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Trial and Error: A Legal Suspense
A small-town lawyer has been searching for his daughter for eighteen years. Now a local girl has gone missing, and he’s determined to find them both—no matter the cost.
Buddy Smith built his law practice around tracking down missing children. After all, he knows the agony of being separated from a child. Not long after his daughter’s birth, her mother took her and ran away. Buddy hasn’t seen either since.
Gracie Blaylock has known Buddy her entire life, and now that she is clerk of court for the county, their paths cross frequently. When Gracie hears that a teenager is missing, she knows Buddy is the one for the case.
The missing girl’s parents are desperate for answers. Together with Gracie and Mayleah—the new detective in town—Buddy chases every lead, hoping to reach the missing teen before it’s too late. While he pursues one girl, he uncovers clues that could bring him closer to the daughter he thought he’d lost forever.
Master storyteller Robert Whitlow will keep you guessing in this gripping legal drama while also reminding you of the power of God’s restoration.
Gripping, stand-alone legal dramaFull-length novel at approximately 120,000 wordsIncludes discussion questions for book clubsAlso by Robert The Trial, The Confession, and The Witnesses
Buddy Smith built his law practice around tracking down missing children. After all, he knows the agony of being separated from a child. Not long after his daughter’s birth, her mother took her and ran away. Buddy hasn’t seen either since.
Gracie Blaylock has known Buddy her entire life, and now that she is clerk of court for the county, their paths cross frequently. When Gracie hears that a teenager is missing, she knows Buddy is the one for the case.
The missing girl’s parents are desperate for answers. Together with Gracie and Mayleah—the new detective in town—Buddy chases every lead, hoping to reach the missing teen before it’s too late. While he pursues one girl, he uncovers clues that could bring him closer to the daughter he thought he’d lost forever.
Master storyteller Robert Whitlow will keep you guessing in this gripping legal drama while also reminding you of the power of God’s restoration.
Gripping, stand-alone legal dramaFull-length novel at approximately 120,000 wordsIncludes discussion questions for book clubsAlso by Robert The Trial, The Confession, and The Witnesses
431 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2021
278 people are currently reading
2955 people want to read
About the author
Robert Whitlow
50 books970 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 195 reviews
September 18, 2021
3.5 stars
This review was first posted on Mystery and Suspense. Check it out for features, interviews, and reviews. https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/tr...
Buddy Smith is a successful attorney in Milton County, Georgia, an exurb of Atlanta. For 17 years Buddy has been searching for his daughter Elise, whose unmarried teenage mother fled with the baby right after she was born. Buddy was still in high school at the time, but was ready to take responsibility, and he thinks about Elise every day. For this reason Buddy often helps other people with missing children.
A case of parental child abduction is referred to Buddy by his high school friend Gracie Blaylock, who's now the Milton County Clerk of Court.
The missing child's distraught mother, Sue Ellen Ford, tells Buddy her husband Jackie said he was taking their 3-year-old son Jackie Jr. to visit his grandmother in Tennessee.
But Jackie never arrived at grandma's house, and he's now disappeared with the boy. Sue Ellen admits her marriage is troubled and her husband has no interest in their 6-year-old daughter Emily. Jackie adores his son though, and Sue Ellen is sure he kidnapped the child and plans to raise him in a survivalist camp in another state.
Gracie Blaylock also enlists Buddy's help for another problem. Seventeen-year-old Reagan Landry, who plays on the fast-pitch softball team Gracie coaches, has run away from home.
Buddy knows runaway teenage girls can fall into dangerous situations and he wants to help, but this incident needs a detective, not a lawyer.
Buddy consults Milton County police detective Mayleah Harkness, a Native American from Oklahoma who specializes in cases involving children.
Mayleah offers to assist in finding both Jackie Jr. and Reagan, and she and Buddy work together and occasionally confer over lunch. This makes Gracie envious, because she's had a secret crush on Buddy since high school.
For the case of Jackie Jr., Buddy has to get a judge to award full custody of the boy to his mother Sue Ellen, and Mayleah has to locate the boy and get police assistance to retrieve him. The judicial and police procedures involved in this plan form an interesting thread of the story.
Finding teenage runaway Reagan is a different problem. Mayleah suspects Reagan was lured away by a 'friend' she met online, and formulates a scheme to find her.
This involves Mayleah and Gracie posing as teens on social media, to lure the predator into contacting them. It's interesting to see how this plays out.
We also observe the private lives of the protagonists. Buddy finds information that helps him search for his daughter and worries about his widowed mother, who's dating an arrogant visiting judge;
Gracie enjoys coaching the girls' softball team and - prodded by her mother and sister - signs on to a Christian dating site;
and Mayleah has discussions with her ex-husband, who wants to get back together.
This is a Christian suspense novel with a strong religious bent, and the characters often pray and ask for God's help.
