Wow!! What an amazing new book from Charles Martin!! I did not want to put it down and that is one of my top priorities for a 5-star book. It took a few chapters to get in to it, but once the action started and I met the characters it was a "must read". There was a great cast of characters in the book that spanned the gamut from young to old and even a great dog named Gunner. There is definitely some high stakes action as Murphy Shepherd, the main character, gets involved in searching for a young girl that has unknowingly become involved in a high-profile sex trafficking ring. I loved how Martin brings in side stories from supporting characters such as Summer who he rescues out of the Intercoastal Waterway and Clay Pettybone, an ex-convict, who joins the crew along the way. I love a story based on the water and when you mix it with mystery, drama and a little romance, I'm along for the ride. I hated to see this book end and I would highly recommend you add it to your summer reading list. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Also, posted review on Goodreads.

3.5 Stars

Charles Martin has been on my TBR radar for a while, and even more so after hearing him speak on a panel last winter. So, with the release of The Water Keeper, I decided to mark this author off my list of want-to-reads.

Martin takes a hard look at human trafficking and how girls are manipulated and targeted. There are some great plot twists in the book (although I feel like I saw the big one coming from the get-go). There’s a romance that sprouts and Murph picks up some interesting characters along the way.

At times the plot gets too convoluted, though. It’s difficult to distinguish what is real life and what is meant as metaphor. Some scenes were a little much with the graphic violence or descriptions but overall the heart of the message Martin shares is there.


Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson & NetGalley for this copy in exchange for my review.

This is my first Charles Martin book and I was hooked! The detailed descriptions of the coast and the twists and turns kept me engaged and I couldn't put it down.

This is storytelling at its best, complex and action packed. His writing has great imagery as well as a great plot line,

The writing was very well done, and the subject matter was timely. I did struggle to connect with the characters and the dialogue didn't click for me personally. Though the plot was fairly predictable, it was well-written.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is completely my own opinion.

This was my first Martin book, which, depending on who you talk to, is either a good thing or a bad thing because supposedly it's different than anything he's written before. I personally like it when authors change it up a little, but hey... what do I know? I'm just a book addict.

Now, I'll admit... it took me a couple chapters to become invested in this story. It started off way over my head and I just wasn't connecting. But I gave myself "one more chapter" and, I'm glad I did because that chapter sunk its teeth into me and the whole thing just ramped up in intensity the further I read. It was suspenseful, fast-paced, hard to read at times (b/c of the subject matter), with a decent message and a hint of romance. (I wouldn't call it a romance, however, which I was told it was. Not a total deal breaker though.)

I'm not quite sure I understand what happened in the end--the story twisted and turned, then twisted again, so I lost track and my simple brain may need someone to explain it to me someday, but...is it weird that I'm actually okay with that? lol

Now I'm curious about Martin's other books, because... well, I want to see if they're all this intense! I personally loved that aspect of The Water Keeper. If you're looking for a book recommendation that might be outside *your* norm... I hereby give you my official recommendation (for whatever that's worth.)

I tried to read The Water Keeper. I read about four chapters and had to stop. For me, the book has too much graphic description. The story dragged, and I just didn't like the characters. I'm sure others would probably like the story, but this just isn't my cup of tea.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Through the years, Charles Martin has become one of my absolute favorite authors. I love his style of writing...his ability to capture relationships - both friendships, family and love - as well as tell deep stories in such a beautiful way. In addition, his gift of descriptive language easily transports you to the location he's writing about.

I was hooked on The Water Keeper from the very first page. This story opens with Murph setting out on his boat to spread the ashes of his closest friend. Murph's job is traveling the intercoastal waters of Florida, rescuing women/teens unknowingly involved in human trafficking. So, as he sets out on his boat, it's no surprise he encounters a number of characters who play integral pieces in his story and eventually his life.

This is an action-packed book with lots of dangerous twists and turns. There are a couple parts during the story where the way some of the things lined up seemed a bit too coincidental, but it's fiction and sometimes we just need to suspend disbelief.

I read where this may be the first of a series of books and it ended in a way that Martin could easily continue the story, which I'm excited about! I'll always line up to read a Charles Martin book the second they come out!

