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The Witnesses
Young lawyer Parker House is on the rise—until his grandfather’s mysterious past puts both of their lives in danger.
Parker House’s secret inheritance is either his greatest blessing . . . or his deadliest curse. The fresh-faced North Carolina attorney shares his German grandfather’s uncanny ability to see future events in his mind’s eye—a gift that has haunted 82-year-old Frank House through decades of trying to erase a murderous wartime past.
While Parker navigates the intrigue and politics of small-town courtroom law, Frank is forced to face his darkest regrets. Then, a big career break for Parker collides with a new love he longs to nurture and the nightmares his grandfather can no longer escape. Sudden peril threatens to shatter not only Parker’s legal prospects but also his life and the lives of those dearest to him.
Two witnesses, two paths, an uncertain future.
Parker House’s secret inheritance is either his greatest blessing . . . or his deadliest curse. The fresh-faced North Carolina attorney shares his German grandfather’s uncanny ability to see future events in his mind’s eye—a gift that has haunted 82-year-old Frank House through decades of trying to erase a murderous wartime past.
While Parker navigates the intrigue and politics of small-town courtroom law, Frank is forced to face his darkest regrets. Then, a big career break for Parker collides with a new love he longs to nurture and the nightmares his grandfather can no longer escape. Sudden peril threatens to shatter not only Parker’s legal prospects but also his life and the lives of those dearest to him.
Two witnesses, two paths, an uncertain future.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2016
283 people are currently reading
1599 people want to read
About the author
Robert Whitlow
50 books969 followersRobert Whitlow is the best-selling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the prestigious Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. A Furman University graduate, Whitlow received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review. A practicing attorney, Whitlow and his wife, Kathy, have four children. They make their home in North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
August 8, 2019
A legal thriller that also has romantic and historical elements, this was a captivating novel. Courtroom dramas aren't generally my thing, but Robert Whitlow made a really enthralling one. I look forward to reading more by him.
October 18, 2016
I enjoyed this legal drama. It was not a fast-moving ride, rather a slow and steady progression throughout the novel. I liked that there was a dual timeline that involved the present (or recent present of 2003) as well as frequent treks into the past. In this way, I was able to see what happened through the eyes of Franz Haus, a German soldier with an uncanny ability. I enjoyed both timelines, but found the portions in the past to be very interesting.
The Witnesses was not a story with a lot of action and heavy suspense. Instead, there was a general feeling of concern that threaded its way through the novel as events began to unfold that made it clear that someone was looking into Franz Haus and his past. Although I felt that the resolution of this possible threat was a bit quick, I still was ultimately satisfied with the outcome. The salvation message and the truth of God’s forgiveness were clear in the story and both were woven in very nicely. The Witnesses would be good reading for those who enjoy legal dramas and a bit of World War II history.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on the Suspense Sisters reviews page:
http://suspensesistersreviews.blogspo...
The Witnesses was not a story with a lot of action and heavy suspense. Instead, there was a general feeling of concern that threaded its way through the novel as events began to unfold that made it clear that someone was looking into Franz Haus and his past. Although I felt that the resolution of this possible threat was a bit quick, I still was ultimately satisfied with the outcome. The salvation message and the truth of God’s forgiveness were clear in the story and both were woven in very nicely. The Witnesses would be good reading for those who enjoy legal dramas and a bit of World War II history.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on the Suspense Sisters reviews page:
http://suspensesistersreviews.blogspo...
June 23, 2025
Robert Whitlow spins legal thrillers that always hold my attention! This one is a dual time one - Nazi regime/present day. Frank House has spent a lifetime with past regrets; his grandson Parker House is just starting his legal career. The two share a special relationship but when Frank's secret past catches up to him, will Parker understand? When sinister forces enter town, what will happen?
July 17, 2016
This book was a page turner full of suspense and mystery. The story is about 82 year old Frank House and his grandson Parker. Parker was raised by his grandfather after his parent’s death and both have the gift of seeing future events. This story has everything a good read needs, mystery, suspense and a little bit of romance. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
August 14, 2016
Robert Whitlow takes the reader to the stunningly beautiful North Carolina coastal town of New Bern. Rivers flow into the mighty Atlantic Ocean creating a sparkling gem of water and sky where fishing and boating in skiffs and yachts are par for the course. The story opens with newly graduated attorney, Parker House, set up in a New Bern practice and about to participate in a jury selection. It quickly ratcheted into the subtle mind quirkiness that is The Witnesses as Parker seems to have an uncanny sense of what to do. Just what makes Parker tick?
