I was thrilled when I was granted the opportunity to read the ARC of Charles Martin's "The Keeper" (Murphy Shepherd #4). While flashbacks were abundant in the book, I felt they were necessary for two reasons: 1) in case anyone had not read books 1-3 in the series and 2) to serve as cathartic grief therapy. Martin excelled at showing how light overcomes the dark, hope overcomes despair, love overcomes evil. With the unexpected plot twist and ending, can there be a book #5?

Releases Apr. 1st. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to review this book. I was very excited when I heard there would be a Book 4 in the Keeper series.
Bones, Murphy Shepherd, and others who put their life on the line to save others from human trafficking and make a home for them are heroes and the family members who support them.
Book 4, The Keeper, is another great novel, very well written. a page-turner that kept my interest until the end. I am hoping that there will be more books in this series.

"Because the needs of the one, outweigh the needs of the ninety-nine"

As the 4th installment of Murphy Shepherd books I went into this book with high expectations. And I was not disappointed! Although I was slightly lost in the beginning because I had to think back and remember the characters and where we last left off (it has been a few years since I read The Record Keeper), these familiar characters came back with a bang, and I was thrown into where our last story ended (and oh so sad when I remembered). Charles Martin is a really beautiful writer. His stories are thoughtful, emotional, and always exciting. I'd like to think that there are Murph Shepherd's out there tracking down the lost and vulnerable. Loved the ending, or is it just a beginning?

4.5 stars

Excellent story! The Keeper by Charles Martin is another fantastic story in the Murphy Shepherd series. I love the action, the characters who become family, the resources that this outside the government group has at their fingertips to rescue those who are lost and those who have been abducted for sex trafficking. These badass guys give everything they have to leave the 99 and rescue the one.

The vice president's three daughters are kidnapped from a extremely secure home. And there is not much to go on to be able to find them. There is definitely evil in this world, and these characters bring hope. They are the ones who children have been praying for to knock down the door and rescue them from the hell they are living in. Murph struggles with who he is after his life-long mentor is gone.

This whole series could be a series of movies. like Mission Impossible. The characters, their journeys, the action, it's just so good! I recommend that you start and book 1 and read your way to The Keeper. You will not be able to put any of them down! I highly recommend them all!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

While this was good, I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous books in the Murphy Shepherd series. This one dragged a little too much for me.

Excellent next installment in this series. I do hope this means it is going to continue. These characters are great, and I love the thematic truth that is shared throughout this book and the series as a whole. Make sure you start at the beginning of the series.

This was an absolutely amazing book that will bring you to tears, horrify you and somewhere along the way, leave you a better person for having read it.

Murphy Shepherd is in a very dark place following the death of his mentor and friend Bones. They've been together for many years, saving people from horrible situations, facing death themselves to accomplish the rescues. Without Bones, Murph is adrift. He and his team continue the work Bones started, and one day they are faced with a challenge to one of their own.

I can't and won't go any further with a description because to do so would be not only spoiling the book for other readers, but removing the magic of reading it themselves first hand. First time in a long time a book has gutted me like this one did. Highly recommend, even if you haven't read the other books in the series.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Yet another beautiful offering from Charles Martin. His writing style always paints a picture I can see clearly in my mind’s eye and never fails to elicit an emotional response. The way he uses his writing to illustrate matters of love, faith and truth always speaks to me. That said, the story and plot of this book just didn’t land for me. The reminiscing about Bones and their relationship was beautiful but often so extensive that the plot line of the rest of the book felt forgotten and failed to feel interwoven when it was finally revisited. I also felt like the details about weaponry and technology was a bit excessive but another reader may appreciate that level of detail and knowledge so perhaps just personal preference for me.

I will always recommend this author’s work and this one is no exception to that but overall it didn’t add to the beautiful series already created and written, in my opinion.

The Keeper is a fantastic addition to the Murphy Shepherd series. Through flashbacks and more vignettes, Charles Martin reminds us of the story of Bones and Murph and brings us forward into the future. Throughout this story I cried, I laughed and fell even more in love with the characters of this story than I was before.

