The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin is a deeply moving and suspenseful story that blends heart-pounding stakes with profound emotion. Murphy Shepherd’s relentless quest to save his loved ones is both gripping and inspiring, capturing the resilience of love in the darkest circumstances. I enjoyed this powerful book immensely and rated it five stars.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was anxious to get on to the next. What a disappointment! Although the first volume was perhaps not always totally reality based, it was still a good, action packed and page turning bit of entertainment. This sequel leaned far away from the action and got disturbingly into more introspective material that I was really not interested in plowing through. Not a lot happened until 75% along and then it just got frankly weird with a rinse and repeat abduction and rescue followed by a fall off the face of the flat earth ending that left me hanging.

Not even close to the first volume. Seriously, how many horrific bodily injuries can this man withstand and still come out alive and actually functioning? And as lovable as his borrowed dog is, it is unrealistic to believe he vacillates so easily between killer instinct and loving, face licking emotional support dog.

A quote from the book with which I would have to disagree because I believe women are not born to dream this dream of rescue:

“I'm no expert, but in my limited experience, women aren't born women. They start out as girls. And every girl, from the moment they can dream, imagines the rescue. The knight. The castle. Life in a fairy tale. If you don't believe me, watch boys and girls on a playground. No one teaches us to do this. The kid in us actually believes in things that are too good to be true. Before life convinces us we can't and they're not.

This book has edge of your seat suspense, tears, love and a wedding and the reminder that love never gives up, love conquers all.
Book 2 of the Murphy Shepherd series, it builds on the events of book 1. The danger is always present and as Murphy builds connections with more people there are more ways that he becomes vulnerable. But he always shows up no matter the cost. 'We always leave the ninety-nine to find the one, because the needs of the one outweigh those of the many'.
I enjoyed the backstory being filled in about how Bones and Murphy met and became who they are now. The development of Summer into the healing force she becomes was awesome to read - Murphy really has met his match in her!
An addictive read leaving us ready for book three!

The cover for this book is beautiful, and it sounded interesting enough. Since all the changes to the arc formats for downloading, I can no longer download and open this one. I did find a copy in real life, and tried the first few chapters, but this author may just not be for me. Not terrible writing, but I did not feel like I cared enough after about 45 pages to bother taking the book home to finish it. I was relieved to at least find that the 'Christian fiction' aspect in this one was not too central to the storytelling in the part I read, so it at least is one I will continue to shelve in general fiction instead of relegating it to the inspirational fiction section of the bookshop where I work. Maybe I'll like some of this author's other books better.

Mr. Martin is a cross of Nicholas Sparks and John Grisham with a bit of Pearl S. Bailey. His writing style is a bit wordy as he stresses repeatedly hope, duty, sacrifice, and God through actions. His characters are varied and easy to care about, the dialogues are always positive and clean, and the action is understated, not gory. Evil is definitely present and the reason for the fighting. There is family, community, love, hope, and a gamut of emotions. Source: Netgalley.

THE WATER KEEPER, #1 - Intense. Intriguing. Interesting. Wonderful characters, good story lines, and good dialog. Introduction of the work and beliefs of the main characters. 5*

THE LETTER KEEPER, #2 - This book tells the story of Murphy Shepard and David Bishop, their beginnings and life. 5*

THE RECORD KEEPER, #3, AUDIOBOOK - I thought I was getting an eBook. I enjoyed listening, but with this series, it is too difficult to stop and repeat a section. I reread sections of the first two books. This book is about Bones, his beginnings and life. Narrator: Jonathan K. Riggs. The narrator did a good job conveying all the emotions, actions, and thoughts of the characters. A little sappy sometimes, but he did a good job. Length: 10 hours, 6 minutes. 5*

Deeply moving and emotionally charged, Martin's storytelling is poetic and compassionate. There are themes of redemption, trauma, and hope with suspense.

This was my second Charles Martin book. He is a great writer. I did not read the first book of this series, but I don't think it affected the story. I will definitely finish this series though.

Murphy Shepherd and his cohorts are risking their lives to save people from human trafficking. Their efforts are heroic to say the least. This book is action-packed. I enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

And I’m sold on Murphy Shepherd. I like how this one went more into his backstory as well. So often all the backstory is dumped in the first book, but this really opened up even more. I also like that it feels like a continuous story. We have so many “standalone-series” where each book is still about the same person or a group of people but they can really stand alone. I like how this is continued like a true sequel…and then leaves us on a cliffhanger. Phew. That ending. In to the next one because I HAVE to know what happens.

It’s a hard topic, for sure. The story of Casey Girl just really brings it home. But it’s just so important that these kind of stories are told.

Thank you netgalley and Thomas Nelson for a review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars (Outstanding)

Setting: A variety of locations
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin is an unforgettable novel that grips your heart from the first page and doesn’t let go. Murphy Shepherd is not just a man on a mission—he is a beacon of hope for the lost, the broken, and the enslaved. But when his own family is taken, his fight against human trafficking becomes deeply personal, pushing him to the limits of faith, endurance, and love.

Martin’s storytelling is masterful, weaving together action, emotion, and raw humanity with his signature poetic prose. The novel is both thrilling and deeply moving, exploring not only the horrors of human trafficking but also the power of love and sacrifice. Murphy’s journey is one of resilience, faith, and the relentless pursuit of justice, making this book impossible to put down.