As the story approaches a climax, the search for the missing children and the personal lives of the characters come together in surprising ways. Though this is a novel, it's enlightening to see how people deal with real world problems like child abduction and online predators.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
May 27, 2021
If I had put this book down at the half way point like I almost did (except I can’t seem to ever put a book down no matter how much I am not enjoying it), it would have gotten at least a three star rating. But the longer I read, the less stars I was willing to give. I have read almost exclusively Christian fiction for over 20 years, so I can say I enjoy the Christian elements in my fiction. But this book was about 30% plot; 10% descriptions of food, shopping for food, or food prep; and 60% about prayer—descriptions of methods of prayer, excerpts from prayer journals, asking someone to pray, volunteering to pray, praying after every softball practice, praying before meals, praying before and after phone conversations, etc. Don’t get me wrong, prayer is important in the life of a believer, but if I had wanted to read a book about prayer, I would have found a non-fiction book and thoroughly enjoyed it. In a fiction book it was over the top and seemed forced and preachy.
February 13, 2021
Attorney Buddy Smith specializes in helping track down missing children. This is a result from the loss of his own daughter when she was just days old. Buddy and his high school girlfriend had a child and then his girlfriend left town without a trace just days after giving birth.
As Buddy is helping a family look for their runaway daughter, he finally catches a break in finding his own.
This was a good novel and kept my interest from start to finish. My favorites continue to be A Time to Stand and Chosen People.
As Buddy is helping a family look for their runaway daughter, he finally catches a break in finding his own.
This was a good novel and kept my interest from start to finish. My favorites continue to be A Time to Stand and Chosen People.
February 2, 2021
Trial and Error is a standalone legal thriller featuring lawyer Buddy Smith and set in Milton County, Georgia. The story opens with 18 year old Buddy sitting in Milton County Memorial Hospital waiting as his girlfriend, Amber Melrose, gives birth. Their relationship was rocky, to say the least, and they had broken up twice during her pregnancy; he was at the hospital despite Amber not wanting him there, hence he was banished to the father's waiting area. The baby is a girl who they name Elise. Fast forward and Buddy is meeting with a client - Sue Ellen Ford - whose husband, Jackie Ford Sr, had left 3 days ago with their 3 year old child Jackson Ford Jr and Sue cannot get in touch with them. Referred to Buddy by county clerk and friend Gracie Blaylock, Sue asks for Buddy's help to get her abducted son back where he belongs. The reason Buddy takes on cases of domestic kidnapping, where one parent refuses to share custody and so flees with the child, is due to the fact that Amber, not long after giving birth, had left town with their baby girl 18 years ago and Buddy has never stopped searching for them since. When he discovers his late father had been giving them money he feels even more anxious to locate them.
Specialising in domestic abduction and missing persons, Buddy is the first port of call for many when the police aren't interested or a case has gone cold. Another case comes up regarding the disappearance of Reagan Landry, daughter of Sammy and Crystal, whom Buddy met in the father's room at the hospital all those years prior, as 18 year old Reagan had been born around the same time as his baby girl, Elise. Reagan had stopped attending her usual softball practice two weeks ago and everyone is concerned. Despite having just taken on the Ford case, Buddy wants to help but decides that the new detective in town, Mayleah Harkness, should be involved too. Can Buddy, Gracie and Mayleah locate the missing girls? Will Buddy ever find his daughter? This is a compelling and absorbing read from start to finish and the issue of domestic abduction is thoroughly explored. With plenty of unexpected twists, intrigue and mystery, and enough misdirection to really keep you guessing, Whitlow has penned another engrossing legal tale. The characters are intricately developed each with a distinct personality. This allowed me to become invested in them and eager to know how everything would turn out for them. Recommended to those who prefer slow-burn and less gritty thrillers.
Specialising in domestic abduction and missing persons, Buddy is the first port of call for many when the police aren't interested or a case has gone cold. Another case comes up regarding the disappearance of Reagan Landry, daughter of Sammy and Crystal, whom Buddy met in the father's room at the hospital all those years prior, as 18 year old Reagan had been born around the same time as his baby girl, Elise. Reagan had stopped attending her usual softball practice two weeks ago and everyone is concerned. Despite having just taken on the Ford case, Buddy wants to help but decides that the new detective in town, Mayleah Harkness, should be involved too. Can Buddy, Gracie and Mayleah locate the missing girls? Will Buddy ever find his daughter? This is a compelling and absorbing read from start to finish and the issue of domestic abduction is thoroughly explored. With plenty of unexpected twists, intrigue and mystery, and enough misdirection to really keep you guessing, Whitlow has penned another engrossing legal tale. The characters are intricately developed each with a distinct personality. This allowed me to become invested in them and eager to know how everything would turn out for them. Recommended to those who prefer slow-burn and less gritty thrillers.
