The Mormon Candidate

by Avraham Azrieli

While investigating the murder of a Marine veteran at a motorcycle rally, reporter Ben Teller infiltrates the Mormon Temple and uncovers a dark secret that could determine the U.S. presidential elections.Initial Readers’ Reviews on out of 5 stars Great Political Thriller, July 23, 2012By T.J. D "TJ" (IN United States)The Mormon Candidate by Avraham Azrieli is a fast-paced political thriller that will have you wanting to turn the page until the very end.The book takes readers past politics and into the world of the Mormon Church. It is an eye-opening discovery of just what the church is about and why they choose to stay so secretive.While many political thrillers tend to rehash the same clichés, this book goes beyond a typical political thriller to provide the reader with a new angle. The Mormon Candidate is well written, and more importantly, well researched to present a realistic picture of the Mormon Church. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves political thrillers, but also to those who just love to read a good story.5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpectedly Good, July 22, 2012By heapI have to admit, I didn't think I'd enjoy this book; I practically knew nothing about Mormons, and all the books I've read on the same genre usually involve the Catholic Church. However, "The Mormon Candidate" was a surprisingly fresh and exciting take on politics and religion; I just had to finish it right away. Fluid and always interesting, this book just reeled me in with its unexpected twists, drama, and characters who are described so vividly I could imagine them next to me.5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps Your Fingers Crossed Till The End, July 21, 2012By Jude HickmannIt's been long time that I felt fully satisfied after reading a book. I should appreciate the way Avraham unfolds the mystery behind the motorcycle accident, the book is adventurous, and no dip in excitement. I basically have great interest in stories that speak about politics and Avraham exactly triggered this excitement in me. I would feel that all readers, after reading this book, would have experienced the same kind of feeling I had. I would again start reading this book and am sure even if we read multiple times, it will bring the same excitement as in the beginning. Avraham Azrieli had become one of my favorite authors.4.0 out of 5 stars Politically Relevant Action, July 20, 2012By Mitch Wyatt"The Mormon Candidate" is a rare book in that it manages to be both highly entertaining and highly relevant to the current political climate. Ben Teller's unyielding investigation of a suspicious accidental motorcycle death enhances the excitement of the overall story.Azrieli has done a staggering amount of research to make the facts of the book as accurate as possible. All of the scriptures listed, and the descriptions of individual aspects of the church are essentially dead-on.Considering the parallels of the book to real life, absolutely anyone who has any interest in politics or the Mormon Church will quickly find themselves taken away by this interesting story [].5.0 out of 5 stars Dan Brown and James Patterson Collide, July 19, 2012By Penny Brien (Higley, AZ United States)What an amazing story this is. It is the DaVinci Code of the Mormon Church with the James Patterson flair for adventure and mysterious twists. Don't start reading this book unless you have the time to finish it because once you start reading you won't be able to put it down. It enthralls you from the first page and sends you on a roller coaster of adventure.Ben Teller is a tenacious reporter who will just not let go of this story until he has all the answers and the twists and turns have the reader curious to know all the answers as well. Wonderfully well written and worth every bit of time expended in reading it. I would recommend this book to any one who enjoys authors such as Dan Brown, David Baldacci and James Patterson; because Avraham Azrieli is in their league.

