Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors, and he did not disappoint me with this book! Many years ago, there was a feature article in my local Sunday newspaper talking about one of his books. He was being showcased as a North Carolina author (my home state). I was particularly interested in learning more about him and his books since he was a practicing attorney. I have been employed as a litigation paralegal for thirty years. It is important to me for the legal process to be correct when authors write a legal thriller. Robert Whitlow follows the process to a tee!

In this book, Buddy reminds me of one of my attorneys. The story line of him searching for Amber and Elise kept me reading past my bedtime. The ending was perfect! Oh,how I wish we could follow Buddy and Gracie, as well as Mayleah and her husband, to see what happens next! Great book!

“Trial and Error” by Robert Whitlow was a fantastic read! This was one of those books that hooked me from the first page through the last! It was very hard to put this book down.

This book follows Buddy Smith, a small-town lawyer. Buddy has been trying to find his daughter for eighteen years. Now a local eighteen-year old has gone missing. Buddy, with the help of an old-time friend, Gracie and Mayleah, the new detective in town, are determined to find both girls.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy good, clean, suspenseful novels.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion

Trial And Error by Robert Whitlow is a marvellous Christian contemporary legal suspense that will consume from the start.
The main theme of the novel is searching. There is a physical search which reminds the reader that God searches for each and every one of us. He does not stop until we are found. He pursues us relentlessly, longing to envelop us in His love.
The theme of fathers links into the searching theme. We see fathers looking for their daughters with a passion that drives them forwards. This mirrors God’s search for us.
We sometimes let words spoken, either by ourselves or others, define us. We believe we are the labels we wear but our heavenly Father says we are so much more – we are His and we are loved unconditionally.
We all need firm foundations in our lives. If that is not the Word of God then our lives are destined to crumble at the first sign of trouble. “Beginning her day with the Lord was the foundation for everything else.” We need to start the day with Jesus and not the news or our social media feed. We need to build good habits into our lives.
Faith is important. We need to live out an authentic faith. I loved this description of faith:
“Faith no longer appeared as nice thoughts but dripped with power.”
When we come to Jesus there is much rejoicing. Within the novel we witness the excitement as a character comes to faith. This new faith is highly infectious and inspiring.
Robert Whitlow has drawn a marvellous set of characters who are all warm and welcoming. The reader longs to sit on the porch and share a peach cobbler with them. Through the power of Robert Whitlow’s words, his characters and scenes spring to life.
Trial And Error was a fabulous read. It was a powerful story grounded in God with relevant themes for today’s folks. I loved it.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Trial and Error is the first book that I have had the chance to read from Robert Whitlow, but it most certainly be the last.

In this story, we meet Buddy-- a lawyer who has made it his mission to help track down lost kids, much like his own daughter who disappeared as an infant with her mother. When town clerk Gracie brings him a case for a missing teen, it seems this search might be leading him closer to his own daughter too.

This isn't the super fast paced story one might expect to find in a crime/legal novel... there aren't a lot of big moments that keep you jumping and uncertain what will happen next. Instead we were drawn into the lives of the characters and wanted to see how their stories played out in the end. Beyond the mystery of it though, I really liked the faith aspects of this book. They were beautifully written and again really just drew me into the characters and their journeys in faith.

Overall, this was a really good read and one that enjoy legal stories with elements of faith are sure to enjoy.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

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

TRIAL AND ERROR started of slow for me. With the introduction of the secondary main character Gracie, I was totally in. This is a rich read, with many plot paths. The character roster is full and almost hard to keep track of. Yet, in the end I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As far as the romantic part of this book, it was almost not there. It was real, just as in life. It came around and was earned.

Lawyer Buddy Smith has gained a reputation for helping find missing children. Particularly those situations where one parent flees away to avoid sharing custody. He understands what it feels like. After finding out his girlfriend left town with their daughter seventeen years ago, he hasn't stopped looking for them.