January 10, 2021
This is a wonderful story with wit, wonderful characters, a bit of romance and a captivating story line. I was sad, happy, and anxious while reading the book. This book had me feeling many emotions and I was very satisfied with the happy ending.
November 22, 2023
This one surprised me! I usually avoid books with a MC that's a lawyer or law enforcement officer because it's just not my preference. However, this one was very well written and I really liked the characters. Especially Gracie. She was just my favorite, and her genuine and sincere faith was just precious. I enjoyed the story line, but didn't care for how long it took for one of the main characters to develop feelings for one of the other characters. I felt like she deserved better than that. And to be more romanced that she was. But overall, I enjoyed it. It was clean, and the faith based element was fantastic. I really loved Buddys journey to faith. I will read more by this author.
November 25, 2023
Thanks to the Christian Fiction Devourers group for recommending this one; I really enjoyed it!
February 18, 2021
Readers first meet 18-year-old Buddy Smith sitting in a hospital waiting room in Milton county, GA. Buddy anxiously awaits his daughter Elise’s arrival, connecting with her was important. Little did he know after that day she would go missing.
Buddy tried to track down the whereabouts of his daughter. All the leads had dried up years ago. He went away to law school, came back home to keep a close eye on his mom. Sadly, Buddy was losing hope of ever finding Elise until one day he makes a discovery that changes everything.
Gracie grew up with Buddy and became the first female clerk of court in a small southern town where the community valued familiarity over the unknown (it can be a good thing and a bad thing) Both, Buddy and Gracie have a passion for helping parents find their missing children. Buddy had a soft spot for clients whose children were kidnapped by a parent he says, “To wrongfully deprive a deserving parent of the right to be with his/or her child was inexcusable.”
This story strolls along as the author shows readers around a small town in GA introducing them to its surrounds and people. This is not a fast-paced legal thriller but one that gets readers emotionally vested and connected to the characters and their situations. I enjoyed sitting alongside Gracie and friends on the porch and indulging in hot peach cobbler (it sounded yummy!). This is a cozy drama with an interesting cast of characters I enjoyed hanging out with.
A sweet romance is intertwined in the story as Buddy and Grace track down clues to find missing kids. I enjoyed seeing the transformation of Buddy as he lets go of his past and finds a deep faith, he never knew was possible. I like how the author shows this personal aspect of faith without it being preachy or making the reader feel alienated.
The author focuses themes of family, justice, not giving up on fighting the good fight, and how faith plays into it all. The natural faith element is seen through Gracie and Buddy’s mother’s eyes. They support one another in prayer. I liked how the author gives a peek into Gracie’s prayer life and what she does with her prayer journal. Readers see Gracie marking down prayer requests and then write the date a prayer is answered (even if it’s years later). It was fun to see Gracie coaching a girl’s baseball league. This is an inspiring, tender story that will warm your heart.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org
Buddy tried to track down the whereabouts of his daughter. All the leads had dried up years ago. He went away to law school, came back home to keep a close eye on his mom. Sadly, Buddy was losing hope of ever finding Elise until one day he makes a discovery that changes everything.
Gracie grew up with Buddy and became the first female clerk of court in a small southern town where the community valued familiarity over the unknown (it can be a good thing and a bad thing) Both, Buddy and Gracie have a passion for helping parents find their missing children. Buddy had a soft spot for clients whose children were kidnapped by a parent he says, “To wrongfully deprive a deserving parent of the right to be with his/or her child was inexcusable.”
This story strolls along as the author shows readers around a small town in GA introducing them to its surrounds and people. This is not a fast-paced legal thriller but one that gets readers emotionally vested and connected to the characters and their situations. I enjoyed sitting alongside Gracie and friends on the porch and indulging in hot peach cobbler (it sounded yummy!). This is a cozy drama with an interesting cast of characters I enjoyed hanging out with.
A sweet romance is intertwined in the story as Buddy and Grace track down clues to find missing kids. I enjoyed seeing the transformation of Buddy as he lets go of his past and finds a deep faith, he never knew was possible. I like how the author shows this personal aspect of faith without it being preachy or making the reader feel alienated.
The author focuses themes of family, justice, not giving up on fighting the good fight, and how faith plays into it all. The natural faith element is seen through Gracie and Buddy’s mother’s eyes. They support one another in prayer. I liked how the author gives a peek into Gracie’s prayer life and what she does with her prayer journal. Readers see Gracie marking down prayer requests and then write the date a prayer is answered (even if it’s years later). It was fun to see Gracie coaching a girl’s baseball league. This is an inspiring, tender story that will warm your heart.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org
February 15, 2021
3.5 stars
"If I'm honest about it, my life has been a succession of trials and errors - a lot of false starts, wrong turns, and dead ends. I press on, but I've always felt stuck, and I want to get unstuck. Does that many any sense?"
