I have to say that I was a bit disappointed in the conclusion of this series. Charles Martin has been one of my favorite novelists: cerebral without being overly flowery. Most of his work that I have read can appeal to either gender. There is always a strong male character who is still in touch with his softer side.
In this novel, it felt like there was a lot more stuff about guns and much more that appeals to male readers (I know this sounds a bit sexist). There were moments that bring out Murphy Shepherd's softer side but many fewer. For those who have read his earlier books, he is a guy that writes romance fiction that women love and this always fit in before but I think it was only raised once in the conclusion and nothing was done with it.
Martin's writing, when at its best is pithy and terse but still says so much but I felt like this went on too long, perhaps because it didn't feel like his earlier work. Maybe next time, Mr. Martin.
2 1/2 stars rounded up.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for providing me with this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a warning, this series really needs to be read in order, otherwise, you will not understand the relationships and history of each character.

This novel is a quick acting tale of recovering the Vice President's three girls. The primary character, Murphy Shepherd, well known for the community he leads in Colorado of saved victims of human trafficking, leads the investigation and recovery plans.

The deep conspiracy of Frank, the brother of Murph's mentor, Bones, along with people invested in keeping the VP from running for President, make the task nearly impossible. This is the fourth book in this series, and is even more fast-paced than his others. The only reason I decided to rate this a 4 instead of a 5 is the need to read the other three books in order to deal with the character without confusion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

I have been a huge fan of Charles Martin since my bookclub read, When the Cricket Cry. That pulled me in and I have read every book written since then. And the Murphy Shepherd series has been one that has touched me and had me sobbing tears as I got lost in the story of Murphy, Bones, the people of Freetown, and the other characters who are rescued by the people who feel that the “needs of one outweigh those of the ninety-nine.” You have to read the book to really understand the depth of that statement. But, before I go any further, you need to go back to the first book and start at the beginning to understand the lengths Murphy and Bones go to in order to tackle the harsh reality of human trafficking. Charles Martin takes a difficult topic and weaves through the hope of being found and God’s love will never give up on you. There are some twists and turns and your heart will ache as Murphy learns how to navigate life without Bones being a part of his support network and encourager. His heart is broken and his struggle to deal with this loss is heartwrenching. I love what one reviewer, Ebos Aifuobhokhan, wrote: People hurt by others, but transformed into a beautiful mosaic by love of the Shepherd. A story of grief, healing (physically, emotionally, and spiritually), love, and loss ... you will not want to put the book down until you have absorbed every word and emotion and closed the back cover with a sigh. Put this one at the top of your to-be-read list!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Adult
Christian
Contemporary
Inspirational
Suspense

WOW, WOW WOW! As always Charles Martin does not disappoint! This in my opinion is the Best book of the series! Could not put this one down. Huge thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for giving me the opportunity to read this book. This book had all the "feels" and I can see a fifth book coming "fingers crossed".

I love these books. I sat here trying to figure out how to start this review and all I could land on was that. These books encompass adventure, romance, hope, and have the gospel threaded throughout.

This is a four book series and although you could probably read this as a standalone, you don't want to. This series is full of rich character development, building on previous plot lines, and complexities you would miss out on enjoying reading them out of order.

I'm selfish and want as much of this series that Charles Martin is willing to write.
---
At the end of the first three, we as readers and Charles Martin as a writer said he was done with these books. But we all needed to return. We needed to go through the journey of emotions the closing of book 3 sent us on and this story is so rich and doesn’t pull any punches that by the end, I could not see how this series could exist without this edition. Plus, we not only got a continuation of the story of the first three books, but we got backstory on the two main characters that added a whole new layer of meaning to it all.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for the gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

When I saw this book was available I was absolutely doing a happy dance. This Murphy Shepherd series has been one of the most wonderful, emotionally-satisfying reads I have found in a long, long time. I couldn't wait to tear into this one. This is the fourth book in the series, and yes you can read it as a stand alone, but I would recommend you start at the first one and savor each one as the story of Murphy Shepherd unfolds.

Description:
In this fourth book in the Murphy Shepherd series, Murphy knows Bones didn't hesitate to give his life to stop the evil perpetuated by his brother, but there's still work to be done. Though Frank is gone, his organization is not, and almost even before Bones's funeral in Arlington is complete, Murph receives a call that the three daughters of presidential hopeful Aaron Ashley have been taken and there are no leads.

The girls' lives on the line and time is of the essence. But Murphy has never done this without Bones. How can he grieve his friend and mentor, figure out who he is without Bones, and navigate a new role for himself with team . . . all while putting total focus into finding these daughters?