The story runs with two time lines - Germany during World War II and contemporary New Bern, NC. Worlds apart. Lifetimes apart. Yet, fully meshing one with the other.
While young Parker is discovering his own life, meeting clients and getting started as a legal counsel, he meets a young photographer who captures his heart. Parker's Opa (grandfather) is a sweetheart of an old man as is his long time friend and fishing buddy, Lenny.
I enjoyed the visits in the courtroom and the legalise planning and maneuvering. I enjoyed boating with the story's folks with the wind whipping through my hair just as it did Layla's. You see, I grew up in the North Carolina coastal city of Wilmington and know what these characters saw, felt, and loved. In short, I enjoyed The Witnesses and encourage those who enjoy Christian legal thrillers bathed in the beauty of a sea coast town to get a copy and get reading.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from BookLook Bloggers Program to facilitate this review of my own opinions. I was not compensated for this review.
The story runs with two time lines - Germany during World War II and contemporary New Bern, NC. Worlds apart. Lifetimes apart. Yet, fully meshing one with the other.
While young Parker is discovering his own life, meeting clients and getting started as a legal counsel, he meets a young photographer who captures his heart. Parker's Opa (grandfather) is a sweetheart of an old man as is his long time friend and fishing buddy, Lenny.
I enjoyed the visits in the courtroom and the legalise planning and maneuvering. I enjoyed boating with the story's folks with the wind whipping through my hair just as it did Layla's. You see, I grew up in the North Carolina coastal city of Wilmington and know what these characters saw, felt, and loved. In short, I enjoyed The Witnesses and encourage those who enjoy Christian legal thrillers bathed in the beauty of a sea coast town to get a copy and get reading.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from BookLook Bloggers Program to facilitate this review of my own opinions. I was not compensated for this review.
January 3, 2021
Interesting book- but pretty slow at times. The book also mentions fiberglass bears in New Bern, North Carolina, where the story is set. However, the book is set in 2003, and the bears were only placed around town in 2010, so it is not accurate.
June 20, 2016
Solid book.
Strong characters with depth. I loved the back and forth between World War II and present day. The overlapping stories fed off of each other and painted parallel growth for both men.
The plot could have been a little more intense, but the story focused more on the healing and journey of two broken men.
Strong characters with depth. I loved the back and forth between World War II and present day. The overlapping stories fed off of each other and painted parallel growth for both men.
The plot could have been a little more intense, but the story focused more on the healing and journey of two broken men.
October 18, 2016
2.5 Stars
Parker House is a North Carolina lawyer whose career seems to be on a steady climb to the top. Living nearby is Parker's German grandfather, 82 year old Frank House, previously Franz Haus. Frank served as an officer with the German Army during World War 2. During those years, Frank's superiors discover he has quite the talent for having accurate visions of the future. So accurate that he earns the nickname "The Aryan Eagle". The general Frank answers to keeps him nearby, adjusting the army's battle strategies accordingly. When Frank gets word that his parents and sibling have all been killed in a random bombing in Dresden, he makes the choice to desert his position and flee to Switzerland, spending some months there before making his way to the United States to settle in North Carolina's Outer Banks area.
Decades pass, Frank is married and widowed, watches his children and grandchildren grow up, thinking all these years that maybe just maybe he's managed to live a life of relative peace. But as life sometimes goes, just as he lets a little bit of that guard down, in walks in that blast from the past. A man by the name of Mr. Mueller appears at the office of Parker, looking for a "Hauptmann Haus". Reluctantly, Frank agrees to a meeting with Mueller who comes to tell Frank a story about how "Hauptmann Haus" gave him some advice that ended up saving his life. Pretty early on, it's made clear that Frank struggles with a mountain of guilt regarding his involvement in war crimes. After hearing Mueller's story, Frank gives a terse kind of "well, you're welcome" to try to wrap up the topic and send the guy on his way but the reader will soon see the business between Mueller and Haus / House is far from done.
Along with Frank's struggle with guilt, the reader also gets the sense that he may cling to some sense of comfort or familiarity in that pain, for years choosing to nurse the guilt rather than pursue any sort of forgiveness. Given time though, and with a little helpful nudge from his best friend Lenny, Frank does gradually find his way to a path of emotional peace & salvation. Meanwhile, grandson Parker also has his own experiences with the past revisiting him. As a child, Parker lost both his parents in a car crash when their car was struck by a drunk driver. Now, adult Parker finds himself brought in on two DUI / wrongful death cases that lead him to revisit those buried emotions. To complicate matters, in one case he is asked to defend a woman, a friend of one of the firm's partners, who was charged with a DUI with her 8 year old daughter in the backseat; in another case, Parker finds himself drawn to an attractive blonde woman who turns out to be none other than the daughter of a local bigwig trial lawyer that happens to be super protective of his girl.
