Custody of the State

This is the second book of Craig Parshall's that I have read and I loved it as much as the first. His intricate story lines and real-life characters bring you into the story and hold on to you til the end... except you never want his books to end!

Ok, I've seen a couple of things with this book. Things like, "2nd book is 2nd best" and that there is better Christian fiction out there. Let's get real! While this wasn't the most original, and while it certainly wasn't "The Resurrection File", it was just as good, but in its own way. Craig Parshall is a whiz at what he does, and he does better at showing the human heart. We rejoin Will Chambers as he is dragged in a custody dispute, one where the odds are against him... BIG time! He goes from Virginia to Georgia to the rescue of Mary Sue Fellows and her husband Joe. Against their little boy, they are accused of the unthinkable. Diving deeper into this, it looks tainted. Will takes on everyone, and has to lick his wounds and keep pressing on. And if that weren't bad enough, we look at the struggle of his relationship with Fiona. Will Chambers is a smokin' gun! Get ready for some good twists and turns, but don't look to put it down once you've started! There's a plane scene in this book that has some good twists as well! Hey, with his first book, I thought Parshall had something pretty tough to compare with. In this, he shows he has the chops to make a case for himself, and he squelches all futile arguments about his work! Don't quit writing, Craig, we want to see more good work like this. Bring it on, and keep 'em coming!

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. (...)

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!

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.