It makes a lot of sense, especially since Buddy Smith's life has taken the sorts of twists and turns that many men would have written off as simply bad luck. Still desperate to find his now teen-age daughter, snatched away by her mother shortly after birth, he has channeled that determination into his law practice, tirelessly advocating for families who are missing a child due to unforeseen circumstances. When a well connected Milton County family is devastated by the disappearance of their own high school daughter, Buddy doesn't hesitate to lend assistance; along with a fairly new local detective and a long time acquaintance, County Clerk of Court, Gracie Blaylock.
Gracie Blaylock has secretly admired Buddy Smith for what seems like forever, albeit from a distance. Their lives intersect occasionally on a professional basis, but her high school crush on the man has long been squashed by the lack of any reciprocation on Buddy's part. However, when a member of her girls softball team goes missing, Gracie doesn't hesitate to get Buddy involved. Who would have thought that unraveling a local disappearance would have any bearing on the deepest burden of Buddy's heart, . . . . . in fact, would anyone have guessed that the entire experience would end up transforming Buddy's heart. For Gracie's words of blessing over a meal and subsequent prayer on his mother's front porch, ushered in a blessing that only God could have orchestrated in Buddy Smith's life.
"Tears began to stream down Gracie's face . . . God had touched Buddy Smith. And Gracie was there to behold it."
You may think portions of this story are left unfinished. Perhaps so. But consider that fact that
the un-finishing might represent the opening of a door. . . . a door that every reader is invited to enter; for this book boldly represents issues that many people are facing with fear and trepidation; may they one day look back on them with unabated joy, for the power of prayer is a beautiful gift of the Spirit.
"If I'm honest about it, my life has been a succession of trials and errors - a lot of false starts, wrong turns, and dead ends. I press on, but I've always felt stuck, and I want to get unstuck. Does that many any sense?"
It makes a lot of sense, especially since Buddy Smith's life has taken the sorts of twists and turns that many men would have written off as simply bad luck. Still desperate to find his now teen-age daughter, snatched away by her mother shortly after birth, he has channeled that determination into his law practice, tirelessly advocating for families who are missing a child due to unforeseen circumstances. When a well connected Milton County family is devastated by the disappearance of their own high school daughter, Buddy doesn't hesitate to lend assistance; along with a fairly new local detective and a long time acquaintance, County Clerk of Court, Gracie Blaylock.
Gracie Blaylock has secretly admired Buddy Smith for what seems like forever, albeit from a distance. Their lives intersect occasionally on a professional basis, but her high school crush on the man has long been squashed by the lack of any reciprocation on Buddy's part. However, when a member of her girls softball team goes missing, Gracie doesn't hesitate to get Buddy involved. Who would have thought that unraveling a local disappearance would have any bearing on the deepest burden of Buddy's heart, . . . . . in fact, would anyone have guessed that the entire experience would end up transforming Buddy's heart. For Gracie's words of blessing over a meal and subsequent prayer on his mother's front porch, ushered in a blessing that only God could have orchestrated in Buddy Smith's life.
"Tears began to stream down Gracie's face . . . God had touched Buddy Smith. And Gracie was there to behold it."
You may think portions of this story are left unfinished. Perhaps so. But consider that fact that
the un-finishing might represent the opening of a door. . . . a door that every reader is invited to enter; for this book boldly represents issues that many people are facing with fear and trepidation; may they one day look back on them with unabated joy, for the power of prayer is a beautiful gift of the Spirit.
February 8, 2021
Suspenseful, intriguing, and makes readers cheer for the protagonist!
Eighteen years ago, Buddy Smith’s girlfriend skipped town with their newborn daughter and he hasn’t found them since. Now a defense lawyer back in his hometown, he often takes cases where one of the parents has fled with a child.
Gracie Blaylock is the county clerk and coach of the local girls’ softball team. She and Buddy have been friends for years, but never had a romantic aspect to their relationship. When one of the girls on the softball team abruptly stops attending practice, the other teammates know that something is wrong and confirm that she has runaway. She knows it’s not the same as an abduction case but feels that Buddy would be best to pursue it.
As Buddy and Gracie work together to find out what happened to the missing girl, clues start to show up that could lead Buddy to find his own estranged daughter.
Robert Whitlow has such a great ability to blend faith, suspense, and legality into his stories. It’s easy to get lost in the story, even when there is not much of a legal thriller aspect. With cases of parents abducting their own child on the rise, this book fits right in for current times. I love the rural small-town Georgia setting to this book. It made me to want to have porch conversations with some of the main characters. I also loved all the characters throughout this book. Everyone contained some sort of flaw that was able to improve through the course of the book. Gracie is such a role model for me, similar to other characters he has written. No one took a step backwards and it worked out for the better by the end. We need more books like this in our library today! I’ve always loved his writing and will continue to read his books!
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
Eighteen years ago, Buddy Smith’s girlfriend skipped town with their newborn daughter and he hasn’t found them since. Now a defense lawyer back in his hometown, he often takes cases where one of the parents has fled with a child.
