This was another great read by Robert Whitlow, one of my favorite authors. The characters were likeable and I was easily drawn into the storyline. I was eager to see how it would all be woven together.

I also recommended this on social media in a large private group of Christian fiction readers.

I received a complimentary copy of the soon to be published book, GUILTY UNTIL INNOCENT by Robert Whitlow. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I can use words to describe this book as thrilling. It is smart. It is exciting. It is authentic. GUILTY UNTIL INNOCENT is definitely a page-turner!
I can say all of that, but I mostly want to speak to the powerful depiction of the heart of each character in their several circumstances.
Excellently woven into this very intense legal thriller, and throughout the pages of GUILTY UNTIL INNOCENT, Whitlow uses the faith and courage of some to speak into the lives of other characters; boldly referring to verse and prayer to convey God‘s benevolence in the most difficult of seasons.
A most enjoyably provocative, heartfelt, and faith-based read. Enjoy!
Publication Date February 4,2025.

What a powerful story! I think I have read most of the books written by Robert Whitlow. I believe this to be the best one he has written. He did an excellent job of developing the characters. I loved the interaction between the young attorney Ryan and his wife Paige. The descriptions of the inmates, other attorneys, and former witnesses grabbed my attention. The story is about a man who has served twenty-five years in prison for a double murder. Ryan has been working in the law firm headed by a distant cousin for a relatively short time when his cousin asks him to look into filing a motion for appropriate relief on behalf of the inmate and at the request of his family. The story kept me second-guessing what was going to happen next. Joe had turned to faith in Christ while incarcerated and was a real leader among the other prisoners. At times, I felt he was doing more worthwhile work on the inside than if he were freed from prison. At other times, I could only wonder if he could have a greater audience to share his faith if he was on the outside. Even from prison, his letter to a man on the outside had a significant impact on Paige when Ryan shared it with her after Joe gave his permission. In fact, Joe encouraged Ryan to share it with her. I remember in my formative years hearing the expression that confession is good for the soul. Although those words did not appear in the book, the message that Joe and the other ministry leaders in the prison stressed over and over highlighted that belief. It is a message that needs to be emphasized more rather than less. The story did not take the exact trajectory I was anticipating, but the author did a much better job than I envisioned. I would love to read more books like this. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

Do innocent folk get sentenced to prison for two concurrent life sentences? This is a legal drama concerning a man behind bars who, even he, is not sure of his guilt or innocence due to former drug use. Whitlow crafts a story with themes of grace, faith, and the law into a plot that will keep you guessing until the end.

Even though life in prison is no party, Joe Moore believes he is just where God intends him to be. Joe was a drug addict and Twenty-five years ago, while high on meth, he was involved in a night of tragedies resulting in the brutal murder of a young, innocent couple. Today, Joe is not that same person. Rather he leads a thriving prison ministry and has become a role model to fellow inmates.

On the outside we meet a young lawyer, Ryan Clark and his wife, Paige, who have settled into a small North Carolina town. Things aren’t going so well for Ryan due to being fired twice from former law firms. Now newly hired by a distant relative, Ryan is committed to connecting with the right clients and handling the routine and boring aspects of law, while his cousin Tom takes on the high-profile cases.

Plans change when heart issues and Covid land Tom in the hospital, and Ryan is forced to take the lead in the law firm. This occurs just as the town's biggest murder case in history has been reopened. Joe Moore's niece, Shana who was a child at the time of the trial, has been doing some digging and has convinced herself that her incarcerated uncle is innocent. She insists that Ryan relaunch the investigation even though Joe initially wants no part of going back, that is until he has a talk with God and gets a change of heart.

Ryan meets with Joe and begins the new investigation. At this point both men receive threats that put their own lives, as well as the lives of those around them, in great danger. Someone doesn’t want the investigation reopened and may be willing to kill, in order to stop it. There is a deep evil in this little southern town. The chance of overturning murder conviction is slight so is it worth continuing with the case and risk physical harm?

I think you’ll be glad you started this journey as you get to know the well developed characters in Guilty Until Innocent.

