3.75 stars. First and foremost The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin must be made into a movie. It would be action packed, filled with good guys and bad guys, filled with love, sacrifice and undying friendship and filled with characters you want to be your friends. It would undeniably be better than a James Bond movie.

This book is a sequel to The Water Keeper, 5 stars, and as is usual for me I never like the sequel as much as the first book in the series. That being said I still thoroughly enjoyed this book. Also, I would read these in order or else I feel you will be lost.

Murphy Shepherd, super hero, is a selfless man who sacrifices his own life to find and rescue girls and boys from human trafficking. Not only does he rescue them he turns their life around and gains their trust. You will fall in love with all the good guys, Murphy, Bones, Casey, Summer, Angel and Ellie. They are all his family and adoptive family and in this book they are all in need of being rescued.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Now let’s make a movie!

4.5 stars rounded up

Another great read by Martin! This book had more of slow build than the first one in the series, however, once the action started, it didn’t stop. I highly recommend reading The Water Keeper before The Letter Keeper to get the necessary background to appreciate the developing relationships between the characters and the story as a whole.

I really enjoyed learning more about the characters that make up this book, each story is so powerful and unique. There are some hard parts to read, due to the series being about human trafficking, but this topic is one that needs light shone on it. Martin shines a light with heart and grace. Overall, Murph’s love and care for the women in his life is a beautiful picture of how God loves and rescues those He calls His own.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Letter Keeper is the second book in the Murphy Shepherd novels. This book started off with a bang, and then it goes into the backstory of how Murph became the kick butt hero he became. It also slows down a good bit and reflects on Casey. A girl he rescued from the first book and all the traumatic and emotional issues that come from being trafficked. I cried tears through much of that section of the book. Then, it takes a turn and there is a lot of action at the end in true Charles Martin style. The ending leaves you wanting to read book 3.
4.5 stars
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson and this is my honest opinion.

The Letter Keeper is the second book in Charles Martin's Murphy Shepherd series. I'm a huge fan of Martin's novels and I've read almost all of them. This one was a bit of a challenge for me to get into, even though I'd read the first book in the series. I think it's great that the author and publisher are tackling such a difficult topic. We need more books that shine a light into the dark places in this world, and human trafficking is quite evil. The action is intense, the subtle message about God's love for his children reflected throughout the novel is well-written, and the characters are rich and dynamic. The relationship between Bones and Murph that's established in the first book is expanded upon in this book, which I really enjoyed. For me, the novel's one drawback is plausibility. At times, Murph seemed superhuman. I totally get that there is a need for suspension of disbelief in certain story worlds. In this one, there are several scenes where the actions taken by the hero aren't believable.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

After reading and loving The Water Keeper by Charles Martin I could hardly wait to get my hands on The Letter Keeper. I was not disappointed! Only that I now have to wait for this author's next book.
The Letter Keeper is a perfect page turner!
Once again we are in the world of Murphy Shepherd who has devoted his life to finding survivors of human trafficking.
Freetown, a town high in the mountains of Colorado is where he brings the young people he has rescued so that they can heal physically, mentally and hopefully emotionally. However the story becomes personal for Murphy when his world is shattered by the sudden disappearance of his new wife, daughter and two others. He battles good vs evil as he hunts the evil men out to destroy him.
Multiple surprises, many plot twists, edge of your seat suspense and wonderfully endearing and unique characters make this novel unputdownable.
I am totally captivated with Charles Martin's story-telling!
* I highly recommend reading The Water Keeper first *

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Murphy Shepherd finds the survivors of human trafficking, but then, it hits too close to home. As in, very up close and personal. His new wife, his stepdaughter and two other teen girls are taken. Such an unimaginable thing.
This was an emotional story for me. Wiped me out.
This is the second book in a series. It will leave you hanging and begging for the next book.
I was given an advanced copy by the publisher, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Murphy Shepherd continues with his mission to rescue people who are forced into human trafficking, all the while keeping Freetown, in the Colorado mountains, as a safe space for the survivors. His mentor, known as Bones, is a force to be reckoned with, and Murphy knows the strain Bones is under, with the immense responsibility of helping the residents heal. To his surprise, Murphy’s novel about one of the girls has hit the best-seller list, and with the furor surrounding Casey’s story, Murphy finds he has let his guard down a bit. Someone has breached the security at Freetown, destroyed the hospital, and stolen Murphy’s new wife, Summer, their daughters, and Casey.

