Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the gifted book I read along with the library audio!

After his last mission got wildly personal, Murphy Shepherd is now fully entrenched in a revenge mission that is making him use every fiber of his mental and physical acuity to defeat the enemy.

This third book in the series is the resolution I didn't even know I was craving. It is suspenseful and poignant at the same time. Martin is the kind of writer that wraps their arm around your shoulder and guides you through the ups and downs of the narrative. And in this third book his writing style really shines as he brings home the themes of this series in the most touching of ways and the resolution is so bittersweet that you can't help but feel all the feelings.

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

Once again, I think I like this last and maybe final installment of the series best. This is a very tough series to follow. The situations that the victims find themselves in are pretty horrific, and although there are no highly detailed descriptions, enough is said to make its depravity clear to the readers.
In the previous visit, we found out that there was an almost Moriarty-Like character existing just outside of the periphery of our plot. In this book, we finally get the answers to who he is and how everything came to the stage that it did. It is not a happy tale, but there is a depth of emotion here that helps bring some solace of peace to the good guys. I always liked a heist-like scenario with newer people added to the mix, and I must admit that that section was my favourite.
I would not recommend coming anywhere close to this book without reading either one of the previous two. There are no perfunctory introductions except for brief references to events that brought our central cast of heroes together.
This is not a tale for the faint of heart, but at its core, it is the struggle of individuals fighting an undefeatable evil in our societies without losing out hope and hoping that the few they manage to save make a difference!
I would recommend this series to people who like a lot of action in their books of good versus evil.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

This is the 3rd book in a series and all the books were great and very well written. It was the perfect way to wrap up the series when often times the ending of a series is anticlimactic. Recommend!

A great end to a great series. But some very tough issues. Thank you NetGalley and publisher. Look forward to what’s next from this author.

The Record Keeper is the third story in the Murphy Shepherd series. I’m hearing it’s the last story, which makes me so sad because I feel like this series could just keep going. There are so many amazing characters and I want to keep reading about them all, but if this is the last story, what a wonderful conclusion! That ending literally gave me goosebumps!

Murphy and Bones are some of my favorite characters ever! I love their hearts and everything they stand for. They both epitomize sacrificial love, especially Bones. This story explains his past and how he came to be where he is. What a story. What a beautiful character. We can only hope there are Bones and Murphy’s out there!

Because of the subject matter of this series, it is sometimes hard to read. To know the horrific depths man can fall to just breaks my heart, but I am so glad that several authors are bringing this horrible subject to our attention.

If you haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend it. Charles Martin is a wonderful storyteller!

I purchased this story. I was also given a complimentary copy. The faith thread is medium. 5 stars!

Absolutely wonderful. But please don't leave me on that cliffhanger! (Beware.) Yet somehow it was the perfect end to this unique and twisty, beautiful, and deep series. I was relieved to have the story finished yet I also wanted a twelve book series at the same time! Charles Martin writes like no other author I have ever read and I am in love with his books. Catch me reading his entire back catalogue. Keep writing, sir!

What an amazing triology of books! All three were amazing and definitely are books I am still thinking about long after having turned the last page. Highly recommend for realistic fiction and moving characters.

This is a beautifully written conclusion to the Murphy Shepherd trilogy. I was moved to tears many times thinkin about the gorgeous analogy of how God seeks us out, even when we seem to be the only one lost.

So why not five stars? It's because this book really takes a long time to get going. The first 50% is a lot of rehashing of the storylines of prior books and inch-by-inch setup of what is to come. I rate the first 50% 3-stars, and the second 50% 5-stars, so an average of 4. It's still an absolutely stellar book and you definitely should read all three books in order, despite the recaps.

There are many things about the plots of these books that are incredibly difficult to read. The premise of the stories is that Murphy Shepherd and his counterparts work to rescue women and children from trafficking, and although it doesn't go into detail, enough is provided that will gut you and break your heart into a million pieces.

Although these books are an amazing allegory of God's love for people, you could read them and appreciate them for the stories themselves and not even notice the underlying message. Martin is such an excellent writer that his books appeal to a wide range of readers, whether they believe in God or not. However, one caveat is that some of the actions of the characters might not make much sense without a faith background.

Overall, I loved this trilogy and cannot wait to see what this writer comes up with next.