This is my third Charles Martin book. I loved the first two but this one fell short for me. It took me a while to get into the story, and I was really confused for the first third of the book. Who is this guy and what is he doing? As the story progressed, there were a lot coincidences required to make the story fall into place. Unfortunately it reached a level of unbelievability to me. However, I really liked his first two books so I’ll keep reading his books.

I have read almost all of Charles Martin's books and enjoyed everyone of them. This one just fell a bit flat for me. There was a lot going on which made it hard to keep up with at times and to understand what was real vs. reality. There was a lot of action which was sometimes unrealistic. I personally didn't care for all of the sailing details. I appreciate the subject matter (human trafficking) that was brought to light, and I liked Summer and Murphy. Over all, it was just a bit too busy for me and not one of my favorite books by Charles Martin.

It's my first book from the established, best selling author.
Ignore my ignorance for that, but am glad I finally read his work.

A bit lengthy, yes but it's all worth it.
A perfect page turner!

A riveting new story of heroism, heartache, and the power of love to heal all wounds.

Murphy Shepherd is a man with many secrets. He lives alone on an island, tending the grounds of a church with no parishioners, and he’s dedicated his life to rescuing those in peril. But as he mourns the loss of his mentor and friend, Murph himself may be more lost than he realizes.

When he pulls a beautiful woman named Summer out of Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway, Murph’s mission to lay his mentor to rest at the end of the world takes a dangerous turn. Drawn to Summer, and desperate to find her missing daughter, Murph is pulled deeper and deeper into the dark and dangerous world of modern-day slavery.

With help from some unexpected new friends, including a faithful Labrador he plucks from the ocean and an ex-convict named Clay, Murph must race against the clock to locate the girl before he is consumed by the secrets of his past—and the ghosts who tried to bury them.

With Charles Martin’s trademark lyricism and poignant prose, THE WATER KEEPER is at once a tender love story and a heartrending search for freedom.

A beautiful beautiful read from Charles Martin.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. Thank you to the Author, the Publisher and to Netgalley.. I have read 8 previous books by Charles Martin, and I gave most of those 4 stars. I would probably say that he is one of my favorite authors. Unfortunately, I did not like this book and only gave it 2 stars. After about the first 1/4 of the book, I was ready to put it down and not finish it, but pushed through because I had received a copy of the book from Netgalley. I found the book far fetched, and not believable. Way too many situations were "too good to be true". I found myself rolling my eyes and sighing through this book. Sorry, I personally wouldn't recommend it.

I just finished this book last night and wow...Charles Martin has left me with questions and thoughts that I'll continue pondering for a while. The Water Keeper is a complex and multi-layered story, combining action, danger, romance, love, and redemption. At its center is the parable of the lost sheep. "Tell me what you know about sheep..." is asked of the main character, Murphy Shepherd, more than once. "Sheep need a shepherd..." is his reply. "Murph"'s calling is to leave the 99 to search for the 1...the 1 lost sheep. It's not only his calling, but he is willing to lay down his life for the 1, often putting himself in danger to try to save men, women and children from the horrors of human trafficking while also battling his own personal devastating heartbreak. Spirituality is woven into every aspect of this novel, in an allegorical style. The novel is told from Murph's first person perspective, which adds to the complexity, yet I couldn't imagine it written any other way. Martin has a way of giving you just enough of the story to keep you fully engaged, yet there is a lot that lies below the surface that you either have to figure out for yourself, or accept that you may not completely know all of the answers. Beyond all of these aspects of the novel, I loved Murph's character. Strong, lethal, yet so vulnerable and longing to love and be loved. I also appreciated the variety of "sheep" that come into his care: an elderly ex-convict, a loyal pet, two young girls, and a woman who is in search of her daughter. I feel like I need to read this book again someday to fully digest it all. And there definitely needs to be a sequel!
One of my favorite podcasts, "That Sounds Fun" with Annie F. Downs, has two interviews with Charles Martin. I would highly recommend them. To hear the heart of this author, his love for God and writing, is really special.
**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinions, which I did.**

This is my first Charles Martin book and it will not be my last! A beautiful story full of twists and turns! I've never really read anything like it. Part romance, part action adventure, it was truly a wonderful surprise! Such well developed characters and beautiful writing!