I enjoyed The Keeper by Charles Martin. I thought the series was over and was excited when I heard about #4 being released. He is such a gifted writer and always draws me in his storytelling! The book starts off refreshing the reader of what happened in book 3.

'Because the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the ninety-nine.' This quote is the basis of what Murphy and his guys set out to do. Rescue those abducted into child trafficking. This book begins where book #3 left off when his good friend and mentor Bones died and Murphy is struggling to pick up the pieces and move on. He pulls it together when the two daughters of the VP are kidnapped and he is requested to again be a rescuer. I love that the lifelong mission for Murphy is to rescue the vulnerable and bring justice to the evil ones.

The story is filled with action and adventure to keep your interest in the story. It is a story of brokenness, grief, perseverance, redemption, and love!


The end of the story did leave an opening to a possible addition to this series, but we will see! I recommend starting at book 1 and reading through the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I have always been a huge Charles Martin fan. However this book was a bit of a disappointment to me. There was a lot of looking back to his experiences with Bones and it felt too long. However I look forward to what he does next.

The Keeper is a beautiful depiction of one man’s life changing another’s, and then the cycle continuing. The Keeper has a heartfelt depth and truth that would touch any soul. Love. Sacrifice. Freedom. Pain. Purpose. Murphy Shepherd.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers and Net Galley for the ARC!

The Keeper is book 4 in the Murphy Shepard series. Charles Martin doesn't disappoint. The Vice President's daughters have been taken. Murph rushes to his friend's side to help find the girls. With Bones gone, Murph struggles. He has a hard time accepting Bones isn't there to help him in these times. The government will never be the same. The Vice President drops out of the Presidential race. He can't be everything the county needs while missing his girls who were taken under his watch. And in this time, the most obvious people show their true colors. Murph doesn't discount anyone. Anyone could have been behind the kidnapping.
Charles Martin is one of my favorite writers. He takes on the tough subject of human trafficking and does it with such grace. He also brings the element of love. Part action, part love story, this book does it all. I will always look for new work by Charles Martin and will always recommend his work to others. Special thanks to NetGalley, Charles Martin, and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 4 stars for me. #TheKeeper #NetGalley

Charles Martin continues his breathtaking storytelling in The Keeper, the next chapter in the Murphy Shepherd series. From the very first page, the novel is packed with heart-wrenching emotion, high-stakes action, and the kind of deep, unshakable love that makes this series unforgettable.

Murphy Shepherd—also known as David Bishop—has spent his life rescuing the lost, the broken, and the innocent. He carries the weight of a painful past, yet his purpose is clear: to save those who cannot save themselves. Through all the darkness he has faced, one light remains constant—Summer.

One of the most beautiful aspects of this novel is the relationship between Murphy and Summer. Their love is not just romantic; it is a testament to healing, trust, and unwavering devotion. Summer’s strength and steadfast faith in Murphy make their relationship one of my absolute favorites in any book. She is his anchor, his reason to keep fighting, and the perfect balance to his wounded, warrior heart. The way Martin writes their love is breathtaking—it’s raw, real, and filled with the kind of depth that makes you believe in the power of love to overcome even the darkest battles.

Beyond the romance, The Keeper is a powerful continuation of Murphy’s mission, filled with pulse-pounding moments and deeply emotional reflections. Martin’s writing is as poetic as ever, drawing readers into a world where love, faith, and sacrifice collide in the most meaningful ways.

Most importantly, this book doesn’t feel like the end of the journey. If anything, it leaves the door wide open for more—more healing, more battles, and more of Murphy’s relentless pursuit of justice. I truly hope this isn’t the last time we get to walk alongside these characters.

For anyone who loves a story filled with action, heart, and a love that withstands every storm, The Keeper is a must-read.