The Letter Keeper is the second in a series, and it is an excellent story. Murphy’s selflessness, placing himself in grave danger over and over again to rescue victims of human trafficking, is admirable and I love his determination. The resilience and strength of the residents of Freetown, and the courage they demonstrate, is really humbling and I applaud their journey. This is a strong story, full of strong characters who continue to serve others with their time and talents, and I can’t recommend it strongly enough.

What a beautiful but heartbreaking book! I was recently introduced to Charles Martin's books by a patron at our library who kept requesting all his books. When I saw this title here on Netgalley I knew I had to read it. I rushed to get the first of this series from the main library and read it just as fast as I read this one. It's definitely best to read The Water Keeper first. Also, because I tend to prefer fun, fluffy books, this is a bit more heavy and took me two days to read instead of breezing through it in an afternoon.

Both The Water Keeper and The Letter Keeper are about human trafficking and a man who rescues those who were taken. It's a beautiful story of Murphy Shepherd who leaves the 99 to find the lost one. It's about his struggles, the women he loves, the men he's closest to and a faithful dog, Gunner.

I can't wait for book 3 that comes out in June 2022!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are mine and now I will be a faithful reader of Charles Martin!

Once again. Charles Martin has written a another suspenseful yet thought provoking novel which manages to weave a story around the dark world of human trafficking alongside philosophical questions about finding meaning, purpose, joy and beauty amidst the realities of this broken world. The main character, Murphy Shepherd, is a complex man with a unique calling in his life work. That life work was born out of his own pain and brokenness. Charles Martin is a gifted and prolific writer, but I believe this series (of which the Letter Keeper is book 2) is some of his best work. He is a skilled story teller that draws you in with complex characters. He is skilled in bringing the reader greater awareness of one of the burning issues of our day - human slavery/sex trafficking, all the while likewise telling the story of individuals who are searching for meaning and connection in their own personal life. Full of suspense, a share of relational issues and just a gripping read - I highly recommend this book. But also urge you begin with book one - The Water Keeper.

If the first book in the series didn’t draw you in, this one is a sure bet!

Murphy Shepherd always leaves the ninety-nine behind to search for the one. The one that no one else could find that’s being trafficked. And he’s made a lot of enemies along the way that would love nothing more than to silence the man who has destroyed their profits once and for all. Unfortunately, someone has found the ability to do just that and not only have they destroyed his beloved island, they have captured his new wife and teenage daughters. Murphy must race against time with the tables turned on him to find his family before they meet a fate worse than death.

So, if you loved the rough, tough persona of Murphy Shepherd created during in The Water Keeper then you are in for a treat in this new book. There is not as much action as the first book, but readers get to see the man behind the persona and really begin to understand who he is. From childhood to university to how he become involved in this line of work. In addition to all of this, readers get to know some of the supporting characters better including Bones and his daughter Ellie. One of the most surprising elements of the book was developing the story of Casey, who was found at the end of the first book. She develops into such a beautiful, yet fierce, character with some unexpected twist and turns along the way.

If you thought the first book mirror the move Taken, this was makes you think it will be like Taken 2, but it is much more than that. Grab a copy as soon as you can!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Charles Martin’s unique, powerful writing style is on full display in The Letter Keeper - it gets to the point, keeps the story moving, and packs an emotional punch. In this book, we pick up where The Water Keeper left off, with Summer, Angel, and Ellie starting a new life in Freetown. Meanwhile, Murphy continues making enemies as he rescues more children from traffickers. This book also dives into more of his backstory, from his childhood to how he met Bones and found his calling. Now he faces his most dangerous mission yet, with the highest stakes - rescuing the women he loves. The fierce, sacrificial love Murphy shows in his fight against evil is a beautiful picture of the lengths Christ has gone to rescue us. Suspense, drama, action, and a powerfully emotional story are all wrapped up in this one book - I highly recommend it and can't wait for the next book to round out the trilogy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the second in the Murphy Shepherd trilogy. Human trafficking is a hard subject to read about. Murphy had made it his goal to rescue a many victims as possible. He has quite the team helping him. A little too much reflection. I would recommend reading The Water Keeper first to fully comprehend the story.

