The Water Keeper by Charles Martin
Series: Murphy Shepherd Book 1 of 3
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 5, 2020)
REVIEW BY GWEN M. PLANO
The Water Keeper is the story of the fictional character, Murphy Shepherd, who lives alone on an island off the Florida coast. Guided by the Parable of the Lost Sheep, he has as his mission to rescue young women kidnapped by human traffickers. Though a Catholic priest, he does not function as such, and few are aware of his status.
Themes of love, good and evil, hope, and freedom thread throughout this complex story. The Christian elements are deep and mostly subtle. The quote below is an example.
Love … is the only thing in this universe … that you can’t kill. No weapon that has ever been made can put a dent in it. You might punch it, stab it, whip it, and … pierce its very heart. But all you’re going to get is blood and water, because love gives birth to love.
– Charles Martin, The Water Keeper
Martin begins The Water Keeper at a crawl with details that seem random and sometimes confusing. But don’t give up. He is simply laying the foundation for an unforgettable story. The side glimpses of a multitude of Florida shorelines, the yachts and cruisers, a non-functioning church, and a hodgepodge of characters – all have important roles which erupt powerfully in the last half of the novel.
The protagonist, Murphy Shepherd, is a bit of a superhero. As I read, I thought of Colter Shaw in the Tracker series and Jack Reacher. I lost count of how many gunshot wounds Murphy endured, but I shelved my disbelief, cheered him onward, and enjoyed the journey. Don’t we all want to see the good guy win and the bad guy get what he deserves?
The conclusion revisits the first scenes in the book and ties the whole story together. Suddenly, it all makes sense. If you persevere through the slow beginning, you’ll find yourself gasping at the fight scenes, wiping tears at the cruelty of trafficking, and revisiting your own heart as it either breaks or celebrates. Included in the last pages is one of the most tender love scenes I’ve ever read. I’m not referring to a bedroom encounter, but one that reaches beyond life. This is a thought-provoking and heart-pounding novel.
The Water Keeper is a strong psychological thriller with Christian themes. I happily give it five fish!
I purchased the Kindle version of The Water Keeper from Amazon.
The Well Read Fish 
Wow, Gwen! You’ve made an excellent case for reading books with a slow ramp-up. I’ll check it out!
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Thank you, Grant. I nearly set it aside but then focused and discovered an incredible story.
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I just popped over to Amazon and read the prologue. The actual first chapter might be slow, but wow, that prologue is exciting and tells me there’s more fast-paced action to come later in the book. Great review, Gwen. You’ve convinced me that The Water Keeper is a (haha) keeper!
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Thank you, Priscilla. Once Martin sets the stage, the story takes off at a pace that is mind-boggling. If you decide to take the leap, let me know what you think about the story.
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I was (like those above) intrigued by your review, Gwen, and stories featuring Florida always get my attention (even though many have obviously been written by those who’ve never lived here). I downloaded a copy of this one immediately, and am looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the review, even with the bullet-proof character. (I was ALWAYS a fan of Jack Reacher, after all.) 😀 Have a great day, my friend! 🤗❤️
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Thank you, Marcia. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this book. The locale (Florida coast) was foreign to me, but I suspect you’ll love every nook and cranny. ❤️
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Will be sure to let you know my thoughts when I get a chance to read it. I have a teetering TBR pile, so will have to decide when to fit it in, but I’ll likely push it much closer to the top of the pile. You have definitely piqued my interest! 😁❤️
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Great review, Gwen. I’ve never read Charles Martin. This sounds intriguing.
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Thank you, Kelly. This is my second Charles Martin book. Both began slowly, but then roared. He’s an interesting writer, one that I hold with considerable respect.
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Great review, Gwen. I have read two other of Charles Martin’s books. He is a master of description and lyrical prose. I started <i>The Water Keeper,</i> but got interrupted by the cares of this world. I must return and finish reading it. Thanks for the review and the reminder.
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Thank you, Steve. He tells a good story, even if it starts out slowly.
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It sounds like the end was worth the wait. I don’t know if I’m as patient as you, but I’m definitely intrigued. Thanks for this thoughtful review, Gwen.
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It definitely has a slow start, Staci, so it may not be one you’d like. I’m not a patient reader, but once my interest perked, I couldn’t put it down. Thank you for the kind comment.
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Trafficking people breaks my heart, seems unstoppable. One man–I love the comparison to Jack Reacher and Colton in Tracker–who won’t quit, it brings to mind Sound of Freedom. That MC also was amazing–different location and backstory. Thanks for this intro.
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Trafficking horrifies me, and as you said, it seems unstoppable. We need more superheroes like Reacher, Tracker, and Murphy. Thank you, Jacqui.
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Fantastic review, Gwen! It definitely has my attention.
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Thank you, Denise.
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Hi Gwen, I think suspending disbelief and just enjoying the story is a very good idea. Thanks for the terrific review.
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Thank you, Robbie. I agree with you about suspending disbelief. These days, we need heroes.
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Hi, Gwen! Your review is so good, I will pop over now and see about getting a copy! 🌺🩷
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If you decide to take the leap, I hope you enjoy it, Kymber. Thank you for today’s visit.
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Hubby and I are big fans of Tracker, so I know I’d enjoy this novel. And that cover – stunning! Thanks for the rec, Gwen!
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Thanks, Teri. It’s great to hear you’re a Tracker fan as well. You’ll recognize the similarities if you decide to take the leap and read Martin’s book.
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Your review has me intrigued. I don’t mind a slow build up at times and it sounds like this book was worth sticking it out. Off to Amazon to check it out!
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If you decide to read it, Joan, I hope you enjoy it. I had sat the book aside, but then gave it another try and was greatly moved. I’ve only read one other book by Charles Martin, and it also began slowly. So, maybe, this is his writing style. I hope you have a wonderful day.
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Human trafficking is an evil I have a difficult time reading about, but your review has me more than intrigued (especially with the MC being a Catholic priest). This sounds like a fantastic novel, Gwen, and your review hit all the right notes for me. I’m off to check it out on Amazon!
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I’m with you, Mae. Human trafficking rips my heart out. When I selected this book, I didn’t know it focused on that topic. I chose it to understand why it was/is so popular among Christian readers. Martin’s story dives deeper than the trafficking and poses questions about love, faith, and forgiveness. And therein lies the richness of the story. If you decide to read it, I’d love to hear what you think of it.
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I’ve never read anything by this author, but I’ll check him out based on your review, Gwen. Many thanks!
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Thank you, Olga. Martin intrigues me as a writer. I’ve only read two of his novels, but I’m looking forward to reading more.
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