The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin is Book Two so far in A Murphy Shepherd Novel Series. Book Three to follow in June, 2022.
The Letter Keeper is as much a prequel as it is a sequel in that there's far more background given to the man Murphy Shepherd, aka David Bishop, Bestselling Author Extraordinaire, his experience with his mentor "Bones", the origin and intensity of his love for Marie, and the beginning of his writing. It touches on the guilt he experiences when his love for the woman "Summer" develops, who he rescued as she fought to chase those who'd kidnapped her daughter. But it focuses on the forgiveness that needs to happen in his relationship with Bones, the long recovery he experiences after a near-death attack on him accompanied by the destruction of his island, the welcomed closeness to his daughter Ellie, the identity and locale of those who tried to kill him, and the fear of the inevitable when it hits home and those he loves. And nearly ends his life.
In many ways this is vintage Charles Martin - the continuation of unique, meaningful, wounded characters from and/or in hard places with so many obstacles to overcome both emotionally and physically as a result of many unresolved conflicts. The spiritual battles seep to the top but often go unaddressed. Martin is a student of emotion and not afraid to go there.
Let me give you another example of his exquisite writing on page 57 of my hardcover copy:
If that summer taught me anything, it was this: girls need their father. Period. And I couldn't really tell you why other than it's the father who tells them who they are. Until he does, they're just floating in the earth like that tooth [shark's tooth from the ocean]. Buried in some trash mound. Waiting to be discovered by somebody with a shovel who won't crack it or crush it.
The Letter Keeper reminds the reader of the travesties forced upon the victims of "flesh trafficking". Victims are nothing more than commodities to be used and sold to the highest bidders who often play with their wealth to engage in every kind of perversion with the ones they "purchase". There's no "clean" way to make this subject appear less demonic, filthy, and vile than it is. And that's important because so many have no idea the huge international and local "trade" this has become, pitched on the Dark Web for wherever money flows.
This story ends with an expected cliffhanger of sorts but with a shocking twist. Buckle up for the next entry in A Murphy Shepherd Novel Series.
Father, you've blessed Charles in innumerable ways that he's well aware of and thankful for all of them. I pray you would continue to fill his heart with more inspiration and stories that only he can write. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.