Where do I begin… this was my first book I read by Charles Martin, and I can say it will not be my last. I’m not sure what I expected the story to be, but I wasn’t expected this story line. With that being said, it still kept my attention and wanted to find out what happened next and how does the story end?! It sad to think that stuff really does happen to people, but where would this world be if we didn’t have people like Murphy Shepherd by our side.

The audio was Narrated by Jonathan K. Riggs and he did a wonderful bring the story to life. I look forward to listening and reading the rest of the series.

** Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, and Charles Martin for an eARC copy of “The Water Keeper”.

Amazing story of Murphy Shephard and his life on the water. I was locked in from the very beginning, unsure of where the story was going. Murph lives on an island and is the caretaker of a church and the grounds on which it sits. He is going to Key West in his boat to spread the ashes of his great friend. Before he leaves, he discovers a teenager who is looking for the priest. She arrived on a boat filled with many other girls her age. As she is leaving, he takes her picture and puts his name in her phone, just incase she ever needs him.

Fast forward, Murph heads out on his journey, where he first picks up a dog, then other passengers that need help. We learn that Murph's "job" is to look for missing females. This is full of mystery, suspense, heartache and love. I was on the edge of my seat, listening to the story. I highly recommend this to anyone that likes adventure and mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for or this in return for my honest opinion.

I already loved Charles Martin's writing and his characters, and The Water Keeper did not disappoint. This is the first book of the Murphy Shepherd series.

Murphy Shepherd meets the beautiful Summer as he pulls her out of the water. Summer is desperately searching for her missing daughter, and Murphy is just the one to help her. With the help of a labrador and an ex-convict who they pick up along the way, along with some old connections, Murphy and Summer are immersed in a world of human trafficking. Murphy's secrets start to surface as they race to save Summer's daughter.

This is a little bit love story, a little bit thriller and a little bit literary fiction. I appreciate Charles Martin as a Christian writer. His books are powerful, clean but real, very well written. The characters are flawed but much of their struggle is often self inflicted guilt. I was on the edge of my seat with this one. This was well researched (and I mean that in a good way!) on human trafficking and will scare you if you have daughters. The realities are brutal.

Thank to Netgalley for a free audio version. It was narrated by Jonathan K. Riggs who did an excellent job. I would definitely recommend the audio version!

Captivated from the beginning! Fast pace, full of suspense and thought-provoking, makes this one of the riches books to dive into.
The narration is great.

Wow!
I'm going to start that there is a lot of heavy content in this book. But the story has you laughing, crying, mad, sad and so much more!
I recently read another book with heavy content by a Christian author that hit me much differently than this one and I didn't like that one. I think one of the reasons I liked this one so much more was the black and white difference between good and evil and that the main character was fighting for something better.
I will definitely be reading more of this series!

This is a book that shares the story of the main character helping others. It did get my attention from the beginning and I wanted to keep going. Stories like this are heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
Thanks for the advanced copy to NetGalley and the publisher.

This book opens with instant action, that had me immediately pulled in the story. Then with every page, I was pulled deeper and deeper. I simply could not walk away from this book.

From the story itself, to the characters that bring it to life, every single part of this book was so well thought out. The characters especially have so much depth, and personality to them that it’s hard to believe they aren’t real people.

Charles Martin packs a lot of real life information into his books, in a way that is more entertainment than textbook. I’m not sure how one does research for a book about hunting down flesh traffickers but Martin definitely did his due diligence in making this book informative.

The twist at the end blew my mind and it’s how it all unfolded. My jaw was actually on the floor, and I am rarely surprised by plot twist.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. But I do really wish Martin would come up with a new adjective to describe a woman other than “beautiful”

I understand why the ending happened the way it did, in order to set up the next book. But I was so dang mad it left off like that. 😂 Now I have to run and get the next one.

