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Righteous #1
The Righteous
Medical student Jacob Christianson is sent by church elders to investigate a murder within the polygamist enclave of Blister Creek, Utah. He brings his sister Eliza, who at seventeen, must choose a husband from three old men jostling for power within the church hierarchy.
Jacob discovers that the murdered woman has been killed in accordance with secret blood oaths taken within the polygamist temple. Together with his sister, he uncovers a plot to overthrow the church leadership, with murders that reach beyond the community and into the “gentile” world.
"Deeply engrossing! Michael Wallace delivers the thinking man's thriller while establishing one of the freshest male leads in crime fiction--Jacob Christianson, an aspiring doctor and cult elder's favored son. Jacob's analytic nature has him questioning everything, including the nature of God and the sexist politics of polygamy. It also makes him a perfect fit to track down a killer whose grisly crimes threaten Jacob's community, family, and soon, his very life."
-- Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of LIVE TO TELL.
"Wallace authoritatively and unsparingly tears open the veil shrouding a Utah polygamist community and its secret oaths of blood atonement, temple sacrifice, and angels with drawn swords. Inside we find a riveting thriller that recaptures everything lost from the original American religion."
-- Jeffrey Anderson, National bestselling, International Thriller Award nominated author of SLEEPER CELL.
Jacob discovers that the murdered woman has been killed in accordance with secret blood oaths taken within the polygamist temple. Together with his sister, he uncovers a plot to overthrow the church leadership, with murders that reach beyond the community and into the “gentile” world.
"Deeply engrossing! Michael Wallace delivers the thinking man's thriller while establishing one of the freshest male leads in crime fiction--Jacob Christianson, an aspiring doctor and cult elder's favored son. Jacob's analytic nature has him questioning everything, including the nature of God and the sexist politics of polygamy. It also makes him a perfect fit to track down a killer whose grisly crimes threaten Jacob's community, family, and soon, his very life."
-- Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of LIVE TO TELL.
"Wallace authoritatively and unsparingly tears open the veil shrouding a Utah polygamist community and its secret oaths of blood atonement, temple sacrifice, and angels with drawn swords. Inside we find a riveting thriller that recaptures everything lost from the original American religion."
-- Jeffrey Anderson, National bestselling, International Thriller Award nominated author of SLEEPER CELL.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2011
359 people are currently reading
1335 people want to read
About the author
Michael Wallace
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Michael also welcomes email from readers at m.wallace23(at)yahoo(dot)com.
Michael also welcomes email from readers at m.wallace23(at)yahoo(dot)com.
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May 20, 2011
Most people will find the setting for "The Righteous" will feel foreign, even if they live in the US. Those who have seen the HBO show "Big Love" are a possible exception. "The Righteous" takes place in a fictional town in Utah, not unlike the fictional town where "Big Love" takes place. The residents of the town in the novel are practitioners of a fictional religion that is a fundamentalist offshoot of the Mormon Church; also, the same as on the HBO show.
The part of the story that makes it a thriller is unique. Although the concept behind the thriller portion of the plot could work anywhere where a group of people feel they are God's chosen or better in some way than everyone else, this setting works especially well. Some of the beliefs of the fictional religion (based on actual Mormon beliefs and practices from the past) are integral to the story. I'm hesitant to say anything more specific about the plot lest I let a spoiler slip. I'll say that as a fan of thrillers I found that portion of the story more than satisfying.
However, what sets "The Righteous" apart is the accuracy of the depiction of both the Mormon Fundamentalist culture and beliefs. Since religion, along with politics and sex, are the touchiest subjects there are, I should give a few more disclaimers before proceeding.
Mormon fundamentalist sects are not Mormons anymore than Lutherans are Catholics. The relationship between the two and the formation of the fundamentalist churches are much the same as in Protestant religions. The fictional religion depicted here has beliefs that are very much like the mainstream Mormon Church, with a few noteworthy exceptions. The most significant difference is the acceptance of polygamy and the beliefs of the fictional church that are in place to support and reinforce this practice (arranged marriages and pushing single males of a certain age out of the community). It has been more than a hundred years since the mainstream church abandoned the practice of polygamy. I believe a few other beliefs and practices depicted in the novel are no longer the official policy of the mainstream church. The mainstream church has changed over time, albeit extremely slowly -- the fundamentalist sects, not so much. That is what makes them "fundamentalist."
Last, I should confess that I spent my life until my late teens attending the mainstream Mormon Church, much of that time in Utah, so I've also had exposure to and experience with the fundamentalist sects, their members, and beliefs. I'm knowledgeable enough to evaluate the accuracy of what is depicted, while hopefully far enough removed to not be overly sensitive to areas where the religious practices might come off as strange or backward.
Finally, I've covered my rear and can return to discussion of the book, "The Righteous," by Michael Wallace for those who have forgotten. Often Mormons and Mormon fundamentalists as they appear in fiction or non-fiction books, movies, or TV shows are caricatures, accurate as far as it goes, but mainly making an appearance to get a laugh. Where a character is more complex writers often get something significantly wrong, whether on purpose (taking literary license for a better story), or ignorance. Although the cliché about truth being stranger than fiction might not apply in this case, the truth is strange enough.
Wallace gets everything right. His characters are realistic. They talk the way a devout Mormon or Mormon fundamentalist would talk. They think how they should think. With the exception of those actions directly related to the plot discussed in the description, they act the way they would act. I could even imagine someone from this environment straying from the actual beliefs of their religion in the way those involved in this storyline do. When Jacob Christianson is questioning some of the practices of his religion, it is very much like what others raised in this environment commonly go through.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.**
The part of the story that makes it a thriller is unique. Although the concept behind the thriller portion of the plot could work anywhere where a group of people feel they are God's chosen or better in some way than everyone else, this setting works especially well. Some of the beliefs of the fictional religion (based on actual Mormon beliefs and practices from the past) are integral to the story. I'm hesitant to say anything more specific about the plot lest I let a spoiler slip. I'll say that as a fan of thrillers I found that portion of the story more than satisfying.
However, what sets "The Righteous" apart is the accuracy of the depiction of both the Mormon Fundamentalist culture and beliefs. Since religion, along with politics and sex, are the touchiest subjects there are, I should give a few more disclaimers before proceeding.
Mormon fundamentalist sects are not Mormons anymore than Lutherans are Catholics. The relationship between the two and the formation of the fundamentalist churches are much the same as in Protestant religions. The fictional religion depicted here has beliefs that are very much like the mainstream Mormon Church, with a few noteworthy exceptions. The most significant difference is the acceptance of polygamy and the beliefs of the fictional church that are in place to support and reinforce this practice (arranged marriages and pushing single males of a certain age out of the community). It has been more than a hundred years since the mainstream church abandoned the practice of polygamy. I believe a few other beliefs and practices depicted in the novel are no longer the official policy of the mainstream church. The mainstream church has changed over time, albeit extremely slowly -- the fundamentalist sects, not so much. That is what makes them "fundamentalist."
Last, I should confess that I spent my life until my late teens attending the mainstream Mormon Church, much of that time in Utah, so I've also had exposure to and experience with the fundamentalist sects, their members, and beliefs. I'm knowledgeable enough to evaluate the accuracy of what is depicted, while hopefully far enough removed to not be overly sensitive to areas where the religious practices might come off as strange or backward.
Finally, I've covered my rear and can return to discussion of the book, "The Righteous," by Michael Wallace for those who have forgotten. Often Mormons and Mormon fundamentalists as they appear in fiction or non-fiction books, movies, or TV shows are caricatures, accurate as far as it goes, but mainly making an appearance to get a laugh. Where a character is more complex writers often get something significantly wrong, whether on purpose (taking literary license for a better story), or ignorance. Although the cliché about truth being stranger than fiction might not apply in this case, the truth is strange enough.
Wallace gets everything right. His characters are realistic. They talk the way a devout Mormon or Mormon fundamentalist would talk. They think how they should think. With the exception of those actions directly related to the plot discussed in the description, they act the way they would act. I could even imagine someone from this environment straying from the actual beliefs of their religion in the way those involved in this storyline do. When Jacob Christianson is questioning some of the practices of his religion, it is very much like what others raised in this environment commonly go through.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog.**
January 14, 2012
I found this book, The Righteous by Michael Wallace on the Kindle list for top free books. Typically, I check nightly for any free Kindle books that seem interesting, so when I saw the word "polygamous" in the description, I downloaded it without reading too many of the reviews. I'm not a fan of spoilers, so I didn't want to read too much about it. At this time, the book is no longer listed as free but costs approximately $0.99. Price may vary.
