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I have enjoyed Robert Whitlow’s legal thrillers in the past, so I couldn’t help picking up Chosen People. The premise fascinated me with its ties to terrorism, crime, and cultural and religious differences, and I enjoyed seeing the characters navigate through these aspects to uncover evidence for the lawsuit. While there are times when the cultural and religious explanations bog down and distract from the story, it is full of twists and turns (both predictable and not) that kept me guessing until the end. So, if you enjoyed Whitlow’s books or legal thrillers in general, consider checking out Chosen People—you might enjoy it.

Thanks to Celebrate Lit, I received a complimentary copy of Chosen People and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )

After a terrorist attack in Jerusalem leaves a young girl motherless and her husband grieving, Hana Abboud finds herself involved in an antiterrorist lawsuit where the elusive truth may change everything the young lawyer understands.

A tightly-woven plot, filled with twists, turns, and unexpected reveals, keeps the suspense building in this page-turner narrative. The characters are credible, the settings well-defined, and the story intriguing. Terrorism and homeland security make the narrative relevant to today; readers will find much to contemplate and to appreciate in this strong-on-faith contemporary Christian thriller.

Recommended. ( )

Two years ago, while on a trip in Jerusalem with her husband and young daughter, American tourist Gloria Neumann was killed in a terrorist attack. Now, lawyers Hana Abboud and Jakob Brodsky must take their investigation of this case from Atlanta to Jerusalem to seek justice for the Neumann family in Chosen People by author Robert Whitlow.

This was my first time reading this author who's been on my radar for a few years. The mix of heritages and ethnicities drew me to this legal drama, Jakob being Jewish and Hana being a Christian Arab Israeli living in America. I once read an enlightening memoir written by an Arab Orthodox Christian and Israeli-Palestinian-Arab citizen, so I was as interested in learning more about Hana's character as I was in finding out about the case at the center of the novel.

The reading was slow going for me, taking a few tries and about half the book before I really got into it. I didn't find the plot development as tight or gripping as I would have liked. The writing style isn't quite as sharp as I'll admit I expected, and certain explanations throughout the book are like little info-dumps.

One of the romantic storylines is rather rushed and trite, developed through clichés. It also seems to force (rush) the romantic characters into their ending. Unless a book is a romance novel where a certain kind of ending is mandatory, I think love stories are sometimes more poignant and believable when they're left a bit open-ended, without major, permanent commitments or a happy wrap-up that seems like it should have at least taken more time.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the international legal suspense in this novel. I'll likely read more by this author in the future.
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BookLook Bloggers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review. ( )

In a small square within walking distance of Jerusalem’s Wailing Wall, a mother and her young daughter are enjoying one another’s company while sharing an ice cream cone. Suddenly, two men attack, and a family is fractured. Another unholy act has tainted this holy city. ...more ( )