This book was very well written and had a depth that few do these days. I could feel the characters’ emotions, and the way that he described the area made me feel as if I could find my way through the local waterways despite how difficult that would actually be. This was not a light, fluffy read. This storyline was a tough one to read, actually. Human trafficking is not a light subject, yet Charles Martin approached it with respect, awareness, and something akin to personal knowledge. I’ll be honest, I almost didn’t want to finish it because it was so hard to read about that subject. The only reason I did was because it was so engaging. Filled with love, compassion, daring rescues, and healing, I give this one five stars.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. The twists and turns kept me guessing, as did the main character. I would recommend this to any reader!

I confess that I really struggled with the beginning of Charles Martin's 'The Water Keeper'. This was my first experience with this author, and I love an action-packed novel. Martin did not disappoint on the pacing and energy of the story, which definitely stayed high. I struggle when a novel feels like it begins in the middle, which was the setup of this one. I completely understand an author wanting to grab the reader's attention from the get-go, but the start felt wobbly and I didn't connect as quickly as I might have with a different jumping point.
That having been said, Martin is a great storyteller, and I will definitely pick up more of his novels - it was a fun an fast read overall.

Another Charles Martin thriller! This is the story of a recluse, Murphy Shepherd, who attempts to find peace in his life by becoming the caretaker of an abandoned church on an island in southern Florida. As he travels down the intercoastal waterway to spread the ashes of his best friend, he comes upon a girl floating in the water. Now this becomes a thriller as he tries to help her find her daughter who has been kidnapped by leaders of the adult sex trade market.

A big thank you for the opportunity to read the ARC of The Water Keeper by Charles Martin. Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson publishers
Let me start with WOW, I could not put this book down. It took me a few chapters to get into the book, but once I got into it, was just an amazing read.
this is the first book I've read by Charles Martin, hopefully not the last.
This was action packed, adventure, love story all in one. The author really knows how to describe the action scenes, very well described as if you were there watching the scene unfold in front of you. There were scenes that made me laugh, made me cry and had me on the edge of my seat. There is so much that happens within this story but it never feels like too much. The characters are well described, you can see them, the plot gets deeper and deeper, I didn't want the story to end. There is so much momentum in this story and thrill while reading. It sure got my adrenaline flowing.
This story takes place in Florida along the water ways and party zones where boats come and go and beach themselves at low tide, girls in bikinis, drinks, music, parties. Main character Murphy meets young girl Angel on the island that he lives on and acts as caretaker for a church. She is in party mode and has to get back to the boat that she has taken a quick leave from . As Murphy is later getting back into his boat that he has docked at a local marina, he witnesses a woman stealing a boat, crashing into other boats as she tries to navigate to open water. As the scene unfolds and Murphy follows her, she clearly does not know how to handle to open waters and the wakes of other boats, Murphy has to rescue her after she is launched from the boat she is driving. He then learns that she is searching for her daughter and decides to help her
This is a must read

What I Loved:
Charles Martin has this beautiful writing style that draws the reader in immediately. I enjoyed every word in this book because of his prose.

How I Felt:
Murph, the main character, was heartbreaking and raw with emotion, and yet he finds it in himself to overcome those feelings to help others every time he can. He comes across a multitude of characters on his journey and they are all wonderfully built and add so much to the story.

The plot was very fast-paced and filled with thriller elements that had me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the redemption journey that Murph goes on during his journey as well. I thought the two were woven together beautifully to make an exciting and lovely story.

The Christian elements in this book fit perfectly without being overbearing for someone that is not religious. I enjoyed the references and discussion and felt they were well-placed in the story.

Overall, this a beautiful, emotional read with an exciting thriller plot. It is filled with elements of love, redemption, forgiveness, and dedication. I loved the story and can’t wait to pick up more of Charles Martin’s books!

Content Warnings:
Child trafficking, suicide, drug use.

To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend The Water Keeper for readers that enjoy rescue mission stories (think James Bond) with beautiful writing and emotional plots.

Bonus: If you live in Florida or enjoy boating, you’ll like this!

I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.