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2012

About the author

Avraham Azrieli writes books and screenplays. His first novel was The Masada Complex (a political thriller), followed by the Israeli spy novels The Jerusalem Inception and The Jerusalem Assassin, as well as Christmas for Joshua (an interfaith family drama), The Mormon Candidate (a political thriller), Thump (a courtroom drama featuring sexual harassment and racism), and The Bootstrap Ultimatum (a mystery involving the commercialization of Memorial Day). More recently, he has written a series of novels inspired by the true story of the first woman to lead a nation in human history, starting with Deborah Rising (HarperCollins 2016), which won the 2017 Illumination Book Award for fiction, Deborah Calling (HarperCollins 2017), and continuing with Deborah Slaying and Deborah Striking. A prequel to the Deborah series, The Elixirist, was published in 2020. The Plot to Save America, a mystery set in an authoritarian America, came out in 2022.
Besides fiction, he has also authored Your Lawyer on a Short Leash - A Guide to Dealing with Lawyers and One Step Ahead – A Mother of Seven Escaping Hitler’s Claws, an acclaimed WWII true story, which inspired the musical By Wheel and by Wing.
While growing up in Israel, Avraham received an extensive Talmudic education and performed his mandatory military service in the IDF. After attending law school, he served as a law clerk at the Israeli Supreme Court in Jerusalem. He later earned an advanced law degree from Columbia University in New York City, served as a law clerk at the Federal District Court, and started his legal career with Davis Polk & Wardwell. He has advocated for clients before trial and appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court. He currently lives near Washington DC. Like Ben Teller, the protagonist in The Mormon Candidate and The Bootstrap Ultimatum, Avraham often rides his motorcycle in the mountainous forests of western Maryland.
To learn more, visit www.AzrieliBooks.com
Avraham Azrieli's Books:
The Jerusalem Inception - "Boldly realistic plotlines and genuine, well-developed characters. Highly recommended!" Yahoo News/Politics. "Protagonist Jerusalem Gerster is the quintessential recruit." NY Daily News.
The Jerusalem Assassin - "Action-packed escapade ... memorable cast of characters ... pages turn as fast as the plot twists and locales shift, taking the reader from Paris to Zurich to Amsterdam to Tel Aviv." Jewish News.
The Masada Complex - "Brims with gritty authenticity ... a genuine treat!" David Liss, author of Conspiracy of Paper, winner of Edgar. "Riveting portrayal of global intrigue!" Stella Pope Duarte, author of If I Die in Juaréz, winner of the 2009 American Book Award.
The Bootstrap Ultimatum - "The real magic here is Azrieli's incredible ability to create well-developed characters as well as his skill in knowing how to draw in his readers." Examiner. “Fast-paced action thriller ... but also full of heart. Sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats." Hollywood Book Reviews. "Riveting. It doesn't get any better than this, folks!!" Sun Francisco Book Review.
The Mormon Candidate - "Plotted like a cinematic thriller, Azrieli has come up with a very powerful novel. At work here is his extraordinary magic in making his readers as eager as his protagonist in uncovering the truth and thus effectively creating pervasive fear and suspense. Sure to keep you up late against your better judgment. Don't say I didn't warn you." Norm Goldman, Examiner.
Thump - "A light-hearted romp through sexual proclivities ... the characters are lovable ... the irreverence is delightful. Thought-provoking. Interesting. Unconventional. Recommended!" U.S. Review of Books.
Christmas for Joshua - "In its own gentle way, the book is as much a page-turner as Azrieli's thrillers - pulling the reader into complex personal and familial conflicts." The Jewish Journal.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Azrieli tackles a completely different (and somewhat foreign) topic in this novel, the elusive Mormon Church and the secrets that surround it. Ben Teller, amateur investigative reporter, witnesses a fatal motorcycle crash while riding one Sunday afternoon. His investigative nature forces him to begin trying to piece the larger story, unsure what he hopes to find. What, at first, looks like a suicidal event or even a freak accident that cost Zacharias Hinckley his life soon becomes a mystery with strong political ramifications. A secret document on Hinckley's person ties presidential candidate Joe Morgan into the centre of potential powder keg, all related to a ceremony held sacred by the Mormon Church. Morgan, a devout follower, led a campaign of baptism of the dead to save the souls of many military veterans, posthumously, into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS Church). As Teller peels back many of the secrets held by the Church, he learns that this campaign runs all the way to the uppermost hierarchy in Salt Lake City, while discovering that the LDS Church will stop at nothing to keep their secrets under wraps. An explosive political thriller in which Azrieli uses his wit and great research abilities to draw the readers in from the get-go. Not to be skipped by any curious reader, this one will open the reader's eyes and mind.

Azrieli's publication of this book is surely not coincidental with the 2012 Presidential Election in which Mitt Romney played a key role. While I cannot draw any further ties between Joe Morgan and Mitt Romney, this is surely an interesting parallel, whose fallout might give US voters something on which to chew in forthcoming campaigns. Azrieli approaches the LDS Church and its tenets not in a mocking way but shares the information for the reader to digest. Much of it lies outside the mainstream, which may be the precise reason for sharing it, but it also opens many doors of curiosity and wonder that are worth exploring. The novel's central focus, baptism of the dead, is far from the only controversy discussed, but it does receive an extensive discussion, offering both sides of the argument for digestion. I am certainly much more interested in learning more to whet my appetite, but Azrieli has surely opened a mental Pandora's Box. What a wonderful way to pique the reader's interest.

Kudos, Mr. Azrieli for this. As always, you know just how to make the reader feel important and thoroughly captivated.

[Leanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like reading David Baldacci and Dan Brown you will absolutely love this book! The Mormon Candidate includes exciting plot twists, interesting characters and well-researched and detailed historical facts. I found this book to be an extremely quick read...just couldn't put it down! I was impressed with the amount of detail, as well as the fast-paced plot. This book has all the ingredients to make a "Best Seller". The beginning chapter did not immediately draw me in...but give it a chance, once you delve into the book you won't want to put it down. The book reminded me of Dan Brown's DaVinci Code with both an exciting mystery plot tied in with interesting historical detail. This book is a political thriller following reporter Ben Teller, a photographer/journalist that happens upon a mystery in the making as he photographs an accident scene. What follows is a plot full of twist and turns with a few twists you don't even see coming! Interesting details about the Mormon religion as well, although members of the LDS church may not be happy with the information. Loved the book, can't wait to read more from this author!