I listened to the audiobook for this one, and Johnathan K. Riggs does an amazing job bringing the main character to life. His voice is so calming, but then rises to the excitement in the needed parts of the book.

While this is not the fast paced mystery/thriller book I am drawn to, the story was very well written and the audio made for a great, easy listen. I tend to be geated towards darker, more intense stories with twists and turns at every corner. This was not that type of story, I found some of the twists very predictable from the beginning. With that said, living in Florida my entire life, the author brought many places to life accurately through the telling of the story. I have spent many hours on the waterways mentioned and the imagery brought a smile to my lips each time. This would be a great book to read on vacation on a beach, for someone looking for a well told story at a slow burn.

I found this book a bit randomly while searching for audiobooks available now, but truly, this was a gift of a find and I am still remembering the way it moved me. Beautifully written and well done, The Water Keeper is the 1st in the series.

Redemption, love & healing is the core of making us whole again. The Water Keeper was a beautiful story of multiple layers of redemption and the story that writes itself along the way, Beautiful cast of characters that work so well together and bring the story to life with their own unique personalities and standings. I read this as an audiobook, the narrator was perfect and I will specifically be searching for more books he voices. It was a great listen while on a long roadtrip & had me on the verge of tears while captivated by the story.. There are some tough elements (loss, broken families, drinking & drugs, serious sickness, trafficking, laying someone to rest) but nothing was ever too graphic or uncomfortable. There was a pup that made his way into the cast of characters, the author even gave great detail to the dog, his personality and loyalty to the main characters. I'm a sucker for a "goodest boy" and this one drew me in and had me in love immediately. Full of love, loss, fighting to make wrongs right, the internal struggle of wishing things were different and the lengths we will go to always keep a promise. I am looking forward to more by this author, and would strongly considering a second listen because it was that enjoyable, moving and good.

I tried to do this book in audio but found it difficult to listen to and absorb. I will try again in print.

The Water Keeper
Murphy Shepherd #1
Charles Martin
David Bishop Murphy Shepard is a special man. He lives alone on an isolated island off the northeastern coast of Florida. He is a priest with a broken heart. He is a loner, a man with a kind and caring heart, a writer and a government agent. His mission in life is to bring home girls that have been stolen from their loved ones, girls that are sold into human trafficking, human slavery. Those that need rescuing are drawn to him.
A young woman named Angel stumbles upon his island and the chapel where he lives. She was on a party boat. She suggests he should meet her mother.
Murphy headed to the waters around the Keys; it was time to spread the ashes of his mentor. He sees a hysterical woman that obviously doesn’t know how to drive a boat or swim. He pulls the woman from the Florida Intercoastal Waterway. He also rescues a dog named Gunner, and a man named Clay.
The woman’s name was Summer; her daughter was missing. Murphy agrees to help her find her missing daughter.
This is the first book in the Murphy Shepard series. There are several subplots that work together to complement the main plot. Author Charles Martin is a talented writer. The characters are superbly done. The plot is a tearjerker.
Throughout this tale there are Christian overtones. This book is a retelling of The Parable of the Lost Sheep. A shepherd will leave the flock to find one lost sheep.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelsen for the ARC.

This is the beginning of a new series that follows a man named Murphy Shepherd as he heads on a journey to bury the ashes of his best friend and mentor. Before he leaves, a 16-year-old girl named Angel drunkenly walks into his chapel. An abandoned chapel that he takes care of. Angel makes an impression, and he gives her his number in case of emergency. After she heads out, so does Murph. Along the way, he meets a woman whose daughter has run off and possibly has been kidnapped by traffickers. Who is this young girl? Her name is Angel. So Murph decides to help this woman, Summer, on her quest, as it happens to be his specialty, finding lost girls. Along this journey, we learn more about both Summer but mostly Murphy, his history, and the secrets he his holding close. Along the way, we find a wayward dog, an ex-felon, and a runaway. Murph can't seem to turn away a person in need, and helps all of these people and dogs along the journey to bury his friend.