Gracie Blaylock is the county clerk and coach of the local girls’ softball team. She and Buddy have been friends for years, but never had a romantic aspect to their relationship. When one of the girls on the softball team abruptly stops attending practice, the other teammates know that something is wrong and confirm that she has runaway. She knows it’s not the same as an abduction case but feels that Buddy would be best to pursue it.
As Buddy and Gracie work together to find out what happened to the missing girl, clues start to show up that could lead Buddy to find his own estranged daughter.
Robert Whitlow has such a great ability to blend faith, suspense, and legality into his stories. It’s easy to get lost in the story, even when there is not much of a legal thriller aspect. With cases of parents abducting their own child on the rise, this book fits right in for current times. I love the rural small-town Georgia setting to this book. It made me to want to have porch conversations with some of the main characters. I also loved all the characters throughout this book. Everyone contained some sort of flaw that was able to improve through the course of the book. Gracie is such a role model for me, similar to other characters he has written. No one took a step backwards and it worked out for the better by the end. We need more books like this in our library today! I’ve always loved his writing and will continue to read his books!
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
February 28, 2021
I have never read anything by this author but look forward to checking out more of his books!
The story begins with Buddy and Sammy in the hospital waiting room awaiting the birth of their babies. Then the story fast forwards 17 years
Buddy is an attorney and also helps families who are searching for their missing kids. He has been searching for his daughter Elise since she was only a couple of days old. Sammy is also searching for his daughter Reagan and they are unsure where she is.
My favorite character was Gracie who is the county clerk and a classmate of buddy. She is extremely selfless and loves the Lord with everything in her!
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
The story begins with Buddy and Sammy in the hospital waiting room awaiting the birth of their babies. Then the story fast forwards 17 years
Buddy is an attorney and also helps families who are searching for their missing kids. He has been searching for his daughter Elise since she was only a couple of days old. Sammy is also searching for his daughter Reagan and they are unsure where she is.
My favorite character was Gracie who is the county clerk and a classmate of buddy. She is extremely selfless and loves the Lord with everything in her!
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
August 10, 2021
Whitlow’s books are always a good surprise.
Happy reading.
(A CG pick for Aug. 2021 book club.)
Happy reading.
(A CG pick for Aug. 2021 book club.)
May 14, 2024
Never give up
I enjoy this story about Faith and never giving up. The characters had the strength of God in all the situations in this story. It was sad because of the situations but more than that…hopeful. People need hope and Faith everyday.
I enjoy this story about Faith and never giving up. The characters had the strength of God in all the situations in this story. It was sad because of the situations but more than that…hopeful. People need hope and Faith everyday.
February 11, 2021
This is a legal thriller that is full of wonderful faith-filled characters.
About the Book:
Buddy Smith is an attorney in Milton County in Georgia whose specialty is tracking down missing children. This is close to his heart because when he was a high school senior he had a daughter, Elise and she and her mother, Amber left town when Elise was an infant never to be found.
Buddy never gives up looking for her and the trail heats up after Buddy finds some disturbing paperwork from Buddy’s deceased Dad.
Buddy is also working on other cases...a child kidnapped by his father and a runaway teenager make up more of Buddy’s caseload.
The case of the runaway teenager, Reagan Landry, pulls at Clerk of Court, Gracie Blaylock’s heart strings as she has coached the teen in fast pitched softball.
Buddy and Gracie along with new detective, Mayleah Harkness, work alongside to find to answers and missing kids.
My Thoughts:
There is so much that I love about this book!
I love the southern feel of this book- Brunswick Stew (one of my favorite foods), fast pitched softball and a focus on faith are all elements that I can relate to!
It was fascinating to learn about what the Clerk of Court’s responsibilities include and other aspects of the court and legal systems like visiting judges and parameters for detectives.
The secondary characters were all so richly woven into the story-from Buddy’s mom who kept the most wonderful prayer notebooks to a visiting retired judge and his pet bird, Baliff and Gracie’s sister, Lauren, who is trying to help Gracie find her soulmate through a dating site.
I highly, highly recommend this book! It was a different feel than a normal legal thriller that I usually read but the multifaceted plot, characters and setting all really clicked to make this a great read for me!
Thank you @netgalley @justread tours for the chance to read and honestly give my thoughts #
About the Book:
Buddy Smith is an attorney in Milton County in Georgia whose specialty is tracking down missing children. This is close to his heart because when he was a high school senior he had a daughter, Elise and she and her mother, Amber left town when Elise was an infant never to be found.
Buddy never gives up looking for her and the trail heats up after Buddy finds some disturbing paperwork from Buddy’s deceased Dad.
Buddy is also working on other cases...a child kidnapped by his father and a runaway teenager make up more of Buddy’s caseload.
