Custody of the State

Chambers of Justice #2

by Craig Parshall

Tim LaHaye called The Resurrection File—Craig Parshall’s first novel—“one of the most fascinating books I have read in years.” Parshall continues with Custody of the State, another legal thriller with tightly drawn characters, tense courtroom scenes, and the struggle of a man to bring his beliefs into real life.

Attorney Will Chambers reluctantly agrees to defend a young mother from Georgia and her farmer husband, suspected of committing the unthinkable against their own child. Soon he’s confronting small–town secrets, big–time corruption, and a government system that’s destroying the little family.

Chambers must ask, does God really protect us from evil?—as intimidation, backroom maneuvering, and the shadow of a national threat throw him into...the custody of the state.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Mystery, Suspense

372 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Craig Parshall is a bestselling fiction author with twelve suspense novels to his credit. His tales of human drama and spiritual encounter have garnered rave reviews from critics and readers alike. Craig is also a Washington insider serving as special counsel to the American Center for Law and Justice on matters before the US Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill, and before state supreme courts. As a constitutional lawyer, Craig has testified frequently before committees of Congress and the FCC, and has been interviewed on a wide range of cultural issues by most of the major media networks and newspapers nationwide.

Reviews

[Paulette Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

OUTSTANDING!!! WOW!!!

I can't say enough good things about this book...and about Craig Parshall!! Just AMAZING writing!
This is my second book of his that I've read in a week and can't wait to read more of his novels. He has become one of my top favorite authors. If you like legal thrillers, this book (and The Resurrection File) are the finest among many. They are very clean and honor God. And being a lawyer himself the legal aspects and terms are authentic (I've learned a great deal of legal jargon and proceedings from his novels). I have to hurry to get this review our so I can start on the next Craig Parshall novel!

[Patricia Hagge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

What a great book and especially wonderful because it was from a Christian viewpoint. I loved it. There were some hard parts, lots of mystery, unfairness, legal battles and suspense. There was nothing I didn’t like.
It moved quickly. There wasn’t lots of fluff added to bulk up the pages. Everything was essential. Little by little tidbits were revealed but still I wasn’t able to totally figure it out. It was so intricate and far reaching. It would make a great movie.

[John Schechter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting trial scenes.

[Gophergirl58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure that this second book in Parshall's series didn't deserve five stars, but while it was exciting, it didn't hold a light to the first, The Resurrection File. I do admire Parshall's writing, and hope he continues with more books like this series!

[Madelaine Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

The premise is scary. This is an engrossing book I recommend you read this when you have a lot of time to read it

[Karen Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great inspirational legal mystery!

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book from Parshall with not aly a good story but a Christian undercurrent

[Robert Bouwer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced Battle between State and Family

I really enjoyed this story, the second one I've read about Will Chambers. Fast paced and hard to put down.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book for me started slowly, but then I got to a point that I could not put it down. Ended up being a very good read.

[KH Khaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the book 1. It got listless in the beginning.

[Amber Page]

Poison-Series or Not-standalone book. This is book 2 of the Chambers of Justice series. Goo novel about a mother on the run with her toddler that she has been accused of poisoning with brake fluid.

[Bethany Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning part of the last chapter changed my rating from three stars to four stars.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mirroring social justice of the day, a family was subjected to a false accusation of child abuse. Our hero, Will Chambers, had to prove their innocence and free them from a system bent to destroy them. Very suspenseful. I loved this book.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad I read Custody of the State. Craig Parshall smoothly ties together law, politics and religion into a fast paced novel. I felt as if I knew the Fellows family and their Georgia community. Parshall deftly examines biases currently playing in our legal system, giving me food for thought. I recommend it especially for those of us without legal background.
This is another book shared with me by a goodreads friend although it was not a goodreads book.

[Jim Smoak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out slow, and not quite my cup of tea when it comes to story lines. However, I started the series and want to read them all (in order;I'm weird that way), and so I kept reading through. Once I made it about 1/4 of the way into it, I started to get interested, and the 2nd 1/2 of the book picked up nicely.

[Coleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting and quick read about a mother having been suspected of poisoning her four year old son. It has dama and legal aspects without being overburdened by either. There is a religious theme running throughout, but it is not so crushing as to be distasteful. Book was suggested to me by one of my sons when I found it on a bookshelf in his home while I was visiting.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this legal thriller/Christian mystery. It involved me in the defendant's life and captured my sympathies immediately. I wanted to keep reading to see how it all came out in the end. I could figure some of it out fairly quickly, but not everything. It is my first book by this author, and probably won't be my last.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Besides being a legal thriller, a love story, and a spiritual odyssey, this book also becomes a war story.
I love how the author weaves Bible verses into the plot.

[Deanna Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best courtroom trial novels I have read; also happens to be a story about Christians who are accused of child abuse.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one just a LITTLE less than his first one. I liked it more as it went along. I wanted to see the newly appointed senator get what he deserves--maybe in book 3:)

[Sheldon Lehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to William Bernhardt's Ben Kincaid series, but with Christian characters and stories.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting case that Will Chambers takes on. I like the degree of mystery and intrigue that Craig Parshall puts in his books. Not dark - I cannot read them anymore.

[Judi Williams]

Series great

Really good author. Suspenseful and inspiring. Would recommend this novel as well as the entire series. The saving grace of the Lord is prevalent throughout.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, rather predictable plot, but it held my interest.