Robert Whitlow

I think this is the first book of a series called "Tides of Truth." This is not one of the usual mystery/legal mystery/thriller books at all, but it has its own charm. The protagonist, Tammy Lynn Taylor, is a devout Southern Christian who belongs to a religious sect that requires their children to be homeschooled, and whose parents inform her every personal decision through praryer. She is old enough to be in college, and it was decided that her career path would be in law. The summer before her third year of law school, she applies for several clerk positions in various law firms in Georgia, and one several hours away from her home sends their request for her to work as a paid intern. After much prayer, her family agrees that she should go to gain legal experience and because they think it is a divine appointment. There, "Tami" (as she goes by because it appears more professional), learns a lot, not just about the law, but about how the strength of her personal convictions can assist her in the most harrowing of circumstances. As I said, not a book that I would normally read, considering its religious slant, but one that I quite enjoyed despite it being just a little preachy in some areas.… (altro)

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Double Indemnity by Robert Whitlow debuts June 6, 2023, as his 22nd novel. Whitlow won the 2001 Christie Award for Contemporary Fiction. Four of his books have been made into movies. He is a practicing attorney in North Carolina.

Thirty-year-old Connor Grantham pastors a small church in Bryson, Georgia. A deeply thoughtful and philosophical man, he prefers hiking and reading to socializing. Being single in a small-town also leads to inevitable matchmaking efforts from friends, rumors, and speculation.

Attorney Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Acosta is the newest hire at Pollard and Associates. For her first year, she has mostly served as a Spanish interpreter for her boss, Howard Pollard.

The story unfolds in alternating viewpoints of Attorney Liz Acosta and Pastor Connor Grantham.
Liz’s landlord invites her to a church social where she meets Pastor Connor Grantham. Their common friends encourage them to meet in not-so-subtle maneuvers as friends do when they play matchmaker.

The real driving force that brings them together is the unhappy marriage of Matt and Elena Thompson. Elena hires Liz to look into her financial situation in case Matt asks for a divorce. Poor Connor is dragged into the thick of the Thompsons’ unhappiness when they seek marital counseling. Matt spends time in Atlanta to keep his tech business running, but his business partner wants to sell.

The pacing of the story accelerates after Matt goes to a company deer hunt at the Burnt Pine Tree Hunting Lodge. Matt dies of a gunshot wound alone in the woods. Was it an accident? The list of suspects grows as Liz and Connor are drawn deeper into their separate counseling duties for the widow. Both the widow and the business partner benefit from the double-indemnity clause of life insurance policies on Matt. Toss in Matt’s ex-wife Anne and their two daughters, who live in Atlanta, and the investigation flows in many directions.

The dialogue is lean and believable for the characters. Whitlow’s descriptions of Connor’s hikes in the woods resonate as those of an experienced outdoorsman, part awe, part joy. The characters suit a small-town setting where secrets emerge through the grapevine of people familiar with one another. The surprises and plot twists keep the reader guessing until the end.

Readers of John Grisham and Sheldon Siegel will enjoy this legal drama.

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