Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

I think this is just a story to say you should believe in god and pray because that’s all I got from this. It wasnt interesting, it felt unrealistic and it was a really hard read. I’m glad I’ve finished it and am not still stuck in that world. I’m Christian and this was too much for me.

Let me start out by saying, this was my first Robert Whitlow book. I know, right? How can I call myself a reader? Guilty Until Innocent was a great way to start, though, and listening to the audio only enhanced the suspense.

Joe Moore has spent 25 years in prison for two murders he was too high to remember committing. While in prison, Jesus found him, and changed him into a prayer warrior and one of the leaders of several prison Bible studies. All of the men know to take their prayer concerns to Joe because his prayers see results. His family never believed in his guilt, and asks his former lawyer, Tom Clark, to look into getting him released. Content tending the prison gardens and tending the inmates' souls, Joe initially turns their offer down, but before Tom can leave the prison grounds, Joe feels a prompt in his spirit to see where the investigation can go. The evidence against him was all circumstantial, and the crime occurred before DNA evidence could be examined. He was too stoned to remember anything that happened and sees no way that anyone could find anything new. He thinks it is a wild goose chase, but God keeps prodding him to just believe.

Lawyer Ryan Clark has lost his job twice now, once because of his own error, and the second to his firm's downsizing. Now an associate at his cousin's firm in Cranfield, North Carolina, he is anxious to show he is capable of being a good addition to the firm. Learning his wife is expecting their first child puts added pressure to succeed on his shoulders. When Tom asks for help researching an old case, Ryan is just thrilled not to be fired again. Tom's heart attack makes him the lead attorney on the case. As he begins to uncover dark secrets that the local community wants to keep buried, can Ryan keep everyone safe, including Joe?

While this story started out a little slow, it ramped up quickly. I loved the character of Joe Moore. This man made a complete 180 in prison, and became a leader - for the good - among the inmates. He not only led many inmates to faith, but he also pointed his lawyer, Ryan and his wife, Paige, to a relationship with the Lord. His prayers saw results, from healed marriages to healed pregnancy issues. Anytime Joe was "on screen", it seemed like God stepped in, too. I also liked Ryan and his earnest need to do his job well. It is his persistence that eventually cracks the case, and the result was a shocker!

Readers who enjoy courtroom drama with a hefty side of faith, will love Guilty Until Innocent. If you are already a Robert Whitlow fan, you don't need me to tell you this one is well worth the read! I listened to this one on my NetGalley app, and the narrator did a great job with the "Carolina good-old-boy accent." I definitely recommend!

This is my second book by author Robert Whitlow. I paired the ebook ARC with an audiobook ARC. The audio complemented the story in a positive way. Guilty until Innocent was narrated by Jason Keller. I listened at 1.75x speed.

This legal thriller packs a punch with relatable characters and ultimately a story full of hope and redemption. The Faith element is the cherry on top.

"Joe knew it was pointless to argue. Guilt was irrefutable. His presence at the scene. The bloody knife. The fingerprint evidence. The crystal meth in his system. His history of fighting when high. The blood of the victims on his clothes, and worst of all, the photographs of the bodies."

Joe has spent years in prison for murders he doesn't exactly remember committing. When family members insist that a lawyer needs to look at the case, Joe is uncertain. Ryan is fairly new at practicing law, but he is determined to look over all of the details.

In the midst of all of the uncertainty, God is at work. Prisoners are being transformed. Even Ryan's wife is impacted. But the closer that he gets to the truth, the more others try to stop the path of justice.

Reading one of Robert Whitlow's legal fiction titles is like slowly sipping on sweet tea on the front porch. The story unfolds in such an enjoyable way. While this book has some more suspenseful moments, his storylines usually focus on elements of the law.

I listened to this book, and the narrator, Jason Keller, did a great job with the storyline and the characters. I really enjoyed the book and am so glad I got to listen through NetGalley.. All opinions are my own

First read by author Robert Whitlow and he does a great job weaving in the genre Christian Fiction within his legal "drama" book.

When a cold case is reopened and buried secrets are turning up around every corner - who is really guilty? If you love legal dramas, this is a great read for you!

I really enjoyed listening to this story. Occasionally I would get lost to who was talking as there were a lot of characters. I would definitely read more by the author and would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind a little (or a lot) of faith, testimony and bible throughout their books. I've read this book just as friend has got a job in our maximum security prison so it was so relevant to us.

Robert Whitlow patiently peels layers off each scene as we discover painful pasts and truth from each character. I loved how he uses a married couple who start looking for God. A good amount of chapters are on their spiritual growth. Also Joe, a third POV relies on his faith to guide him during tough decisions in jail. There is a mystery woven throughout that picks up pace toward the end and I was moved to tears as the truth comes out about Joe's conviction and the difference he made with the inmates in his 25 or 26 years in prison.
The narrator was good and did a good job with change of voices.

This was the first book I have read by Robert Whitlow and I really enjoyed it. It was a great legal drama with the added bonus of a mystery. The characters were well developed and the story kept me engaged. The whodunnit was predictable. Despite being very heavily focused on religion, I still enjoyed the themes of justice and forgiveness.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was given an advanced copy to read in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book I have read by Robert Whitlow, but will absolutely not be my last. A few pages into the first chapter, I was immediately wrapped up into the life of Joe, who is in prison for a crime he pled guilty to, yet doesn't remember. However, this author turned his life into a beautiful story of Christ's love, redemption, and telling other about Jesus. I love how the author used Joe's life to reach so many others, while on the 'out side' people are trying to solve the mystery of his crime. I was shocked at the ending. I didn't expect the outcome. But this is the first author I've read who has been able to keep the suspense going, while also painting such a beautiful picture of Christ. I highly recommend this book to anyone! It's beautiful, clean, suspenseful, and will keep you on your toes!!!!

Joe Moore was convicted of the deaths of a young couple twenty-five years ago. Joe has since become a model prisoner and leads the incarcerated men in prayer, fasting and Bible study. He doesn’t remember what happened that night, but he’s willing to pay for his sins.
Ryan Clark, a young law associate, had lost his previous two jobs. Being hired by Tom Clark, a distant cousin, is a chance to redeem himself. When Tom has health issues, Ryan is thrown into the fire. Joe’s family has never been convinced of his guilt and want to reopen his case. Joe is just fine where he is, but finally agrees. When the investigation is reopened, all does not look as cut and dried as first thought. Somebody wants the case to stay closed and soon Ryan is caught in the headlights. Has he put his family and himself in grave danger? Is there a possibility that Joe is innocent? Who will come out on top? With likable characters and strong Biblical applications, this was a very good book. Jason Keller brought the story to life with his perfect narration. Thank you to Zondervan Fiction Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this book.

Guilty Until Innocent is the first book I have read written by Robert Whitlow. I was swept into the story from the very start.
The character development was great. I loved getting know each and every character.Ryan and Paige starting out their family. Joe Moore being used by God to reach the jail from within.
The story and setting were perfect. I loved getting to see the inside workings of a lawyer and the jail. It made for a fun story.
Robert Whitlow did a great job intertwining faith throughout the novel and pointing the reader to God and his redeeming love.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

I was honored to receive an audio ARC from NetGalley. I loved the development of the story, and the characters. I couldn’t stop listening. I loved that it was a wholesome story with no cursing, no gore, or hard topics to listen to. A good reminder that things are not always what they seem when it comes to the system and those in prison. I also really enjoyed this book having conversations about people and their journey to finding God, and how they see Him work in their life. I’d highly recommend this book to everyone. 4.25⭐️

Legal Thrillers (?) are not usually my go to, sorry don't tell my lawyer brother, but call me what you want, I need some more action.That being said, I was really invested in the story of Joe Moore and his story. 25 years prior Joe was accused of murdering a young couple, he has no recollection of the night because he was on Meth. Unfortunately for Joe there was enough evidence to put him in the slammer. Fortunately for Joe, in prison he found God and he began to see his imprisoned life as a way to be free and set others free as well. Fast foward to the present day, Joe is in prison and Tom Clark returns to his Uncles small hometown as a lawyer. When Joe comes up for Paraole, Tom is left to question the facts and begins to dig and starts to see that Joe may have been wrongly accused.
But as Tom digs, things begin to heat up in this small town. Someone is not happy that justice may finally be served, and his life and his family's are put at risk. Who can he trust? Along the way, will Tom a resistant believer find God?

This book was full of incredibly testimonies and changed lives. Joe's steadfast faith and obiedience to the Lord was unwavering. He was a living example of how present circumstances do not define your joy....its the eternal promises of God.
Robert Whitlow is a new author to me, I thoroughly enjoyed his story telling and Christian message in this book. I plan on reading his backlist.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for allowing me to review this advanced reader copy. I was not influnced or paid for my own original thoughts.

This was definitely one of those books that l'm not sure fit into the category which it claims to be. Is it somewhat a thriller? I guess - but it seemed more of a religious or redemption book to me. I enjoyed the characters for the most part, but I don't think it's a book I’ll remember a month from now.

Maybe l've read too many murder mysteries or watched too many Netflix shows, but the twists weren't all that surprising, & it wasn't too hard to figure out the “bad guys”. I found the legal aspects to be interesting, & would have loved to hear more about Ryan practicing law.

Overall, the bones of this story are great, but I would have like to see it comes to life a little differently.