I've watched most of the series Big Love, and I've even watched a couple episodes of Sister Wives. I'm not an expert on the polygamous lifestyle, nor am I obsessed with it. For me, I find it curiously interesting. When I picked up this book, my only expectation of it, having not read anything else by the author previously, was that it would be interesting. It was.
From the beginning the author makes it clear that the fictional story is not based and should not be confused with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as LDS, Mormons, Salt Lake City Mormons, etc. The polygamists portrayed in the book and those in shows such as Big Love and Sister Wives are part of an off-shoots/sects such as Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Apostolic United Brethren. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are not affiliated with them and do not endorse these other sects.
The story starts off with a brutal murder. At that point, I was not certain as to whether I wanted to read on or stop. If the murder was an isolated event, I certainly wanted to continue in order to find out who did it, why, and what will happen to them. If the murder was just an example of many more to come, I really wasn't interested in reading a gore-filled story, at least not that night. I chose to continue reading, and I'm glad that I did. There are other scenes of violence but nothing too graphic or disturbing, for those who may be concerned.
A young mother finds out that she is marked for death. She attempts to seek help from the Prophet. Her efforts are futile, and her blood is shed for the atonement of her sins.
The Prophet calls a respected family and seeks their help. The son is a medical student and agrees to examine the body to determine what may have been the cause. A false story, involving farm workers, is the first cause of death given; however, after examining the body, the medical student, Jacob, does not believe the story. It is apparent that the girl was murdered according to the method stated in one of their Temple ceremonies. The murder was done by a church member.
Jacob, along with his sister, Eliza, begin an investigation into the murder. While investigating the murder, Eliza is faced with the dilemma of being forced to marry one of three men. Neither of these men suit her, and in a couple cases the thought appalls her. Jacob does his best to help her and is often her voice when trying to reason with their father.
Throughout the investigation, many more shocking things develop, and the story goes in many different directions. Some of it is pretty over-the-top and challenging to believe; however, it makes for interesting reading. After all this is fiction, so I tend to give authors some leeway when it comes to the unbelievable, as long as it doesn't get too ridiculous.
The author does a decent job of defining the two main characters, Jacob and Eliza. They are easy to like and support. The villains are also easy to not like. Some characters were lacking development, but considering there are more books in this series, I'm assuming they will have their day.
Overall, the story is interesting for those who enjoy a mystery or are interested in polygamous sects. If one liked Big Love and its over-the-top story lines, I'm sure this will be a favorite. There are more books in the series, and at this time I am trying to decide whether or not to read them. I'm quite fond of the characters Eliza and Jacob, but I'm not certain if I'm ready to devout time into the series. Also, I have to determine if I liked it enough to pay for it. I probably won't rush out to read the other books but maybe one day.
I've watched most of the series Big Love, and I've even watched a couple episodes of Sister Wives. I'm not an expert on the polygamous lifestyle, nor am I obsessed with it. For me, I find it curiously interesting. When I picked up this book, my only expectation of it, having not read anything else by the author previously, was that it would be interesting. It was.
From the beginning the author makes it clear that the fictional story is not based and should not be confused with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as LDS, Mormons, Salt Lake City Mormons, etc. The polygamists portrayed in the book and those in shows such as Big Love and Sister Wives are part of an off-shoots/sects such as Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Apostolic United Brethren. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are not affiliated with them and do not endorse these other sects.
The story starts off with a brutal murder. At that point, I was not certain as to whether I wanted to read on or stop. If the murder was an isolated event, I certainly wanted to continue in order to find out who did it, why, and what will happen to them. If the murder was just an example of many more to come, I really wasn't interested in reading a gore-filled story, at least not that night. I chose to continue reading, and I'm glad that I did. There are other scenes of violence but nothing too graphic or disturbing, for those who may be concerned.
A young mother finds out that she is marked for death. She attempts to seek help from the Prophet. Her efforts are futile, and her blood is shed for the atonement of her sins.