What a compelling page turner, from beginning to end I was hooked.
What a great job the author did with this story, and it takes really to the end to get most of the answers.
A faith based read, it made me realize that things were probably the way they should be, and doing God's work is not always easy.
With all the evidence pointing to Joe's guilt, a double murder, a trial, and then twenty six years later, we are at the prison where so many lives are being touched by Joe and the Holy Spirit.
There is danger and we are with Joe's new lawyer and his wife, Ryan and Paige, and see how Joe touches their lives.
You will be ducking bullets, fires, and the evil lurking.
What a journey, but answers come and so do surprises! I'll be looking for more by Robert Whitlow!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

Guilty Until Innocent is the latest legal thriller by Robert Whitlow. Joe Moore has been in prison for a double murder for over 25 years when his niece approaches Tom and Ryan Clark, Joe’s former defense attorney, to file a motion to obtain Joe’s release. The novel starts out a bit slow, but soon picks up speed as the reader follows as the investigation uncovers many questions concerning the original prosecution. In addition, Joe and Ryan Clark’s lives are threatened both inside and outside of the prison. There are many twists and turns that keep the reader wondering who was behind the murders 25 years ago. There is a strong spiritual message of redemption. I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I received a copy for review purposes. Thank you Thomas Nelson and Net Galley.
Positives--Christian based, clean, no language
Negative--lots of unnecessary dialogue written in simple sentences made the story very distracting

A young lawyer helps a convicted murderer become a free man. The convicted murdered helps the young lawyer find God.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7103140662

Excited wasn't the word when I received an ARC approval for Robert Whitlow's "Guilty Until Innocent". Whitlow is a master at weaving a legal thriller. Characters that totally immerse the reader into their lives. Plots that are true to life. Messages of hope, forgiveness, and surrender.

Releases Feb 4th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Robert Whitlow is a master at legal intrigue. This title captured my attention, and I couldn't wait to dive in. Ryan Clark is a down-on-his-luck lawyer who has been hired by a distant cousin to be an associate in a small North Carolina town. He finds himself revisiting a case for a convicted murderer and suddenly there are twists and turns he never saw coming. Local lawyers might be friends or are they behind-the-scenes enemies? Who can he trust? When his pregnant wife is threatened, Ryan begins to wonder if he needs to step aside and let someone else fight for justice. Joe, the felon, has made peace with his life in prison and isn't interested in getting out. His family has different ideas and are pressing for another look at his case. These two men - very different in background and lifestyle - are thrown together in an unlikely alliance to find the decades-old truth. I was drawn in immediately and found myself captivated by the plot. A definite must-read for 2025!

Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow was an amazing legal mystery. I expected it to be a mind-teasing who-dun-it, but it was so much more. The faith demonstrated by one of the main characters was so rich and inspiring. It tugged at my heartstrings several times. I highly recommend this Christian fiction book!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

Robert Whitlow has long been considered John Grisham of Christian Fiction and this book carries on that tradition, It is a southern legal thriller with strong faith elements. The challenge some might have is that another way it is like a Grisham novel is that it feels a bit dated, While my return to Christian Fiction has come after a long spell of general market books, there is a very 90s feel to the storyline. Yes, people text and use the web, but the overt wholesomeness of the characters seems to be out of pace. Then again, I might be a jaded, West Coast reader, which is why I rounded up my review from 3.5 stars. I will admit, however, it was very clever how he used the name of another well-known Christian author for a minor character in the book as a nice tip of the hat. If you like a milder story, this is probably perfect for you.

