This reminded me a little of John Grisham's The Firm, which is a story about a young, driven couple who obtain a great corporate position. They soon learn that all isn’t what it seems at the firm. Ryan and his wife learn the community they live in isn’t as welcoming as they first thought.
When Joe Moore's mother's final wish is for him to be released from prison, things become a little suspicious. Joe doesn’t want any part of his family paying out rigorous lawyer fees in a predicament he most certainly caused.

But Joe’s sister is determined to fulfill her mother’s wish. No one wants to get Joe out of prison; he committed the crime, and he should pay.
Not only does this case have a lot of moving parts that include trouble with Ryan’s boss and the fact that someone is out to kill Ryan and his wife. Just when you thought you knew where this story was headed, it takes a few twists and turns into a surprising ending. I loved that.

I appreciated the organic spiritual connection that developed when Ryan and his wife began attending church at the invitation of their neighbors.
The story culminates in a suspenseful, nail-biting finale that will keep you up late. This is a heartwarming journey filled with likable characters and a few you won’t like. This novel will work well for your book club pick. This is a story you don’t want to miss. If you haven’t read a book by this author, I recommend you start here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN: Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

Robert Whitlow’s books are always a fantastic read and Guilty Until Innocent is no exception. Fantastic plot with well developed characters. This one definitely keeps the reader engaged. My thanks t to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Once again, Robert Whitlow comes through with a book that should immediately hit your TBR pile. He writes with his classic style that keeps the reader engaged with the story and characters. I always enjoying getting to know the people that Whitlow adds to his story. I want to meet them and get to know them.
Joe is imprisoned for a crime he committed while using drugs. He doesn't remember killing 2 people, but the evidence shows others wise. He has made himself right with God and is now living a quiet life in the prison system.
Ryan and Paige are starting over. After losing his last two jobs, he is beginning to wonder if he should even stay a lawyer. His cousin Tom offers him a job in North Carolina. While just settling in, Joe's family wants to fill for an early release.
What ensues is full of twists and turns to a crime everyone thought was solved.
As I said before, fans of Whitlow will want to read this one right away, those who have not read him before will find a new favorite and have a delightful backlist to devour.

Guilty Unit Innocent by Robert Whitlow ****

Book Review: Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing me the opportunity to review an early copy of this novel. All of the thoughts and the opinions expressed are my own.

Joe Moore has been in prison for 25 years for a set of murders he committed while high on meth. Joe has found God in prison and is leading a prison revival. Ryan Clark, a young lawyer, and his wife have moved to a small town in North Carolina so that he can work for a distant relative after being let go from a couple of other firms. Tom, this relative, ends up in the hospital leaving Ryan to deal with the reopening of Joe Moore’s case as the request of his family. This pairing between Joe and Ryan brings spiritual healing to people on both the inside and outside. As things heat up, it becomes obvious that someone doesn’t want the truth to come out.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was quintessentially Robert Whitlow. It was suspenseful. It was a legal thriller and it was also a bit of a look at spiritual warfare. When I read a book by Robert Whitlow I always feel a little bit as if I am reading a bit of a mashup of John Grisham and Frank Peretti. I only rated it four stars because I would have liked to see a bit more of a conversion story for Ryan. We got Paige’s story and we see the beginning of Ryan’s. I would have just liked more. Also, I would have liked to see a complete resolution to the guilty party.

If you like a good clean Southern legal thriller but without the drama. This might be the book for you, especially if you like it with a side of prayer, and God’s power being revealed. If light pregnancy issues are a trigger this might be one to avoid. If legalese and suspense isn’t your thing or if you don’t like strong faith content then this might not be the book for you. . #GuilyUntilInnocent #NetGalley

I enjoy learning about the intricacies of the legal system. I enjoy reading about the causes and effects of crimes. I enjoy the discussion of religion. I thought i would adore this book. I was disappointed. The instantaneous leaps of faith and contrition take away from the characters and the plot. I received this ARC, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Intriguing suspense . I did not expect what would happen in this book and that’s what made it fabulous.

The story begins at a trial sentencing Joe for a double murder , flip the page and it’s 27 years later.
The story is now about Ryan and his wife Paige .
They’ve recently moved to a small town for Ryan to practice law with a distant cousin .
It takes a bit for the two stories to connect but in the mean time Ryan’s story is built up: feelings of self doubt , a pregnancy , an awakening in him and his wife of wanting some type of religion and purpose in life , building friendships , integrity , and more.
Ryan’s law firm is asked to review joes original crime and sentencing to see if he can be released early .
Joe and Ryan are introduced - there’s something different about Joe . He talks of God , says he will pray about it , What’s there to pray about ? Thinks Ryan

After reviewing the original case evidence there are some holes and suprising some pressure from leading locals to drop the case . What will happen to Joe , Ryan and Paige and the other characters developed in this book ? I don’t want to ruin it for you just know it was a great suspense /mystery with a large amount of God mentioned .
I will read again. Thank you to netgalley and publisher for a copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Guilty Until Innocent is a mildly interesting story of a charismatic young lawyer in a new firm after having been fired from two previous positions. The plot concerns the filing of a motion for appropriate relief for an inmate imprisoned for 26 years. There are diversions re a pregnancy, a heart attack and many dull passages about harmonica lessons. Before very long, the book becomes enmeshed in religion, prayers and Bible study. This reader found it extremely tedious and felt the book was incorrectly listed in the mystery and thrillers category instead of religion and spirituality. If properly categorized, I would never have read this novel but thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC.