The Prophet calls a respected family and seeks their help. The son is a medical student and agrees to examine the body to determine what may have been the cause. A false story, involving farm workers, is the first cause of death given; however, after examining the body, the medical student, Jacob, does not believe the story. It is apparent that the girl was murdered according to the method stated in one of their Temple ceremonies. The murder was done by a church member.
Jacob, along with his sister, Eliza, begin an investigation into the murder. While investigating the murder, Eliza is faced with the dilemma of being forced to marry one of three men. Neither of these men suit her, and in a couple cases the thought appalls her. Jacob does his best to help her and is often her voice when trying to reason with their father.
Throughout the investigation, many more shocking things develop, and the story goes in many different directions. Some of it is pretty over-the-top and challenging to believe; however, it makes for interesting reading. After all this is fiction, so I tend to give authors some leeway when it comes to the unbelievable, as long as it doesn't get too ridiculous.
The author does a decent job of defining the two main characters, Jacob and Eliza. They are easy to like and support. The villains are also easy to not like. Some characters were lacking development, but considering there are more books in this series, I'm assuming they will have their day.
Overall, the story is interesting for those who enjoy a mystery or are interested in polygamous sects. If one liked Big Love and its over-the-top story lines, I'm sure this will be a favorite. There are more books in the series, and at this time I am trying to decide whether or not to read them. I'm quite fond of the characters Eliza and Jacob, but I'm not certain if I'm ready to devout time into the series. Also, I have to determine if I liked it enough to pay for it. I probably won't rush out to read the other books but maybe one day.
May 27, 2012
Well, I’m not quite sure what to make of this book. It’s certainly a serviceable mystery/thriller with many religious overtones. The author, whose bio says was raised in the desert, “raised in a small religious community in Utah,” (close to the FLDS?) has a lot of very interesting and supposedly secret details of sealing ceremonies and the inside of a splinter Mormon polygamist community.
The book does seem to go off the rails a bit with a wildly improbable plot twist that wasn’t necessary (hence three instead of four stars) and detracted from the main story.. The issues raised with regard to who and what is righteous and where does religious authority come from are interesting enough. Jacob, off at medical school, is recalled by his father, an elder in the Blister Creek Church. to return and investigate the ritualistic murder of Amanda. He, a skeptic or rationalist of sorts, refuses to be buffaloed by the mythic traditions of his church but retains allegiance to his family, a connection which would lost should he abandon the church entirely. Had Wallace pursued these threads, I think the book would have been stronger and more interesting. He handles some of the issues quite sensitively but then goes off on this ridiculous plot twist that remains unresolved in the end, awaiting book #2 in the series, which I will probably read, if for no other reason than morbid curiosity into the religious silliness.
You do get a nice sense of what it must be like to live as an outcast constantly at war with the “evil” world and trying to determine what constitutes valid revelation from plain insanity (or silliness.) A couple of reviewers on Amazon (one-star reviews) have suggested Wallace is, in fact, a “Lost Boy” himself; certainly not an impossibility given some of his insider knowledge (assuming it’s correct and the defensiveness of some of the Mormon readers would suggest it is.) It’s certainly more sympathetic, I thought than they imply.
The book does seem to go off the rails a bit with a wildly improbable plot twist that wasn’t necessary (hence three instead of four stars) and detracted from the main story.. The issues raised with regard to who and what is righteous and where does religious authority come from are interesting enough. Jacob, off at medical school, is recalled by his father, an elder in the Blister Creek Church. to return and investigate the ritualistic murder of Amanda. He, a skeptic or rationalist of sorts, refuses to be buffaloed by the mythic traditions of his church but retains allegiance to his family, a connection which would lost should he abandon the church entirely. Had Wallace pursued these threads, I think the book would have been stronger and more interesting. He handles some of the issues quite sensitively but then goes off on this ridiculous plot twist that remains unresolved in the end, awaiting book #2 in the series, which I will probably read, if for no other reason than morbid curiosity into the religious silliness.
You do get a nice sense of what it must be like to live as an outcast constantly at war with the “evil” world and trying to determine what constitutes valid revelation from plain insanity (or silliness.) A couple of reviewers on Amazon (one-star reviews) have suggested Wallace is, in fact, a “Lost Boy” himself; certainly not an impossibility given some of his insider knowledge (assuming it’s correct and the defensiveness of some of the Mormon readers would suggest it is.) It’s certainly more sympathetic, I thought than they imply.
