Title: The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin
Murphy Shepherd Series Book Two
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Combining heart-wrenching emotion with edge-of-your-seat tension, New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin explores the true power of sacrificial love.
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 his loved ones. 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.
Review:
The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin is a reflective yet, action-packed mystery. This newest addition to the Murphy Shepherd series can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the first book for important backstory.
Murphy Shepherd and his mentor Bones are Anglican priests who also rescue victims of human trafficking. Murphy is taking some much-needed time off from his latest case when he is injured after someone attempts to kill him. His recovery takes place in Colorado at the safe compound he and Bones have built. Surrounded by his loved ones, Murphy reflects on his past decisions, his deep love for his first wife and his compulsion to save the unsavable.
Murphy is no stranger to loss or sacrifice. He and Bones will go to any lengths to rescue then provide a safe haven for those who fallen prey to human traffickers. Although Murphy has yet to forgive Bones for his unexpected betrayal, their lives are very closely intertwined. With a new woman to love, will Murphy finally make peace with his past?
Murphy and Bones are also attempting to figure out who tried to kill Murphy. They are also uncertain whether this person will try again. With security on high alert, they go about their daily lives as Murphy regains his strength. Just as Murphy is moving on to the next phase in his life, his loved ones are taken from him. Will he and Bones find them before it is too late?
The Letter Keeper is an absolutely riveting mystery with an engrossing storyline. Murphy and Bones are multi-layered characters with true to life strengths and weaknesses. The other characters are richly developed whose recovery from their pasts remains a work in progress. Murphy’s new love is heartwarming but not without a few obstacles to overcome. With pulse-pounding urgency, Charles Martin brings this suspenseful novel to a jaw-dropping conclusion. Old and new fans of the Murphy Shepherd series will be impatiently awaiting next installment due to a stunning revelation.