Positive: It's a solid, enjoyable story.
Negative: Clunky dialog and, I can't put my finger on it, but something about the portrayal of women in the story rubbed me the wrong way.

This novel is an intriguing story about an old case and a young lawyer who slowly comes to understand that probably the wrong man was convicted.
A man convicted of murder in prison can be freer than those outside prisons. There's to hope than many like Joe are working from the inside and I believe that inmates often are more open to see that they indeed need a savior and forgiveness.

This is an intriguing legal thriller that will keep you guessing. It starts off slow but gives you a chance to get to know the characters before it really takes off.

Joe Moore is serving a life sentence for attempted murder but he has gotten to really enjoy prison life, as much as one can. He is a devout Christian and serves as ministry leader, so all of the other inmates trust him and like him. When one day out of the blue, his niece shows up for a visit, he is stunned to find out that she hired a lawyer to try and get him freed. Joe was strung out on drugs when the crime was committed so he can’t remember a thing about that night. When his new lawyer comes across some new information, things get very interesting. It seems that someone doesn’t want the truth to come out because both Joe and his lawyer are getting threats.

This is a riveting whodunnit and you’ll be antsy to finish this one for the thrilling ending. If you like legal thrillers, you’re sure to like this one.

The more I got into this, the harder it was to put down.A really good legal thriller filled with interesting characters some good, some not so.
It was a very unique read that left me thinking well after the last page.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC.

Besides the 2024 presidential elections, I had some personal issues going on and knew I needed something to read to keep me involved in the story. Robert Whitlow was the perfect solution. I am a big fan! This book is very good. Of course it is a legal-kind of mystery genre. It’s set in the south and the characters are definitely realistically southern. I am not going to write a review of the story but this could have really happened in the small town where I live. Paige and Ryan could go to our church. I wish the story had lasted a few more chapters so we could know more of the story. I will definitely recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy for my honest review.

This book reminded me that God can and does change people!

The characters are memorable, I love the double storylines. It is an amazing story with lots of takeaways for me and it will make such a good movie. It is a 9/10 for me

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are mine and freely given.

Every time I read a book by Robert Whitlow; I find myself thinking it's his best work yet. His stories are always intriguing and impossible to put down, keeping me turning the pages until the very end.
In his latest novel, we meet Ryan, a young attorney who just started a new job at a law firm run by a distant cousin. Recently moved to a small town in North Carolina with his wife, Paige, Ryan is eager to succeed after two earlier jobs in law that didn’t end well. He is committed to supporting his cousin Tom, who manages the firm's high-profile cases.
When the family of Joe Moore—convicted of murdering a prominent couple while under the influence—hires Tom’s firm to prove Joe's innocence, the case becomes the spotlight for the firm. Initially assigned to investigate, Ryan suddenly finds himself in charge when Tom unexpectedly ends up in the hospital with a life-threatening condition. With just two assistants to help him, Ryan feels overwhelmed but is determined to dig into Joe's case. He visits Joe in prison, where he discovers that Joe is surprisingly content, participating in Bible studies and making a difference for many fellow inmates.
As Ryan delves deeper into Joe's case, he realizes that his pursuit of the truth could endanger not only his life but also his wife’s and others around him. Although the risks are palpable, abandoning the quest for justice doesn't sit well with him.
This fast-paced thriller is a wild ride that’s hard to put down. The characters are both lovable and memorable, making for a captivating read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Joe Moore has been locked up for years for a murder he committed…or did he?

This story is so interesting! Robert Whitlow has done an excellent job weaving this story together. I love the radical change that has happened in Joe’s life and how God uses him to minister to so many, both in and out of prison. And, the mystery truly kept me guessing until the very end. I would definitely recommend this book!

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

What an amassing book. I was unable to put it down once I started reading. It filled me with courage and encouraged me to walk on the path God has for me today.

This book was amazing! It grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I couldn't put it down! Not only was the law information interesting and kept me reading, but the double storylines that intersected (Ryan, the young lawyer and his wife along with Joe and his friends) but I loved the mystery and suspense. Definitely an A+ rating and one I will be talking with to my friends. Needs to be a book club pick because there are SO MANY layers in this book to dissect.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from netgalley and was not obligated to write a review. All opinions are mine.

Would be such a great movie! I shared this story with my husband as I read it. I shared this story with my husband as I read it. He isn’t a fan of reading but loves to hear about the good books I am reading. I couldn’t read this one fast enough for him. It was a great book for discussion and so intriguing. I have found another great author through Netgalley. I look forward to enjoying more Robert Whitlow books. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are complimentary my own.

Very interesting read. My problem is that the beginnings just drags on and on.
Maybe would have been better use of the time developing the characters instead of all the scripture talk by Joe.

Thanks to NetGalley for advance c copy
3,.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this story. The writing is so good and the way this author incorporated scripture was refreshing to me.
I haven’t read anything by this author before and will be looking for more books by him. The twist and turns made me want to keep reading. A man who doesn’t know if he is guilty and a young lawyer come together to make this story interesting.
Thanks for the advanced copy.