Frank's portion of the novel is largely made up of pretty grim historical fiction (we're talking about WW2 after all). In his elderly years, when he begins to look into the idea of allowing self-forgiveness, his story turns much more heavily biblically influenced. Parker's portion does have some religious themes as well but to a much lesser degree.
I felt myself most drawn to Frank's parts of the story. While Parker and his lady friend Layla were entertaining enough, Frank's tale kept me the most engaged throughout the novel. Though his part gets a bit heavy, I couldn't help but be pulled into that World War 2 timeframe. As for being a courtroom drama though, I didn't find this novel terribly exciting. If you're hoping to go into this story for high intensity courtroom brawls, I found this one lacking on that front. Most of the "action" is made up of pre-trial interviews and discussions about filing paperwork. I don't work in law but I suspect that in reality much of a day's work is made up of the mundane, but when it comes to fictionalizing it, a reader tends to want the nitty gritty heated courtroom battles.
Also, those two storylines -- the present mixed with the WW2 flashbacks -- for me, until I got to the closing chapters of the novel I felt like the ties between Parker's past and struggles and Frank's were pretty tenuous. I was also a bit confused with the premonition "gift", as it was often referred to... I didn't see it in Parker as much. The back cover synopsis says that Parker seems to have gotten his gift passed down from Frank but with both of them I felt like Whitlow didn't quite go far enough with the idea. Rather than something mystical, magical, etc. ... to me, it really just felt like people working off of a basic gut instinct. Umm, pretty much everyone has that "gift" if they're just even remotely in tune with their mind / body connection. No big mystery, really. So I thought that aspect could've been played up a lot more.
Final verdict -- courtroom / legal drama just so-so for me. What kept me reading was Frank's history as well as the friendship and banter between him and his fishing buddy, Lenny. I thought Lenny seemed like a pretty cool guy. The front cover of this book claims this is great for fans of John Grisham novels. Fair enough. I can back that, but I still find this one secondary to any Grisham I've delved into ... so maybe check it out when you've gone through all of Grisham's catalogue and need something more of the genre.
FTC Disclaimer: TNZ Fiction Guild kindly provided me with a complimentary copy of this book with a request that I might check it out and share my thoughts. The opinions above are entirely my own.
Parker House is a North Carolina lawyer whose career seems to be on a steady climb to the top. Living nearby is Parker's German grandfather, 82 year old Frank House, previously Franz Haus. Frank served as an officer with the German Army during World War 2. During those years, Frank's superiors discover he has quite the talent for having accurate visions of the future. So accurate that he earns the nickname "The Aryan Eagle". The general Frank answers to keeps him nearby, adjusting the army's battle strategies accordingly. When Frank gets word that his parents and sibling have all been killed in a random bombing in Dresden, he makes the choice to desert his position and flee to Switzerland, spending some months there before making his way to the United States to settle in North Carolina's Outer Banks area.
Decades pass, Frank is married and widowed, watches his children and grandchildren grow up, thinking all these years that maybe just maybe he's managed to live a life of relative peace. But as life sometimes goes, just as he lets a little bit of that guard down, in walks in that blast from the past. A man by the name of Mr. Mueller appears at the office of Parker, looking for a "Hauptmann Haus". Reluctantly, Frank agrees to a meeting with Mueller who comes to tell Frank a story about how "Hauptmann Haus" gave him some advice that ended up saving his life. Pretty early on, it's made clear that Frank struggles with a mountain of guilt regarding his involvement in war crimes. After hearing Mueller's story, Frank gives a terse kind of "well, you're welcome" to try to wrap up the topic and send the guy on his way but the reader will soon see the business between Mueller and Haus / House is far from done.
Along with Frank's struggle with guilt, the reader also gets the sense that he may cling to some sense of comfort or familiarity in that pain, for years choosing to nurse the guilt rather than pursue any sort of forgiveness. Given time though, and with a little helpful nudge from his best friend Lenny, Frank does gradually find his way to a path of emotional peace & salvation. Meanwhile, grandson Parker also has his own experiences with the past revisiting him. As a child, Parker lost both his parents in a car crash when their car was struck by a drunk driver. Now, adult Parker finds himself brought in on two DUI / wrongful death cases that lead him to revisit those buried emotions. To complicate matters, in one case he is asked to defend a woman, a friend of one of the firm's partners, who was charged with a DUI with her 8 year old daughter in the backseat; in another case, Parker finds himself drawn to an attractive blonde woman who turns out to be none other than the daughter of a local bigwig trial lawyer that happens to be super protective of his girl.
