The Advocate

In addition to being an author, Randy is both a pastor and lawyer. He calls it his “Jekyll and Hyde thing.” You can guess which is which.  About twelve years ago, Randy began pursuing a passion to write. Tapping into his courtroom and ministry experience, Randy now pens legal thrillers designed to entertain readers while confronting them with biblical truths on controversial issues. His first novel, Directed Verdict, won the Christy award for the best Christian suspense novel. Recently, Randy was named a finalist, along with John Grisham and Michael Connelly, for the inaugural Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction sponsored by the American Bar Association and the University of Alabama Law School for the novel that best exemplified the role of lawyers in our society.

Randy is married to Rhonda and together they have two grown children. Rosalyn graduated from South Carolina Law School, clerked at the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and moved back to Virginia Beach to complete her hostile takeover of the Singer Legal Group. Joshua is a wrangler in Colorado headed to vet school. Rhonda teaches high school English and wonders how she ended up with two lawyers and one cowboy in the family. Fortunately Lambeau, the family’s black lab, keeps everyone sane.

You can connect with Randy via his website.

At the trial of Christ, Theophilus, brilliant young "assessore" raised in the Roman aristocracy, stands behind Pontius Pilate and whispers, "Offer to release Barabbas." The strategy backfires, and Theophilus never forgets the sight of an innocent man unjustly suffering the worst of all possible deaths--Roman crucifixion. Three decades later, Theophilus has proven himself in the legal ranks of the Roman Empire and has an opportunity for redemption. He takes the case of Paul of Tarsus, defending the outspoken apostle in front of Nero, Rome’s cruelest tyrant. Can Theophilus mount a defense that will keep another innocent man from execution? The advocate's first trial altered the course of history. His last will change the fate of an empire.

*You can visit HERE to read an interview between Randy and his publisher (Tyndale) about the writing of The Advocate.

My Thoughts:

I know you think I say this about almost every author, but Randy Singer is absolutely my favorite in the legal thriller genre...no really...he is!  His latest book The Advocate may be my favorite he's written yet and I'm sure I'll keep believing that until he writes his next one!

In The Advocate, Randy takes us back to biblical times to two of the most pivotal trials that too place:  the trial of Jesus Christ and the trial of Paul before Nero.  Randy's steller research and attention to historical detail is showcased in the story of a biblical character about which little is known beyond his name - Theophilus.  

Because of his ambiguity in scripture, it would be obvious that Singer takes some artistic liberties with Theophilus's life story.  However, Singer does this in such a way that the truthfulness of the overall scriptural picture and historical evidences of the time period are not compromised.  Theophilus's story as Singer tells it in The Advocate is gripping and one that you won't soon forget after turning the last page of the book.  It's about forgiveness both between man and between man and God and about the legacy we leave with a life that has been captured by the lavish grace of our Lord.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of review.

Happy Reading Ya'll,

Jennifer