[Steven Loosle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good book, but needed more research before writing.

I really like Avraham Azrieli writing style. He has a way of bringing you into the book. He is a good story teller. Writing is easy to read and follow the storyline.

Without giving away any of the story - he is a good thriller writer. Except for the inaccuracies (see below) it was a pleasure to read and hard to put down. This book would have received a higher rating if the LDS Church was put in a more accurate light.

I wish he would have spent more time researching the LDS (Mormon) church. As a member of the church the inaccuracies were very hard to overcome. Every time the story took you to something about the church, there were inaccuracies, some small, most large and plainly wrong. I get the feeling that he interviewed ex- members of the Church and incorporated some of their hurt feeling and experiences into the the book - as the church was painted in negative broad strokes.

Aside from the incomplete research on the LDS Church - the book is good.

[John Shaw · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story was fun, but as a Mormon the inaccuracies of depiction of the LDS Church were difficult to get over. I've served in Bishoprics, I've served in Stake Presidencies... this is not the Mormon Church. Certainly there are peculiarities, yes, maybe a quirky culture that is very self-obsessed, but the largest history of major issues in this country, politically, we're pretty independent. Orrin Hatch / Harry Reid - Just to show the contrast.

[Rena B. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Doctrine: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Doctrine misrepresented.
Readers, go to the source if you are seeking truth.
Major false observations -
Read 13 Articles of Faith
We are taught to obey the laws of the land.
NO BISHOP WOULD. REQUIRE ANYONE TO STEAL.
HUSBANDS AND WIVES ARE JOINT HEIRS
We can and DO think for and make personal life and family decisions ourselves individually and as families.
A very sorry evaluation of L.D.S. Church standards and doctrine.
That "star" rating should show a minus 10.

[SteveO · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such poor writing and such bad research done in preparation. Could have been a great book but it’s terribly shallow. The characters are inconsistent, the “facts” and culture missed the mark. Unfortunately the author’s imagination and writing are dull. It was really hard to finish this one.

[Carl Hague · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping read

Fascinating storyline well plotted with an almost unbelievable reveal of the beliefs and rituals of the Mormon faith. Can this all be true?

[Mal Warwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

About the Mormon Candidate Running for President (No, Not That One)

Somebody had to do it, and Avraham Azrieli couldn’t resist. An author of several previous novels of intrigue and suspense, Azrieli decided to write a thriller in 2012 about — you guessed it! — a Mormon candidate for President of the U.S. One who, by the way, had a long and successful career in business as the head of an investment banking firm and served as governor of a state beginning with the letter M (Maryland, of course; what did you think?).

Naturally, this being a thriller, something awful happens to set the plot in motion: an ex-Marine loses control of his motorcycle on a treacherous mountain path above Camp David and is tossed to his death on the rocks below. Conveniently, Azrieli’s protagonist, a freelance journalist named Ben Teller, witnesses the tragedy, and he alone seems to know that the veteran’s death was no accident. Teller’s search for the killer — a mysterious white-clad biker on a white Ducati, whom everyone calls a “ghost” — soon leads him into conflict with the Mormon Church and (you guessed it again) the Mormon candidate himself, Joe Morgan.

Azrieli’s writing style is workmanlike though unexciting. Unfortunately, his skill at plotting isn’t even up to that modest level: the incident on which the plot turns — an incident that threatens Joe Morgan’s candidacy — is hard to take seriously because it seems so trivial, and the climactic plot twist that’s supposed to surprise the reader is obvious less than halfway through the book. As a thriller, then, The Mormon Candidate is not up to snuff.

However, it seems that Azrieli is far less concerned about the integrity of his fiction than he is about the accuracy of his research and reporting. That’s what makes The Mormon Candidate worth reading. For a reader (in this case, myself) who knows next to nothing about the Church of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) and its beliefs, the book is a (pardon the pun) revelation. I always wondered what went on inside those gleaming white temples! I think I have a fair idea now.

Through much of the book, Azrieli appears to be building up to a broad denunciation of the LDS church. For example, Ben Teller is finding it difficult to understand why people make such a fuss about Mormonism. From his perspective, that of a non-observant Jew, one religion is about the same as any other. An ex-Mormon tries to explain: “‘Look around you! Mormons control huge corporations, banks, the media, even Congress.’”

“‘That’s the same ugly stuff bigots say about Jews,’ Teller says.

“‘Jews are nothing compared to us. Jews have no central authority, no hierarchical structure, no single strategy they must follow. Jews are individual entrepreneurs. Jews go after personal goals, their own ideas and opinions. Latter-Day Saints can’t do that. We’re told to obey our bishop. The Mormon Church is like an army with a clear chain of command and an army of loyal soldiers.’”

