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Murphy Shepherd #2

The Letter Keeper

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Combining heart-wrenching emotion with edge-of-your-seat tension, Charles Martin explores the true power of sacrificial love.

He shows up when all hope is lost.

Murphy Shepherd has made a career of finding those no one else could—survivors of human trafficking. His life’s mission is helping others find freedom.

But then the nightmare strikes too close to home .

When his new wife, her daughter, and two other teenage girls are stolen, Murphy is left questioning all he has thought to be true. With more dead ends than leads, he has no idea how to find those he loves.

After everything is stripped away, love is what remains.

Hope feels lost, but Murphy is willing to expend his last breath trying to bring them home.

Preview from Charlie Martin:

“I don’t know how he does what he does. It sounds rhetorical at this point because I find myself saying the same thing after every book. I flip the last page over (usually after having read it multiple times to prolong the ending) and then say, usually out loud to myself, ‘How the h-e-double-hockey-stick did he just pull that off?’ This book is no exception. It is unequivocally, hands down, a remarkable read. It’s everything you want (and a whole lot more) from a sequel.

“David Bishop/Murphy Shepherd is the guy who shoots first and asks questions later. He’s got multiple secret identities, flies around on private jets, has several storage units with motorcycles, walls full of well-used handguns, rifles, shotguns, not to mention the storage unit in south Florida where he’s got a Hell’s Bay skiff . . . I mean c’mon. He makes Batman’s arsenal and gadgets look like a joke, and Jason Bourne look like a rookie in the world of taking out bad guys. AND on top of that, the dude’s a PRIEST . . . and he uses his priestly credentials to get in (and out) of some pretty shady situations (spoiler alert) taking out a respectable amount of bad guys in his white robes in the process . . . (spoiler alert #2). Too bad those robes don’t stop bullets . . . (spoiler alert #3 . . . my bad. I’ll stop.) And on top of that, he’s got the world’s greatest dog. The Shepherd/Gunnar duo is unstoppable, again, this time around.

“But amid all the secret identities and kicking butt he does, let’s face it . . . the dude’s got MAD game. For those who don’t know what that means, the dude is a total chick magnet—and not by choice. And if I can get serious for a minute, The Letter Keeper takes the character development between Bishop and his girls to the next level. By the end, you’re so invested and knitted into their stories and hearts, you’re left scratching your head thinking, ‘Are we sure this is fiction? There’s no way this is made up.’

“The way he/Dad/Charles walks us through the storyline of Bishop, Summer, and Angel is everything we, us readers, have been waiting for. It’s beautiful and deep and genuine, but thrilling and exciting all in one. Dad/Charles has had a couple of really phenomenal characters break the pages in the last 20+ years of his writing—Matthew Rising, Sunday, Ella Rain (love that lady), Tyler Steele . . . You know ’em, we love ’em all—but these—Bishop, Summer, Angel, Casey, Clay, Bones, yes even Gunnar—might be my favorite. Speaking of Bones, for those who were like me wondering who the heck this guy is in the first book, well, let’s just say there’s more to Bones than meets the eye.

“Y’all better get ready. Like I said last time, clear your schedule. When this book comes out, say you got a scratchy throat or something, muscle aches, play the COVID scare card for a day and say you need to quarantine. Then read this book . . . front to back. There will be more sweaty palms, fist pumps, tears, and laughter than the first one. I promise.

“And yes . . . in case you’re wondering . . . by the time this book ends, there’s not much room left on his back for more names. But something tells me that’s not going to stop Bishop.”

Praise for The Letter Keeper:

“Very few contemporary novelists have found acclaim within mainstream and evangelical markets, but Charles Martin is among them. His latest novel is both a stand-alone story and a sequel to his highly-praised The Water Keeper. It hinges on the Scriptural message of forsaking the found in order to seek the lost, a theme Martin brings to poetic and brilliant life. A man broken by events beyond his control accepts the challenge to walk dark ways in order to bring the lost and helpless home, but he comes close to losing himself in the process. Despite the hardship and heartache, Martin’s story shines with the light of eternal hope.” —Davis Bunn, writing for Christianity Today


Full-length novel
One of the Murphy Shepherd novels:
Book One: The Water Keeper

Book Two: The Letter Keeper

Book Three: Available June 2022!


Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Also by Charles Martin: The Mountain Between Us, Send Down the Rain, Long Way Gone, When Crickets Cry

301 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2021

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About the author

Charles Martin

108 books6,043 followers
Married to Christy. Father of three boys.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 884 reviews
Profile Image for Lindsey Gandhi.
506 reviews141 followers
May 29, 2021
It has taken me a couple of days to figure out how to word my review. When I finished the book I was totally and utterly speechless, crying like a crazy woman and couldn't possibly write a worthy review of this book. I still don't feel like I can adequately put into words a review that will give glory to this book and to the amazing author that Charles Martin is.

The Letter Keeper is a sequel to The Water Keeper. Both books tackle the tough and painful subject of human trafficking, but with the most delicate of hands. The main character, Murphy Shephard and his coworkers have made a living of saving the un-savable. They find them, no matter how hard it is, no matter how dangerous it is, no matter the costs and they bring them back to life, heal them, protect them, help make them whole again. Remind you of anyone? They leave the 99 to go after the one. Just as Jesus goes after his one sheep who is lost, who needs Him, so do they. Charles Martin does a perfect job of putting into words, into a beautiful story a way to show Jesus' love for us. It doesn't matter how many times we need rescuing, how far we've gone, His love shows up. Always. And in that same fierce and relentless way, Murphy goes after all of the kids who are taken and lost.

This story really moved me emotionally. So many times in this book I felt like God was reaching back for me again. He was leaving the 99 to come for me. And that's what is so awesome about Charles Martin and his writing. He took the gift God gave him and has amplified it to God's glory. It's beautiful, it's heart wrenching, it gives you hope, it's a reminder that there are people fighting evil everyday and will show up.

I honestly cannot recommend Charles Martin's books enough to the world. I will read anything and everything he writes, every book has inspired and touched me in a different way. He is hands down my favorite author. I encourage you to read one of his books, I promise you will get hooked.

And 2022 cannot come fast enough for me. Book 3 on Murphy!!! I'm dying to know what happens next!!!!

My thanks to Charles Martin, Thomas Nelson Publishing and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Darla.
3,248 reviews486 followers
July 3, 2022
For me, this was the perfect recipe for the second book of a trilogy. The first one was firing on all cylinders. There was. So. Much. Action. In this second book, Murphy returns to Freetown with the four women he rescued in 'The Water Keeper.' This is not 'happy ever after,' but there is hope. Unfortunately an evil force lurks in the shadows zeroing in on its target with no regard for collateral damage. As a part of this second installment we get more back story and some gaps are filled, especially regarding the early days with Bones and Marie. I thought it was perfectly balanced and am so looking forward to the third and final piece.

Profile Image for Melissa (So Far Behind!).
4,522 reviews1,733 followers
June 7, 2021
The latest offering from Martin takes quite a while to get going, but when it does it packs a serious punch and solidifies for me what a talented writer he is. Honestly, I waffled with my rating, I went back and forth between a three and a four, but I'm going to settle with 3.5 stars, rounded up.

The Letter Keeper is the second book in the Murphy Shepherd series. Definitely need to read The Water Keeper first because you will seriously be lost as the narrative picks up right after the previous book ends.

Like I said above, this book takes a while to gain momentum. There's a lot of telling as Murph relates the story of his life to his daughter, and the action does not start until about 75% into the book. Since it takes so long to get going, some of what happens really comes across as rushed and the resolution seems too convenient. The last quarter is what I expected after reading the first book--it's full of action, suspense, and the powerful love of family, friends and God. I do wish that that pacing would have been a bit more even because it would have made the book so much more impactful.

The theming is very dark. Although there's no explicit detail given, these are people rescued from trafficking and slavery and the descriptions, although vague, can possibly bring up trauma for readers. Martin has a gift for bringing the reader into the characters' pain, and although it is gritty and realistic, it is also heavy to bear at times. Yet...I kept coming back to the burdens that God carries for us, the depths from which we are rescued time and again, and that makes this book so meaningful and multi-layered.

