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Great inspirational book with just enough suspence and mystery to keep the pages flipping to the end! ( )

I had not read Robert Whitlow previously but I found the plot summary for Water's Edge intriguing. I discovered in reading this interesting novel in one sitting an author to whom I will return again.

Atlanta attorney Tom Crane seems to have lost everything. His father has died unexpectedly in a fishing accident, he has lost his job just as he expected to be promoted and his girlfriend has left him taking his cat with her. As he works to closed down his father's small town law practice Tom becomes embroiled in mystery, embezzlement, murder and a search for faith.

As I followed this intriguing mystery with its many well drawn characters and abundant twists and turns I also became involved in Tom's spiritual journey. I did not expect this from a thriller/mystery and found I was challenged to look at my own spiritual and devotional life.

This s a well written story with clues around every bend, the flavor of a small southern town and just a touch of romance. As Tom unravels layers upon layer of intrigue he receives guidance from scripture and his uncle who encourages his spiritual awakening. When his new found faith is sorely tested Tom turns despair into revelation.

Water's Edge is well worth the read and I look forward to picking up another Robert Whitlow novel soon. ( )

As Tom Crane's life spirals out of control, he is called home to close out his recently deceased father's legal office. When he arrives in small town Bethel, GA, he finds his father's death and good character is in question.

Water's Edge by Robert Whitlow is a well-written Christian mystery that is heavy on Christian and light on mystery. I enjoyed reading about the type of legal practice Tom's father had and how he tried to work out the problems of Christians scripturally, without bringing it to court. I also liked his uncle's testimony and the effect it had on Tom's spiritual awakening. Potential readers should know that there is quite a bit of focus on the character's spiritual awakening, scripture, and his uncle's ritualistic Christian practices. The mystery of who killed Tom's father and another man is more of a back story.

Unfortunately, I liked everyone but the character of Tom. Even though he seemed to be trying to be as upright as his father, he continually did things that I though was unprofessional and dishonest. It was the one part of his life he did not seem to even acknowledge. For example, I would have no respect for anyone who would have a video conference, claim it to be a confidential conversation, but have someone hiding off camera listening in to what was going on. In spite of this, I did enjoy the book and I plan on reading more by this author.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing for a review copy of this book. ( )

Water’s Edge
Robert Whitlow
Published by Thomas Nelson
Source: Review copy from Book Sneeze
Tom Crane is an up and coming lawyer in Atlanta. His father is killed in a boating accident and Tom needs to return to Georgia to close up his father’s law office. Prior to his leaving for Georgia, Tom is released from his position at the law firm without much explanation and his girlfriend breaks up with him. With no job and no girl to hold him back Tom leaves for Georgia to stay with his great uncle Elias.
Back in his hometown Tom sees best friend Rick and his wife (Tom’s ex-girlfriend) Tiffany, along with Rick’s Dad Arthur who owns a large financial company. They all encourage Tom to stay and reopen his father’s law practice. Tom gets an offer from a company in Georgia as well and is conflicted in what option he may take.
While cleaning out his father’s office he finds an empty folder and some clues that lead him on a trail to Mr. Addington, the man who was in the boating accident with his father. Rose Addington is settling her father’s estate and Tom confides in her the suspicions he has found on an off shore banking account with a large sum of money in it. Suspicions range from Mr. Addington and the Sr Mr. Crane as being conspirators to a fraud operation. Neither Rose nor Tom believes that could be as both of their fathers were Christian men and lived their lives accordingly.
The trail of deceit runs back and forth between Tom’s father and Mr. Addington, to corporate people involved Pelham Financial, to the head owners at Pelham, to Tom and Rose being in on it. The novel weaves a web of twists and turns in conflicts and resolutions, the very best resolution being Tom accepting Christ as his savior and that transforming Tom into a different man.
Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors, having read many of his novels, I did enjoy this suspenseful legal story. It isn’t my favorite of his works, but it is still top notch!
I received a copy of this novel from BookSneeze in exchange for an honest review. ( )