When his daughters are finally rescued, Ashley steps back from the presidential race. But Murph knows something about the timing is a little too convenient for the senator who steps in to take his place. The far-reaching tendrils of Frank's organization are entangled even here, and Murph and his team will stop at nothing to root them out.

My Thoughts:
This book is both heart-warming and gut-wrenching as are all of the books in this series. Murphy is grieving badly at the loss of his friend and mentor Ekekiel Bones Walker. He doesn't know how to handle moving on without Bones. When his friend, Vice-President Ashley, calls and asks for his help as his three daughters have been abducted, Murphy has to find a way to pull it together and try to find them without Bones. He doesn't know if he can. I was sobbing as I read and felt Murphy's pain and grief and loss. I was smiling as Summer showed Murphy her love and her faith in him. There's also a beautiful, wonderful wedding in Freetown! Then there are also seven generals Murphy must find and put away to break up a large sex trade group. I love the characters. I love Summer's twirls. I love Murphy's heart. And I love Bones and his steadfast love. Anyone with a heart will love this book and the entire series.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson through Netgalley for an advance copy.

I was so excited to receive the fourth book in the Murphy Shepherd series from Net Galley. This book has Murphy reeling from the loss of his friend and mentor, Bones. Then he kicks in high gear to search for the Vice President's kidnapped girls. There's action and twists and turns as Murphy and his team continue the fight against human traffickers.

I love Martin's writing style, how he develops the characters thus keeping me interested in how the plot develops. I also love how he recaps the previous book and how the end ties it all together.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review.

Another great addition to the Murphy Shepherd series. The author delivers the same poignant, thought-provoking story that I've come to expect, and he delves some more into the history of the main characters. I enjoyed the addition of new characters and a slightly different storyline - it all came together perfectly, and I'm looking forward to more books in this series in the future.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a crime/thriller novel. I'm a new fan of this style of Christian fiction - it's not too intense on religion and still packs a punch with the action. Each book has played out like a movie in my head while I'm reading and has left me reflecting on life. I did find this story a lot more repetitive and has more 'flashbacks' than the previous books, but it's possible that I noticed it more because I'd just finished the first 3 books in quick succession. I feel that this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel as there is enough backstory introduced to allow new readers to follow the story. I do recommend reading the entire series though to have better understanding and enjoyment.

Thank you to NetGalley, HaperCollins Christian Publishing, and the author for a complimentary arc for review. My review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

I was so excited when I saw we were going to get another Murphy Shepherd story! I didn’t think there could be more to tell, but I was proven wrong! I stayed up way to late and finished it in two days. There were times it was hard to read the content because it exposes the world of human trafficking. Our world can be so dark, evil, and bring unimageable pain. Martin writes to exposes darkness, but in a way that is still so hopeful and celebrates light again and again. I love how every word he writes has purpose and the story always comes together with no crumbs left behind. I would suggest reading the first three in the series to be able to grasp the relationships and experiences all the characters have together.

Murph is crushed when his mentor Bones dies on a mission, but while they'd managed to take down the man at the top, the man's seven generals are still at large - and it soon becomes clear that they're not going to fade easily out of the picture. When the vice-president Aaron Ashley's three daughters are abducted, Murph hurries to discover and rescue his friend's family. But clues are almost impossible to find, the political situation is volatile and Murph's own grief is almost overwhelming. Worse, they don't only need to find the girls, and as quickly as possible - they also need to discover who was behind their abduction and bring them to justice, or they'll never be safe again. And the inside knowledge required in the abduction suggests someone they trust must be involved...

A deeply touching, incredibly inspiring, un-put-downable and thought-provoking read. While exposing some of the darkest parts of the human heart, this book also shines a light on both God's love and the way humans express that in saving others. We see both extremes - the very bad (thankfully without anything overly graphic or explicit) and the very good, those willing to endanger themselves and put their own lives aside to help others. Nothing went quite how I expected (well, except for one point where I said 'surely not...?', but somehow the answer was yes, and it worked despite my initial feeling), but it all came together beautifully. It kept me reading eagerly, and I blame it for two nights of far too little sleep! I didn't think the author could beat the previous book, but I think he actually has. I particularly loved the flashbacks to earlier points in his time with Bones, which did an amazing job of rounding out the picture of how he got to where he is, and what he learned along the way. I had tears in my eyes numerous times through the book, but there were also moments of laughter at times to keep it from being all dark. All in all, an incredible story.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

The Keeper….. the 4th book in a fantastic series by Charles Martin. Bones is one of my favorite characters of all time. He is “ the keeper of the record, and the keeper of the light.” Bones and Murphy are two of the most selfless humans. When asked why they risk their lives over and over again their response is…… “ because the needs of the one outweigh those of the ninety-nine.” Their fight is against human traffickers. They are determined to save the victims no matter the cost to themselves.

