Rating: 
Summary: The Book was too slow for my liking
Review: Although the author does show you that when you learn to trust the Lord, he "does" make the crooked way straight. "Mac" is one of many people who has lost hope in God when tragedy strikes and you lose those you love dearly. You do lose faith in God, but He also shows his compassion to "Mac" and to others that his LOVE runs deeper than we realize. The Lord "always" brings the right people into our lives, and brings victory when hit with defeat!!
Rating: 
Summary: It's not a "Trial" to read this great book...
Review: Attorney Kent "Mac" MacClain is on the brink--nine years earlier, he was at the wheel in a horrible accident that took the lives of his wife and children. Mac is having a spiritual crisis--feeling unable to deal with the deep pain and hurt the accident placed upon his heart and soul and decides the time has come to end his own lfie, when the phone rings in his office. He has been asked to take on the case of Pete Thomason, a man who is accused of killing Angela Hightower, the daughter of a family of high power and prestige in the small town in which Mac lives and works. Against Pete is not only a mountain of compelling evidence but also the fact that he cannot recall any details of the events leading up to the death of Angla.
Both men face a spritual crisis. Both men are fighting for thier lives.
So begins Robert Whitlow's second novel, "The Trial." After thoroughly enjoying his work on "Lfie Support" I was eager to find more of Mr. Whitlow's work. I'm happy to say that the great storytelling, character development and page-turning suspense of "Life Support" are also very much at work here in "The Trial." Whitlow balances a lot of separate story threads--Mac's spiritual crisis, his budding relationship with Anna Wilkes, a pyschologist who evaluates Pete, the story of Pete and what is happening to him in the prison and the pain and suffering of the Hightowers as they try to make sense of what happened on that night to take their daughter. "The Trial" is more than just a legal thriller, it's also a murder mystery that will keep you turning the pages to find out who did it and why.
But, as with "Life Support" the greatest parts of "The Trial" are not the moments in which we have the stunning revelations of who commited these acts and why, but insted Whitlow's character creations and the building of his setting for the novels. As with "Life Support" it's the little details that make this books so compelling to read. It's easy to see bits and pieces not only of yourself but people you might know in your daily walk in the characters who inhabit Whitlow's novels. Mac is a man who goes to church on Sunday, but his attendance is dictated on how the Gerogia football team did the following day and he has a Sunday School class full of fellow fans (and despite my beign a die-hard Tennessee fan, I didn't mind this too much...esp. since the Tenenssee-Georga game that Whitlow tells about his book has the Vols winning...but I digress). We see prayer circles that pray for Mac, we see Mac meet Anna and her young son, who awaken some long forgotten feelings deep inside him.. We see Mac serve as a mentor to a new young attorney and we see him fight for the life of his client. All of this while struggling with his own internal demons. Mac is a compellng character, as are all the characters in this novel. "The Trial" resists the urge to give us one-dimensional characters. Instead, each character is uniquely human with his or her own strengths and weaknesses, all of which are on display here in the novel.
"The Trial" of the title not only refers to the court case that Mac wants to win but the spiritual war that goes on in both his and Pete's soul. The novel features a lot of twist and turns, but Whitlow always keeps them grounded and feeling authentic, something that can be difficult to do.
The other great strength of this novel is that Whitlow superbly uses the elements of a typical Christian thriller and makes them fresh and new. He never strays into the cliches. As the novel progresses and certain events happen, they feel natural, coming out of not only the flow of the narrative but also on what we know about the characters from the previous chapters.
All in all, "The Trial" is a compelling and dynamic read. It is a novel that I heartly recommend to anyone looking for a great legal thriller inhabited by compelling and interesting characters. Whitlow has captured the imagination of this reader and I cannot wait to read the next of his novels. If I wasn't a fan before, I most certainly am now...
Rating:
Summary: It's not a "Trial" to read this great book...