A very interesting tidbit of information provided at the end to show where this series is heading with the next installment. I am anxiously awaiting that book and forever will remain a fan of Martin's incredible writing.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Judy.
1,055 reviews
April 22, 2021
Charles Martin's books are always inspiring to me. They are filled with hope, sacrifice, and love. The Letter Keeper is the second book in the Murphy Shepherd series and I hope there will be many more to come. The characters are vivid and arresting. The plot is action-packed, yet filled with truths and philosophical and religious themes. Murphy Shepherd is an amazing man who puts everyone else's needs above his own. He rescues girls from human trafficking situations and brings them to Freetown where they can heal. Even though the subject of human trafficking is horrible and violent, Charles Martin handles the subject with sensitivity and doesn't dwell on the dark side.

You could read this book without having read the first in the series; however, I would recommend that you start with the first book just to provide background. Also, it is well worth the time as The Water Keeper is an awesome book as well. I highly recommend reading anything Charles Martin writes and, yes, he is one of my very favorite authors!

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson--FICTION through Netgalley for an advance copy of this wonderful book.
Profile Image for Wendy.
1,612 reviews554 followers
June 23, 2021
After reading and loving The Water Keeper by Charles Martin I could hardly wait to get my hands on The Letter Keeper. I was not disappointed! Only that I now have to wait for this author's next book.
The Letter Keeper is a perfect page turner!
Once again we are in the world of Murphy Shepherd who has devoted his life to finding survivors of human trafficking.
Freetown, a town high in the mountains of Colorado is where he brings the young people he has rescued so that they can heal physically, mentally and hopefully emotionally. However the story becomes personal for Murphy when his world is shattered by the sudden disappearance of his new wife, daughter and two others. He battles good vs evil as he hunts the evil men out to destroy him.
Multiple surprises, many plot twists, edge of your seat suspense and wonderfully endearing and unique characters make this novel unputdownable.
I am totally captivated with Charles Martin's story-telling!
* I highly recommend reading The Water Keeper first *

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Tamara.
635 reviews12 followers
April 13, 2021
The Letter Keeper is the second book in the Murphy Shepherd series by Charles Martin. I don’t think I have ever given any of his books a rating lower than four, but with The Letter Keeper, I am.

This doesn’t mean in any way that the writing wasn’t up to par, the characters weren't well drawn out because they all were. It was all me. The Water Keeper was full of action and The Letter Keeper just didn’t keep me engaged enough. I didn’t connect to the characters as I had in the first book like I was hoping to.

The Letter Keeper was too introspective at the beginning for me. Yes, it was good to learn about Murphy Shepherd/David Bishop’s background but I would’ve (in my opinion) appreciated it more in the first book. I wanted to run and catch the bad guys with Murphy and it took a while before I could do that(of course, safely reading at home about his adventures). However the ending made up for a lot of it, it’s good!

My gratitude to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Profile Image for Staci.
1,658 reviews509 followers
June 8, 2021
The Water Keeper was one of my top reads from 2020. The sequel starts off in spectacular fashion with bigger than life Murphy Shepherd rescuing those in need amidst a lot of action. The novel then transitions into reflecting back on Murphy's life at a young age and gives readers what led him to his current career choice. The reflective parts of the novel kept my interest as it shed light on what made Murphy into the hero we love.

The current day thread following the initial action scenes is where my interest waned a bit. Some of it seemed difficult to believe and the flow of the novel was disjointed.

Star of the novel...canine Gunner. What a fabulous inclusion in the series.

The cover is lovely and complements the initial book's cover. Overall, it was a good novel.

My gratitude to publisher Thomas Nelson for a complimentary NetGalley copy of The Letter Keeper. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
439 reviews5 followers
January 26, 2021
The Water Keeper is the first book on the series and The Letter Keeper is next in the series.

The series continues to follow Murphy Shepherd who goes searching for the one who is taken due to human trafficking. We learn a little more about the priest, Bones and his relationship with Murphy. There are 4 main women in this story-2 girls that Murphy has rescued-Casey and Angel. Summer is the mother of Angel and Ellie is Murphs daughter. Gunner is the faithful dog and he rocks it in this book!

Most of the story centers around Freetown, this is the safe place that the people who are rescued from trafficking are sent.