The case of the runaway teenager, Reagan Landry, pulls at Clerk of Court, Gracie Blaylock’s heart strings as she has coached the teen in fast pitched softball.
Buddy and Gracie along with new detective, Mayleah Harkness, work alongside to find to answers and missing kids.
My Thoughts:
There is so much that I love about this book!
I love the southern feel of this book- Brunswick Stew (one of my favorite foods), fast pitched softball and a focus on faith are all elements that I can relate to!
It was fascinating to learn about what the Clerk of Court’s responsibilities include and other aspects of the court and legal systems like visiting judges and parameters for detectives.
The secondary characters were all so richly woven into the story-from Buddy’s mom who kept the most wonderful prayer notebooks to a visiting retired judge and his pet bird, Baliff and Gracie’s sister, Lauren, who is trying to help Gracie find her soulmate through a dating site.
I highly, highly recommend this book! It was a different feel than a normal legal thriller that I usually read but the multifaceted plot, characters and setting all really clicked to make this a great read for me!
Thank you @netgalley @justread tours for the chance to read and honestly give my thoughts #
February 12, 2021
I've read one other novel by Robert Whitlow in the past and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so after reading the premise for this one I was quite excited to pick it up. I have to admit to finishing with some mixed emotions though. The premise was interesting, and as I was reading I truly wanted to know how things would work out, but there was "too much and too little" going on all at the same time. There was so much going on that the author wasn't able to dig too deeply into any specific element before moving onto the next. It took away from the overall depth of the story and made things come easier than they should have just to keep things moving forward. I liked the story, and for the most part I liked the characters, but overall I needed more depth with a more focused plot. I'd still read another book from this author in the future (especially since I liked the other one so much), but this one wasn't a personal favorite for me. I would highly recommend checking out some other reviews as well, since there are others that absolutely loved it as well.
*I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
*I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
February 7, 2021
This is the first legal thriller I have read. I really enjoyed it. The action was not too intense for me, and I loved that the romance was very low-key, with no kissing and not even any hand-holding. I predicted part of the ending from near the beginning of the book, but I was not sure about part of it until near the end—and I like that, too. There were several different plots all woven together, and it was done so well that I really liked it. This is a good book!
I received a free copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
I received a free copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
January 5, 2021
This new to me author is super amazing! Just wow! Had me turning the pages until the end. I couldn't imagine the things this father went through. My heart was pounding the whole time! I love loved this book! It was awesome! I even found myself a hollering at the detectives and clapping when they done something right. The inspiration throughout the story was just right and not overdone. It's why I love these types of books. The suspense was so cool! Some twists and turns I never saw coming. I definitely love those surprises! I highly recommend this author. I grantee that you won't be disappointed! 5 stars for sure! My thanks to Thomas Nelson publishers for a wonderful read! I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
November 14, 2020
Oh mayn I have been sleeping on Robert Whitlow but now I am awake. This is my first Robert Whitlow and forgive me but Buddy Smith can be my friend any day. This book was so good although hard hitting and emotionally testing because of the missing girls and one of them is his daughter. The way the author weaved together an unforgettable plot, incredible characters and the way they were interwoven together is amazing . If you like fiction with a law aspect then highly recommend it. Huge thanks to Thomas Nelson for my ARC
January 15, 2026
I hit the jackpot with this book! I've always loved John Grisham's books, but the spiritual element was missing. Robert Whitlow is every bit as good a writer, with a subtle faith-based tone infused throughout his writing. The beginning intrigue set the pace, and he never let up. I couldn't wait to see what happened, and I wasn't disappointed. The development of Buddy, the main character, thoroughly satisfied my curiosity. Beginning with the two expectant fathers, Whitlow spins a tale you won't expect. Excellent story.
December 15, 2022
Lovely tale with romance, mystery, and twists. Narrator is terrifically in character. Christian-based but won’t beat ya up with it. Clean. Highly recommended.
February 14, 2021
Buddy Smith built his law practice around tracking down missing children. After all, he knows the agony of being separated from a child. Not long after his daughter’s birth, her mother ran away and Buddy never saw either one again. Gracie Blaylock has known Buddy her entire life, and now that she is clerk of court for the county, their paths cross frequently. When Gracie hears that a teenager in town has gone missing, she knows Buddy is the one for the case..
I am definitely a fan of Robert Whitlow’s books. After the last two of his books which were set in the Middle East he has now returned to the south for this one. And he is pointed out to us what can be happening around the corner without us even knowing about it. Especially with the younger generation we spend a great deal of their time on their computers and on social media.
Mr. Whitlow also demonstrated in this book a couple of things that I thought we were very timely. One had to do with discipleship which has been something that has been prominent in my life recently. Gracie spent a great deal of time discipling not only the sports team but also she was willing to spend time with Buddy. Not only did she spend time with him in discussion and prayer but she took him to church with her. She wasn’t afraid of being spurned by someone she had known all of her life. And Mr. Whitlow demonstrated how discipleship can build on itself.