Review: Attorney Kent "Mac" MacClain is on the brink--nine years earlier, he was at the wheel in a horrible accident that took the lives of his wife and children. Mac is having a spiritual crisis--feeling unable to deal with the deep pain and hurt the accident placed upon his heart and soul and decides the time has come to end his own lfie, when the phone rings in his office. He has been asked to take on the case of Pete Thomason, a man who is accused of killing Angela Hightower, the daughter of a family of high power and prestige in the small town in which Mac lives and works. Against Pete is not only a mountain of compelling evidence but also the fact that he cannot recall any details of the events leading up to the death of Angla.
Both men face a spritual crisis. Both men are fighting for thier lives.
So begins Robert Whitlow's second novel, "The Trial." After thoroughly enjoying his work on "Lfie Support" I was eager to find more of Mr. Whitlow's work. I'm happy to say that the great storytelling, character development and page-turning suspense of "Life Support" are also very much at work here in "The Trial." Whitlow balances a lot of separate story threads--Mac's spiritual crisis, his budding relationship with Anna Wilkes, a pyschologist who evaluates Pete, the story of Pete and what is happening to him in the prison and the pain and suffering of the Hightowers as they try to make sense of what happened on that night to take their daughter. "The Trial" is more than just a legal thriller, it's also a murder mystery that will keep you turning the pages to find out who did it and why.
But, as with "Life Support" the greatest parts of "The Trial" are not the moments in which we have the stunning revelations of who commited these acts and why, but insted Whitlow's character creations and the building of his setting for the novels. As with "Life Support" it's the little details that make this books so compelling to read. It's easy to see bits and pieces not only of yourself but people you might know in your daily walk in the characters who inhabit Whitlow's novels. Mac is a man who goes to church on Sunday, but his attendance is dictated on how the Gerogia football team did the following day and he has a Sunday School class full of fellow fans (and despite my beign a die-hard Tennessee fan, I didn't mind this too much...esp. since the Tenenssee-Georga game that Whitlow tells about his book has the Vols winning...but I digress). We see prayer circles that pray for Mac, we see Mac meet Anna and her young son, who awaken some long forgotten feelings deep inside him.. We see Mac serve as a mentor to a new young attorney and we see him fight for the life of his client. All of this while struggling with his own internal demons. Mac is a compellng character, as are all the characters in this novel. "The Trial" resists the urge to give us one-dimensional characters. Instead, each character is uniquely human with his or her own strengths and weaknesses, all of which are on display here in the novel.
"The Trial" of the title not only refers to the court case that Mac wants to win but the spiritual war that goes on in both his and Pete's soul. The novel features a lot of twist and turns, but Whitlow always keeps them grounded and feeling authentic, something that can be difficult to do.
The other great strength of this novel is that Whitlow superbly uses the elements of a typical Christian thriller and makes them fresh and new. He never strays into the cliches. As the novel progresses and certain events happen, they feel natural, coming out of not only the flow of the narrative but also on what we know about the characters from the previous chapters.
All in all, "The Trial" is a compelling and dynamic read. It is a novel that I heartly recommend to anyone looking for a great legal thriller inhabited by compelling and interesting characters. Whitlow has captured the imagination of this reader and I cannot wait to read the next of his novels. If I wasn't a fan before, I most certainly am now...
Rating:
Summary: COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN
Review: I read Robert Whitlow's first book, The List, and waited patiently for his next book. The Trial was worth the wait! Being from north Georgia (Mr. Whitlow practiced law in my hometown) made this book especially interesting for me. Whitlow has the amazing ability to spin mystery, suspense and spirituality into a novel that keeps the reader turning the pages. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a Grisham or Peretti fan. You will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping, Engaging and Inspiring!
Review: Move over, John Grisham! Now we get a suspenseful courtroom drama, engaging characters, an enthralling plot and a real-life look at the power of a loving God all in one book! Whitlow's first book, "The List" was a great read, but in "The Trial" his writing style has become smoother and more professional. The characters are real and believable, and they grow and change in a satisfying manner from the beginning of the book to the end. If you pick this book up, I hope you don't have any plans for the rest of the day!
Rating:
Summary: Gripping, Engaging and Inspiring!