Despite the build-up, however, The Mormon Candidate presents a surprisingly well-balanced view of a minority religion that has assumed far greater importance — politically, economically, and socially — than its limited numbers would suggest.

(From www.malwarwickonbooks.com)

[Phaedra Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this story is a work of fiction. It caught my attention, I loved the characters, it made me laugh at times, cringe at times, very proud of our veterans, and more interested in learning more about the Mormon faith. I don't feel that the author was "Mormon Bashing", I feel that I read an entertaining work of fiction that has some parallels or similarities to real world events, and though I read that the author did a lot of research and tried his best to represent what he learned about the Mormon Church, it does not mean that I feel that everything he wrote is the way things really are, and I certainly won't look at Mormons with suspicion or distrust just because I read this book. I read for entertainment, to hear a good story, and to be taken away from "real life"....I don't need to feel that the story is 100% believable to enjoy it and appreciate the story that the author is trying to tell.

Avraham Azriel's character, Ben Teller, is a free lance reporter that stumbles across a motorcycle accident. His penchant for asking questions leads him into a thrilling story centered around politics and religion, and the end result is a fast paced story line that captured my attention and imagination from the very first chapter. I found myself caring about many of the characters, especially Ben Teller and his girlfriend, and hoping for a good outcome to the story. I certainly wanted Ben Teller to find justice for the motorcycle accident victim, hoped his girl friend would stay safe, and having once lived on the east coast I found myself missing the countryside of Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

If I had one complaint about The Mormon Candidate it would be that I thought the story came to an abrupt end. I was not satisfied with the way that things ended and I expected Ben Teller to be more of a fighter. I would have liked to see more justice for the victim of the motorcycle accident victim, and felt that some of the story lines should have been completed a bit more....I dislike feeling that there are loose ends to a story. It almost seemed as if Azriel ran out of steam at the end of the story.

I liked the story well enough that I will read this authors other works. The story and it's characters reminded me a bit of works by Dan Brown, Nelson Demille, and James Patterson.

[Christina Depuy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mormon Candidate, by Avraham Azrieli, is the author’s fifth published fictional novel. The main character, Ben Teller, is introduced as a full-time, freelance journalist-photographer and a part-time sleuth. Readers are quickly brought to the scene of the crime, as Teller witnesses a motorcycle accident at a Veterans parade and returns later to find the deceased’s iPod, complete with a private journal app.

Teller identifies the dead motorcyclist as Mormon Marine John Hinckley, with connections to the novel’s Mormon presidential candidate, Bishop Joe Morgan. What unfolds is a religious and political scandal, filled with murder, mystery and intrigue.

Highly descriptive settings provide a vivid backdrop, but character introductions were somewhat lacking in detail. By far, the best parts of the novel are Hinckley’s journal entries. Azrieli provides a balanced and fascinating understanding of Mormonism through Hinckley’s experiences; and while I had initially felt somewhat disconnected from the characters, Hinckley’s character had me committing to the text. I was intrigued by his unwavering faith, and also saddened by his obedience to it.

I did feel that the women in the text were somewhat underdeveloped, and lacking in diversity. Keera, Teller’s girlfriend, works at a strip club at night and is a med student by day. She appears as an overly emotional, nagging-for-marriage-and-babies girlfriend that I felt didn’t connect with her level of intelligence and career path. As an avid reader and female, I enjoy strong female characters with realistic personalities, and find women that are diverse and modern the most interesting characters. Especially when they are paired with intelligent male leads, like Ben Teller!

At its finale, the text leaves readers with pressing moral questions, which is what makes a good book great. How do we marry our faith with our morals? And what choice do we have when the two contradict? What does a faithful person do when asked to dishonor another’s belief, especially when their own is so often misunderstood? All in all, this was an excellent read, with a plot that held my attention until the very end!

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published coincident with a presidential election pitting an incumbent, liberal President being challenged by a conservative, one-term former governor who is Mormon, there are many interesting and current reasons to read this book. However, it is a truly novel and has all the elements of a very unlikely set of circumstances and coincidences that comprise modern fiction. That said, it’s a great read.

Azrieli has woven enough fact into his fictional tale to make it believable and created enough pace to make it compelling to read. It is a novel of intrigue and suspense and is, by definition in this reviewer’s experience, a page-turner. From the start of the book, the reader is drawn into alliance with a character who is rather difficult to develop sympathy. Ben Teller is a minimally-employed, essentially-agnostic, self-declared investigative reporter with a medical student stripper for a girlfriend and a series of stereotypical allies (a wheelchair-bound editor, lesbian policewoman friend, dissident religionists). Yet even the most biased reader will cheer for this protagonist who seeks the truth (not the “faith-promoting truth”) about the death of a fellow Harley rider. Through well-researched efforts and a comprehensive supporting bibliography, Azrieli presents the shadowy world of politics, religion, and suspense with enough plot twists to be captivating.

