Witness Protection ⭐⭐⭐

Witness Protection by Robert Whitlow

NetGalley

Jon Tremaine has lived in hiding for years--will coming out of the shadows to help a friend be too great a risk? Perfect for fans of John Grisham and Charles Martin, Witness Protection is a legal drama with a deep undercurrent of faith.

All is finally good. Jon Tremaine has created a new life in Brunswick, Georgia, as part of the Federal Witness Protection program after testifying against the former drug cartel he was involved with. Only his wife, Sarah, and a handler with the US Marshal's office know his true identity, and he is now the manager of a large commercial tree farm with a baby on the way. But when one of Jon's employees is arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into the United States, he goes against his better judgment and inserts himself in the middle of the case, believing the man is an unsuspecting mole manipulated by sophisticated drug dealers.

Kelli Quinn, a highly skilled litigator with an Atlanta law firm, has moved to Brunswick to work with her best friend from law school, hoping to rebuild her life after a painful divorce. She and her two children find a temporary home with her aunt Carly, a woman whose great faith is making an impression on her new houseguests. For the first time in a very long while, Kelli sees a future where she can find balance between the job she loves and the family she loves even more.

New to the firm and in need of clients, Kelli agrees to represent Jon's employee. The unfolding investigation reveals layers of criminal activity and possible connections to Jon's past, putting everyone at risk of exposure--and even death.

With its gripping pace, layered legal intrigue, and heartfelt exploration of faith under pressure, Witness Protection has already been praised by early readers as a standout Robert Whitlow novel--one that keeps the pages turning while asking deeper questions about courage, identity, and redemption. As danger closes in and past sins resurface, Whitlow expertly weaves suspense with grace, showing how even the safest hiding place can't protect the heart from truth.

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Christian Fiction, Legal

The How/Why: Follow the yellow brick road... I saw this when browsing Goodreads Giveaways. I'm always intrigued by the WPP so I entered the giveaway (even though I know I never win), then checked to see if it was available on Libby or Hoopla. Libby has it on Notify Me status. I went back to GR and I noticed the "Not yet published" label so I went to NetGalley to see if it was being offered. YES! I put it my request and it was approved.  🥳🎉
I'll start it as soon as I finish my current book. I always put my NetGalley approvals NEXT on my list.

⭐⭐⭐

🎉 Overall Enjoyment? 🎉🎉🎉

🎣 Did it grab and keep my attention? 🎣🎣🎣

🗣️Would I recommend it to anyone? Maybe 🤷 If you enjoy a mystery heavy in Faith and Prayer

🕮 Would I want a sequel? No ➖ 

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author? Maybe 🤷 

💣💥 📢 Content Warnings? Google says: Dɼuᵷ Tråⓕⓕickinᵷ and CåɼtȆl$

🌶 Spice? No

🌪 Plot Twist? No

👟 Pace? Slow and then all the action in the last hour

💻 Tidbits ~ After 18 years in the Witness Protection Program, Jon finds himself in a familiar situation with the Dɼuᵷ CåɼtȆl once again. Cesar, an employee and friend, has been accused of Dɼuᵷ Tråⓕⓕickinᵷ. He is importing chocolate to make extra money but Dɼuᵷs were found in a shipment which leads to his arrest. Jon and his wife want to help because things are not looking good for Cesar, who swears he is innocent. 
Enter Kelli, an attorney recently relocated to the area with her two children. They have temporarily moved in with her elderly Aunt Carley who specializes in the Power of Prayer and comfort food. 
Kelli is out of her legal league and is making mistakes. Jon knows all too well how the Dɼuᵷ CåɼtȆl works and is trying to educate her without revealing his born identity and risking his WPP status. 

The Faith elements are prominent making Whitlow's book a good choice if you are looking for a spiritual plot over the mystery. The Dɼuᵷ CåɼtȆl has nothing over Aunt Carley the prayer warrior! 

This story takes a leisurely pace through the legal process but fasten your seatbelt when you get to the last hour (of the audiobook).  

Favorite Scene: When Aunt Carley and Kelli's eight year old son Max buy a gadget to scan the house for "bugs" after finding a suspicious looking gizmo in a broken lamp. For the sake of science! Next day delivery wasn't soon enough because Kelli took the gizmo to work. So they go to play super sleuths and scan the law office. BTW they picked that particular spy scanner because it had Five Star Reviews on AmaƵon! Apparently Aunt Carley and Max know how important reviews are...

UPDATE: Someone asked why I deducted two stars when I start with five and deduct as they lose me along the way. Good question.
Minus 1 - I would have liked more of the CåɼtȆl and Dɼuᵷ Tråⓕⓕickinᵷ storyline, such as them intercepting the shipment to smuᵷᵷle the dɼuᵷs and how they got caught (there was a casual mention of a detection dog and then Caser was arrested and deemed guilty until proven innocent).
Minus 1 - I would have liked less about Kelli's children acclimating to the new home ie: issues fitting in to a new school and after school activities. A little is good, a lot was a lot. 

🎧 Narrator: Jason Keller

🎧12.15 hours 🕮 416 pages

Not yet published. Expected 4-07-2026

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the free ALC in exchange for my honest review.

 

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