Review: Move over, John Grisham! Now we get a suspenseful courtroom drama, engaging characters, an enthralling plot and a real-life look at the power of a loving God all in one book! Whitlow's first book, "The List" was a great read, but in "The Trial" his writing style has become smoother and more professional. The characters are real and believable, and they grow and change in a satisfying manner from the beginning of the book to the end. If you pick this book up, I hope you don't have any plans for the rest of the day!
Rating:
Summary: Gripping, Engaging and Inspiring!
Review: Move over, John Grisham! Now we get a suspenseful courtroom drama, engaging characters, an enthralling plot and a real-life look at the power of a loving God all in one book! Whitlow's first book, "The List" was a great read, but in "The Trial" his writing style has become smoother and more professional. The characters are real and believable, and they grow and change in a satisfying manner from the beginning of the book to the end. If you pick this book up, I hope you don't have any plans for the rest of the day!
Rating:
Summary: Whitlow is Amazing!
Review: Mr. Whitlow is the first author I have read with the ability to successfully combine mystery, suspense, and God in one story. Stephen King may be the master of suspense, Mary Higgins-Clark the queen of mystery and Nicholas Sparks may have the market on inspiration, but Mr. Whitlow has managed to combine all three elements in one story and the outcome is absolute entertainment. His characters unfold in a personal way and become people we would (or not) want to know, from the lawyer who needs a reason to stay alive to the accused that he strives to keep alive. A good mystery is challenging, suspense is invigorating and inspiration makes us feel good about life in general. This book pushes all three buttons at once and the result is . . . Whitlow. Mr. Whitlow's first book, The List, was equally entertaining. He has the ability to tell a story that might possibly be just an ordinary tale if not for the miraculous events that occur during the course of it. It is no secret that love of money and greed have been the downfall of many good men. This is the story of the evil forces behind that greed and the effects it has on several generation of families, all of whom are tied together by a secret, a "List." The main character, having just "inherited" the right to have his name on the List by the death of his father, is discovering the evil connected with it, and is forced to put his priorities in order and trust in God when making important decisions in his life. The friends who help him through this journey are unforgettable and the "prayer closet" is delightful. A great story of the goodness of our God and the mighty power of prayer.
Rating: 
Summary: The focus is not the criminal trial....
Review: My father-in-law recommended this title as a good book about lawyers. The basic part of the story is about a man who has been framed for the murder of powerful, local businessman's daughter. The main theme seems to be a bit larger than that however. As a "lawyer" story, it is ok. I found the routine they follow to get the evidence and make a case to be interesting. Much of it seems too good to be true though. For instance, they find a former soldier who helped frame the accused years ago. He agrees that what he has done is wrong and decides to clean up his ways (enters AA and tells the truth). This is a bit too easy. The larger picture is about Christianity and how it affects us. We see it personally in the lawyer's life and in the accused. Running counter to this trial is a church prayer group who records all the prayers and results. There is too much detail given for these sessions for this to be a side issue. These sessions, and how they turn out for the trial and the lawyer, are the main focus for the story. If you are looking for an intense crime story, you should probably look for someone like John Grisham. If you are looking for a religious story about inner triumph and the power of prayer, then this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: The focus is not the criminal trial....
Review: My father-in-law recommended this title as a good book about lawyers. The basic part of the story is about a man who has been framed for the murder of powerful, local businessman's daughter. The main theme seems to be a bit larger than that however. As a "lawyer" story, it is ok. I found the routine they follow to get the evidence and make a case to be interesting. Much of it seems too good to be true though. For instance, they find a former soldier who helped frame the accused years ago. He agrees that what he has done is wrong and decides to clean up his ways (enters AA and tells the truth). This is a bit too easy. The larger picture is about Christianity and how it affects us. We see it personally in the lawyer's life and in the accused. Running counter to this trial is a church prayer group who records all the prayers and results. There is too much detail given for these sessions for this to be a side issue. These sessions, and how they turn out for the trial and the lawyer, are the main focus for the story. If you are looking for an intense crime story, you should probably look for someone like John Grisham. If you are looking for a religious story about inner triumph and the power of prayer, then this book is for you.
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