THE KEEPER (MURPHY SHEPHERD # 4)......THE RESCUER OF TRAFFICKING VICTIMS....ON A NEW MISSION WHILE DEEP IN GRIEF...(*****)

 The Keeper (Murphy Shepherd # 4) by Charles Martin (2025)

     This is the fourth book in a series that chronicles the perilous and heartrending adventures of Murphy Shepherd, a mysterious man with combat, violence and tragedy in his checkered past. 

      Murphy has taken it upon himself to become the rescuer and avenging angel for countless, worldwide victims of modern day slavery and sex trafficking of women and and young boys and girls.

      Shepherd does way more than just use ruthless commando efficiency to destroy the leaders and minions of trafficking networks. Also a man of compassionate faith, he provides the shelter, love, empathy and Christian kindness that these broken victims desperately need to rebuild their shattered lives. 

       In this series, author Charles Martin has crafted a one-of-a-kind blend of genres that sounds like an impossible mixture that you wouldn't think could exist.....thrillers that read as suspenseful and action packed as any James Patterson or Tom Clancy novel combined with the tearful gut wrenching emotion and faith-based optimism of anything by Colleen Hoover or Nicholas Sparks.

       I was late coming to the world of Murphy Shepherd, but once I'd experienced the first book, I immediately binged my way through the next  two in a matter of days. You can still start this fourth entry as a stand alone, but it will leave you wanting to go right back to the beginning (with "The Water Keeper", "The Letter Keeper" and "The Record Keeper").

        "The Keeper" finds Shepherd at a low ebb, mourning the death of his beloved friend and mentor Bones, who perished as he and Shepherd  put an end to Bones' evil brother Frank, the head of a vast trafficking network. 

         But Frank's organization still has nest of vipers, second-in-command 'generals' positioned around the world.....and somehow one or more of them has engineered the brutal kidnapping of the three young daughters of Vice President Aron Ashley, Shepherd's longtime friend and ally, and a Presidential hopeful himself in the upcoming election. 

         Shepherd assembles his team to hunt down the traffickers and save the girls. But precious time's running out and still convulsed with grief over Bones' death, both he and his team wonder if Shepherd can maintain the sharp edge he'll need as they head into harm's way.

        As in the previous books in the series, everything you'd expect from a top-notch, keep-you-up-all-night thriller, you'll find here. Shepherd's painstaking hunt begins to yield leads......and it's possible that the malignant kidnapping plot might have its origins in the very halls of government power. 

         But what you'll also find here is what makes this series distinctly unique - almost overwhelming, overpowering amounts of so many deeply felt emotions....enduring love, loyalty, friendship, the struggle to heal from the most heinous of hurts. 

        Be prepared to being unable to stay dry-eyed through many scenes in this book.....yes, it's the kind of storytelling that'll put you, along with the characters, through a non stop barrage of poignant, impassioned moments. 

         Does all of this sound like the highest recommendation yet?   How about a 5 star rating (*****).  Send this one right to the top of your TBR list.