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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Title: Double Indemnity
Author: Robert Whitlow
Pages: 432
Year: 2023
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
In this novel, readers meet a pastor who loves hiking and shepherding his flock. His name is Connor. When Connor needs time to seek refreshment and inspiration, he loves to hike the trails near his North Carolina home. Connor meets with Matt and Elena Thompson to help them navigate a difficult season in their marriage, but it isn’t long before darker clouds appear on the horizon for this trio.
Liz Acosta is an aspiring attorney who loves to cook authentic Cuban dishes and works hard to help her clients. One of her strongest characteristics is helping people who need legal assistance and can speak Spanish fluently. Liz’s introduction to Connor is through her landlady who invites her to her local church. The two become embroiled when Matt Thompson is murdered, and Connor is in the crosshairs of law enforcement as the culprit. Elena Thompson hires Liz to represent her interests in a variety of ways, and Elena is not one to take “no” for an answer.
The tension mounts as Connor faces serious allegations but also faces the loss of his job because of the legal issues that surround his life. Liz and Connor begin to realize how they feel for each other as they are constantly thrown together as the tension in the story increases.
It took a while for me to get interested in the story as the action part didn’t present itself until I was several pages into the book. Once the background and foundation for the plot and characters were laid, the suspense began to take off. Elena Thompson’s character is controlling and manipulative, not an easy one to manage for either Liz or Connor. Liz is a bright lady with a growing legal career looming. She and Connor begin as friends in the novel. As time passes and pressure mounts, the two characters’ attraction mounts as well. I have read other Robert Whitlow novels and have enjoyed them, and I will probably read his next novel whenever it is released.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )

Reverend Connor Grantham, a scholarly pastor, serves a church in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in north Georgia. He loves the outdoor life the area has to offer. Unfortunately his life grows more and more complicated in relation to the complications growing in the lives of the couple he is counseling. The wife has a way of making her problems his problems. As she also does for her attorney, Liz Acosta.

At about twenty percent into Double Indemnity, I told my husband, also a Robert Whitlow fan, that this book just didn't feel like a Robert Whitlow novel. It just felt flat. Then around a third of the way in, there it was, Robert Whitlow's voice that I'd been missing. I am not really sure if it was because I finally became engaged with the story or because the author did. From that point on, the story was compelling, and well worth the time invested.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Double Indemnity from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. ( )

Double Indemnity, by Robert Whitlow, is a stand alone Christian who done it story. This story grabbed my attention from the very beginning and held it to the very end. This is a story that kept me guessing who the killer was. The story is fast paced and full of mystery and suspense with a touch of romance. I enjoyed the descriptive writing with the views Connor saw on his hikes.

It was interesting to read of the legal aspects of the story and the fine line attorneys have to do their jobs. Liz was committed to putting her priorities to Elena, even when the client was overly demanding. Liz had to fine a way to keep Connor as a friend yet help him legally.

I especially enjoyed the characters of the members of Connor’s church. I enjoyed the importance of prayer in this story. It was nice to see the support he received from some, while others turned their backs on him and the church.

I enjoyed this book so much. I voluntarily received it from Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley. This is my honest review. ( )

I was quickly swept up into a story that takes place in my neck of the woods. It was fun to go on this journey with Pastor Grantham as he explores nature trails. The pastor soon discovers not everything is what it seems.

I appreciated how the author alternated between two points of view to tell the story. One features attorney Liz Acosta, who is new to the community, the legal firm, and the mountains of north Georgia. The other is with Pastor Connor Grantham, who enjoys hiking the mountains but questions whether he is cut out to serve as a shepherd in a small town for the rest of his life. With Connor, I liked how the author took the reader on fun hikes in the mountains. Pastor Grantham and Matt and Elena Thompson initially cross paths at a marriage counseling session, where things got messy.

As the police attempt to determine what transpired at the hunting lodge, Liz assumes the role of Elena Thompson’s attorney, while Matt continues to provide Elena pastoral care. This puts Liz and Matt in an uncomfortable scenario.
The reader remains in suspense until the very end thanks to the surprises and plot twists. This is a thought-provoking read you don’t want to miss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. 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 https://psalm516.blogspot.com/ ( )