There is so much thought that goes in to these books. There are so many new facets that we learn about the characters and the redemption that takes place.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Ronie.
Author 54 books1,052 followers
March 12, 2022
Charles Martin never disappoints! Told a friend whom I introduced to Martin's writing that there are times in the early parts of his stories where I"m like, "Where are you going with this ...?" But I long ago learned that Martin is an author I can trust, that the journey always will be worth it. And that is definitely true of this second Murphy Shepherd novel. Tackling a tough, raw subject, Martin deftly navigates the horrors in a way that peels back the darkness and lets the beauty of healing and reconciliation shine through. As always, beautifully done!

I want to write like Charles Martin when I grow up.
Profile Image for Anna.
1,091 reviews88 followers
June 27, 2021
Murphy Shepherd has dedicated his life to rescuing the victims of human trafficking. He has always followed the premise of leaving the 99 to save the 1. This motto has served him well until things hit too close to home and his new wife, daughter and 2 other girls are kidnapped. He will go to any extreme and risk all to get them safely home.
As much a book of suspense as it is about the frailty of the human heart and soul. When dreams are destroyed, hope is lost and all that is left is despair, Murphy and his team are there to bring healing and renewal to their broken spirits. The way forward is to let go of the past and look to the future as expressed here: "the wounds of the past carry a lot of weight when it comes to walking into one's future, and if anything can rob you of now, it's yesterday. We are really good at taking the pain of our past and projecting it into our future because it's what we know, and yet our past has almost nothing to do with our future other than being connected by seconds. That's it. So we face a choice. Either shine a light on yesterday and expose it, or forfeit the joy of now and the hope of tomorrow. I realize this is easier said than done, but left untreated, experiential pain becomes a fortress in our gut that houses a lie spoken by fear. And behind that fear is an idol of our own making. One we carve by hand when we, as self-made people, worship our owner creator: us. As if we can do anything to protect ourselves."
I'll be watching for the next in the series.
Profile Image for Karen R.
832 reviews492 followers
May 18, 2021
Murphy Shepherd’s life mission is to save children from human traffickers. He’s been shot at, burned by exploding bombs and put in other extremely critical situations. He is also clearly a haunted, broken man.

With an arsenal of weapons and the coolest, most faithful dog ever by his side, he kicks butt along with his mentor, Bones, who plucked him out of college to lead covert operations. These two characters are amazingly portrayed and I felt fully invested in their lives. Martin has a gift for writing, expert at creating atmosphere, strong characters and powerful emotional moments. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Profile Image for Donna.
3,875 reviews7 followers
October 31, 2021
Charles Martin is the author of some of my favorite books. The kind you carry in your heart forever. However, with that said, not all of his books have that effect on me and unfortunately, this one is in that latter category.

First, what I loved the most, hands down, was the MC. He is a great character...the kind of hero you want on your side when kidnapped by those without goodwill toward all. I also liked the other characters as well. The characters kept me in to the very end.

This one, and a few others by Martin, were so slow to get started. Plus, the narrative was excessive in the set up. I knew it would eventually end, and then the story would get started. It always does.

One other thing I'll mention here was all the explaining. It felt like a holding pattern keeping me from going where I wanted to go. So much backstory was just inserted in that way. It took me out of the story almost ever time. Not my favorite. But the characters were the real highlight here. So 3 stars.
Profile Image for Missy.
309 reviews54 followers
March 23, 2022
I think Charles Martin is one of my favorite authors. His books just bring so much depth and thought. Maybe I need to start thinking like one of his characters. But anyway, the second book in the Murphy Shepherd series was amazing. As usual.

This story of Murphy Shepherd gives us a little more background to his life before, with Marie, and how he became the person he is today saving lives of those who have/are being trafficked. Casey, is becoming a strong character and in this book she shared her story, although not with us, and Murphy did the forward, goodness did that bring some tears out!! But I think we are seeing the next generation starting up with Casey, Ellie, and Angel.

I cannot wait to read the next in line, and I am sure the tears will flow like usual.
Profile Image for Joleen.
2,004 reviews1,210 followers
August 1, 2021
Hm...

I have to say, this one didn’t work for me. I read The Water Keeper a year ago. Lots of books between then and now — over 200. My memories from that book aren’t concrete enough to place the people and events referenced in this book.

I was lost.

I mean really lost.

Suggestion...If you read this book, make sure to read the first in the series right before.

On a good note, Mr. Martin's writing is impeccable as always and some of his word pictures simply stunned me. Had I a paper copy I would have been underlining like crazy.

