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1.1k reviews by:
heidirgorecki
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Re-read on this and I think I love it even more than the first time I read it. It’s more tactical and action-filled, centering around Bones’ story, what compassion does to the spirit, and added a number of new characters I loved. Now onto book 4 which I’m so excited about!
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I love books that make you wrestle as the characters do. Wrestle with yourself. Wrestle with the truth. Wrestle with another perspective. Books that make you think, and consider, and then think some more.
The Record Keeper, as with all the rest of the books in the Murphy Shepherd series, certainly does that.
While this final book doesn’t have the romance that the first 2 did, which I admittedly did miss, this 3rd book focuses more on the friendship between Murphy and Bones instead. I loved the tech side brought into this one, since that’s my wheelhouse, as well as the new characters and added personalities.
There were so many of those wrestling points with Murphy Shepherd that I loved, as well as truths that made me think. How sometimes you have to go after the wolf rather than only rescuing sheep to truly protect the lost. And Bones tries to instill in Murphy that identity precedes purpose, which is Frank’s (and ultimately the evil they fight against) starting flaw. That rage and revenge never fix or heal anything, even when it feels justified - love, hope and sacrificing for another are the only things that can break the cycle.
And the same thread of truth permeated this book that did in the others (and in some other books from Mr Martin) of “you can’t know who you are until you’ve settled whose you are” which I find personally so profound.
While the Water Keeper is probably still my favorite of the 3 books, this is overall certainly one of my favorite series period.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
——————-
I love books that make you wrestle as the characters do. Wrestle with yourself. Wrestle with the truth. Wrestle with another perspective. Books that make you think, and consider, and then think some more.
The Record Keeper, as with all the rest of the books in the Murphy Shepherd series, certainly does that.
While this final book doesn’t have the romance that the first 2 did, which I admittedly did miss, this 3rd book focuses more on the friendship between Murphy and Bones instead. I loved the tech side brought into this one, since that’s my wheelhouse, as well as the new characters and added personalities.
There were so many of those wrestling points with Murphy Shepherd that I loved, as well as truths that made me think. How sometimes you have to go after the wolf rather than only rescuing sheep to truly protect the lost. And Bones tries to instill in Murphy that identity precedes purpose, which is Frank’s (and ultimately the evil they fight against) starting flaw. That rage and revenge never fix or heal anything, even when it feels justified - love, hope and sacrificing for another are the only things that can break the cycle.
And the same thread of truth permeated this book that did in the others (and in some other books from Mr Martin) of “you can’t know who you are until you’ve settled whose you are” which I find personally so profound.
While the Water Keeper is probably still my favorite of the 3 books, this is overall certainly one of my favorite series period.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A great book about both the value of community and of impact of books. I loved the little bits of the books interspersed in each of the characters stories and how it became personal to them. And the message about community and reaching out to each other, not knowing what another person is going thru is so important.
There were a number of sad elements especially with how no one seemed to be aware of what was happening with Leilah, Aiden and Aleisha. It was really horrific how no one did anything to intervene in the dysfunction. I know it happens in real life but I really disliked that part of the book to be honest.
There were a number of sad elements especially with how no one seemed to be aware of what was happening with Leilah, Aiden and Aleisha. It was really horrific how no one did anything to intervene in the dysfunction. I know it happens in real life but I really disliked that part of the book to be honest.
2.5 ⭐️s rounded up. Very predictable and had so many characters to keep track of. It was very hard to keep a lot of them straight, especially when you’re listening to it and half the characters names are phonetically the same.
There was little to no character development as well, so it felt like just one long string of interviews and events. Eventually it just felt monotonous. Also couldn’t tell if the whole Brethren thing was a cult or just a regular church that the author just was bitter and prejudiced about, but again, very little development and a whole lot of detached statements.
There was little to no character development as well, so it felt like just one long string of interviews and events. Eventually it just felt monotonous. Also couldn’t tell if the whole Brethren thing was a cult or just a regular church that the author just was bitter and prejudiced about, but again, very little development and a whole lot of detached statements.
The title is a little misleading because it’s not really about the Rabbit Girls more than a small, peripheral portion in the story. The WW2 focus is really only a parallel, secondary part of the book, the main part taking place in 1989 and being more of a psychological thriller. Good nonetheless tho.
Well, I guessed wrong on this one. It was definitely suspenseful. Lots of red herrings, twists and turns in the plot. Crazy about how a series of real life serial killers in the Saint Cloud area inspired it. Loved the friendships and loyalty in the girls and how they fought for each other.
If you’ve ever experienced significant loss of your identity or a physical part of who you are, you know it’s not a simple thing to trust God and rest in his control over your future. This was a beautifully told story that explained that struggle well, without any sort of cliche or trite answer. Tavia’s growth in finding that God has plans that pick up the pieces she thought she lost and make them into something even lovelier was heartfelt and genuine.
I also enjoyed the look at interracial relationships and the deep thought process couples unfortunately have to go thru when they enter into it. I learned a lot about the very real struggles someone as a minority is concerned with and the potential backlash the couple has to be willing to endure. I wish it weren’t the case but I think it was a valuable behind-the-scenes look for me personally and I appreciated that.
I also enjoyed the look at interracial relationships and the deep thought process couples unfortunately have to go thru when they enter into it. I learned a lot about the very real struggles someone as a minority is concerned with and the potential backlash the couple has to be willing to endure. I wish it weren’t the case but I think it was a valuable behind-the-scenes look for me personally and I appreciated that.