If you love stories that challenge the heart and inspire the soul, The Letter Keeper is a must-read. It’s not just a book—it’s an experience that stays with you long after the final page. #netgalley #theletterkeeper #booked_this_weekend

Book #2 in the Murphy Shepherd series. You could read this as a stand alone and enjoy it but you'd miss most of the back stories of the principal characters. These characters have all suffered through difficult challenges and come out better on the other side. Murphy in particular has gone from a lonely person living apart from the world to a man with a family. In THE LETTER KEEPER, Murphy's new family is threatened, then taken. He will do what he does best and rescue them while stopping a trafficking ring. While this my not sound like an original story line, you don't know Charles Martin's works. Yes, this series is thrillers. No, it's not just any thrillers. Martin develops the characters into real people, the descriptions of the Florida coastal waters is so well described, you "see" it. I listened to this book on audio and the narrator does Martin's works justice as only a person who loves reading could. Whether you read the book or listen to it, Murphy Shepherd is a character you need to know.

The Letter Keeper starts off differently than the first book. A little slower, not quite as intense. We, the readers, get a lot of background information and I loved it. We got to know more about Murphy, who he is and how he became who he is. And then about 55% through, the book gets intense. Twists, turns, struggles. Well done. Anxiously ready to read book #3

**Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing for giving me a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!**

I enjoyed this book, but I had some issues feeling invested. I can tell that Martin's writing style is getting better as this series goes on, but the pacing was weird, and I kept getting lost in the fight/adventure sequences (and they felt oddly passive). There are also literal pages of this book that are copied and pasted word-for-word from book 1 (and are later also used word-for-word in book 4). That bothered me. I still love the characters and their stories, but I think this book just needed some more editing.

This book exceeded my expectations; it was both emotional and heartwarming, and the characters were so memorable. I was totally engaged throughout the entire novel.
The book was full of vivid descriptions and vivid imagery to the point where I felt like I had slipped into the pages.

“Love shows up.”
“And love, the real kind, the kind that walks into hell and says me-for-you, is the only thing in this universe or any other that does.”

Charles Martin has an incredible tackling incredibly difficult and painful subjects while also expressing emotion and empathy in an amazingly beautiful way. The relationships between his characters are dynamic and complex and they all show up for each other. Murphy Shepherd and his team are true heroes who deal with the most vile people and rescue the victims of human trafficking. They find those that other people have given up on and not only rescue them, they help them find healing and show them that they are still loveable and to see themselves the way God does. They truly live out the leaving the 99 to go after the 1. Charles Martin manages to tell the story of God’s love for us and how far He is truly willing to go to save us. This book moved me to tears several times as Murphy put his police on the line to save his wife and daughters and the mission his team has created. Casey’s story was so moving and it broke my heart the way she had been harmed. The story was truly unputdownable and I had to start book 3 the minute I finished this one.

Amazing as usual. I enjoyed the first book "The Water Keeper" and wasn't sure if the second book "The Letter Keeper "could match the first, but Charles Martin has out done himself again. I would have to say he is one of my favorite authors. Can't wait to read the third book "The Record Keeper"

Charles Martin puts so much depth into his written that it's easy to get lost in his books in a good way.

Thank you, Net Galley, for the opportunity to read this book.

Great second book in this series. Borrowing so many elements from the first book, the writer expands upon the amazing love story, the thrilling and often heart racing adventure, and really deepens the history of all the characters in this phenomenal follow up. Highly recommend and cannot wait to read the next installment!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Charles Martin for the ARC of this book.

I am a big fan of Charles Martin's books, and this particular one in my opinion was his best writing ever! Wow! The story is gripping, the characters are so well developed, the wisdom he shares through the protagonist is such a gift as well, and the plot is so well thought-out. There are SO MANY quotable places in this story. It's a tough setting as the story unfolds through a backdrop of human-trafficking, but the themes such as the power of love, sacrifice, commitment, doing the right thing, helping "just one more", etc., shine through. I sort of see this as a male protagonist version of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. This is the middle book in a trilogy, so read The Water Keeper first!

Charles Martin never disappoints and the Letter Keeper is a favorite of mine. This story hits all the feels and pulls at the heartstrings. Make sure you keep the tissue box nearby because you will surely need it. I highly recommended this book.

The Letter Keeper, a Christy Award Nominee for General Fiction, follows Murphy Shepherd, an Anglican priest and secret operative devoted to rescuing victims of sex trafficking.

In this installment of the trilogy, Murphy Shepherd is facing his greatest challenge yet. While taking a much-needed break in Florida, someone blows up Murphy's boat, and he awakens in Freetown, the Colorado recovery center for sex trafficking victims he runs with his mentor. The traffickers target Freetown and kidnap Murphy’s wife, her daughter, and two other teenage girls.

Murphy’s journey to rescue them takes him across the country and into the heart of danger. A diverse group of allies aids him, each bringing unique skills. As Murphy confronts the dark forces at play, he is haunted by his own demons.

The pacing starts with a bang, slows in the middle when it leans too heavily into philosophizing, but ends with plenty of action, so hang in there. The point of view can be confusing, but the story’s strength shines through. It’s important to read the series in order, starting with The Water Keeper.

The Letter Keeper tackles the crucial issue of human trafficking, especially relevant as movies like The Sound of Freedom draw attention to it. A powerful story, it explores redemption, sacrifice, and the lengths one man will go to protect those he loves. The cast of characters wrestle with faith under trying circumstances, making this an inspiring read for fans of Christian fiction. 4 stars.

** Many thanks to the publisher for a comp of this title. The opinions are solely my own.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Charles Martin for the ARC of this book.

I am a big fan of Charles Martin's books, and this particular one in my opinion was his best writing ever! Wow! The story is gripping, the characters are so well developed, the wisdom he shares through the protagonist is such a gift as well, and the plot is so well thought-out. There are SO MANY quotable places in this story. It's a tough setting as the story unfolds through a backdrop of human-trafficking, but the themes such as the power of love, sacrifice, commitment, doing the right thing, helping "just one more", etc., shine through. I sort of see this as a male protagonist version of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. This is the middle book in a trilogy, so read The Water Keeper first!