July 27, 2011
Incredible read.
To be honest as a Brit I approached this book with trepidation. As far as religion is concerned I have splinters from sitting on the fence for too long on this subject.
Therefore to read a book about a religious sect turned out to be a real eye-opener for me. I'm in awe of the amount of research it must've taken to write such a novel, unless the author is writing from experience.
A terrific mystery that centres around two main characters Jacob and Eliza, that is full of twists and turns.
As a strong independent woman, I found myself bubbling with anger at the way woman are treated in these sects, it had me rooting for Eliza through her many difficulties.
A couple of people have said the ending was intentionally left up in the air to force people to buy the sequel, I'm sorry but I don't agree with that.
An incredible read and I have no hesitation in purchasing more of Michael's books.
To be honest as a Brit I approached this book with trepidation. As far as religion is concerned I have splinters from sitting on the fence for too long on this subject.
Therefore to read a book about a religious sect turned out to be a real eye-opener for me. I'm in awe of the amount of research it must've taken to write such a novel, unless the author is writing from experience.
A terrific mystery that centres around two main characters Jacob and Eliza, that is full of twists and turns.
As a strong independent woman, I found myself bubbling with anger at the way woman are treated in these sects, it had me rooting for Eliza through her many difficulties.
A couple of people have said the ending was intentionally left up in the air to force people to buy the sequel, I'm sorry but I don't agree with that.
An incredible read and I have no hesitation in purchasing more of Michael's books.
March 25, 2012
This book gets two stars because I liked the first 60% of it, after which the author lost the plot and my interest. The premise is promising: Mormon medical student Jacob travels from Canada to a little Mormon town called Blister Creek in some United State desert to investigate the murder of a young woman called Amanda. Jacob brings his bright young sister Eliza with him, to introduce her to potential husband candidates. Jacob is deeply concerned about the manner of Amanda's death as it clearly indicates an "inside" job and cannot be blamed on the Mexican labourers as the community presumed.
The polygamist Mormons and their habits are strange. I have no idea how accurately they are described in this work of fiction, but it is an alien and surreal world that I found difficult to navigate in. That women should be married off as teenagers and have little say in their choice of husbands is bizarre and demeaning. The book explores this theme exhaustively and at some point in the book the polotics of marriage, child rearing and eugenics become all-consuming. I found it hard to swallow, to say the least.
This writer is not without talent though and this isn't entirey bad. I liked strong, intelligent Jacob who would for most part, not be bullied into what his betters thought was right. His curious little sister Eliza is endearing and a vital part of the plot. Poor Amanda though, she gets lost. Finding her murderer ceases to be the point at about two thirds through the book - there is too much else going on and she was such a small brick. It's ashame, because the conspiracy plot of which her death is but a small part, is wholly unbelieveable.
The polygamist Mormons and their habits are strange. I have no idea how accurately they are described in this work of fiction, but it is an alien and surreal world that I found difficult to navigate in. That women should be married off as teenagers and have little say in their choice of husbands is bizarre and demeaning. The book explores this theme exhaustively and at some point in the book the polotics of marriage, child rearing and eugenics become all-consuming. I found it hard to swallow, to say the least.
This writer is not without talent though and this isn't entirey bad. I liked strong, intelligent Jacob who would for most part, not be bullied into what his betters thought was right. His curious little sister Eliza is endearing and a vital part of the plot. Poor Amanda though, she gets lost. Finding her murderer ceases to be the point at about two thirds through the book - there is too much else going on and she was such a small brick. It's ashame, because the conspiracy plot of which her death is but a small part, is wholly unbelieveable.
March 27, 2013
I just finished reading the entire Righteous series. I guess that means that I liked them, at least they sure kept me hooked all the way through!
It was a tough subject that Mr. Wallace tackled, namely the followers of polygamy and the fundamentalist Christian groups in Utah. I give him credit that he really brought out many of the positives of the people themselves and took them out of the realm of "kooks" and into real people who struggle with the same questions, doubts and instilled belief systems we all have.
I had a bit of a hard time following the religious doctrines and sometimes got a bit confused by the references that the author used throughout the series, especially those relating to Joseph Smith and the Angel Moroni. Some readers might get put off by this.