I would like to think the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my copy of this book. The comments are my own.
I am definitely a fan of Robert Whitlow’s books. After the last two of his books which were set in the Middle East he has now returned to the south for this one. And he is pointed out to us what can be happening around the corner without us even knowing about it. Especially with the younger generation we spend a great deal of their time on their computers and on social media.
Mr. Whitlow also demonstrated in this book a couple of things that I thought we were very timely. One had to do with discipleship which has been something that has been prominent in my life recently. Gracie spent a great deal of time discipling not only the sports team but also she was willing to spend time with Buddy. Not only did she spend time with him in discussion and prayer but she took him to church with her. She wasn’t afraid of being spurned by someone she had known all of her life. And Mr. Whitlow demonstrated how discipleship can build on itself.
I would like to think the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my copy of this book. The comments are my own.
May 14, 2023
Really enjoyed. I wouldn’t classify it as a thriller as in a gruesome way. It’s a legal thriller with a Southern backdrop, reminding me somewhat of Grisham, yet this is calmer with front porch sitting, cobbler eating, family meals and meddling, a little romance blossoming, and Christian beliefs and prayers. Not to give the impression this Is dull or trite. Far from it. Kept my attention with strong character and plot development. Cared about the characters and the outcome of each of the 2 main plots. Had scenarios and action that were believable. Not over the top this-would-never-happen scenes. Recommend - with the caveat this is a Christian writer so includes faith discussions and prayers. It’s not preach-y, yet several conversations focus on this. If that’s not your cup of tea, you may want to skip reading or skip those parts because the plots are good & well-written.
August 3, 2023
I often buy the Daily Deal books from Audible. They cost around $2.99 and are are worth what I pay for them. Before buying these books I tend to go to Goodreads and check to see them out. If they get several four start reviews and are on topics I find intriguing I go for it.
This was one of those kinds of books. I did not read the reviews carefully and so didn't notice that this is a book of "Christian" fiction. That shouldn't necessarily bother me because I have a Christian background a have a heartier prayer life than your average America. I remember once, as a kid, someone asked my dad why he didn't put a "Christan fish" or icthus on our family business' Yellow Pages ad. He answered that if people couldn't tell that we ran an honest business by our actions then there was a bigger problem than a fish could solve. I have the same feeling about this book. The plot has potential and the characters are fairly well developed, but the Christan aspects of the book are so, "inside baseball" and "by Christians for Christians" that I felt odd about the book.
This was one of those kinds of books. I did not read the reviews carefully and so didn't notice that this is a book of "Christian" fiction. That shouldn't necessarily bother me because I have a Christian background a have a heartier prayer life than your average America. I remember once, as a kid, someone asked my dad why he didn't put a "Christan fish" or icthus on our family business' Yellow Pages ad. He answered that if people couldn't tell that we ran an honest business by our actions then there was a bigger problem than a fish could solve. I have the same feeling about this book. The plot has potential and the characters are fairly well developed, but the Christan aspects of the book are so, "inside baseball" and "by Christians for Christians" that I felt odd about the book.
November 11, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. There were several layers at play, and it was intriguing to see if certain things would fit together in the way I thought they would. (Most often they did not!)
While I enjoyed the legal/mystery aspect of the novel, what shone for me was Gracie's way of walking with God. Her prayer life especially was inspirational to me, and gave me some ideas about the way I want to approach those sacred times of communion with the Lord.
This is my 3rd Robert Whitlow book, and I've found winners in all three.
While I enjoyed the legal/mystery aspect of the novel, what shone for me was Gracie's way of walking with God. Her prayer life especially was inspirational to me, and gave me some ideas about the way I want to approach those sacred times of communion with the Lord.
This is my 3rd Robert Whitlow book, and I've found winners in all three.
October 30, 2021
Audio: very good narrator with good accents and enough variation in voices.
The story was well done with 3 different missing persons investigations going on. Moved very well and kept our attention during our drive. Well developed characters that made me love some of them, cheer others and be very mad at others. Definite connections.
Robert Whitlow’s books always seem to draw me in and this one did as well.
The story was well done with 3 different missing persons investigations going on. Moved very well and kept our attention during our drive. Well developed characters that made me love some of them, cheer others and be very mad at others. Definite connections.
Robert Whitlow’s books always seem to draw me in and this one did as well.
November 17, 2023
4.5 stars
I read this as a book club read and am happy someone suggested it. I hadn’t heard of the author before but I’ll be picking up another one of his books in the future, I’m sure.
I really enjoyed the story and definitely didn’t want to put it down at points. The faith element was well done.
I read this as a book club read and am happy someone suggested it. I hadn’t heard of the author before but I’ll be picking up another one of his books in the future, I’m sure.