Frank's portion of the novel is largely made up of pretty grim historical fiction (we're talking about WW2 after all). In his elderly years, when he begins to look into the idea of allowing self-forgiveness, his story turns much more heavily biblically influenced. Parker's portion does have some religious themes as well but to a much lesser degree.
I felt myself most drawn to Frank's parts of the story. While Parker and his lady friend Layla were entertaining enough, Frank's tale kept me the most engaged throughout the novel. Though his part gets a bit heavy, I couldn't help but be pulled into that World War 2 timeframe. As for being a courtroom drama though, I didn't find this novel terribly exciting. If you're hoping to go into this story for high intensity courtroom brawls, I found this one lacking on that front. Most of the "action" is made up of pre-trial interviews and discussions about filing paperwork. I don't work in law but I suspect that in reality much of a day's work is made up of the mundane, but when it comes to fictionalizing it, a reader tends to want the nitty gritty heated courtroom battles.
Also, those two storylines -- the present mixed with the WW2 flashbacks -- for me, until I got to the closing chapters of the novel I felt like the ties between Parker's past and struggles and Frank's were pretty tenuous. I was also a bit confused with the premonition "gift", as it was often referred to... I didn't see it in Parker as much. The back cover synopsis says that Parker seems to have gotten his gift passed down from Frank but with both of them I felt like Whitlow didn't quite go far enough with the idea. Rather than something mystical, magical, etc. ... to me, it really just felt like people working off of a basic gut instinct. Umm, pretty much everyone has that "gift" if they're just even remotely in tune with their mind / body connection. No big mystery, really. So I thought that aspect could've been played up a lot more.
Final verdict -- courtroom / legal drama just so-so for me. What kept me reading was Frank's history as well as the friendship and banter between him and his fishing buddy, Lenny. I thought Lenny seemed like a pretty cool guy. The front cover of this book claims this is great for fans of John Grisham novels. Fair enough. I can back that, but I still find this one secondary to any Grisham I've delved into ... so maybe check it out when you've gone through all of Grisham's catalogue and need something more of the genre.
FTC Disclaimer: TNZ Fiction Guild kindly provided me with a complimentary copy of this book with a request that I might check it out and share my thoughts. The opinions above are entirely my own.
October 12, 2016
I was attracted to this book by both the cover and the title, and my expectations were over the moon.
The first two or three chapters got my undivided attention, but then… well, I lost interest for a couple of different reasons:
First, writing was not very good; I could perceive shallowness in the descriptions and the development of certain ideas and events.
I couldn’t connect with characters, not even one. No matter how much I tried, I was not able to feel for them, which is so important when reading.
I usually looove books on World War II, so I was ready for something amazing, especially when I realized that was combined with Law and trials, but this story didn’t draw me in as I had hoped. It had a lot of potential, in my opinion, but I believe it didn’t reach it fully.
Parker and Layla’s relationship lacked depth, it looked kind of fake; everything happened and changed so fast that it was hard to really get involved.
Plus, dialogues were very long most of the time, which is not something I’m used to. They gave lots of information, but not enough emotion.
However, the idea of Frank and Parker’s gift was very unique; I had never read something like that, so that was interesting.
To sum up, the storyline was creative and I like its main ideas, but the writing needs some improvement.
**I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own**
The first two or three chapters got my undivided attention, but then… well, I lost interest for a couple of different reasons:
First, writing was not very good; I could perceive shallowness in the descriptions and the development of certain ideas and events.
I couldn’t connect with characters, not even one. No matter how much I tried, I was not able to feel for them, which is so important when reading.
I usually looove books on World War II, so I was ready for something amazing, especially when I realized that was combined with Law and trials, but this story didn’t draw me in as I had hoped. It had a lot of potential, in my opinion, but I believe it didn’t reach it fully.
Parker and Layla’s relationship lacked depth, it looked kind of fake; everything happened and changed so fast that it was hard to really get involved.
Plus, dialogues were very long most of the time, which is not something I’m used to. They gave lots of information, but not enough emotion.
However, the idea of Frank and Parker’s gift was very unique; I had never read something like that, so that was interesting.
To sum up, the storyline was creative and I like its main ideas, but the writing needs some improvement.
**I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own**
August 14, 2016
I enjoyed reading about the grandfather, Frank House. His experiences when he was younger left him feeling deeply regretful for the people who had been brutally murdered during wartime. Now in his eighties, he is living a quiet life . His grandson, Parker, is a lawyer, and after initially telling us about events in 1939, the book alternates between Frank’s life, past and present and Parker’s life.
