Custody of the State (Chambers of Justice Series #2) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Tim LaHaye called The Resurrection File—Craig Parshall’s first novel—“one of the most fascinating books I have read in years.” Parshall continues with Custody of the State, another legal thriller with tightly drawn characters, tense courtroom scenes, and the struggle of a man to bring his beliefs into real life.

Attorney Will Chambers reluctantly agrees to defend a young mother from Georgia and her farmer husband, suspected of committing the unthinkable against their own child. Soon he’s confronting small–town secrets, big–time corruption, and a government system that’s destroying the little family.

Chambers must ask, does God really protect us from evil?—as intimidation, backroom maneuvering, and the shadow of a national threat throw him into...the custody of the state.

Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736910263
• ISBN-13: 978-0736910262
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #393,067 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, March 3, 2003

By	Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

Struggling new Christian Will Chambers finds his faith tested in this second installment of the series. The state is after a young mother for allegedly poisoning her child. Fearing that she will lose the child and that the boy will die as the result of an undiagnosed condition, she flees, leaving her husband to face the consequences. Will reluctantly takes her case, having to fight all the way to save this family, and a baby's life. Not only is he spiritually challenged, but faces beatings and prison to do what is right.

Will's personal life is also in a muddle. His new love, Fiona's, career separates them often, and though he wants to marry her, the timing is just never right. Along for the ride are the other characters you met and loved in the last book; Jacki, his secretary, and even Tiny.

***** Christians who want a legal thriller on the order of Turrow or Grisham, but without sordid details, will find their answer here. Will Chambers is an excellent hero, one easily identified with as he struggles along in his journey. He is flawed and questioning, much like most readers, and will be someone with whom even non Christians can find a common chord. In fact, seeing his struggle to faith might win a few converts.

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Adventure with Will Chambers, June 5, 2003

By	S Lynn Harp (Orange, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Custody of the State is another interesting story that will keep readers pondering lifes big questions. Why do bad things happen to seemingly innocent people? Why does God allow corruption and deceit and how can people of faith trust God in troubled times?

Will Chambers, the main character in this story, once again offers the reader a picture of perfectly flawed humanity. It is hard to not love this character - and yet at the same time wonder how he doesn't suffer from some mental disorder! The guy is amazing...his ability to endure suffering, his innocence in certain situations and wisdom like a child in others.

The story itself is captivating and hearttugging at the same time. However, in my opinion Mr. Parshall's first book The Resurrection File was a tiny bit better. Custody falls just a little short of what I believe Parshall can produce. In Parshall's first book the characters were more solid whereas in Custody a few of the "supporting cast" didn't really have the punch that the first book carried. A few of the storylines in Custody were also not really needed and I think added a little more clutter to the story then needed to be. So because of this I'm rating this book - of the 3 other Parshall books I've read previously a 4.

However, even with a rating of 4 I still highly recommend this book because the court room scenes and airplane ride storyline is worth it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Winner!, April 5, 2004

By	Magster (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

CUSTODY OF THE STATE by Craig Parshall is the second in the Chambers of Justice series. Attorney Will Chambers continues to regain the ground he lost when he allowed alcohol and despair to pull him into the dark abyss of grief over the murder of his wife. He has had a spiritual awakening and is truly experiencing what it means to be born again.
Life gets hectic quickly as his reputation for championing lost causes spreads. He is on the verge of a break through in an international case involving terrorist activity against American missionaries when he gets an urgent plea to defend a Georgia farm family against charges of child abuse. Between these cases and getting his law practice back on track, he has little time to pursue the fair Fiona who played a big part in his recent conversion.
Once again the forces of good vs. evil are explored and we see that power hungry executives with the backing of corrupt politicians make a formidable foe; the very ones charged with protecting the innocent are part of the problem. This is the arena in which our hero, bolstered by his newly found faith, does battle. His determination never falters as he works to uncover the plot formed against the innocent young Fellows family.
Parshall draws from his twenty-seven years as a lawyer to provide authentic courtroom machinations and drama. The reader gets an inside look at the fine points of law and how they can be manipulated to serve the guilty as well as the innocent. (...)