Again, not really Christian fiction as many earlier books used to be.

Sigh. I miss that.
Profile Image for Kaitlyn Krispense.
Author 1 book85 followers
May 13, 2021
Okay. Once upon a time, I would've said that Charles Martin is one of my favorite authors - beautiful prose, engaging plot. Blunt - just like me. *halo* Thing is...I wouldn't quite say so anymore. *Deep breath* So. Let's dive in, shall we?


Mmkay, so, let me say what I didn't like (and try not to turn this into a rant), and get that part over with.


For one...the prose. The first couple of books I read by Martin (When Crickets Cry and The Dead Don't Dance) were absolutely amazing. But then I read books that he published in recent years (Send Down the Rain and The Water Keeper)...and they've only disappointed me. I couldn't put my finger on why, though...so I picked up The Water Keeper from the library and requested The Letter Keeper from Netgalley.


I've figured it out. The 'prose,' to me, isn't really prose anymore. The meaty parts of the story, the parts where the plot really began to pick up and get going, were either short bits between the slow parts, or were broken up by rabbit trails of deep thinking.


Don't get me wrong; y'all know I love books that make me think deeply. But in the middle of a suspenseful sequence is not, in my opinion, a good time to insert "There are times in a man's life when..." *deep thinking that takes up an entire page and interrupts the plot* It seemed like there wasn't enough plot to go around, so hey, let's throw in an insane amount of internal dialogue that you have to force yourself not to skim over, but make the rest of the book interesting enough that you want to keep reading and find out how it ends!


Okay. I think my rant is over. Sorry. *cough*


What else didn't I like? Some of the scenes between Murph and Summer made me downright uncomfortable. Like, it wasn't too bad, it was just...lots of different places. Until that one scene right after the wedding (not gonna say whose wedding, to avoid potential spoilers). I understand that this is supposed to be authentic and real but like...y'all. I've got a vivid imagination. Whenever I read something in a book, I picture it in my mind. And this...this is not something I wanted to picture in my mind. (I suppose I should've learned my lesson from the first Shepherd book. But I didn't, unfortunately.)


The unfortunate thing is, even though the book ended on a cliffhanger, I'm not even sure that I want to read the next one. Which sadly brings the book down from "It was pretty good!" to "It...was good...I think?"


But. What did I like?


The plot was fantastic. Granted, the first half of the book was slow and I was trying to find out exactly where the back cover blurb fit into the whole picture. But then the second half hit and bang, we finally caught some of the action that Murphy Shepherd is known for! (did I just end a sentence with a preposition? Yes. Yes, I did. *bows* forgive me.) Like, that one scene full of InJUrY and pAIn and DEaTh!


"You came after us!" 

"I said I would, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but...you actually did." (Might not be exact wording, but super close, anyway)

These words, uttered from a heart so broken that she dared not believe they were true until she saw it put into action in the most sacrificial way possible, sum up my favorite part in the entire book. Someone who didn't see herself as worthy of love...found herself being treated as a most precious treasure (find a parallel in here somewhere?). And I adored it.


I also really loved Casey's character arc. It wasn't the straight-road-to-recovery-with-a-couple-setbacks. No, it was more like we-thought-we-were-recovering-but-then-everything-was-almost-completely-lost-but-it'll-all-turn-out-okay-in-the-end. (I guess I have a thing for hyphens. *shrug*) Like...I really, really loved the entire Casey aspect (including that last scene with her?? IT WAS SOOO GOOD.)


*I received a copy of this book from the publisher from Netgalley for promotional purposes. All thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Wade.
642 reviews10 followers
February 27, 2021
“Trafficking in people is an evil without comparison.”

“I don’t really understand it, but somehow, in some impossible way, love reached down inside me, took out all the old and dirty—the scars and the stains that no soap anywhere would ever wash out. And love didn’t just clean me but made me new. And maybe the craziest part of that is how I see me.”

“For we alone are the keepers of the letters that set us free.”

4.25 Stars Out Of 5

The Letter Keeper, the sequel to The Water Keeper, is a great read. In my review of The Water Keeper, I mentioned that it was one of the best books I had ever read. It’s one of those books that can be hard to read at times because of the subject matter, but important in shining a light to a global problem. Evil exists in the world and Charles Martin shows us what other evil and love can do.

