Book Review of The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin

Another terrific book by Charles Martin. This one hits all of our themes. Justice is served, but not completely. There is vengeance and the consequences of vengeance. And there are redemptive journeys for several characters. One is redeemed to herself, battling the inner demons due to the life she was forced into.

This is the second Murphy Shepherd novel. It’s first person from Murphy’s point of view, as was The Water Keeper. Summer is back, along with her daughter Angel. Murphy’s daughter Ellie, Bones, even Gunner, the dog return, as well as a cast of girls in Freetown.

The story opens with plenty of action. In the first chapter, Murphy is in Florence, Italy to rescue a girl caught up in human trafficking. This chapter is a good example of someone who pretends to be a girl’s boyfriend and grooms that girl for trafficking. Chapters two and three Murphy flies to Montana, this time to rescue a young boy. During this rescue, Murphy makes a new, powerful enemy.

The book takes an interesting turn. As a bit of a spoiler, Murphy’s boat is blown up with Murphy in it. This leads to several months of recovery in Freetown. During this time, the action stops. If you’re looking for a non-stop thriller, this isn’t that book. We get about 170 pages of character building, introspection, relationship building, and fantastic writing. Two main themes occupy this section, besides Murphy’s recuperation. First, Murphy and Summer’s relationship blooms. Second, we become reacquainted with Casey, a young girl Murphy rescued in The Water Keeper who has been living in Freetown since then.

The journey of Casey’s self-redemption is a well-written and fascinating trip through the life of a girl that is abandoned at birth and sold into abuse and trafficking not long after. For the reader unfamiliar with human trafficking, this section gives a great overview of what these young girls go through and what it’s like even after they are rescued, and how hard it is to recover.

The action ratchets up many notches once Murphy recovers. Someone gets way too close to Murphy, Freetown, Bones, and the girls, and Murphy must go on another rescue mission, this one much more personal. Enough about that as I don’t want to give any more spoilers.

This book is the best book I’ve read in at least two years. The section about Murphy / Summer and Casey pulled me along more than any action sequences could have. We really get to know Murphy, Bones, Summer, Casey, Ellie, and Angel during this section. This book, like The Water Keeper, pulls no punches when describing the evil of human trafficking. The book doesn’t end, though. It sets up the reader for book three, The Record Keeper, which came out this past June. I look forward to reading that one, though it may be next year.

As far as content. This book has very little profanity, and what is there is mild. One scene with some sexual content, but it’s completely appropriate. And, like The Water Keeper, the violence is never gratuitous and often implied.

This book moves to number one for this year. 

Book Rankings for 2022

1. The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin
2. Right Behind You by Lisa Gardner
3. Moonlight Awakens by John Matthew Walker
4. Win by Harlen Coben
5. Murder Board by Brian Shea
6. The Man Burned by Winter by Pete Zacharias
7. You Are Invited by Sarah A Denzil
8. Girl, Alone by Blake Pierce
9. One Night in Sedona by Carrie Latimer.
10. Coffin Cove by Jackie Elliott

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