A great read that kept me turning the pages. The story is unique, suspenseful, original, filled with faith and hope, and much more. I enjoyed reading this one. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Review of Guilty Until Innocent, by Robert Whitlow
Available February 4, 2025
Joe was a talented musician and college student in North Carolina when he stumbled into drug addiction. One night while playing a gig at a bar, Joe got so high on crystal meth he couldn’t recall the evening. The next thing Joe knew, he was in jail, charged with double murder.
During the next twenty-six years in prison, Joe gets clean, emerges as a leader, and becomes wholly committed to God. Joe sees more fellow inmates turn to God, and a prison revival begins.
Ryan is a young attorney whose career got off to a rocky start. He gets another chance when his second cousin, Tom, also an attorney, hires him. Ryan isn’t sure the job will work out, and he has increased financial pressure when his wife, Paige, becomes pregnant.
Tom assigns Ryan as the lead attorney on a case which seems doomed from the start. Joe’s relatives hire the law firm to overturn Joe’s conviction. Just as Ryan begins investigating the old case, Tom has a health crisis and Ryan is on his own. Ryan soon discovers not everyone can be trusted, and he, Paige, and Joe are in danger.
As Ryan tries to determine Joe’s guilt or innocence, he is working through his own relationship with God and a sense of guilt over his father’s death.
Robert Whitlow, an attorney, doesn’t get too technical with the legal aspects of the story, and explains unfamiliar terms and procedures. Whitlow portrays Joe’s Christianity as realistic and natural. Joe prays, and God answers.
I was already a fan of Whitlow’s Christian-themed legal thrillers. If you enjoy that genre, I invite you to get a copy of Guilty Until Innocent, coming February 4. Available for pre-order at https://amzn.to/4iYbZuO
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
@whitlowwriter @ThomasNelson
#NetGalley #ChristianFiction #LegalThriller

I enjoyed the main storyline and liked how the perspective changed each chapter or so between a few of the characters. There were a few moments that were a bit much on the corny side, but overall it was a good story and kept me wanting to read more.

This is a great book. It’s so refreshing to read a book with no profanity. The theme is about a murderer who finds God in prison. After 26 years of being incarcerated his case may be reopened. Through the process he befriends his new young lawyer and his wife. Their friendship becomes a problem for the family of the murdered victims and 26 years of secrets and lies. Suspense, humor and redemption is all in here.

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

I really enjoyed this excellent legal drama/mystery, which includes strong faith themes, suspense, surprises, and more! The young attorney takes over this case about a double murder that occurred over 25 years ago. The one who is in prison is a changed man who holds Bible studies and prayer meetings! But then every one involved is suddenly in danger! Who wants to keep the truth hidden? Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? Kept me turning pages to the surprising ending! I received a NetGalley copy from Thomas Nelson, but my review is my own true opinion.

I will never ever skip a Robert Whitlow book. I absolutely love his writing. He manages to write about lawyers and different laws while merging in personal relationships, romance, as well as timely reminders from God's word. He does it all in one book every single time and I'm just in awe of his writing! This book was of course the same, we get to follow a younger couple, who have found out they are expecting while we also follow convicted felon in jail who has found Jesus. I highly recommend reading this book and the rest of his books!

I left this on my netgalley shelf for far too long. This was such a great book!

The best part of the book was the deep faith of the characters. It encouraged me in my own walk with the Lord. In the book, prayer and reading the Bible is paramount to everything else. The characters invite others to Bible study and actively pray for them.


Paige was a great character as well. I enjoyed how the church ladies came alongside her and mentored her.

It took me until the end of the story to figure out how the "puzzle" would go together. For me, that made this book a great read!!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.


GUILTY UNTIL INNOCENT has more set up and extras than necessary to support the story, unless it’s the start of a new series, for author, Robert Whitlow.

MC, Joe, has been incarcerated for 25+ years. It doesn’t take long to figure out he’s not guilty. The lawyer who represented him all those years ago had an heart attack and the investigation into getting him released is being handled by the young lawyer recently hired. Joe’s sister prompted the inquiry as the family is now solvent.

Joe isn’t sure he wants out. He has a decent life, serving God in prison, taking care of the Gardening program and being a mentor to many men while earning the respect of the warden and guards. Life, such as his dual lifetime for murder sentences are concerned, isn’t too bad. Well, it wasn’t until a lawyer started looking into getting him released and checking out the old records…

Southern Fiction, Legal Fiction, Inspirational Fiction - all three genres are strong. A gospel message is clearly included along with some Bible verses and regular mentions of prayer. This is one author who hasn’t been watered down by a slide into mainstream📚

Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks

When Ryan goes to work in his cousin's law firm in a small North Carolina town he doesn't know what to expect. Then Joe Moore's family hires him to file a motion to get him released early because they don't believe he is guilty. The investigation leads to dark secrets in the local community. This book has so many twists! I really enjoyed it. Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I highly recommend it.