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

I went into this book purposefully not knowing anything about the plot. I just remember hearing Charles Martin talking about how beloved the character “Murph” has been to him and his readers. But wow!! This is an IMPORTANT book. I loved the backstory and the way it melds together with Murph’s current story. The narrator was also fantastic. His narration for Angel was spot on, when sometimes guys doing the voice of a girl is cringey. But in this case, they way he only tried to do her accent and cadence, so well. And the ending opened up to the continuation to the next book so well.

*Thank you netgalley and Thomas Nelson for a review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

Wow! What a completely unexpected gem of a book! I stumbled across this audiobook on NetGalley and I am so glad that I did. I recommended this book to my husband after listening to it and he is now hooked on this series as well. The narrator does a fantastic job keeping you engaged throughout the whole story.

The Water Keeper is a complexly layered story that centers around the devastating world of human trafficking. Main character Murphy Shepherd is a man with secrets and is struggling with the loss of his longtime mentor. Murph works to save women victims who have been enslaved by sextraffickers, and it appears that he is questioning his continuing involvement in this line of work. As Murph goes to lay his mentor to rest, he encounters and rescues a woman, Summer, who needs his help to save her daughter. Murph races to help find Summer’s daughter, while he wrestles with the loss of his mentor and the unanswered questions that keep coming up about his own life.

This story tackles heavy topics in a real and gritty way, and at the same time manages to do so sensitively and with hope. It is a story about grief, heroism, the worth and value of human life, and the power of faith in God. I highly recommend this book to those readers who like suspense with light romance. I can’t wait to read book two in the series!

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Let me start by saying I read these out of order. I started with the 4th and then moved onto this one. The amazing thing about that is this book touched on Murphy's first encounters with a few different characters that I met in the 4th book. It explained so much about and I think it made me love his relationship with each of them even more.

I loved the style of this book so much. It's easy to follow along but brings forth a lot of deep thoughts and emotions. I laughed. I cried. I got angry. My heart broke and healed during this book. The characters are so great and complex, each with their own personalities and back stories that all come together. The depiction of the scenery was fantastic - it's like I was there watching the story unfold. The narrator's voice is absolutely perfect for this story. There isn't a thing I would change and I look forward to listening to the others in the series and officially meeting the rest of the characters.

So, so, so good! There are no words...

This book took me a while to finish listening to, it started... not boring but slow? Once I was about 30% in it got better. But I dont think I will read another book by this author. It probably more of a me thing than the actual book/story.

What a start to the series! Charles Martin writes about a very serious problem in our society. I could almost picture that I was right there amongst the characters. Highly recommend as it is so informative.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

It was a nice crime though I feel like it was dragged out a bit. There’s alot of deep parts in this story which makes this feel more than a crime , it just probably isn’t for me. I felt like it slowed the crime down a lot.
The writing was great though just didn’t like the plot plan. Or whatever it would be called.

I really enjoyed reading the Water Keeper after finding it as an audiobook option on Net Galley. I went to compare it on Goodreads and realized that the author actually had quite a following. I read through a bunch of reviews and it made me really interested and excited to read this book. I also now understand why it is so popular. 
I really enjoyed the narrator of this audiobook. I've been to Florida a couple times, but I got a sense of real love in the way the author described the waterways, the nature and the heart of that area of Florida. The author is adept at describing the backdrop of this novel so you really get a sense of where you’re situated in this very serious journey the MC embarks on.

I don't have much experience with reading novels about human trafficking, so it was quite a challenging read emotionally at times. I really enjoyed the main character. He is extremely likable despite having a fairly sad background. He seems to have good strength of character and really wanted to make a difference and help. You learn in the novel that he helped create a community to help women who had survived human trafficking. I also enjoyed the pacing of the novel, and I just thought it was a really unique storyline and subject for me. I am looking forward to reading future books in the series.

Before reading this I happened to come across a review written by the author's son that was filled with staggeringly high praise. I thought, well, it could be good, but this is also his son. After finishing The Water Keeper my first thought was, "wow!," and my second was, "that young man was so right! he could have said even more!"

The Water Keeper kept me mesmerized with the fine writing, incredible suspense (with several reveals that I don't want to spoil), messages throughout that instill hope (but not preachy, weaved in so beautifully), and very satisfying outcomes. I loved this book so much and can't wait now to read the next one!

I thank NetGalley, Charles Martin, and Thomas Nelson Publishing for this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There was a lot going on and sometimes hard to follow but otherwise it was a really good book! I loved all the backstory of everyone’s lives and that it all tied together in the end.

I received a complementary audiobook from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This is an in depth emotional read and while it started off a little slow the ending will have you at the edge of your seat. Charles Martin weaves a tail of love, faith and redemption in this series.

Some topics may be sensitive to some.

