From the streets of Atlanta to the alleys of Jerusalem, Chosen People is an international legal drama where hidden motives thrive, the risk of death is real, and the search for truth has many faces. During a terrorist attack near the Western Wall in Jerusalem, a courageous mother sacrifices her life to save her four-year-old daughter, leaving behind a grieving husband and a motherless child. Hana … motherless child.
Hana Abboud, a Christian Arab Israeli lawyer trained at Hebrew University, typically uses her language skills to represent international clients for an Atlanta law firm. When her boss is contacted by Jakob Brodsky, a young Jewish lawyer pursuing a lawsuit on behalf of the woman’s family under the US Anti-Terrorism laws, he calls on Hana’s expertise to take point on the case. After careful prayer, she joins forces with Jakob, and they quickly realize the need to bring in a third member for their team, an Arab investigator named Daud Hasan, based in Israel.
As the case evolves, this team of investigators will uncover truths that will forever change their understanding of justice, heritage, and what it means to be chosen for a greater purpose.
- First of the Chosen People novels (Chosen People, Promised Land)
- Christian fiction set in the USA and in Israel
- Full-length novel (over 120,000 words)
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This has been one of the most intriguing books I’ve read. It starts innocently about a law firm wanting to sue for the death of a woman. What entails is a much more in depth look at Islamic terrorism and details of a culture we very rarely get a peek into. The author is very versed in his description of Jerusalem. I walked beside the characters as they visited the empty tomb. I could feel the overwhelming peace as they each took a turn going into the room where the tomb was. The author has always been a gifted writer, but this book has shot him to the top of master story telling. The story is very detailed and I loved following alongside Hana as she investigated a tragedy that we only hear about on the news. The details of the crime were vivid and it enhanced the brutality of the murder. Hana is a very determined woman who impressed me with her faith.
I usually talk about the different characters in my review , but for this book I want to concentrate on the story itself. The author is very gifted in weaving a story about terrorism that involves a lawsuit that reaches far across the waters. There is definitely danger in the story and I wasn’t sure who to trust. The twists the author puts in makes the story suspenseful and one that keeps you on your toes. I have to say I felt like I was watching a movie because the authors words are so powerful and vivid. The saying ” A picture is worth a thousand words” would be almost perfect to describe the book. However the story is many more words that took me away to a realistic view of what terrorism and betrayal looks like.
I have often wondered what it would be like to visit Jerusalem and with the help of the author I felt like I was there placing my hand on the wall. I could hear the prayers that wailed from the people as they placed their hands upon the wall. Yes, I loved the book not so much for the characters, even though they were well written. I loved the book because the author doesn’t sugar coat anything in re guards to Jesus. He is not in your face about Jesus, but in a compassionate way, reveals how much Jesus loves all people. Yes I said all. The story is a good suspenseful book which keeps the tension going. The author has gotten my full attention with this outstanding story of deceit, loyalty, terrorism, compassion and chalked full of interesting facts about a country we all need to pray for.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Chosen People by Robert Whitlow is a stand-alone legal novel. Gloria Neumann is killed during a terrorist attack near the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Now, Jacob Brodsky, a Jewish lawyer, is pursuing a lawsuit on behalf of the family and needs help from Hanna Abboud, a Christian Arab Israeli lawyer based in Atlanta. The case quickly takes them from Georgia to the streets of Jerusalem where the risk of death is everywhere. I loved being able to travel along to Israel, a country I’ve not had a chance to visit. The encounters with all the secret organizations in Israel kept me interested to see what happened next. The spiritual content was expertly woven in with the story. The legal aspect of the lawsuit/storyline was handled very well. I was afraid that with this being a legal thriller that there would be a lot of legal talk, but there wasn’t. I wasn’t bored at all. It is a very well-written story.
I received this book from the Celebrate-Lit in exchange for my honest review.
This is the first book by Robert Whitlow that I have read and now I completely understand all the buzz surrounding his books. Though not my go-to genre, I have enjoyed well-written legal thrillers and Robert Whitlow certainly knows how to write an intriguing story full of suspense and plot twists, stemming from a horrible crime and a pending lawsuit. The narrative is somewhat matter-of-fact and slightly detached but the dialogue is funny and genuine and leads to development of the main characters. The plot and the setting take main stage in the book and you will be transported to a completely different world where each clue that is unearthed during the lawsuit investigation will leave more questions until the end.
The characters in the book are quite unique – Hana is a Christian Arab Israeli lawyer who is temporarily working in the US and Jakob is a first-generation Russian cultural Jew who works as a lawyer for the underdogs. They are both passionate about helping those who have no one to help them and get involved in trying to find justice and resolution for the family of a woman who was killed in a terrorist attack while visiting Israel. The author tackles the serious issue of terrorism as well as racism in this book. Hana’s faith is real and tangible and Jakob’s journey to faith is admirable and touching.
If you enjoy legal drama, you will definitely enjoy this book. I was given a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
My Penny’s worth
The book begins with the wisdom of an old man.
“This is for you,” Anwar said: “Tell me if it tastes sweet.” “Did you know that the Lord says to ‘taste and see’ that he is good?” “He wants his goodness to be as real to you as the sweet juice in your mouth.” Hana one of the main characters is called from a young age to walk with God all the days of her life. This calling, being a chosen person, has a great impact on her life and future career.
Lovely interaction with God’s word
Chosen People is littered with little trails that lead to God’s Word. They fit in with the storyline and rather than detracting from the action enhances it. I appreciated the setting which opened my eyes to Israel as I walked around the sites through the pages.
“A man who knew the Bible well might live in its pages as his connection with this life weakened.”
Yes it felt personal
I could feel the tension, the angst to “do something” for the victims of a cruel atrocity and I wanted the terrorists to pay for their crimes. The relationship between Counsel and Client became personal; I don’t know if this is something that could happen in a law case. Nonetheless, the bond drew me in.
“Regardless of what people say about the influence of mass media, human understanding takes place one person at a time.”
Did I understand the book?
I don’t know much about the legal system in America, but I do understand the desire to bring terrorists to justice. The tension was consistent throughout. However, I felt the ending happened quickly with all explanations tackled in one rushed finale.
I appreciated some of the info dropping
There is a comment by a Tourist Guide that spoke to me.
“Jesus wasn’t crucified up high on a hill, as is often depicted in paintings or movies. His feet were less than a meter above the ground, which made the contact between those suffering on the cross and their loved ones watching them die more intensely personal.”
Don’t forget the puppy.
Interspersed with the hunt for those responsible for the tragedy there were snaps of how well a puppy was doing at the Doggy Day-care Centre. I’m not sure that moved the story on at all, but it added light relief to an intense story.
Would I recommend Chosen People?
It is a tragic story and pulls at the heartstrings but it also informs and tackles difficult current issues. I think that this is a book that we all need to read and it is indeed one I could not put down.
*I received this book for free. No compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.*