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A review by heidirgorecki
The Record Keeper by Charles Martin
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Re-read on this and I think I love it even more than the first time I read it. It’s more tactical and action-filled, centering around Bones’ story, what compassion does to the spirit, and added a number of new characters I loved. Now onto book 4 which I’m so excited about!
——————-
I love books that make you wrestle as the characters do. Wrestle with yourself. Wrestle with the truth. Wrestle with another perspective. Books that make you think, and consider, and then think some more.
The Record Keeper, as with all the rest of the books in the Murphy Shepherd series, certainly does that.
While this final book doesn’t have the romance that the first 2 did, which I admittedly did miss, this 3rd book focuses more on the friendship between Murphy and Bones instead. I loved the tech side brought into this one, since that’s my wheelhouse, as well as the new characters and added personalities.
There were so many of those wrestling points with Murphy Shepherd that I loved, as well as truths that made me think. How sometimes you have to go after the wolf rather than only rescuing sheep to truly protect the lost. And Bones tries to instill in Murphy that identity precedes purpose, which is Frank’s (and ultimately the evil they fight against) starting flaw. That rage and revenge never fix or heal anything, even when it feels justified - love, hope and sacrificing for another are the only things that can break the cycle.
And the same thread of truth permeated this book that did in the others (and in some other books from Mr Martin) of “you can’t know who you are until you’ve settled whose you are” which I find personally so profound.
While the Water Keeper is probably still my favorite of the 3 books, this is overall certainly one of my favorite series period.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
——————-
I love books that make you wrestle as the characters do. Wrestle with yourself. Wrestle with the truth. Wrestle with another perspective. Books that make you think, and consider, and then think some more.
The Record Keeper, as with all the rest of the books in the Murphy Shepherd series, certainly does that.
While this final book doesn’t have the romance that the first 2 did, which I admittedly did miss, this 3rd book focuses more on the friendship between Murphy and Bones instead. I loved the tech side brought into this one, since that’s my wheelhouse, as well as the new characters and added personalities.
There were so many of those wrestling points with Murphy Shepherd that I loved, as well as truths that made me think. How sometimes you have to go after the wolf rather than only rescuing sheep to truly protect the lost. And Bones tries to instill in Murphy that identity precedes purpose, which is Frank’s (and ultimately the evil they fight against) starting flaw. That rage and revenge never fix or heal anything, even when it feels justified - love, hope and sacrificing for another are the only things that can break the cycle.
And the same thread of truth permeated this book that did in the others (and in some other books from Mr Martin) of “you can’t know who you are until you’ve settled whose you are” which I find personally so profound.
While the Water Keeper is probably still my favorite of the 3 books, this is overall certainly one of my favorite series period.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.