Book Review (+ Giveaway): Chosen People

12 Nov

About the Book

Book: Chosen People

Author: Robert Whitlow

Genre: Legal Drama

Release Date: November 6, 2018

Publisher: HarperCollins

Bestselling author Robert Whitlow dives deep into the legal ramifications of a tragic event half a world away and how it affects two lawyers in Atlanta from vastly different backgrounds.

When Hana Abboud walked into the conference room, she was unprepared for the images of a horrific terrorist attack near the Western Wall in Jerusalem. But after watching a courageous mother sacrifice her life to save her four-year-old daughter, Hana knew she needed to help attorney Jakob Brodsky represent the family’s pursuit of justice against those who perpetrate acts of violent jihad. As an Arab Israeli lawyer trained at Hebrew University, Hana is uniquely qualified to step into the gap.
But they need a third partner, an investigator on the ground to help them unravel the snake pit of connections between the terrorists and an organization or company that can be sued in the American courts. Hana returns home to Israel and meets with investigator Hamid Hasan who quickly becomes more than a crucial part of the litigation team.

As Jakob and Hana investigate the case in the US, he is stalked on the streets of Atlanta by affiliates of a terrorist organization. Their pursuit of truth can only be resolved where it began: the streets of Jerusalem. But who can they trust? How deep does deceit go? Can two lawyers and a shadowy investigator impact the kind of violence and terror that has become common in our broken world?

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Robert Whitlow is the bestselling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. He 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. Website: robertwhitlow.com, Twitter: @whitlowwriter, Facebook: robertwhitlowbooks

Guest Post from Robert

Inside the Story

Chosen People — a title that reflects both the Biblical designation for the Jewish nation as well as converted Christians—opens during a terrorist attack near the Western Wall in Jerusalem. A courageous mother sacrifices her life to save her young daughter, leaving behind a grieving husband and a motherless child.

Whitlow’s many trips to Israel and his in-depth research into the culture and laws of the Holy City are evident throughout the story. Furthermore, his experience as a lawyer gives him keen insight into the mind of his main character Hanna Abboud, an Arab Christian Israeli lawyer working in Atlanta.

“This book provides a unique perspective to this region and its peoples through the eyes of an Arab Christian who believes that the faithfulness of God and truths of the Bible are unshakable realities,” says Whitlow. “This viewpoint is rarely expressed, yet it is one that needs and deserves to be heard so that it can become part of our framework for understanding this vital part of the world and the people who live there.”

 

My Impressions:

Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors. In fact, he is also one of my husband’s favorites and one of my book club’s favorites. We are all very excited when a new novel is released. So it was with the great anticipation of a good read that I opened the cover of Chosen People. Oh, my goodness! Chosen People moves up to the top of the list for best book by Whitlow. This book has it all! It gets a highly recommended rating from me.

Chosen People is legal drama at its best — an intriguing case, determined attorneys seeking justice, and clients that deserve the best of outcomes. Add to this a timely backdrop of international terrorism, a mix of cultures and beliefs, and the setting of Israel, and you get a book that is sure to please the most discerning of readers. Whitlow has succeeded in bringing to life the vibrant world of modern Israel from the perspectives of Israeli Jew and Arab, and those who visit from other parts of the world. The lawsuit that main characters Hana, Jakob, and Daud pursue is a complex mix of American anti-terrorism laws, financial investigations, and dark underworld connections. It kept this reader engaged throughout. The early parts of the book deal heavily with the case, but it soon becomes apparent that there is danger for all who are connected to the case. And while I loved the intricacies of the law, the characters were the real star. I had several favorites, but it is Hana Abboud, an Israeli Arab Christian working as a lawyer in Atlanta, that captured my imagination. She is obviously skilled in her work, but her faith is real and alive and was inspiring on many levels. She cares for all people regardless of their ethnicity or religion. Hana indeed is a woman who lives out her faith in tangible ways. She describes it to her co-counsel in this way: . . . my relationship with God through Jesus is my core. I know that’s a religious statement, but it’s not just a belief or an idea; it transforms everything about who I am and how I relate to all people, regardless of who they are and where they come from.” (p.354). What a great statement! There are many powerful, faith-filled moments in this book that add a depth to an already excellent legal suspense novel.

My book club will be reading Chosen People in the coming months. I cannot wait to hear where our discussion will take us. Grab this book and some friends — you will want to talk about it when you are finished.

Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Blog Stops

Just the Write Escape, November 8

Genesis 5020, November 8

Multifarious, November 9

Real World Bible Study, November 9

The Power of Words, November 9

The Becca Files, November 10

Bibliophile Reviews, November 10

C Jane Read, November 11

Caffeinated Christian Raves – N – Reviews, November 11

Book by Book, November 11

Margaret Kazmierczak, November 12

By The Book, November 12

All-of-a-kind Mom, November 13

Painting with Words, November 13

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, November 13

Simple Harvest Reads, November 14 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)

Robin is Bookish, November 14

Texas Book-aholic, November 15

Moments, November 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 16

Mary Hake, November 16

Janices book reviews, November 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 17

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, November 18

Christian Bookaholic, November 18

Carpe Diem, November 19

Stephanie’s Life of Perseverance, November 19

A Baker’s Perspective, November 20

Inklings and notions, November 20

Bigreadersite, November 21

For The Love of Books, November 21

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, HarperCollins is giving away a grand prize of three finished Robert Whitlow books (to be chosen by the publisher)!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d73a/chosen-people-celebration-tour-giveaway

5 Responses to “Book Review (+ Giveaway): Chosen People”

  1. susiesellnergmailcom November 12, 2018 at 1:39 pm #

    Every review of Chosen People by Robert Whitlow I’ve read highly recommends it. That convinces me that I need to read it too. It sounds great!

  2. susiesellnergmailcom November 12, 2018 at 1:42 pm #

    When I click on the link to Robert Whitlow’s Giveaway for Chosen People, I see a screen that says it’s an invalid site. Could you please check the link. Thanks.

    • rbclibrary November 12, 2018 at 1:48 pm #

      Try the link now. I think it is fixed.

  3. RobbyeFaye November 12, 2018 at 2:33 pm #

    Great review!
    Thank you!

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Top 10 Tuesday — Best of 2018 | By The Book - January 1, 2019

    […] Chosen People by Robert Whitlow […]

Comments are closed.

%d bloggers like this: