Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing for the ARC of The Keepers in exchange for feedback.
The Keepers is the 4th book in the Murphy Shepherd series. I have not read the other books in the series, but was able to follow along fine.
When the 3 daughters of the Vice President are taken,
Murphy is sent to rescue the girls without the help of his mentor Bones.
Murphy and Bones are part of a non-profit that rescues those taken by human trafficking. Although the book could have been very dark and hard to read, the power of friendships, sense of duty, and love shine through the characters.
Enjoyed the book and characters, will be reading others in the series.

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.

i

Charles Martin is such a powerful storyteller! The Keeper picks up where the Murphy Shephard trilogy ended. This beautiful story of grace and redemption deals with the difficult subject of human trafficking with a mix of disgust (for the perpetrators) and compassion (for the victims). There are several flashbacks so you can easily follow this novel of forgiveness and mercy.

Jonathan K. Riggs narrates the depth of characters so well.

Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

I love this series!

Charles Martin is such an amazingly talented writer. I have enjoyed this series throughout the last few years, so imagine my joy at the opportunity of receiving this ARC. In typical fashion, I was hooked by the storyline. The first few chapters with several timelines made it hard to stay engaged in the beginning; however, I stayed the course and was rewarded. I loved this next chapter in the Murphy Shepherd series. The writing is strong and heartfelt. Themes of faith, hope, redemption is present in the midst of horrible sex trafficking atrocities.

"The needs of the one outweighs the ninety-nine." This book left me tearful at times and hopeful at others. Give this book a try if you want to experience all the feels!!

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this ARC!

Another great novel from Charles Martin that brings all the emotions. Martin does a great job of keeping the story line and characters moving. Can't wait for the next Murphy Shepherd book.

In this fourth book in the Murphy Shepherd series, 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?

I’ve read several Charles Martin books and essentially, he can do no wrong in my opinion. The latest, The Keeper was a winner.