Sequels are hard. You find yourselves comparing it to the previous book. So 4.25 stars might seem unfair to a book that as good as this. But compared to The Water Keeper, I felt like something was lacking. There was a long stretch of between a quarter to a half of the book that had a lot of backstories that caused the book to drag at times. While a lot of this was necessary to the action packed second half, this was a large contrast to The Water Keeper. And a lot of it was really just a set up to Book Three, which I cannot wait to devour.

But what made this book so great in its own right is that it was so character driven. And because of that, this one packed a lot of emotions at various times. Maybe even more so than The Water Keeper. And I loved the familiar characters of Murphy, Bones, Summer, Angel, Clay, Ellie, and of course Gunner.

So I hope Book Three comes sooner than later!

* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
Profile Image for Dana Michael.
1,134 reviews89 followers
June 25, 2021
The Letter Keeper is the second book in the Murphy Shepherd novels. This book started off with a bang, and then it goes into the backstory of how Murph became the kick butt hero he was. It also slows down a good bit and reflects on Casey. A girl he rescued from the first book and all the traumatic and emotional issues that come from being trafficked. I cried tears through much of that section of the book. Then, it takes a turn and there is a lot of action at the end in true Charles Martin style. The ending leaves you wanting to read book 3.
4.5 stars
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson and this is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,152 reviews29 followers
July 20, 2021
I can not believe I have to wait until June 2022 for Charles Martin's next book and the possible conclusion of this story. Absolutely devoured this book. I had to know, yet I did not want it to end. Martin remains my all-time favorite author. Highly recommend. A must-read (but read The Water Keeper first).
Profile Image for Ebos Aifuobhokhan.
519 reviews56 followers
April 27, 2021
I am rarely speechless. But this book made me speechless. I couldn't stop reading. It held me captivate and at the end of the day all I could think about was love always wins, love always shows up.

My heart was beating in resonance with the characters. Murphy's heart was boundless. The dephts he went, the sacrifices... In more words than I can say the author pictured Jesus' love for us. How he goes after us relentlessly, recklessly until he brings us home. No matter how far we've gone, no matter where we are, his love shows up. No matter how may times we need rescuing.

Murphy pulled out all the stops going after 1 person after another. So much how Christ leaves the 99 and goes after the 1.

Undiluted, unconditionally love oozed out of the pages of this book and into the deepest parts of my heart. I felt so loved by God and grateful to Him after reading this book.

Hibhly, highly recommended it.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Sarah Grace Grzy.
629 reviews826 followers
February 5, 2022
10 million stars - must read! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and also laughed and cried like a baby through the whole thing.
Profile Image for Shannon McGarvey.
236 reviews2 followers
January 9, 2022
I did not expect to fall in love with this series.
“I had this hope that somebody would accept me without holding my past against me, without seeing me as stained”
My husband did that for me. So much of this story was an overlap, or just similar, to my past and our family.
I’m extremely impressed that a man could tell these stories as well as they are. If you want a good cry. Read these.
I especially loved the part when they said that the only love that could heal these girls was the love of Christ. Amen. Also when the took a pro life stance and the character that had multiple forced abortions named all her children.
Absolutely beautiful story of love and redemption.
Profile Image for Lisa.
610 reviews232 followers
July 12, 2021
A Richly Told and Riveting Story

SUMMARY
Murphy Shepherd finds girls and women who are victims of human trafficking. His mission in life is to help these women not only find their freedom but he goes the extra mile by helping them recover from the ordeal in a safely guarded location called Freetown. When his new wife and daughters are kidnapped from Freetown, Murphy shifts into high gear racing across the country to find them. One dead-end leads to another and he and his canine partner Gunner find themselves racing back across the country yet again to find the men responsible and make them pay.


REVIEW
The Letter Keeper Is a richly told and riveting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s both a heart-wrenching and action-packed tale, with a protagonist that will leave you speechless.

Murphy Shepherd also known as David Bishop will stop at nothing to save women in trouble. He’s a priest of sorts who is bold, fearless, and determined. The characters in The Letter Keeper are the pillars of the story. Murphy, his new wife Summer, their daughters, his mentor Bones, and his friend Clay all coalesce to form a perfectly well-rounded cast of characters. The quintessential German Shepherd Gunner takes the prize for the best partner/dog ever! I hesitate to even call them characters because they all seem so real. You can’t help but feel the intensity and heartache and wonder if it’s a true story.