This book is not in the form of literary novel yet is very well written and draws in the reader from the beginning. In short, is it recommended reading, especially for an escape (but not too far) from current events.

Disclosure of Material Connection: This book was received for free from the author, along with a nominal stipend, but a positive review was not required. The opinions expressed are my own. This disclosure is in accordance with the United States Federal Trade Commission’s “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Iona Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free in return for a review.

This is not the type of book I would normally read. Nevertheless, I found it extremely readable – perhaps slightly hard to get into, but the story quickly gathered pace.

Ben, a motorcycle enthusiast and free-lance journalist, is witness to a fatal accident which he finds suspicious and immediately begins to investigate. Ben has a girl-friend, Keera, and an associate who can support him, but he works alone. Solving the mystery of the dead man, who proves to be a Mormon, leads to attempts on Ben’s life, and it soon becomes clear that the Mormon Church, including the Republican Presidential candidate, is strongly involved.

We are advised of all the noxious details of Mormonism, including shocking facts about the practice of baptizing the souls of the dead (millions of them) into the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, thus grossly transgressing their boundaries.

This book is absolutely topical in view of the forthcoming Presidential election in the US, where as in the book a sitting Democratic President is opposed by a Republican Mormon candidate.

Despite my lack of interest in motorbikes and their obscure workings, or churches of any denomination, I found the book to be a bit of a page-turner, also owing to its short chapters and excellent writing (except for a few glitches).

I would recommend this book for those who like political thrillers or the like and/or are interested in learning more about the Mormon faith. The writer has obviously done much research into Mormonism.

(P.S. To satisfy my own curiosity I tested both the Mormon Church and this book according to the late David R. Hawkins’ Map of the Scale of Consciousness. I can’t guarantee the correctness of my testing, but the result I got for the Mormon Church was 199 – just below the level of Truth, which is 200 – while Avraham Azrieli’s book tested at 467, perhaps surprisingly high.)

[Cole Parry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Azrieli writes the story of Ben Teller, a freelance journalist and photographer who uncovers a dark, complicated conspiracy in the midst of the US presidential election. Teller's journey to uncover the truth leads him into the annals and history of the Mormon faith, with not a few surprising twists and developments.

The extensive research the author conducted about the Mormon Church and faith allows him to provide a robust history about the religion throughout the novel, which reads both as a suspenseful thriller and insightful guide to an opaque, uniquely American faith. The not-so-subtle parallels to the 2012 presidential elections give a wonderful context to the reader, and "The Mormon Candidate" at times almost has an 'alternate history' feel to it. More so, the novel gives an detailed and balanced view of Mormonism in America in the midst of an exciting story, one that certainly compelled me to keep the pages turning.

Of course, there is a clearly defined separation of fact and fiction, but Azrieli's piercing and direct writing style inspired me many times while reading to do a research myself - and a quick search confirms that the author certainly did his homework before writing this political thriller. At a time when the Mormon faith is coming more in the social and political spotlight of this country, this novel sheds light on some of the lesser-known rituals, particulars, and controversies of a religion foreign to many Americans, yet embedded in the culture of this country. Always-exciting and packed with intrigue, "The Mormon Candidate" is a wonderful, exciting read.

[Kimberly Burnham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Avraham Azrieli's books in general.
The Mormon Candidate

The Mormon Candidate is in my Jewish Intersections series because it is a fictional look at an edge where Jews and Mormons (LDS) or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints intersect.

In a delightful fast passed mystery, Azrieli highlights the LDS practice of baptism for the dead and the views within some Jewish communities of these practice being applied to Jews who have passed away.

The book also highlights the very different views on conversion between Jews and Mormons. The LDS church sends missionaries all over the world to convert people and does baptisms for the dead in hopes that people in heaven will convert. Jews for the most part never try to convert anyone and in fact have a convention that states, anyone choosing to convert to Judaism must be denied three times to ensure that they are converting of their own free will and really want to be Jewish.

Here are some other blogs on the intersection of Judaism and the LDS church or Mormonism.

Mark Pardes: Mormons and Jew blogs
http://www.jewishjournal.com/jews_and...
Mark Pardes Can Believing Mormons become Jews? Blog Online http://www.jewishjournal.com/jews_and...
Mark Pardes (Aug 5, 2013) Conversion: Spirit vs Reason Blog Online http://www.jewishjournal.com/jews_and...

[Des · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a little NCIS meets Sons of Anarchy style Sister Wives. If you know what those are, your interest should be peeked.

