Customer Reviews

Deeper Water (Tides of Truth Series, Book 1)

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This is book one (copyright 2008) in the "Tides of Truth" series, which follow a young law student as she works as a summer intern for a prestigious law firm in Savannah, GA.

"Deeper Water" is my first book of Robert Whitlow's to read. I chose it because the description on the back of the book piqued my interest: "Just of the murky waters of Savannah's shoreline, a young law student is under fire as she tries her first case at a prominent and establishes law firm. A complex mix of betrayal and deception quickly weaves its way through the case and her life, as she uncovers dark and confusing secrets about the man she's defending - and the senior partners of the firm. How deep will the conspiracy run? Will she have to abandon her true self to fulfill a higher calling? And how far will sh have to go to discover the truth behind a tragic cold case?"

I'm pleased to say I was not disappointed in the book. The author chose to write the book through the eyes of the primary character, Tammy "Tami" Taylor. Tammy was raised in the Appalachian Mountains and home-schooled by her mother until high school. Tami is a brilliant student, good athlete, & faithful to God and her family. She has strong convictions regarding her faith, respects the opinion of her parents and cares deeply about the feelings of others. During the course of this story, Tami finds that her faith, her integrity, and the trust in her co-workers are tested in ways she never experienced or expected.

Robert Whitlow's style of writing, his description of the scenes & characters, kept me interested in the story, and trying to figure it out, to the end. I was left with a desire to continue reading about Tami, to see where Mr. Whitlow would take her next. The second book in the series, "Higher Hope" has been added to my list of desired books. For anyone interested in reading well written Christian Mystery, I highly recommend this book.

Deeper Water is the first book in a new series by Robert Whitlow. This is an intriguing read - what I expected to happen didn't and what I never expected did. There is one small unanswered question at the end of the story that allows the reader to ponder and think it out. I've thought back on the story for days after reading the last page. Looking forward to the next book in this new series!

I was thrilled to find "Deeper Waters" was delivered earlier than I expected. I am a recent Robert Whitlow fan but I have read every one of his books. They are all fantastic, and this one was no exception. From the very beginning to the last page this book is full of twists and turns, believable characters, and woven through is a spiritual cord tying it all together. I loved this book and can't wait for the release of the next in the Tides of Truth Series.

I couldn't get into this book. It was nowhere near 4 stars. Reading it was like torture... I kept expecting it to get better and it never did. I found myself not caring what happened to any of hte characters. This could have been much better than it was.

Robert Whitlow did it again. Deeper water was so good and riveting I could hardly put it down. I was in the middle of another book when this arrived and the other book had to wait, I had to read Robt Whitlow first. He is the best, so may twists and turns and then reading how the "law field" works is so interesting. Now that I finished the book, Please Robert add another book to this story. I want to know who Tami picks and more on her life. I love how she keeps her faith no matter what. I really admire her. Your are so good and I'm sure you have many books in you just waiting to come out. I have read all of your books and not a bad one in the bunch. Keep it up pleeese. Love ya and your faith. Phyllis Xanders

As a Christian, I am so tired of annoying, unrealistic, shallow, judgmental Christians being portrayed in so-called Christian fiction. There's a reason I read so little of it, and it's because there are no realistic characters in most of those novels--as is the case in this one. Tammy Lynn Taylor thinks she knows what is Christian and what isn't, and her fear of men because she 1) might tempt them or 2) they might assault her is sickening. Maybe there are Christian girls out there like Tammy Lynn, but I've never met them.

And don't get me started on the portrayal of the book's single person of color--an uneducated, homeless, nearly-toothless Black man who couldn't speak proper English to save his life. Or the female character who is first and foremost "a Jew" in the narrator's mind.

Tammy Lynn, for all her noise of "I was wrong" and "I should repent" and constant feelings of guilt, never did any growing or changing in this book. And yet I'm supposed to believe she interested not one but two worldly & intelligent men?

Don't waste your time with this. If you want a good mystery, pick up Erica Spindler or even James Patterson. Whitlow's theology may be sound, but his characterization and application of that theology in fiction leave a lot to be desired.

Christy Award-winning author and attorney Robert Whitlow combines his professional expertise, Bible knowledge and strong faith to deliver DEEPER WATER, a legal drama set in the South. Like his character's aluminum johnboat, the storyline drifts slowly along for the first half as the scene is set and characters and complex relationships develop. Though this portion of the book lacks any page-turning action, it serves to bring us into the sharp mind and faithful heart of Tammy Lynn Taylor, a law student whose family ties and convictions will navigate her through the challenges of a summer internship at a prominent Savannah law firm.

In the prologue, we meet Moses Jones, a southern black man whose home is a piecemeal wooden shack on the Little Ogeechee River. His life is little more than a routine of collecting cans from town during the day and fishing by night. For all the world, Moses anonymously leads his simple life without a care. Below the surface, however, he conceals a secret that weighs heavy on his heart --- a secret that sometimes brings "faces" to the surface of the river's black water. When Moses is arrested for tying his johnboat to private docks at night, his case is put in the hands of a sweet, intelligent legal intern.

Tammy seeks the Lord's guidance in everything and follows through by opening her heart to His responses. As she traverses the murky waters of her profession, Tammy glides into Moses Jones and quickly uncovers a scenario far more sinister than a poor old man illegally tying his battered boat to people's docks. She wonders about his "faces in the water" and questions whether or not he may have put them there.

Further research leads Tammy to an unexpected source: the elderly woman with whom she is living for the summer. As more and more clues are revealed, Tammy is sure that the senior partners of her law firm are tied to her client in a cold case involving the murder of a young girl. Her friendships with three co-workers are complex, and doubts arise as to whom she can trust. Answered prayers and an interesting twist set the record straight as Whitlow ties it up in a neat little bundle, still leaving the readers to ponder a relational question.

Tammy's deep-rooted conviction is evident in every move and conversation, whether or not it leads to stares, persecution or simply awkward moments. Unwavering in her faith and as obedient to her parents as she is to God's laws, Tammy is almost unbelievable as a character. That said, I have to add that she is inspirational as well, and may lead readers to pause now and then for some self-reflection of society's influence on their own spiritual journeys.

--- Reviewed by Susan Miura

I'm usually not a fan of faith-based fiction and this book did nothing to change my opinion. The main character's faith renders her timid, rude, distrustful and suspicious. While I have happily read other books where the main character is unlikeable, because the other characters are written in such a way to compensate for that shortcoming, this was not the case with this book -- none of the characters were noteworthy or made me care about them. I couldn't even finish the book which is very unusual for me - I'll usually slog through to the end thinking, "It has to get better". This book didn't get better and I finally decided to stop wasting my time and deleted it from my Kindle - even free it wasn't worth it.

"Riveting!" If I had to pick a word to describe Robert Whitlow's newest book it would be riveting. If you only read one book this summer, Deeper Water has to be it. This is by far his finest writing and storytelling as he takes us to Savannah and into the life of another lawyer navigating her way through an internship at a prestigious firm in the deep south. Do yourself a favor, get the book and set down for a literary treat that will entertain and challenge you.

I couldn't finish. I only read 25% and found it uninteresting. Plus how do you like a 24-25 year old character who cries when she may have to move on the Sabbath Sunday because the owner is attending her friend's funeral? As a fundamental, born again Christian, church rules seem to be more important than serving God. Tami Taylor was more interested in meeting church protocol than addressing her house owner's grief. And just because a Christian woman dresses modestly doesn't mean she has to dress unattractively to please God. Sad that Tami doesn't understand the difference between serving church and serving God. I couldn't finish; the whole book and its characters were one dimensional and too shallow.