One of life’s pleasures is a book that sweeps you off your feet, a poignant book that you can’t put down until the last page is turned, and even then you don't want it to end. This is that book. This is the second in a series and while you can certainly read THE LETTER KEEPER as a standalone, why would you want to miss the emergence of the intrepid Murphy Shepherd in THE WATER KEEPER. Besides, there will be a third book, and who doesn’t love a good series.

Charles Martin is one of my favorite authors of all time. His writing is beautiful and descriptive. His novels before this series include Send Down the Rain, Long Way Gone, and The Mountain Between Us, which was made into a major motion picture all of his books are a pleasure to read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Publisher Thomas Nelson
Published June 8, 2021
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com


Profile Image for Melony.
Author 3 books160 followers
April 2, 2021
When you turn the last page of a Charles Martin book, you just say, "Wow!" and The Letter Keeper was no exception. I cannot wait for book 3 in the trilogy. This second book really went deeper into getting to know Murphy and the people in his life. I could not read this fast enough and wanted to savor each word at the same time. The raw intensity of this character is like none other, and perfectly illustrates what it means to leave the ninety-nine for the one.

Another phenomenal masterpiece.

I received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley and my opinion is my own.
Profile Image for Brenda.
106 reviews1 follower
July 12, 2022
OMG. What a gut wrenched at times. Keep Kleenex handy, and just let yourself feel the story. And make sure you have time to read, not clearing fence lines, (yiu know who I mean),❤️, as you will not want to put it down.
Profile Image for Mitzi.
224 reviews74 followers
October 8, 2022
As a longtime fan of Charles Martin, I’ve been catching up on his latest series. The Letter Keeper is the second book in a series dealing with human trafficking. Fortunately, even dealing with difficult subject matter, Martin always focuses on love, healing, hope, and redemption. I’m looking forward to finding the time to read the final installment in this three book series!
Profile Image for Jen.
414 reviews114 followers
August 13, 2021
This is the first time I have given my favorite author less than 5 stars. It's why I'm behind on the review. I hated to do it. Normally. I absolutely, 100% love Martin's stories. The redemption, the overcoming, the persevering...his stories are magical.

In The Letter Keeper, which is a follow-up to The Water Keeper, we get an exciting start, similar to TWK. Then that slows down and we are given the history of Murph, which I love. Martin's writing never falters, he is always poetic and carefully meaningful in his words, it was just...the middle of the book was a big contrast to TWK. It was slower, kind of delving deeper into the lives of Murph and the people in his life. Then, the story kicks back up and we're back to the writing we are used to (action-packed, would definitely be a Michael Bay movie).

I love Charles Martin. He is my favorite novelist. I will continue to buy his books without even looking to see what they are about. I love that he's a man of deep faith, but doesn't throw it in your face. This was not a bad book by any means. Just not what I'm used to lately.

While you could technically read this as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading The Water Keeper first. I think you'll have a deeper understanding of the story.
Profile Image for Stacy.
316 reviews37 followers
March 8, 2021
Wow, just wow.

When you think Charles Martin's writing can't resonate with you more than it already does, he tops that by adding deep character dives, raw-panged emotion, and tense scenes.

Murphy Shepherd is a man to be reckoned with if you're on the wrong side of the law, and as heroic as the Duke for those needing to be saved. This novel can be read as a stand-alone, but read The Water Keeper too. But, have tissues nearby for both, you're going to need them.

I want 2022 to hurry up and get here, I've got a "book date" with Murphy Shepherd, and I don't want to be late.

One amazing read.

I received this book from the publisher but was under no obligation to post nor write a review.
Profile Image for Chris Jager.
316 reviews10 followers
February 21, 2021
Charles Martin is going to ruin human kind for us. He holds his characters to a high standard and we are going to start demanding that of ourselves. The Letter Keeper is number 2 in the Murphy Shepherd series and once again, Martin does not disappoint. Loads of action, but a time of recovery and understanding. This novel is the perfect transition to the third book in the series. We begin to understand the characters better, understanding what makes them tick.
While we learn about them more, a bad guy surfaces, one that may change Murph and Bones forever.
I am ready for book #3.
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