Robert Whitlow has become a go-to author for me with his reliably entertaining legal fiction. Life Support did not disappoint with the elements that make Whitlow's books page turners: likable but complex characters, dramatic legal cases, detailed legal proceedings that drive the story without bogging it down, and a strong faith element.
In Life Support a young couple goes on a hike in a remote area. The wife, Rena, who struggles with issues from her childhood, pushes her husband over a cliff. Thinking he was dead, Rena calls the police to report his "accidental" fall. To her horror, he survives, but is in a coma. She finds a confidant and defender in Alexia Lindale, a lawyer for her husband's family. Alexia is forced to choose between the firm and Rena. She sides with Rena in a battle over maintaining her husband's life support, and becomes entangled in the whole family business.
Rena proves to be a difficult client who, Alex learns, tends to lie--a lot. Whitlow sets Alex up as a smart, effective lawyer. Her specialty is divorce, particularly uncovering husbands' lies as they try to cover up their activities and assets. So she's predisposed to believe Rena, who pulls the wool over Alex's eyes, showing Alex not to be as smart as we may have thought.
As with his other novels, Whitlow allows the characters' Christian faith to be an element in the story without cheapening either the story or the gospel. Alex meets a local music minister and, through his influence, finds faith. Together they experience the healing power of prayer. Not to give any spoilers, but before you read Life Support you should recognize that it's part 1 of 2. It ends with a major cliffhanger. I enjoyed it and, of course, immediately picked up part 2, Life Everlasting.
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