I listened to this audiobook, which I haven't done very much, and I really liked it. The narrator was very good. The protagonist, Murphy, is a bit of a mystery through most of the book, but the author ties all loose ends together by the book's conclusion. Various characters are picked up as he travels in his boat. The book dives into the ugliness of sex trafficking but keeps hope in the theme. The author does a great job bringing a Christian perspective to ugly situations. The book is set in Florida, and the reader learns much about its geography. I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book through NetGalley. Thanks to the publisher and the author for the privilege to listen to this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is my second Charles Martin book, but certainly won’t be my last. A beautiful story of heroism, heartache, and healing, Murphy Shepherd is the protector we all need and we all strive to be. Murphy Shepherd pulls a beautiful woman named Summer out of the water and as he begins to unravel her story, he finds himself in the middle of a dangerous problem - Summer’s daughter has run away with someone who is trafficking the young girl. Suddenly, Murph is chasing Angel along the coast of Florida to try to find her before she’s lost forever. Martin is an amazing storyteller and while the topic of sex trafficking is difficult to stomach, he tells the story in such a way that it is well worth the read. Those local to Florida will enjoy the tidbits of culture and the names of towns he describes as Murph makes his way south. My one gripe is that there are so many stories woven together that, at times, it was difficult to keep the characters and storylines straight. This is the first in a four-book series and I cannot wait to read the rest. (The first three are available now on Kindle Unlimited! The fourth has just recently been published.) This was an audiobook and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it - the narration was great!

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I thought I would enjoy this book because of what it’s about but I did not unfortunately. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.

This is the first time I rated a book before finishing. This book took my heart apart and put it back together. I absolutely recommend.

Full review coming once I can put myself together.

My only real criticism about this book was that at some points it felt like it was dragging on a little bit for me. Like some of the backstory at times would lose my interest. But then it would pull me back in and I was invested in the characters. The storyline is so beautiful - a man who seeks out lost girls to rescue and bring them home and even goes as far as being personally invested in providing a safe place for them to live so that they can heal. I loved the main character! All the twists in the plot may be called predictable or cheesy by some, but I adore a feel-good story and that's exactly what this ended up being. A wholesome read!

In The Water Keeper, we follow Murphy Shepard.

He works to free children that have been kidnapped for the intent of being sold/trafficked. This was an interesting read that highlighted human trafficking.

Because of my job, I go to human smuggling and trafficking training every year. This series highlights this for everyone to see what it is like. It is not something that is easy to read. I think this is why this was only a 3 star read because Murphy lacked the emotions I expected.

Jonathan Riggs did a good job with the narrations. He fit Murphy perfectly.

Murphy "Murph" Shepherd lives alone on an island, tending the grounds of a church with no parishioners and no pastor, and he's dedicated his life to rescuing those in peril. With help from some unexpected new friends, including a faithful Labrador he plucks from the ocean and an ex-convict named Clay, Murph must race against the clock to rescue a young girl who's been caught up in the world of alcohol, drugs and sex.

A couple of books from this series have been on my TBR for quite a while and when the books popped up as "Listen Now" on Netgalley I decided it was the perfect way to check out the series. The narrator, Jonathan K. Riggs, has a very pleasant voice and does an excellent job. The story is action-packed and pretty good but there's too much luck and too many coincidences for it to be believable. Murph and Gunner the dog must be part cat because I'm pretty sure they both have nine lives. The story takes place mostly on the waterways around Florida and there's a lot of information about boats and currents that mostly went over my head. I'd probably listen to another book in the series but I'm not in a rush to get there. Most of the reviews are 4 and 5 stars so take mine with a grain of salt.

TW: Sex trafficking, violence, animal injury.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for providing access to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own. Published in 2020.

In The Water Keeper, bestselling author Charles Martin crafts a poignant, heart-pounding journey of redemption, rescue, and the power of love in the face of brokenness. Told through the voice of the enigmatic Murphy Shepherd, the story dives deep—both literally and emotionally—as it navigates Florida’s treacherous coastal waterways and the even more dangerous terrain of the human heart.

As an audiobook, The Water Keeper takes on an even more powerful dimension. Narrated by the author himself, Martin lends an authenticity and emotional resonance that only he could bring to his deeply personal prose. His voice draws listeners into Murphy's solitary world, one shaped by hidden pain and a relentless mission to rescue those lost in the shadows of human trafficking.

With lyrical writing, cinematic tension, and a tender undercurrent of faith and hope, this audiobook is not just a suspenseful ride but an emotional experience. Martin’s characters are raw and real, and the story lingers long after the final word.

Perfect for: Fans of Nicholas Sparks, Francine Rivers, and anyone who appreciates redemptive storytelling with grit and heart.
Rating: ★★★★★

My new husband and I listened to this together. It was our first Charles Martin book. I knew the subject matter beforehand, and it was indeed intense. The story started off kind of slow and then there was such a big cast of characters who were all interwoven in various ways. We enjoyed it and look forward to listening to the next one.