Another great novel by Robert Whitlow! I loved how this story centered around a married couple, so there wasn't any awkward romance. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and their little town. Then the mystery was presented, and I was trying to figure out whodunnit. I figured out part of the mystery, but there was still some surprise for me!

I listened to the audio, which was well done, except the narrator pronounced the city of Raleigh as "rally." I even quizzed me teens on it, and they knew the correct pronunciation!

I appreciate receiving an early reader copy from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions are my own.

I have been reading about how Robert Whitlow writes great thrillers with an underlying set of Christian themes. “Guilt auntie Innocent “ authored by Mr. Whitlow, is a nice story but lacks the “ thriller” edge. The book mainly presents as a prison drama with a bit of courtroom back-and-forth thrown in. Of course I enjoyed the Christian threads interwoven into the plot that helps lift the storytelling above the norm. I have already ordered another Whitlow thriller and will see if that story aligns with my preferred reading interests.

Guilty Until Innocent is a legal drama that held me spellbound! I listened to this amazing story of a young lawyer, his wife, and how their lives were eternally impacted by a convicted double murderer. The story is set in a small town in North Carolina, where secrets are kept tight. I kept wondering how this story would unfold. When I was listening, I hated it when I had to turn it off. My mind kept going back to the story and the characters involved. The author did a great job of keeping the mystery going, while also developing the characters into folks I really cared about. If you are a John Grisham or Randy Singer fan, then you'll love this book! I know I did. Also, the narrator did a good job tackling all the characters. Well done by all!
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers, and this is my honest opinion.

This was my first Robert Whitlow book, and it certainly won’t be my last! I’m already looking forward to reading more of his work. What really stood out to me was the strong faith elements, particularly the numerous mentions of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual depth in the story, along with Joe’s inspiring faith journey, added such a powerful layer to the plot. From the very beginning, I found myself rooting for Joe, regardless of whether he was guilty or innocent. Even though there were a lot of characters, I didn’t find it overwhelming. Whitlow does a great job of connecting them throughout the book, making each one significant to the story. The suspense and anticipation really grabbed me from the start, and I was hooked until the very end. Additionally, the narration was a perfect fit. It kept me immersed in the story and enhanced the overall experience. I’m so glad I picked up this book and look forward to diving into more of Whitlow’s work.
Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

Robert Whitlow is an amazing author and I usually love his books. I appreciate him being an author of faith but I will say this book seems to ne trying too hard. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow takes us on a journey into the heart of justice, faith, and redemption, with each page turning faster than the last. The beauty of this novel lies in its dual power: it’s a heart-pounding legal drama and an introspective look at the grace and transformation that only faith can bring. From the first chapter to the very end, I was captivated by how Whitlow masterfully intertwined the intricacies of the law with authentic Christian themes, creating a perfect storm of suspense and reflection.

What left a lasting impression on me was the profound depth of the characters. Ryan, the lawyer, is raw and relatable, struggling with his career, his calling, and his faith. His growth throughout the story is tied to the case at hand and a testament to the power of God’s grace working in the midst of life’s hardest challenges. The way his journey unfolds alongside Joe’s—who is just as dynamic or perhaps even more so—had me pondering long after the book ended. Whitlow makes you care about what happens next and he makes you care about who these people are and why their stories matter. The growth of each character, shaped by their choices and their faith, is intense and deeply inspiring.

The Christian elements in this story are woven so naturally, so seamlessly into the narrative, that they are part of the very fabric of the characters’ lives, not added on as an afterthought. Prayer, Scripture, and grace come alive on these pages, and it’s done in a way that is real. It powerfully invites you to reflect on your own walk of faith. It made me ask myself tough questions about justice, about mercy, and how faith plays a role when you’re caught in the tension of the two.

The narration is superb -- capturing the emotions and weight of every scene in a way that enhanced the story even further. I could feel the tension, the uncertainty, and the hope, and the pacing was perfection. It's a flawless pairing with the writing—one that kept me listening for hours, completely immersed in this world Whitlow created.

The legal drama was intense, yes, but the personal and spiritual journey of the characters took it to another level. It’s a story that lingers in your heart, its lessons and truths echoing long after the last word has been read -- making you reflect on the deeper themes of faith, grace, and justice. If you enjoy a legal drama with a real heart, Guilty Until Innocent should be at the top of your list. It’s an incredibly powerful story that had me asking myself tough questions about the price of truth, and whether I could walk through the fire the way these characters did.

For anyone who loves legal thrillers with rich Christian, Robert Whitlow has once again delivered a book that is both thought-provoking and soul-stirring. Guilty Until Innocent will stay with you, not just for its unexpected twists, but for the deep, grace-filled reminders of faith and redemption that resonate in your soul long after the final page.

I received a digital ARC of the audiobook from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio via NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.