Life Support
By Robert Whitlow
Published by Thomas Nelson
Life support is the first book I have read by Robert Whitlow. It provides a wonderful introduction to the author’s work.
The storyline involves Baxter Richardson, a recently married young man who has survived a fall from a cliff and is currently dependent upon life support. A legal and emotional battle soon results between Baxter’s wife and his father over whether life support should be maintained or terminated, bringing attorney Alexia Lindale into the picture. Many factors, both pure and evil, affect both sides. As additional information is revealed throughout the book, the reader is caught up in the emotional swings of the characters and their stories.
The novel is very well written and amazingly intriguing. However, from a Christian evangelical standpoint, a bit lacking in biblical content and truth. Being promoted by a publisher of primarily Christian material, I expected this book to point to the basics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (which is central to Christianity). However it falls short. This is not for lack of references to God or acknowledging credit of His working in the characters’ lives. This shortfall is in failing to present the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ alone as revealed through the Gospels of the Bible. Specifically, the only place in the story at where salvation is hinted is described as an experience alone, basing the believer’s “change of heart” on feelings alone and not necessarily on knowledge of the truth. Since this is the first in a series of books entitled The Santee Series, I hold out hope for more basic biblical Christian truths to be brought out in later books.
From a literary standpoint, I felt the content of the story includes a few unnecessary details. Though the characters personalities and lives are developed extremely well, physical settings are described in almost exhausting detail.
Recommend? Absolutely!
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See a preview of this book here.