Just like her former classmate, Gracie Blaylock also stuck around town after high school She works as the county clerk, and she coaches girls softball. (Her relationships with her team are also a lovely part of the story!) She sends cases Buddy's way. When a girl on her team goes missing, she can't help but get involved. The new local detective sheriff is also prepared to help. Will the three of them find the girl? Will Buddy ever find his daughter?

In reading this book, I felt like I stepped into Milton County, Georgia, and was sipping sweet tea on the porch while watching the storyline play out across the street. This book ambles along in all of the best way. While there was definitely a mystery to be solved, this book did not present itself as a fast paced legal thriller. The characters are so compelling that you will want to keep reading until the end. But you will not be looking around every corner and feel tense as the chapters developed. By feeling like a part of the story, I felt personally invested in the story and appreciated the ending.

The emphasis on family relationships also played a part in the story. We got to know Buddy's mom. We also got to know Gracie's family. And we were able to see connections between characters. I loved how the relationships continued to develop.

One of the strongest elements was the power of prayer. I loved how Gracie and Buddy's mom were prayer warriors. Their emphasis on personal faith drew others in without making them feel judged or alienated. To be able to look back and see when specific prayers were answered was definitely inspiring.

There is so much more than I could say about this one, but I definitely do not want to ruin anything. If you enjoy books that feature faith, family, small town and the law, this is the perfect book for you. The storyline is unique, compelling and heart warming. I have really enjoyed Robert Whitlow's books in the past, and this one is definitely another winner. I appreciate Thomas Nelson and NetGalley allowing me to read an ARC of this one. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Buddy, an attorney, has been unsuccessful in finding his own daughter, who disappeared with her mother shortly after birth 18 years ago. He has, however, found other kids. Now, Gracie, the clerk of the court, convinces him to look for Reagan. Working with Mayleah, a detective, he delves into a mystery that will vex him more than he expected it would. What he finds might not surprise regular readers of the genre but Whitlow has made it his own. No spoilers from me. It's well written and the characters nicely formed. It's not really a legal thriller but more of a lawyer as seeker novel, which isn't a bad thing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I am a big Robert Whitlow fan. I have read several of his books starting with JIMMY. After the first book, I was hooked. I think it takes a special talent to tell interesting stories about interesting characters. I think I went to school with Lauren and knew of Buddy and Gracie - if I didn’t, then I wish I had! Buddy is the main character and he is a lawyer. Gracie is one of two main female characters and she is the Clerk of Court. All of the characters are very well developed and each play an important part of the storyline. The storyline flows well and moves along at a good pace. Another winner that I will recommend to anyone who will listen. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

I always enjoy Robert Whitlow's books. They are concisely written, and the characters are always well-developed. I loved Gracie and Buddy and enjoyed the plot. It was a little slow in the middle of the book, and I even put it to the side for a couple weeks. However, it picks up at the end and has a satisfying conclusion.
I liked that the author addressed big issues like runaway kids, human trafficking, and high school pregnancies. I wish some of them had been developed a little more.
Overall, it's a good read and would make for a good book club discussion.

This is a wonderful story with wit, likeable characters, a bit of romance and a captivating story line. It is easy to read and had me sad, happy, and anxious while reading the book. The story had me feeling many emotions and I was very satisfied with the happy ending.

I enjoyed this novel. It was encouraging in the midst of the world we are living in. The author did a good job of bringing out the evil that is so prevalent in our world today, and the need for true prayer warriors. I enjoyed the characters and would enjoy being part of a community like this.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

Trial and Error brings readers to a small town with plenty of secrets. Buddy Smith is an attorney who helps track down missing children, including his daughter. He teams up with the new detective in town along with his long-time friend Gracie Blaylock to try to find a local teen who may be tangled up with some unsavory people.