Frank and Parker have the gift of being able to know things that have happened or things that are about to happen. I really didn’t care much for Parker in the beginning of the story. He is an associate lawyer and works for two partners in a law firm. Parker is always jumping ahead, running with the things he knows to be true, but he doesn’t communicate very well with his superiors before he does this. He’s the wonder kid—trying to save the day. I don’t really think of him as being puffed up because he realizes things, but his actions are a bit annoying at times, and the other lawyers come across as ill prepared and stupid. As the stories progresses, and I saw that there was more to Parker than what I originally noticed, I came to like him better.
The book was suspenseful and I enjoyed reading it.
Frank and Parker have the gift of being able to know things that have happened or things that are about to happen. I really didn’t care much for Parker in the beginning of the story. He is an associate lawyer and works for two partners in a law firm. Parker is always jumping ahead, running with the things he knows to be true, but he doesn’t communicate very well with his superiors before he does this. He’s the wonder kid—trying to save the day. I don’t really think of him as being puffed up because he realizes things, but his actions are a bit annoying at times, and the other lawyers come across as ill prepared and stupid. As the stories progresses, and I saw that there was more to Parker than what I originally noticed, I came to like him better.
The book was suspenseful and I enjoyed reading it.
September 5, 2016
I've long enjoyed Robert Whitlow's books. He's a attorney in Charlotte, NC, about 30 miles from where I live. I saw him once at a book signing near my home and he is the most gracious man! He volunteered to sign all of his books for me that I had brought with me. I enjoyed our visit a lot.
This book, The Witnesses, is still in his legal thriller vein, but there is more involved, too. His writing is top notch and I have never written a book of his I did not like. I don't think any reader will be disappointed in this novel.
*I was given an early copy of this novel by Net Galley in exchange for my review.
This book, The Witnesses, is still in his legal thriller vein, but there is more involved, too. His writing is top notch and I have never written a book of his I did not like. I don't think any reader will be disappointed in this novel.
*I was given an early copy of this novel by Net Galley in exchange for my review.
June 9, 2018
I'll give this one the benefit of the doubt, but closer to 3.5 stars than 4. It wasn't as "legal thriller" or "courtroom drama" as some of Whitlow's other books although, to be fair, not all of his books are. But with the cover art, I really expected to see more legalese in this one. I was also sort of bothered not by Frank's gift (and to a much lesser extent Parker's) but by everybody's reactions to it. If somebody tells you something that clearly seems like a premonition without anything to back it up it seems like you'd at least question it. Why are you saying my son should meet this particular girl? Instead of, okay I'll try to get them hooked up. It just felt off to me. The tension near the end was definitely heart-pounding and the wrap-up was good, if a little bit rushed. There just seemed to be an awful lot of coincidences and moments that I didn't buy for me to truly enjoy this one.
December 4, 2018
Fantastic book! The supernatural gifting that provides a frame for the storyline is interesting and quickly draws in the reader. The characters are engaging and multi-dimensional and realistic - flawed enough to be relateable and likeable. Robert Whitlow also does a great job of pointing his readers to Jesus. Instead of seeming preachy, the book effortlessly weaves in sermons that speak to the characters where they find themselves. This is an incredibly enjoyable (and quick) read. Once you begin, you won't want to put it down.
June 12, 2017
One of the best books I've read in a long time! It covers historical fiction, contemporary, speculative fiction, mystery, suspense, lawyers, romance, and such touching spiritual scenes it made me cry happy tears! I definitely plan to read more by Robert Whitlow!
August 27, 2017
Good plot but a bit sketchy on character development .. loved all the boat and fishing scenes.
Thanks RW for another good read !
CG pick for Aug 2017 book club.
An ILL originally borrowed by NK then lent 2 DE and then lent 2 me :)
Returning today w/ any fines my lot.
PS: Learned about E&O coverage and what dramshop is too.
Thanks RW for another good read !
CG pick for Aug 2017 book club.
An ILL originally borrowed by NK then lent 2 DE and then lent 2 me :)
Returning today w/ any fines my lot.
PS: Learned about E&O coverage and what dramshop is too.
October 12, 2024
This is the third book of his that I have read. I really enjoy his character development and his story telling style. It’s peaceful. I love that there is no swearing. I very much enjoyed the way the characters learn how to feel God’s love even when they are flawed. All three books had a bit of romance too but it was all so innocent and sweet. Like it should be. I’m going to read all of his books.
February 16, 2019
Here's what I liked: the overall plot, and the characters and their relationships. What I didn't like was the writing. There were far too many mundane details, and the plot dragged because of it.