Azrieli introduces you to the Mormon religion in this thriller. It is a fun and interesting read. If you do not know much about being Mormon then you will be at even more of an advantage here as you will be surprised at how the story unveils.

Here, the presidential candidate, Joe, is Mormon ,which clouds him in a mystery. But with the US having had its own Mormon Presidential candidate (Romney) and so many celebrities in Scientology, the cloud of mystery was not too foggy for me.

I have been reading Azrieli’s works lately so to compare to other novels of his I can assure you that the well written descriptive prose is present but I found this one less though provoking, though I do not mean that in a bad way. Given that other pieces I have read of his were historical fictions based around true events, I found myself researching the events surrounding those novels. While I appreciate the curiosity he instilled in me with the other novels, with this book I did not need any outside information and I enjoyed that as well. Perhaps if I were rigid with thoughts of religion or not knowledgeable about the LDS church I would have had the same intellectual stimulation his other novels provided me. Don’t get me wrong, posthumous baptism practice was quite intriguing.

As usual with Azreili, this book is suspenseful but seemingly very accurate. His writing is believable and not boring. I definitely suggest the Mormon Candidate to anyone!

[Alicia Fawcett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mormon Candidate was an unexpected pleasure for me. My normal genre is historical fiction and this political thriller was a refreshing slight change of pace. My expectations going into this book were that it would lean to far on the political side or to far on the religious side. Neither were the case. The Mormon Candidate is a perfect blending of suspense, great visualization, and some unbiased political and religious aspects. It actually left me wanting to learn more about some of the topics involved. You can tell the author did extensive research. Writing style wise, Azrieli does a great job including unpredictable surprises and creating a picture of the scenes and characters that make you feel as if you are right there. "Her nordic face was almost beautiful, marred only by a red scar that divided the right cheek. Her blue eyes were cold, and her blonde hair was tucked under the white baseball cap." pg 315. Just one example of his ability to vividly describe while allowing you to still make it your own story. Character development was timely and both the characters and issues in the book can be related to no matter what your beliefs. It feels like an easy read and makes you want to keep going without putting the book down. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I look forward to reading his other books.

[Jack Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

The novel was clearly very well-researched and it was a gripping read, even if at times I felt the characters were somewhat cliché in favour of plot advancement and the narration of said research.
I can't speak to its accuracy re the LDS church, not being a member myself, but it doesn't pull punches expressing the author's opinions on such and as such reads similarly to Dan Brown's work as pointedly political fiction.

If you read for characters over plot, then this might not be the novel for you, as at the beginning especially I felt the characters were mere conduits for the narration of a story, rather than having any depth or individuating characteristics themselves. Keera especially seemed to slot too easily into 'girlfriend who wants to get married' with no other distinguishing features (besides her race, which became relevant at the end), and some of the 'crises' (the final confrontation with Ghost, for example) were a disappointing break in the complexity and suspense maintained otherwise as I felt they resolved surprisingly easily.

But if you read for plot then it's a solid choice, gripping as political fiction, and clearly written by someone who loves biking (the descriptions and detail of which I did really enjoy reading) and speaks movingly of veterans & war. I read it in one evening and wanted to see how it ended.

[Shirley Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

An historical behind-the-scenes socio-religious take on the most recent presidential race in the United States, The Mormon Candidate explores the faith-based motivations driving the Mormon Church’s aggressive campaign for powerful presence and position in federal government offices. In a country where separation of church and state has become increasingly less clearly delineated over the past 20 years, the reality of a president-elect and his/her administrative staff imposing sectarian creed upon the citizenry is frighteningly possible, a point of emphasis in this tale. Well researched documentation embedded in a fictional construct of a freelance photographer who unwittingly stumbles upon a seedy political scheme shrouded in spiritual secrecy, this books sends a chilling message about the lengths to which people of any persuasion are willing to go to gain political influence, control and absolute power, made all the more disturbing by the fact that Azrieli’s power-mongering characters are white-robed entrenched members of the Mormon hierarchy who effortlessly pull the wool over the eyes of the voting public by just telling them what they want to hear. Beware false prophets, indeed, and their misguided, brainwashed, ignorant, blindly loyal adherents – the most dangerous of men. Another fascinating study in human nature through the warped lens of religious perspective…

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mormon Candidate by Avraham Azrieli is a gripping novel with a whirlwind of conspiracies that meet the reader right from the beginning. The first chapter of the novel leaves you wondering in which direction the story is going to go, it has a slow introduction to the main character Ben Teller. Once the reader is introduced to Ben Teller the story picks up pace and you are thrown into his investigation.