I absolutely love Charles Marin’s writing style and I love his characters. He never disappoints. I would love to see this series made into a movie or a tv series.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend the Murphy Shepherd series and would read them in order. I also recommend all of Charles Martin’s books,

EXCERPT: PROLOGUE
Somewhere on the dark web in an encrypted chat room:
MAN 1: "Money received. Target address?"
MAN 2: "See attachment."
MAN 1: "Security protocols?"
MAN 2: "Same package."
MAN 1: "House schematics?"
MAN 2: "Same."
MAN 1: "Target?"
MAN 2:"Three. And I want them all."
MAN 1: "Collaterals?"
MAN 2: "The mother. Hands off. Not to be harmed."
MAN 1: "Dogs?"
MAN 2: "Yes."
MAN 1: "Trained?"
MAN 2: "Very."
MAN 1: "Father?"
MAN 2: "Away."
MAN 1: "Secret Service?"
MAN 2: "Make a statement."
MAN 1: "Define 'statement'."
MAN 2: "Leave bodies."
MAN 1: "Orders following extraction?"
MAN 2: "Photographed. Then taken and held at this address until further notice."
MAN 1: "And once there?"
MAN 2: "Keep them alive."
MAN 1: "Any restrictions? I need to be specific with my men."

A pause.

MAN 2: "The spoils of war. Enjoy the fruits of your labor."
MAN 1: "Much obliged."
MAN 2: "Pleasure doing business with you."

ABOUT 'THE KEEPER': Murphy knows Bones didn't hesitate to give his life to stop the evil perpetuated by his brother, but there's still work to be done. Though Frank is gone, his organization is not, and almost even before Bones's funeral in Arlington is complete, Murph receives a call that the three daughters of presidential hopeful Aaron Ashley have been taken and there are no leads.

The girls' lives on the line and time is of the essence. But Murphy has never done this without Bones. How can he grieve his friend and mentor, figure out who he is without Bones, and navigate a new role for himself with team . . . all while putting total focus into finding these daughters?

When his daughters are finally rescued, Ashley steps back from the presidential race. But Murph knows something about the timing is a little too convenient for the senator who steps in to take his place. The far-reaching tendrils of Frank's organization are entangled even here, and Murph and his team will stop at nothing to root them out.

MY THOUGHTS: I love Charles Martin's writing and have enjoyed this series but think this may just be my last visit with Murphy Shepherd.

The Keeper is very long and repetitious. There is one very long section basically pasted and copied from the previous book, The Record Keeper. I commented in my review of The Record Keeper that I had 'a few rolled eyes at the pages detailing bullet trajectories and other technical information (just a tad TOO MUCH, Mr Martin), and I have exactly the same comment on The Keeper - FAR TOO MUCH TECHNICAL INFORMATION, Mr Martin. If you are a reader and not an aspiring marksman, just how many lectures on bullet trajectories does one person need?

And again, far too much information in the blurb. It's okay to know that the three daughters of the US presidential hopeful, Aaron Ashley, have been kidnapped. It ruins the tension of the read knowing, before we even start, that they get rescued.

Other than the unwarranted repetition and excess of technical information, The Keeper is action packed and beautifully written. I applaud Charles Martin for his recurring themes of the fight against human trafficking and the rehabilitation of the trafficked. In The Keeper, Martin also highlights the abuse of power and trust.

I love Charles Martin's beautiful and empathetic writing. Even during the darkest moments of this narrative, the was always the light of faith, love and hope shining. While I may be parting company with this series, I will continue to read his stand-alones, of which 'Chasing Fireflies' is so far my favorite.

If you are a fan of technical thrillers, the Murphy Shepherd series is for you. But please do start at the beginning to get the full benefit of the history between Murph and Bones and their relationships with the other characters.

I was able to complement reading with listening to The Keeper by Charles Martin and narrated by Jonathan Riggs. As always, Riggs narration is superb. Please note that the repetition of large chunks of information and all the technical intricacies detailed mean that this is an extremely long book. The audio is 14 hours and 52 minutes in length, the book in excess of 400 pages.

⭐⭐⭐.5

#TheKeeper #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Christy and I married in 1993. If you include dating, I’ve known and loved her for more than half my life. She is and always will be the home for my heart. We have three boys. Charlie, John T. and Rives. Folks often ask me, which of my books do I like the best. You might as well line up my sons and ask me who I love the most.