This story is sold as Christian fiction, and I guess it kind of is. It mentions bible verses and God, but it isn't what I would call religious at all, but it is wholesome and mostly clean. There are a few swear words thrown in here and there, as well as a history of drug use to numb the pain. Overall, this is just a story of being found. Whether that is literal or metaphorical. I did really enjoy the story, even though there was just so much going on. Murph picked up many people on his way and there side tracks from the main story to help all the people he meets, as well as learning about Murph's history. There were parts with very quick pacing and lots of action, and there were parts that were very slow and repetitive. The narrator did a fantastic job. I don't always love when men voice women, but this narrator was spot on and really portrayed the characters well. I enjoyed the story enough that I already picked up the next 3 books, and this one did end on a cliffhanger with expectations for the next journey.

I had access to this audiobook through NetGalley. I made it just over half way. The narrator can’t hold my attention and the storyline is just too convenient. More like a Hollywood story than reality. Maybe it’s the subject matter and I’m retire from
public safety that I couldn’t get past… for that I’ll give 3 start and just DNF…

I absolutely love this book and all books by Charles Martin. I think I have listened to everything he has on audiobooks. I cannot wait to see what he publishes next!

3.75 Stars
This is very different to genre of books that I usually read. I enjoyed the love story of this and the general story of 'looking after the 1'. I think there was a few storylines in this running together. The subject of sex trafficking is not something that I would normally read, but I have heard a lot of good reviews about this series. I think listening to the Audiobook, helped in keeping my attention. There was a lot of action, sometimes it was difficult to follow. I don't think this is marketed as Christian Fiction, but there are some scripture references quoted in this book.
A lot of it is very unbelievable to be honest, but it is fiction. I felt it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I will try to read/listen to the next book in the series, but will take a break first.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me to chance to listen to this and to review it. The review is all my own words.

Charles Martin is an author who I've heard about frequently. Before this I'd only read one of his books, but had a few of his books on my TBR list including his Murphy Shepherd series. Recently I had an opportunity to get that series on audio. I couldn't resist, and I'm happy I didn't. Is Murphy Shepherd an over-the-top good guy/superhero/too-good-to-be-true character? Absolutely. Did I enjoy this, the first in the series, despite that? Again - absolutely. This book/series might not be the best fit for readers who can't suspend their disbelief, but happily I can and I thoroughly enjoyed this book that centers on a character who wears many hats and wears them all well. It has action and romance humor and yes, inspiration, but not the kind that bonks you over the head with A Message. The excellent narration of the audiobook by Jonathan K. Riggs only added to my enjoyment.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Audio for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

The water keeper had me glued. i just had to know what would happen next.
I screamed when i got to the part where Murphy discovered that Marie had been alive and also discovered that "he had a daughter that he didn't know about".
The Joy i felt when Angel was recovered from her captors.
Charles Martin is a great writer and i am excited and look forward to completing the "Murphy Shepherd series"

Wowzers. This was such an emotional - action packed - heartbreaking and heartwarming story. Loved everything about it and looking forward to more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to experience this captivating story.

A Christian fiction novel with suspense, action, and romance. A heartfelt story telling of human trafficking but told very cleanly, Rated-G.

This book is the introduction to Murphy Shepherd, a covert government operative that’s purpose is to find those lost to the world of human trafficking. He is helping a mother, Summer, find her daughter, Angel.

In this wild ride you are drawn into the most beautiful story about such an ugly topic amongst chase scenes, boat chases, helicopter rescues. Told from multiple POV, a story of how Murphy became the man he is today. The love and loss and found family.

I incidentally found this series by starting book 3, so this was like a prequel which made it almost better had I started here I think. But no less impactful in the passion and great storytelling!

The story has religious themes which are more background based,and it’s a thriller book is what i would use to describe genre. Very interesting to have a boatman character!

Thank you Netgalley