Ben Teller who is a freelance journalist uncovers a mystery that goes far beyond just a road side accident that ends with a fatal causality, he is thrown into uncovering a secret about the presidential candidate Morgan. The novel flows well between the different point of views that you encounter such as the one between Teller and Zachariah Hinckley’s journal, Hinckley who died in the motorcycle accident made it his goal for the secret to come out in some way. The novel takes you on a journey into the secretive aspects of the Mormon religion. While all the aspects may not hold any truth to them, like a true work of fiction though it immerses your mind into a world where this could all actually be a reality which is how a good fiction book should be. This book would appeal to anyone that enjoys reading investigative thrillers.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book accidentally last year during the US Presidential campaign when I was researching Mitt Romney, then "the Mormon candidate" for office. On a whim I decided to pick the book up based on the author's other favorable reviews, and I'm very glad I did. It's a page-turner of the highest order, on par with Robert Ludlum's BOURNE saga.

Ostensibly the book focuses on a journalst, Ben Teller, researching the sudden death of an ex-marine, Zachariah Hinckly, on a mountain pass atop Camp David. Without giving away too much of the plot, suffice to say that Teller correctly believes there to be foul play afoot, and his investigation leads him to some grizzly discoveries about the US presidential candidate, Joe Morgan, a Mormon, and his religious affiliations.

For avid news junkies, Azrieli's novel recalls past political turning points such as JFK's assassination and, more closely, Princess Diana's untimely death amid paparazzo frenzy. His style is engaging and the pace with which the action unfolds makes this a book that's hard to put down. It's a timely read that even after the 2012 election cycle, in large part to the author's attention to what makes a great political thriller.

[Thai-phi Duong · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading a solid three chapter of this story, I found myself quite appealed by what this story aims at. The choice of words, specifically the adjectives are very comprehensive and creates a deep suspense that simply can not be acted out with typical human expressions. The adjectives of every item planted in the story from motorcycle to even the description of character reaction is remarkable. Of course this means the story is not perfect for everyone, because the topic is the mixture of the standard government versus religion. Although the religion aspect did appeal to me, due to its high capacity of creativity, the governmental aspect is rather, typical and it is simply not the stories fault, but more of the aspect of it is difficult to be creative with government because government ideals is hard to appeal to audience members. The story does not leave any "gods-hand" strategy where the author plants objects for convenience which is a very good thing and does indeed have readers read the story multiple time to make sure of that. Everything is used well and objects planted are described effectively. Overall I give this story a 4/5 with the one point in loss simply because the governmental aspect was not creative enough. Great book overall though.

[Jennifer Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The classic action mystery gets off the ground quickly and only slows so you can catch your breath from time to time. At first I found myself questioning why the rebel reporter was so interested in the fatal motorcycle accident that fills the 1st chapters but as you get to know, Ben, the main character and protagonist, you realize that extreme inquisitiveness is part of his inherent nature. Aside from that little bump in the road, the story unfolds easily and moves from character to character and point of view easily. I am reminded of the Dan Brown novels in the manner that the story plays out.
The plot twists and turns are fun and add a great deal of intrigue. Who can be trusted? Who’s not who they seem to be? All great fun!
The research is impressive as the LDS church is notoriously secretive and Mr. Azrieli has done his homework .I learned some new things along the way and that’s the best kind of a read for me. I enjoyed noticing the similarities between some of the players and recent real people on our political scene. The bibliography at the end is great if you’ve a mind to pursue a little research of your own.
The Mormon Candidate

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mormon Candidate by Avraham Azrieli is a fast-paced political thriller that will have you wanting to turn the page until the very end. Ben Teller, a freelance photojournalist comes up on a motorcycle accident during a veteran's ride, but soon Ben discovers that there is much more to this accident than meets the eye. With clues put together from the crime scene, Ben must discover what the dead man's mission was and follow it through.

The book takes readers past politics and into the world of the Mormon church. It is an eye-opening discovery of just what the church is about and why they choose to stay so secretive.

While many political thrillers tend to rehash the same cliches, this book goes beyond a typical political thriller to provide the reader with a new angle on the privileged few who consider themselves the best of best, waiting to serve the people in the office of the president. The Mormon Candidate is well written, and more importantly, well researched to present a realistic picture of the Mormon church. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves political thrillers, but also to those who just love to read a good story.