The third in a series. Such a hard topic to read about and unfortunately very prevalent to today. Martin did a great job as he deals with human trafficking in this book. Have enjoyed all his writing.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Apparently part of a series / a secret operative Murphy is also a novelist / he is often helped by Bines who has an evil twin . Deals with sex abuse in the church …

The Record Keeper, by Charles Martin, is book three in the Murphey Shepherd series. This one does take over after the second in the series, so it is best to read them in order. I did struggle a little getting into this story, so I should have gone back and re-read the previous book. This is a fast-paced, action filled suspenseful story. This story focuses on the topic of human trafficking and hurt and emotions of those who survive have to work through. While this is a hard topic to read about, this is a good story. There is a lot of specific information provided in this story and a lot of background information.

It is interesting to read of the differences between Bones and his brother. While Bones works to help others, his brother has found ways to track Bones and know is every movement. This story is follows the Parable of the Lost Sheep in the Bible. Especially when Murphey leaves to find Bones.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this story, this is my honest review.

I'm not sure if this is the last book in the series since new characters were introduced but it does tie up the loose ends with Bones and Murphy Shepherd. The series deals with the tough topic of human trafficking. The author does an excellent job of showing you what the victims have endured and how they are overcoming. Bones and Murphy are the two main characters and their bond of friendship is like none other. The leave the ninety-nine to rescue the one. I have enjoyed all three books. I have laughed, cried, mourned, and rejoiced with the characters. An excellent series.

Charles Martin write another amazing book. I really wonder, and hope, there is a team of people who are trying to stop trafficking like we see in this book.

This book is heart pounding from start to finish. The characters speak from the and therefore will touch your heart.

I would say you really do need to read the previous books in this series to fully enjoy this one. There is a lot of back story that you get from the other books that I think is important in this one.


A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

It is hard for me to wrap my mind around the thought of human sex trafficking and what a big business it probably is. I admire Murphy Shepherd and "Bones" for working so hard to catch the top guy and put an end to this horrible crime for, at least, a while. You will be amazed at the incredible feats of strength and endurance the two of them show. Charles Martin is able to write about rescuing kidnapped children and women in a tasteful way. I have found all three books in the Murphy Shepherd series extremely interesting. Because of love, Bones was able to leave the rescued 99 and go after the one who still needed rescuing! I recommend the fast paced Murphy Shepherd series to others. I believe both men and women will want to read these books. I received a e-book copy through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

The Record Keeper
by Charles Martin
Pub Date 05 Jul 2022
Thomas Nelson--FICTION, Thomas Nelson
General Fiction (Adult)


I am reviewing a copy of The Record Keeper through Thomas Nelson and Netgalley:




Murphy Shepherd would like like nothing more than to stay close to his wife and daughters for awhile, but his last rescue mission very nearly cost him his life. And Bones brother must be stopped.


and there are so many who still need to know they are worth rescuing.
As the cat-and-mouse game moves into the open, Murphy is tested at every turn—both physically and mentally. Then the unthinkable happens: his beloved mentor and friend is taken.



Gone without a trace.



Murphy lives by the mantra that love always shows up. But how can he rescue Bones when he has no leads?


With heart-stopping clarity, The Record Keeper explores the true cost of leaving the ninety-nine to find the one.



I give Gone Without a Trace five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

Charles Martin is one of my favorite authors, so when I got the chance to read the 3rd book in the Murphy Shepard series I was thrilled. As usual this one did not disappoint. The book is a tense and emotional read but very much worth the read. I highly recommend the book.
Thank you NetGallery for my ARC.

A tense and dark story about sex trafficking. Martin captivates through rich storytelling cat and mouse game. A riveting story that is raw and emotional.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the eARC.
#NetGalley

What a great ending to the Murphy Sheppard trilogy! The entire series is beautifully written, gut wrenching and thought provoking leaving you with hope for humanity and this one does not fall short. It's full of suspense and adventure but it's also a story of unconditional love. I will read anything Charles Martin writes, he's just that good! Don't hesitate to read this one and add all his previous books to your TBR list.

The newest installment of Charles Martin's Murphy series did not disappoint. Murph is looking for his missing partner, Bones, over the course of The Record Keeper. The plot is well developed, and a couple of new characters are introduced. Camp, Jess, and the other hacker are the perfect teammates for Murph to have to help save Bones and protect the safe haven they have created.

If you have read the other two in the series, I highly recommend The Record Keeper. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this excellent book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Emotional raw and touching book. Loved the carryover of the characters in the three books in a series. Once you start reading you will want to finish, but I explore you to parse it out and enjoy!