements and thoughts of each of his powerful characters’ hearts. The Keeper is no exception to this—the reader is given wide-open windows into deep human emotions, like grief, in a way that makes you deeply feel the story, not just read it.

In the end, and not surprisingly, I enjoyed The Keeper as the next novel in the gripping “Keeper” series. I did find this book less fluid than others due to the number of flashbacks in the storyline—too many, in my opinion. At times I felt frustrated by them, because the book felt like it was just borrowing content from previous books. It felt a bit bogged down in the looking-back, which is why I would not rate this particular Charles Martin book a 5, which I usually do.

Still a good read. Looking forward to the next one.

** Thank you to Thomas Nelson publishing for giving me an ARC of this book via NetGalley! These thoughts are my own.**

So, I didn't realize this was a series.... Oops! I did jump into this (book 4) without knowing that this was a series, but honestly, I don't think I really needed to. Charles Martin did a great job reminding the readers of the characters enough for me to not be totally lost while reading (though I was a little lost in the beginning). I will probably go back and read the rest of the series, though, because I love the characters and I want more backstory!

I really enjoyed this book, but I had a few minor qualms with it. I think there were improvements that could have been made with the writing. It was repetitive, especially towards the end, and the chapters ended at weird spots sometimes (in my opinion). It also felt like it was trying too hard to be profound (there was so much fluff about love and evil that kept showing up). The plot also could have been paced better in my opinion.

However, the characters are so awesome, and I loved each and every one of them! This book is so cute and heart-wrenching and beautiful, and it was really clean as well! It was really good.

Though the topic of sex trafficking is hard to read about, I think it’s been helpful for me as I see what a pervasive problem it is. I hope there are people like Murphy Shepherd and Bones out there kicking down doors to free the captives.

This book had a slower pace and less action than the others I feel as it focused a lot on Murph trying to figure out how to go on without Bones. His grief was intense. It’s hard to change roles when the mentee becomes the leader. It was interesting seeing him start to train others as Bones had trained him.

This story was also a beautiful testament to marriage. Summer’s support was incredible. A man like Murph needs a woman like Summer in his corner.

Excellent book. Charles Martin is a special writer. Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I cannot give this book, The Keeper, enough praise. My attention was kept drawn to this thriller thoughout its many pages. Oh, except for some of the guns and weaponry descriptions and usage that sort of went over my head. Those readers who are in the know about such things will likely enjoy these offerings. However, I did learn something especially for when a target is a long distance away.

What really impacted me as I read through the story was the allegory of love; that is, God's unconditional love. I very much appreciated that. The author, Charles Martin, helped me grasp some of the depth, sacrifice and risks that this type of love will make and take.

Yes, there is some sweet romance woven into the story, as well as tears and laughter, mystery and action.

Another aspect I liked about this story is that Martin addresses human trafficking and it's despicableness; it's darkness and organized evil, the abject horror of it and the devastating effects upon its victims. Thankfully there was the saving grace of rescuers that kindled hope and help towards both the victims' recovered and their subsequent recovery and healing process.

This is the fourth book in the Murphy Shepherd series. We meet Bones, Murph, Summer, Ellie, Casey, Camp and Eddie among others of the 'good guys'. We also meet some of the bad guys so stay alert.

The icing on the cake, which we can also 'eat', is that this is a faith-based narrative. So all-in-all, I give this book and author a 5 - Star rating and a thumbs up salute.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

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

The Keeper is an intense story about friendship, family, politics and human trafficking. Part of an ongoing series, it can be read as a standalone. There are several great surprises throughout the story leading the reader deeper and deeper into the narrative. Dramatic, at times searing, and an absorbing read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Murphy Shepherd series by Charles Martin has been a steady 4⭐️ series for me full of action and characters I loved. I thought the series ended after book 3, so I was so excited when I saw a new installment in the story. Unfortunately, I think it should have stopped with the third book. This latest book was very slow and redundant. It felt like a long recap of the other books with little forward progress. It was full of introspection into emotions and the romance was cheesy and repetitive. I also wish it had been edited to remove some of the lengthy descriptions of types of guns, as well as the flashbacks to the events from previous books.

I did really enjoy the first three books in this series and recommend them, as long as you’re ok with reading about the tough subject matter. The series follows Murphy Shepherd and his mentor, Bones, as they rescue girls that have been trafficked and bring them to freedom. Full of emotion, suspense, and action, it’s the book version of the movies Taken or Sound of Freedom.

This book was heartbreaking, action-packed, and full of surprises—but also filled with so much hope. From the very first page, I was just so happy to be back with Murphy and the crew. The story and action here was engaging while also feeling new. I was caught between wanting to fly through this and also desperately wanting to slow down so it wouldn't end.

I never expected another book after the last one, so this was the best surprise. The new characters added so much to the story and I'm interested to see if we get to hear from them in the future. The way it ended makes me hopeful that there’s still more to come, and I’ll be first in line to read anything that comes after this!

The Fourth book in the Murphy Shepard series, I had not read the previous books and could follow the story but believe reading the previous books will have the reader more vested in the storylines. 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. The friendship between Murphy and Camp starts developing into what Bones and Murph had. Camp brings out an extra layer to Murph’s personality. The author does such a good job of character development that I felt like I actually came to care about a lot of the characters. One thing that really resonates for me in this book is identity… Loving yourself and caring about yourself and believing that you are worthy of love.
Thanks to netgalley, Charles Martin and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity.

Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook. Book #4 in the Murphy Shepherd series and probably my least favorite of them, but it was still really good. I felt like there were parts that were unnecessary and too much. Absolutely love this narrator though and the fact that it sounds like there will be a book #5 in the future!