I really enjoyed the story and definitely didn’t want to put it down at points. The faith element was well done.
September 27, 2024
Listened to audio book. It takes a little bit for me to get into these stores, but I really liked this one. The characters are fun and the story keeps you invested. Makes you sad and happy, worth reading.
July 20, 2024
3.5 🌟
April 5, 2025
It had interesting characters and a nice small town feel , but it didn’t have much courtroom drama . Seemed like important topics were kind of hit only briefly .
February 11, 2021
So, this was an interesting read for me. I haven't read any of this author's work before. As I was reading, I kept wondering to myself what this book reminded me of. More than halfway though the story I realized it reminds me of a mini-series.
Let me explain. There is SO much going on in this story. It's not cut and dry. Yes, we know who the main characters are, but Trial and Error is bigger than those two main people. There's a mom whose husband kidnaps their son, a girl who has gone missing, a new detective, a man who has been searching 17 years for his baby, a temporary judge who's come to town, and more. I'm telling you, there's a lot going on in this story.
I'll admit, I almost threw the towel in before I was halfway done with the story. * cringe * There were just so many things I didn't understand being added to it. Just every day occurrences or discussions. At least that's how it seemed to me. I was like, "let's get on with the story!" When the momentum started picking up and I got more invested in the story, and as I got towards the end, I think I began to understand why the author added all of that stuff at the front of the book. Now, let's not go crazy because I'm not a deep thinker and I'm not great at analyzing an author's intentions. My 2 cents (for what it's worth) is that he was getting us invested in the people. As the reader we became a part of their lives - part of the mundane. I felt like I understood the town, the people as I headed for the end.
And it was kind of funny, I was rooting for a lot to happen, but in the end, I wasn't so much a huge cheerleader as I was satisfied that mysteries had been solved. That people had peace in their hearts. I wasn't so focused on "ooo will this person end up with that person?" I kind of liked that!
While faith played a role at the beginning of the story, towards the middle and definitely through the end, it comes on like a gentle bulldozer. Yes, I realize that's an oxymoron, but it's true. Gracie runs people over with the truth, but in a gentle, loving way. The aspect I appreciated most on this front is that they prayers Gracie prayed were described, not written out. I LOVED that because I think sometimes a prayer written out doesn't explain to someone who doesn't pray, WHY the person was praying the way they were.
Speaking of Gracie, I really enjoyed her character. She's reserved, but where she feels comfortable, say the softball field or in her office, she's confident and thoughtful. Then there's Buddy. He seems like the town son. Everyone knows him and his family. He's got a law firm that helps families find children because of the loss in his own life. Through him (and his mom, Beatrice) we get a taste of the southern lifestyle. I can see where the author's personal experience comes through in the story.
*I received this book for review from JustRead Publicity. This is my personal opinion.
Let me explain. There is SO much going on in this story. It's not cut and dry. Yes, we know who the main characters are, but Trial and Error is bigger than those two main people. There's a mom whose husband kidnaps their son, a girl who has gone missing, a new detective, a man who has been searching 17 years for his baby, a temporary judge who's come to town, and more. I'm telling you, there's a lot going on in this story.
I'll admit, I almost threw the towel in before I was halfway done with the story. * cringe * There were just so many things I didn't understand being added to it. Just every day occurrences or discussions. At least that's how it seemed to me. I was like, "let's get on with the story!" When the momentum started picking up and I got more invested in the story, and as I got towards the end, I think I began to understand why the author added all of that stuff at the front of the book. Now, let's not go crazy because I'm not a deep thinker and I'm not great at analyzing an author's intentions. My 2 cents (for what it's worth) is that he was getting us invested in the people. As the reader we became a part of their lives - part of the mundane. I felt like I understood the town, the people as I headed for the end.
And it was kind of funny, I was rooting for a lot to happen, but in the end, I wasn't so much a huge cheerleader as I was satisfied that mysteries had been solved. That people had peace in their hearts. I wasn't so focused on "ooo will this person end up with that person?" I kind of liked that!
While faith played a role at the beginning of the story, towards the middle and definitely through the end, it comes on like a gentle bulldozer. Yes, I realize that's an oxymoron, but it's true. Gracie runs people over with the truth, but in a gentle, loving way. The aspect I appreciated most on this front is that they prayers Gracie prayed were described, not written out. I LOVED that because I think sometimes a prayer written out doesn't explain to someone who doesn't pray, WHY the person was praying the way they were.
Speaking of Gracie, I really enjoyed her character. She's reserved, but where she feels comfortable, say the softball field or in her office, she's confident and thoughtful. Then there's Buddy. He seems like the town son. Everyone knows him and his family. He's got a law firm that helps families find children because of the loss in his own life. Through him (and his mom, Beatrice) we get a taste of the southern lifestyle. I can see where the author's personal experience comes through in the story.
*I received this book for review from JustRead Publicity. This is my personal opinion.
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