[Carolann Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, The Mormon Candidate is difficult to get into – mired in details - but then it becomes very entertaining. As the story evolves, the scenes shift more at a pace for a television show than for a novel. So it ends up being an exciting mystery investigation.
The start is boring with academic explanations of motorcycle parts, motorcycle driving, Mormonism, Mormon history, brief medical student view and traffic routes somewhere in the DC, Maryland area.
But I like the details about the religious rituals and the comparison of religions. The way the characters talk about their different views of Mormons and anti-Mormons is realistic.
The main characters are likable and developed. The plot is complex and the story could be expanded to develop the “bad guy” characters and create a piece of literature and a better reading experience.
In the end, it is an entertaining story with details about Mormonism and a world that I would never known anything about – and despite a negative view of the religion, there is enough information so that I think the religion is rightfully and faithfully followed by those who believe in it.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not sure what to expect when I began reading The Mormon Candidate but as soon as I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. One of the main protagonists is Ben, who is hip, cool, and knows his way around a motorcyle. This story hits the ground running and I got swept up in the action immediately. I found myself cheering for Ben along his journey to get to the bottom of a very mysterious death. The Mormon Candidate was filled with suspense, romance, and tons of action. There were several times where I actually looked up and shook my head, reminding myself that I was just reading a book, and not racing through a dark parking structure on my BMW motorcycle. I loved getting to have all access to the secret rituals of the Mormon church...it was mind blowing! This book kept me guessing and surprised me at every corner. I highly recommend The Mormon Candidate! Fun, excellent read and Azrieli has a way of doing jaw dropping amounts of research and making it very easy to understand.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morman scandal, police corruption, death and betrayal and that’s just in the first 100 pages! Avraham Azrieli’s novel is a mystery masterpiece that investigates a questionable accidental death of a Marine Vet and through the protagonist, Ben Teller’s investigative skills unfolds a cover-up that involves the Presidential Nominee of the US! This is an engaging read and a novel that is very difficult to put down. Some of the subject matter concerns the Mormon Church and as a reader who knows a minimal amount about the church – I felt that I was able to follow with no problems throughout the book. Azrieli did a comprehensive job of researching the novel and the many aspects of the Mormon faith and he explained their customs and its history very well. Every character in the book was meticulously developed which was very crucial when the novel revealed its many plot twists and surprises!
I am ecstatic that I found this author and I am very happy he has written other novels – all of which I am sure I will be engrossed in.
Amazing Read!

[Thomas Morley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Mormon Candidate, Avraham Azrieli explores the connections between politics and religion. Covering the story of a tragic accident during a Marine Corps Veterans' motorcycle ride, freelance photo-journalist Ben Teller begins to suspect it may not have been an accident at all. Upon discovering the victim's iPod, Ben finds it contains a journal describing Presidential hopeful Joe Morgan's questionable past and leads Ben down a path to his own history. His investigation makes him the target of another attempted "accident," and in order to uncover the truth (and save his own life), he has to learn as much as he can about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in order to uncover evidence of the Mormon candidate's secret.
Azrieli creates a thrilling tale of deception, cover-ups, and murder. His depiction of the LDS Church sticks to the facts (with the exception of the Danites, which is a topic open to some debate). Can The Mormon Candidate be redeemed? Read Azrieli's book to find out!

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's not easy to stop reading a book after having read more than half of it. You've already invested so much time in it, you might as well finish. And yet I did just that with this book. Finishing it would have meant wasting even more of my time.

Why I didn't like it? The language is so artificial, no one talks like that. And I don't mean that about the Mormons in the book, who for all I know may really talk so formally. I mean it for ALL the characters.

And so many details are totally far fetched. Spoiler here, but who can lip read a whole word from a short sequence of photo shots taken from a long distance? The characters are totally far fetched too. The girlfriend of the main character is an Ethiopian Jew slash medical student with a residence in waiting at Johns Hopkins slash an exotic dancer? Give me a break.

I realize there is a market for stuff like that but if you're not part of that market then be warned that you may hate it as much as I did.

[Britanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Mormon Candidate,” is a political spine-chiller that will keep you craving to be able to sit down and continue reading every free moment you get! Avraham Azriella’s work is always well researched and is truly an enriching experience to pick up and read his novels. In this particular novel, Ben who is an avid motorcyclist and journalist witnesses a fatal accident that he becomes highly suspicious of and takes on the job to unravel the truth behind what actually happened. Azriella’s then immerses his readers into the Mormon Church during a presidential election where one of the Republican Candidate is a member of. This “accident” soon becomes a political conspiracy where the unlikely suspects take center stage. I’ll tell you one thing; I will never be able to look at the Mormon religion the same way again! This is a must read for anyone interested in thrillers or political novel- you will not be disappointed.

[Hayley Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mormon Candidate is a great thriller that takes a whole lot of artistic license. Being a Mormon myself (a tattooed one at that), a lot of the information about the temple and just how Mormons are in general was incredibly inaccurate. It was pretty distracting, actually. I think the world is finally accepting that Mormonism is pretty mainstream and that Mormons don't stick out like sore thumbs in every day life, nor we do address each other with old-fashioned scriptural language.

That being said, I really enjoyed the read. I love suspenseful novels with interesting, multifaceted characters.

A word of advice for readers: This is not an accurate portrayal of the Mormon church at all. At all. At all. Leaders in the church have no control over our lives. That was my biggest beef with the novel. But knowing that, you can just read it objectively and enjoy it for what it is: a well-intended political thriller.