Missing Witness

This is the fourth installment of the 'Chambers of Justice' series by Craig Parshall. Once again it features attorney Will Chambers caught up in an interesting case. In this one, his client, Jonathan Joppa, has inherited a very pricey island off the East Coast of the United States. The catch is that he only gets it if he can prove that one of his long dead relatives, Issac Joppa, was not guilty of piracy in the early 1700s. Isaac Joppa had been accused of being a crew member for the infamous Edward Teach (Blackbeard). Chambers is simply trying to have a relaxing summer getaway with his wife Fiona when she asks him to get involved in the case. Soon, he is consumed with this task. This case becomes very interesting as one might imagine. I have enjoyed all of the Chambers' books so far and this one is no exception. I would recommend it to anyone who has read the others in the series. For everyone else, I recommend starting with 'The Resurrection File' and proceeding from there.

Craig Parshall weaves an excellent tale blending history, fiction and Biblical truth. In recent years Christian Fiction has become a boone to the literary industry. Books and stories published by many are thin and underdeveloped reading more like witnessing tracts than novels. I urge anyone with a liking for Grisham to pick up Parshall.

MISSING WITNESS, book number four in the Chambers of Justice series, presents Will Chambers with the most difficult challenge of his career. Talk about cold cases! He has to prove that Isaac Joppa, who lived more than 300 years ago, was innocent of piracy. Despite the lack of historical documentation, Will begins this seemingly impossible investigation. He skillfully follows what few threads he has and starts to unravel the mystery that surrounds the most infamous dweller on the Reverend Jonathan Joppa's family tree.If Isaac Joppa's innocence can be proved, Reverend Joppa will inherit Stony Island off the coast of North Carolina, left to him by Randolph Willowby, a distant cousin who was also related to the alleged pirate. Of course there are those who benefit if Will loses the case. Enter the dastardly Blackjack Morgan, who is certain that the secret to Blackbeard's buried booty is hidden on the island. Morgan is a good ol' boy godfather type who seems to have everyone in his debt, including Judge Hawsley Gadwell who is trying this unusual case. But loyalty through intimidation seldom lasts and one wonders which of Morgan's lackeys will be plotting to betray him first. Once again Parshall comes through with a cast of fascinating characters played against a backdrop jam-packed with history, suspense and legal maneuverings. Will's beautiful wife, Fiona is having serious difficulty carrying their first child, there are intermittent chapters that detail Isaac Joppa's adventures, and there is the drama surrounding Reverend Joppa's struggle with his faith. These are back-stories that intrigue but never distract. Another winner for Craig Parshall.