May 7, 2017
This is a story about Frank House and his grandson Parker who is a lawyer.
Frank was a deserter in WWII. Both Frank and Parker share the ability to
see future events in their mind's eye. The tale has intrigue, romance,
redemption and flashes back and forth to Frank's past and the present.
It is a well written mystery with characters and a defined plot that will keep
you reading.
Frank was a deserter in WWII. Both Frank and Parker share the ability to
see future events in their mind's eye. The tale has intrigue, romance,
redemption and flashes back and forth to Frank's past and the present.
It is a well written mystery with characters and a defined plot that will keep
you reading.
August 26, 2016
The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow is the first book that I have read by this author. I loved it! If you love legal thrillers with a bit of romance, then this book is for you. Parker House is a young, newbie lawyer for a small firm. His grandfather who is a German immigrant by way of Switzerland is a fisherman who has been able to see visions of the future. This gift has been inherited by Parker as well. The story goes back and forth between present time and WWII. I was turning the pages quickly. There is mystery and romance with a beautiful inspirational message. It was a wonderful read. I will definitely be reading more by this talented author. *I was given this book for an honest review by the Thomas Nelson Fiction Guild.
September 1, 2016
I truly enjoyed this read. It goes back and forth between present in America and the past in Germany during WWII.
The characters are so well written in this novel. I loved " Opa" and his relationship with his grandson. It was so sweet. The characters are real and relatable, the storyline powerful, and ( my favorite part) it had a good, strong faith theme.
I have always enjoyed Robert Whitlow. He didn't disappoint. The book is well written with some things that can be taken to heart for the reader to ponder. Highly recommend this read.
I received this book from the publisher for my honest opinion which I have given.
The characters are so well written in this novel. I loved " Opa" and his relationship with his grandson. It was so sweet. The characters are real and relatable, the storyline powerful, and ( my favorite part) it had a good, strong faith theme.
I have always enjoyed Robert Whitlow. He didn't disappoint. The book is well written with some things that can be taken to heart for the reader to ponder. Highly recommend this read.
I received this book from the publisher for my honest opinion which I have given.
September 13, 2016
What a pleasant surprise this book was, as I usually do not read legal thrillers. Robert Whitlow has a way with words that draws you in and keeps you reading every spare moment to see the outcome. The characters are vivid and identifiable. I love how smoothly the story switches from past to present and how you feel like you are there. The author deals with the atrocities of war in a delicate way and Faith is apparent throughout. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I received a copy of The Witnesses from Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Guild for an honest review and I have done that..
I received a copy of The Witnesses from Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Guild for an honest review and I have done that..
September 19, 2016
I couldn't put it down. Loved the stories from the 1940's and present. Great characters. It makes one think of those who helped the Germans in WW2 and how could they live with what they did during that time. Great reminder about redemption and forgiveness.
May 11, 2016
The Witnesses is a fabulous read. It is full of suspense and mystery. I could not put it down. A wonderful fast paced thriller.
5 plus stars.
5 plus stars.
June 26, 2016
I liked it a lot! Full Review coming soon...
December 25, 2018
Maybe if I had read the book instead of listened to it as an audiobook I might have a more favorable impression. The person who was the reader did not vary his delivery at all and at times you could not tell who was speaking. It was more of a monotone and it impacted how I felt about the book.
The story itself just seemed sort of lack luster to me. It was about an old German man who had been in WWII and disserted and his grandson who is a lawyer in New Bern. The old man had come to the U.S. and started a new life and in the present he keeps remembering things that have happened in the past. Both Grandfather and grandson have a "gift" in that they can see a bit of the future. The old disserted because he was tired of helping the Germans during the war with his gift and seeing innocent people being killed. The story goes back and forth between the past and present.
The grandson is just beginning his career as a lawyer and his part of the story centers on his work and meeting a young woman who ends up having a very famous lawyer for a father. The father wants the grandson to come work for him but there is problems between him and his daughter that threatened the relationship with the grandson.
The dialogue between many of the characters seems a bit stilted and unrealistic. Much of the story just doesn't seem connected and feels like it was thrown in as filler. Just didn't sit right with me.
A person has been looking for the grandfather and at first it seems innocent but near the end of the story the truth comes out. The grandfather also has a "come to Jesus" moment and starts attending church more and encounters his grandson's girlfriend there. They become close friends and there is some definite religious sermonizing in the story.
