The Letter Keeper, a Christy Award Nominee for General Fiction, follows Murphy Shepherd, an Anglican priest and secret operative devoted to rescuing victims of sex trafficking.
In this installment of the trilogy, Murphy Shepherd is facing his greatest challenge yet. While taking a much-needed break in Florida, someone blows up Murphy’s boat, and he awakens in Freetown, the Colorado recovery center for sex trafficking victims he runs with his mentor. The traffickers target Freetown and kidnap Murphy’s wife, her daughter, and two other teenage girls.
Murphy’s journey to rescue them takes him across the country and into the heart of danger. A diverse group of allies aids him, each bringing unique skills. As Murphy confronts the dark forces at play, he is haunted by his own demons.
The pacing starts with a bang, slows in the middle when it leans too heavily into philosophizing, but ends with plenty of action, so hang in there. The point of view can be confusing, but the story’s strength shines through. It’s important to read the series in order, starting with The Water Keeper.
The Letter Keeper tackles the crucial issue of human trafficking, especially relevant as movies like The Sound of Freedom draw attention to it. A powerful story, it explores redemption, sacrifice, and the lengths one man will go to protect those he loves. The cast of characters wrestle with faith under trying circumstances, making this an inspiring read for fans of Christian fiction. 4 stars.
** Many thanks to the publisher for a comp of this title. The opinions are solely my own.