Charles Martin has quickly become one my absolute favorite authors!! This book continues the story line of the first in this series and it truly keeps you glued to the edge of your seat! The author does such a great job balancing the sweet moments with the intense moments. Trust me when I say you will not regret reading this book!

Charles Martin has a gift with words—they flow like the water that is central to his stories. In The Letter Keeper, he once again pulls readers into the shadowy world of Murphy Shepherd, tackling difficult, even nightmarish subjects with sensitivity and offering us a story of hope and the power of redemption. One caveat: this is not a standalone book; read The Water Keeper first. You won’t be disappointed.

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

The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin is book two in the A Murphey Shepherd Novel. When I requested this book, I was not aware this was a book in a series and had no problem following the story. The author does a wonderful job of filling in background information to keep the story moving along and easy to follow. This is a fast-paced, action filled suspenseful story. This story focuses on the topic of human trafficking and the struggles those who are rescued have to work through.

With this story we catch up with Murphy as he is finishing high school and follow him through making a career choice that saves so many young people but costs him so much. This story is full of emotional and physical hurt that is not always easy to read but it is also a story that is hard to put down. I was totally surprised with the ending of the story and hope the author has another story to follow.

I received a complimentary copy of this story from Thomas Nelson Publishers through NetGalley, this is my honest review.

Another great book from Charles Martin! I'm such a fan of this author, I will read anything he writes without hesitation. His storytelling is beyond compare and his soul comes through his words. This one starts out with edge of your seat suspense, then mellows a bit allowing you to catch your breath before it builds again. True to his style, it is filled with faith, spirituality, resilience, hope, forgiveness and love and includes the forever faithful furry companion. What more could you ask for?

As I finished reading chapter twenty-one, I questioned whether or not I could finish reading this book. Not because I was disappointed, I wasn't. Not because I wasn't fully immersed in the story, I was. But simply because I did not know if my heart could hold any more. The Letter Keeper picks up where The Water Keeper left off, and this book is just as raw and vivid. It is filled with thoughts that one must sit with for a bit before reading on. It is one of those rare pieces of fiction that has the potential of being life-changing if only the reader is willing and not rushed or overwhelmed by life circling around them as they read.

I did go on to complete this book, and my heart does runneth over. I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Letter Keeper from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

This book had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I was holding my breath as Murphy Shepherd continued to "leave the 99 to find the 1". The searches in this second installment of the series became extremely personal which made for an emotional read. It was also helpful to learn more of the back stories for the memorable characters Charles Martin has created. The subject of human trafficking is tough to tackle, but I believe this author handles it in a sensitive manner. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advance copy to read and review.

Wow, just wow.

When you think Charles Martin's writing can't resonate with you more than it already does, he tops that by adding deep character dives, raw-panged emotion, and tense scenes.

Murphy Shepherd is a man to be reckoned with if you're on the wrong side of the law, and as heroic as the Duke for those needing to be saved. This novel can be read as a stand-alone, but read The Water Keeper too. But, have tissues nearby for both, you're going to need them.

I want 2022 to hurry up and get here, I've got a "book date" with Murphy Shepherd, and I don't want to be late.

It's one amazing read.

I received this book from the publisher but was under no obligation to post nor write a review.

“The wounds of the past carry a lot of weight when it comes to walking into one’s future, and if anything can rob you of now, it’s yesterday.”

The Letter Keeper is the follow-up to The Water Keeper. You definitely need to read these in order. While The Water Keeper brought the action, The Letter Keeper focusses in on the repercussions of the life Murphy Shepherd has chosen. He’s given up his life to rescue people from human trafficking, but the toll is high. He doesn’t know how to handle new relationships, and an injury forces him to let others take care of him for a while. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of action in the story as Murphy faces many life and death situations, because he always leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one. Nothing can keep that man down.

The name of Freetown says it all: what is freedom worth? The story dives into the dark spots of humanity but Charles Martin weaves a message of hope through every page. The rescued women struggle with love and understanding that everyone is worth being rescued, but Murphy shares a similar struggle. He needs to let go of the past and so he can find hope and love in the future. Such great themes in this story make the characters come alive on the pages.

This story captured my heart on such an emotional and insightful level, and it will be one of those novels that I think about long after I put the book down. I am excited that there’s a third in the series – this does end on a bit of a cliff hanger, so I’m ready for book three!

Overall Rating:
5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)

Suspense Rating:
5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)

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