The story itself just seemed sort of lack luster to me. It was about an old German man who had been in WWII and disserted and his grandson who is a lawyer in New Bern. The old man had come to the U.S. and started a new life and in the present he keeps remembering things that have happened in the past. Both Grandfather and grandson have a "gift" in that they can see a bit of the future. The old disserted because he was tired of helping the Germans during the war with his gift and seeing innocent people being killed. The story goes back and forth between the past and present.
The grandson is just beginning his career as a lawyer and his part of the story centers on his work and meeting a young woman who ends up having a very famous lawyer for a father. The father wants the grandson to come work for him but there is problems between him and his daughter that threatened the relationship with the grandson.
The dialogue between many of the characters seems a bit stilted and unrealistic. Much of the story just doesn't seem connected and feels like it was thrown in as filler. Just didn't sit right with me.
A person has been looking for the grandfather and at first it seems innocent but near the end of the story the truth comes out. The grandfather also has a "come to Jesus" moment and starts attending church more and encounters his grandson's girlfriend there. They become close friends and there is some definite religious sermonizing in the story.
May 7, 2019
The only part that got my attention was the back story of Franz Haus, told mostly at the start of the novel. What was supposed to be the climax fell flat. By that time, I had no emotional investment in any of the characters and I cared nothing about the love interest. The two's dividing disagreement lacked passion; it felt completely overcome-able.
I never felt compelled to turn the next page, which accounts for why it took me about a month and a half to finish. That said, I did finish it, which would not have been the case if it'd been intolerable.
The story wrapped up like a Christian version of a Hallmark movie, with the most interesting character -- attorney Tom Blocker -- inexplicably and suddenly showing signs of a spiritual awakening.
Comparing this work to something Grisham would have written -- apples to oranges, my friend.
Annoyingly, I kept spotting things a decent copy editor should have caught. No typos, mind you, but plenty of other, albeit minor, no-nos. Even big publishing houses don't have the resources to invest in accurate proofing anymore. And they certainly don't have time to educate the authors. Because Whitlow should have known better.
I was also bothered by the author's lack of voice. His personality never filtered through. You know how when you read Faulkner or Stephen King or, well, any of the big names, you know instantly whose mind created the story. You'd even know if the story were read to you blind, without title or author's name. Whitlow has yet to find his distinctive, identifying voice. But over time and with a commitment to soul-baring honesty, he can. Because more than anything, art should make us feel.
I never felt compelled to turn the next page, which accounts for why it took me about a month and a half to finish. That said, I did finish it, which would not have been the case if it'd been intolerable.
The story wrapped up like a Christian version of a Hallmark movie, with the most interesting character -- attorney Tom Blocker -- inexplicably and suddenly showing signs of a spiritual awakening.
Comparing this work to something Grisham would have written -- apples to oranges, my friend.
Annoyingly, I kept spotting things a decent copy editor should have caught. No typos, mind you, but plenty of other, albeit minor, no-nos. Even big publishing houses don't have the resources to invest in accurate proofing anymore. And they certainly don't have time to educate the authors. Because Whitlow should have known better.
I was also bothered by the author's lack of voice. His personality never filtered through. You know how when you read Faulkner or Stephen King or, well, any of the big names, you know instantly whose mind created the story. You'd even know if the story were read to you blind, without title or author's name. Whitlow has yet to find his distinctive, identifying voice. But over time and with a commitment to soul-baring honesty, he can. Because more than anything, art should make us feel.
September 21, 2018
This was my first read by Robert Whitlow and I am sorry to say that I did not love this book. In fact, for me, this book was just okay at best. If you are expecting a fast paced thriller and mystery, this book is NOT it. Don’t get me wrong, I like slow books and not every mystery book I read has to be fast paced. That is not the reason for rating this book low or for not liking this book. Here are my reasons:
I love courtroom drama, but this book was quite the opposite. I found all the legal parts of this book to be quite slow and boring. I thought this book explored more of the mundane “real” parts of a lawyers life and how hard it is to start off as a lawyer in the real world. Perhaps this may be interesting if you are thinking about pursuing law but I personally thought it was too uneventful for fiction and I had to force myself to trudge through it.
I found the plot to be interesting but it was not explored enough and to me it quickly fizzled out.
I enjoyed hearing about Frank’s story but for the most part, I felt like there wasn’t enough of his story and too much of Parker’s story and the “current day” side of the story, which, once again, I did not find very interesting.
I was tempted to quit this book many times, but I forced myself to continue in hopes it would improve. In the end, this story had a nice ending, but for me, I didn’t enjoy this one and would not recommend. I will, however, give this author another chance and try another book. I haven’t given up on this author yet.