My hobbies are bow hunting, working out (a blend of old school stuff and martial arts, called Fight Fit) and Tae Kwon Do. In October 2012 I earned my black belt but I’m still the least flexible person you’ve ever met. The guy that trains me, laughs everytime I start warming up. My boys are far better at Tae Kwon Do than I but I doubt they have as much fun – I get to do and watch. They just do.

I also like to write, but that’s another story. (source - charlesmartinbooks.com)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC and an audio ARC of The Keeper by Charles Martin for review. The audio ARC is narrated by Jonathan Riggs. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Not read any books by this author before and from turning the first page I realised this was book 4 of the series. Read the first few chapters and wow it sucks the air out of where it punch's. Decided I will read the other books in the series first but can tell if they are as good as the first few chapters of this book I will so enjoy them, characters are great and the story is so well written
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Thomas Nelson Fiction for the introduction to a new author and the exciting first few chapters of this book, bring on the first three and then back to this book.

This is the fourth installment in the Keeper series, which do need to be read in order for full understanding and context. Charles Martin is a favorite author for a reason...he crafts stories with beautiful prose, lots of depth, a faith-based message and characters who make real mistakes with messy, relatable pasts and hope for the future.
There are some surprises in this one sure to bring a tear or two. Like the others in the series it had action scenes and strategic lead-ups in the continued fight against trafficking. I am so glad Martin does not shy away from this topic and puts it out into the light.
I also love Martin's Southern-style stand-alone novels and can't wait to hear when that next one might be. In the meantime hopefully we'll get to see some more of his stories adapted for the big screen!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

"We are in the business of hope."

Murphy and his faithful canine Gunner are battling the bad guys once again. The main storyline involving a Vice President and his three teenage daughters is an engaging one. The frequent glimpses back in time could have been scaled back quite a bit. It was the present day that captured my interest.

This conclusion to the series is full of heart and the triumph of good over evil.

I look forward to what the talented Charles Martin will release next.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced copy of The Keeper.

Murphy has just lost his mentor and best friend but he has no time to grieve because he has to get back to work of saving children. There is a plan in motion to abduct the daughters of a very high profile family. Murphy must stop them before it is too late.

I wish I would have known that this was part of a series because I think I would have connected to the characters more if I had read the other books. It does talk about the horrible atrocities of human trafficking in a very respectful but truthful way.

Similar to the other books in this series, this story is filled with hurt and darkness due to the trafficking plot, but also hope and healing as part of the journey after being rescued.

I actually enjoyed the flashbacks of the start of Murph’s journey. It was nice to see how helping others was just part of who he was and though he struggled with the harsh realities of the path he chose, he could not help but step up.

With action and secrets and a few twists which caught me by surprise, this was an engaging read and a good conclusion to the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars (Outstanding)
Setting: From Washington, D.C., to dark corners of the world where human trafficking networks thrive
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

The Keeper is a powerful and fitting conclusion to an unforgettable series; oh, how I hate for this series to end!
It is a breathtaking, emotional, and deeply satisfying conclusion to Murphy Shepherd’s journey—one that is equal parts heart-wrenching and hopeful. Charles Martin delivers yet another masterful story filled with high stakes, relentless action, and profound moments of grace.

Murphy’s grief over losing Bones is palpable, and his struggle to carry on the mission without his mentor adds a depth of vulnerability we haven’t seen before. The weight of responsibility on his shoulders is immense, but in true Murph fashion, he doesn’t hesitate when faced with the impossible: rescuing the kidnapped daughters of his longtime friend, Vice President Aaron Ashley. The urgency of this mission propels the story forward, but it’s the quieter moments—Murph’s reflections on loss, love, and faith—that make the novel truly unforgettable.

Martin’s writing is gripping, balancing fast-paced action with deeply personal introspection. He doesn’t shy away from the horrors of human trafficking, yet he also weaves in hope, redemption, and the belief that even the darkest evil can be confronted. Murph’s journey is one of sacrifice, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of justice, reminding us that the fight for the one lost soul is always worth it.

This book—and the entire series—left a lasting impact on me. It’s rare to find a story that blends action, faith, and raw emotion so seamlessly. If you’ve followed Murph’s journey from the beginning, The Keeper will break your heart and heal it in equal measure. A stunning conclusion to an unforgettable series. #netgalley #thekeeper #booked_this_weekend

Thank you kindly to the author and publisher for an advanced copy of The Keeper! This review and my opinions are my own.

I am a big fan of Charles Martin's books, especially this series. While the beginning started off rather slow for me, the last 25% of the book was pure gold. I had a feeling Bones was not truly dead, but in some ways the author had me questioning that. When we found out he was alive and had "resurrected" it made me gasp. That part of the story was so beautifully written and carried on the true picture of Bones/Jesus. Well done, Charles!