The storyline for Trial and Error is a touching one. Readers see the transformation of Buddy as he lets go of his past and finds true faith in God. The mother of his child took off with no warning, and Buddy hasn’t seen his daughter since she was born. There are several interesting characters, including Maleah, a detective who helps Buddy on his quest to find missing children. The story is more of a cozy drama than a legal thriller. Not much action in the courtroom, and not much action in general. It’s overall a good storyline but not if you are looking for a suspense-filled legal drama.

4 stars (I liked it a lot and would definitely recommend)
3 stars (some suspenseful moments)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is overall a very typical Robert Whitlow book, for all of you fans. Great characters and plot. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is that it can be a little dry at times. The thing that is a little different to me is that part of it is about human trafficking, which I don't think the author has written about before... Also, there's a nice little romance in this story!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance e-copy. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This book was fairly interesting, kept me reading, though IMO not one of Robert Whitlow’s best. A bit mundane.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

Christian legal drama that will hold readers' attention. Buddy, a small town lawyer had been looking for has daughter for seventeen years when he finds a clue that will change has life. Gracie, the town's clerk of the court has known Buddy her whole life and will prove to be instrumental in encouraging Buddy throughout his search. When a teenage girl disappears both Buddy and Gracie will help Mayleah, the new detective in town come up with a plan to find her. Several different storylines all intertwined make this story emotionally charged. Love the way the author tells the story and makes the characters very personable. Teenage pregnancy, runaways, family violence and other relevant topics of today's world all play a part in this powerful story. Prayer plays an important part throughout. Highly recommended!

I received a free copy of this book on Kindle from Netgalley-for review. It is a character driven novel with an intriguing plot. Two families come together-both with missing daughters. The protagonist had a daughter with his high school girlfriend. The girlfriend disappeared with the child years ago. The protagonist is now an attorney looking for lost children...including his own. The other family was at the hospital the same day-years ago-having their youngest child, a daughter, who has now run away supposedly. The search begins and the search continues...I am not sure that the protagonist's character is developed enough...we don't know what he thinks, but we do know that he cares about others...including his widowed mother...as the two look for answers in the deceased husband's papers...it leads us on a journey of discovery. This is a good one...try it on a snowy afternoon, cuddled under a warm afghan...human nature still intrigues us.

This new to me author is super amazing! Just wow! Had me turning the pages until the end.
I couldn't imagine the things this father went through. My heart was pounding the whole time!
I love loved this book! It was awesome! I even found myself a hollering at the detectives and clapping when they done something right.
The inspiration throughout the story was just right and not overdone. It's why I love these types of books.
The suspense was so cool! Some twists and turns I never saw coming. I definitely love those surprises!
I highly recommend this author. I grantee that you won't be disappointed!
5 stars for sure!
My thanks to Thomas Nelson publishers for a wonderful read!
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

WOW! What a great book! It is well written and is full of excitement, drama and inspiration. It will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I can't say enough good things about this book without letting a spoiler slip out. You don't want to miss this one! Thank you Thomas Nelson--FICTION via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

3 1/2 ⭐️‘s

Seventeen years ago, Buddy’s infant daughter Elise went missing with her mom, Amber. There hasn’t been a day since that Buddy hasn’t been looking for her. Buddy is now an attorney that doesn’t hesitate to take on cases like his own. Missing children, child abduction, teen runaways, any and all to help his desperate clients. With the help of court clerk, Gracie and a new detective on the police force, Mayleah Harkness, Buddy goes to work on his three newest cases. Cases that touch his heart all while new information finally comes to light about his own daughter. This book is not a gritty courtroom drama, but much more of a sweet cozy read, filled with characters that I’d like to be friends with. It’s not just a journey to solve cases, but a beautiful journey of faith as well. A lovely story, but things were just a bit too easily solved and a bit too much on the Hallmark movie ish side for me.

Great read! Very up to the minute in problems we face with sex trafficking. We all have family secrets. It was interesting how this family's wove in and out of the story.