The Keeper
by Charles Martin
Pub. Date: April 1, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Martin is one of my favorite authors and this series is so good!
I highly recommend reading it!
The Murphy Shepherd series is simultaneously a tender love story, a heartrending search for freedom, an exploration of the terrible cost of human trafficking, and an anthem to the power of love to create change when it shows up regardless of the cost. The Keeper raises the stakes even further, so be ready--you won't want to put it down until you reach the very last page.

The Murphy Shepherd series: Book 1 The Water Keeper, Book 2 The Letter Keeper, Book 3 The Record Keeper, Book 4 The Keeper (coming April 2025!)

I was given an ARC of this book by the author and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book of Charles Martin I've ever read. And holy cow. From the absolute first paragraph, I was completely hooked. The series of turns in this book that I didn't see coming continued to surprise me. While this book contains a very hard-to-read subject, knowing there are actual people like Bones and Murph finding those ones who needs rescuing is amazing. At times, I was in tears. Then I would laugh. Then be on my toes waiting for the next chapter. I was shocked at how this book came together and it only made me want to read the earlier books, while impatiently waiting for the next book to come out! I highly recommend you taking time to read this book and many more by this author!!!

The Keeper, number 4 in the Keeper series, was full of surprises. It continues the story as it left off in book 3, with the addition of a few new characters. Often it reminded me of the "previously on..." for some tv shows, using flash backs to refresh the reader’s memory about the end of Bones’ life. I found that helpful because it had been awhile since I had read the third book, but also it is annoying when an author just jumps in without giving any back story so the reader is a little bit lost. There are a few surprises in the final third of the book and since it ended on another cliff hanger, I hope there is another book in the series coming next year.
Readers who enjoy some action-packed adventure with a true hero—one worthy of admiration—will enjoy this book, but be aware it covers some tough topics like human trafficking.
I am grateful to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the arc in return for this, my honest review.

The writing in this book is truly something special. From the first few lines, I found myself completely drawn into the world the author created. There’s an authenticity to the way the characters’ emotions are portrayed—everything felt genuine, from their struggles to their quiet moments of reflection. The author has this incredible ability to capture the complexity of relationships and personal growth in such a natural, unforced way.

I especially appreciated how the emotions weren’t rushed or overly dramatized. The story unfolded in a way that felt real—no shortcuts, no gimmicks—just honest moments between characters that left a deep impact. Even the smaller, more intimate exchanges carried weight, and that’s something I don’t come across often in stories like this.

The narrator’s voice truly brought the characters and the emotions to life, adding depth and resonance to the writing. The way they brought out the subtleties of the dialogue made each moment feel even more poignant. It wasn’t just a performance—it was an experience.

As this is the last book in the series, it was clear that the author put everything into giving the characters and their journey the proper resolution. It felt like a fitting end, with everything wrapping up in a way that felt earned and fulfilling.

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Suspensefilled!!! Murphy's story never ceases to amaze. Murphy is dealing with so much grief from loosing Bones. One can see that grief is a powerful emotion and can derail one's purpose if not properly handled. Even in the throes of grief, Murphy and all the other characters fight the strong hand of evil determined not to allow evil triumph over good. The fight to rescue the Vice President's daughters, the deep love of a father is beautiful to see. Ready to give up everything, Ashley shows strength of character and resolution to conquer evil.
Murphy's fight against evil as he navigate through his grief brings about a delightful unexpected gift, one which brings peace and joy to all of his loved ones. This book is a must read for anyone who has followed Murphy and Bones journey from the beginning. As the men fight against the wickedness, hope and faith keeps being renewed. Good is always triumphant over evil irrespective of how deep the tentacles of evil is embedded. Beautiful story.
I received a copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another absolutely beautiful installment in this series. Charles Martin has long been a favorite author of mine but this series has been some of his best writing.

Murph is on the hunt for the Vice President’s daughter who were stolen by some “bad men with bad intentions.” Unfortunately this time he is without Bones. The journey made me laugh and cry. I won’t give it away but there is one spot where I was actually sobbing.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.