I love courtroom drama, but this book was quite the opposite. I found all the legal parts of this book to be quite slow and boring. I thought this book explored more of the mundane “real” parts of a lawyers life and how hard it is to start off as a lawyer in the real world. Perhaps this may be interesting if you are thinking about pursuing law but I personally thought it was too uneventful for fiction and I had to force myself to trudge through it.
I found the plot to be interesting but it was not explored enough and to me it quickly fizzled out.
I enjoyed hearing about Frank’s story but for the most part, I felt like there wasn’t enough of his story and too much of Parker’s story and the “current day” side of the story, which, once again, I did not find very interesting.
I was tempted to quit this book many times, but I forced myself to continue in hopes it would improve. In the end, this story had a nice ending, but for me, I didn’t enjoy this one and would not recommend. I will, however, give this author another chance and try another book. I haven’t given up on this author yet.
March 6, 2022
Robert Whitlow had me when I first saw the movie The Trial (2010). I bought the DVD. It was a well-acted, well-photographed and well-written script, leading me to the book. The book was so different in plot that it was almost unrecognizable - and yet, so well done that I now regard them as two loosely-related, very good works.
Fast forward to six or seven more Whitlow legal thrillers on my shelf, and now The Witnesses.
Par for the course: About 400 pages, folksy Southern small-town atmosphere, lots of food imagery, well-meaning cast of characters (except, of course, the villains), struggling lawyer protagonist, plenty of legal procedural detail (which I find interesting), adequate character development, and spiritual awakening/recharging. And a satisfying, natural pace of complexity to the plots. Sometimes an overhasty or facile plot resolution.
The Witnesses is not an exception, but it's overlong. This plot could have been managed more tightly in half or 3/4 the length it is. It suffers from padding in the middle.
Nevertheless, an enjoyable enough read that I had trouble putting it down, and finished it in two days.
Recommended!
Fast forward to six or seven more Whitlow legal thrillers on my shelf, and now The Witnesses.
Par for the course: About 400 pages, folksy Southern small-town atmosphere, lots of food imagery, well-meaning cast of characters (except, of course, the villains), struggling lawyer protagonist, plenty of legal procedural detail (which I find interesting), adequate character development, and spiritual awakening/recharging. And a satisfying, natural pace of complexity to the plots. Sometimes an overhasty or facile plot resolution.
The Witnesses is not an exception, but it's overlong. This plot could have been managed more tightly in half or 3/4 the length it is. It suffers from padding in the middle.
Nevertheless, an enjoyable enough read that I had trouble putting it down, and finished it in two days.
Recommended!
September 18, 2017
If you simply want a good, solid story with memorable characters, you'll thoroughly enjoy "The Witnesses" by Robert Whitlow. If you have a passion for God and a good, solid story with memorable characters, you'll enjoy the book.
But if you long for more than just a good story, and your soul craves to witness the power of God in the life of one who believes, this book will read you.
It will seek out any skepticism that holds you back from fully surrendering your life to God. It will seek out the hidden shame that burrows down deep in your heart and expose it to the light of His forgiveness and love.
"The Witnesses" is a departure from the other Whitlow novels I've read. In this book, we relive the past with Frank and witness the impact it has on Parker. The back and forth is seamless, and illuminating.
Robert Whitlow is a master storyteller who never waters down the power of faith in Christ. I admire and respect him for his boldness. His novels never disappoint, and my soul feels rich and we'll fed as I turn the final page.
But if you long for more than just a good story, and your soul craves to witness the power of God in the life of one who believes, this book will read you.
It will seek out any skepticism that holds you back from fully surrendering your life to God. It will seek out the hidden shame that burrows down deep in your heart and expose it to the light of His forgiveness and love.
"The Witnesses" is a departure from the other Whitlow novels I've read. In this book, we relive the past with Frank and witness the impact it has on Parker. The back and forth is seamless, and illuminating.
Robert Whitlow is a master storyteller who never waters down the power of faith in Christ. I admire and respect him for his boldness. His novels never disappoint, and my soul feels rich and we'll fed as I turn the final page.
July 24, 2018
This book was right up my alley! It was packed with suspense and mystery from beginning to end. The author has the skill of writing in such a way that the reader is pulled in not only by cover and title but from the first chapter. There was no lull in the writing or the story. This book does a hint of 'psychic' abilities as the grandfather and the grandson both have the ability to foresee future events. That isn't really my thing but added for intensity to the story. What really pulled me into this story was the legal aspect of it all. I love reading about legal dramas. With this story, you feel like you're right inside the courtroom in the middle of all the excitement and drama. The two-fold timeline made this story even more fun as you go back and forth between the two stories intertwining into one story at the end. I fully enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
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