One of the more fascinating aspects that Mr. Wallace tackled was the difference between religious belief and cultism. Besides the story plots being fast paced and well written, I felt that this was a honest and in depth look at how belief systems are cultivated and why a person can fall prey to some of the more disturbing practices of some religions, nicely couched in fiction.
I highly recommend!
It was a tough subject that Mr. Wallace tackled, namely the followers of polygamy and the fundamentalist Christian groups in Utah. I give him credit that he really brought out many of the positives of the people themselves and took them out of the realm of "kooks" and into real people who struggle with the same questions, doubts and instilled belief systems we all have.
I had a bit of a hard time following the religious doctrines and sometimes got a bit confused by the references that the author used throughout the series, especially those relating to Joseph Smith and the Angel Moroni. Some readers might get put off by this.
One of the more fascinating aspects that Mr. Wallace tackled was the difference between religious belief and cultism. Besides the story plots being fast paced and well written, I felt that this was a honest and in depth look at how belief systems are cultivated and why a person can fall prey to some of the more disturbing practices of some religions, nicely couched in fiction.
I highly recommend!
March 24, 2012
It's not often that I give a book one star but this one was pretty awful. I can honestly say that I love literature, I love books and I love reading. I believe that fiction should be uplifting, inspiring and at the very least a little bit enjoyable. It was obvious to me that the author of this book had some sort of motive in writing this book. He cannot be anything but a disgruntled ex member of a polygamous sect eager to expound upon his opinion of those kinds of religious organizations. Whilst I do not disagree that there are probably sects out there where power hungry men treat women as second class citizens I imagine a lot of them just try to live good lives. This book took sensationalism regarding the polygamous lifestyle to a ridiculous degree and the violence wasn't nice either.
If authors of fiction out there want my advice (and I'm sure they simply itch to have it!), include some joy in the process. This book was seriously ugly and hanging on until the end for a glimmer of a redeeming quality that I was just sure had to be hiding somewhere was a bad idea. It didn't exist.
If authors of fiction out there want my advice (and I'm sure they simply itch to have it!), include some joy in the process. This book was seriously ugly and hanging on until the end for a glimmer of a redeeming quality that I was just sure had to be hiding somewhere was a bad idea. It didn't exist.
June 19, 2011
A gripping mystery and a peek into the dangers of fundamentalism in religion. Those are two reasons for reading this book. If they were the only two, it would be sufficient. But Michael Wallace has added good characterization, an intriguing plot and the promise of more to come in a series of books.
Since so many others have commented on the plot, let me say I was most impressed by his aptly named character Jacob Christianson and his sister, Eliza, who rather than act like the puppets many assume they might be, don’t hesitate to question the tenets of their faith when it conflicts with reason and their own morality.
Though his focus is on a spinoff polygamous Mormon group, the situation could be applicable to many of the fundamentalist sects spawned by most any of the major modern religions and raises many timely questions. At the same time, it’s a fast-paced and absorbing read. I’m looking forward to others in the series.
Since so many others have commented on the plot, let me say I was most impressed by his aptly named character Jacob Christianson and his sister, Eliza, who rather than act like the puppets many assume they might be, don’t hesitate to question the tenets of their faith when it conflicts with reason and their own morality.
Though his focus is on a spinoff polygamous Mormon group, the situation could be applicable to many of the fundamentalist sects spawned by most any of the major modern religions and raises many timely questions. At the same time, it’s a fast-paced and absorbing read. I’m looking forward to others in the series.
March 23, 2011
I don't usually read thrillers, but this one intrigued me because of the storyline, it was set in a polygamist community, and it was also a Kindle freebie.
Jacob is medical student in Calgary, specializing in forensic medicine. His father is a church leader, and also a polygamist. When another church member's wife is brutally murdered in the polygamist community of Blister Creek, Utah, they naturally want to keep the police out of it, so Jacob is sent down by his father to investigate, along with his 17 year old sister Eliza, because according to her father, it's "time to find a husband for her", and Jacob's other mission is to help his father find a husband for her.
Now, these polygamist are not the nice, welcoming people like the family on TLC's "Sister Wives", they are the more old fashioned kind, not wanting to mix with outsiders, which the call "Gentiles", and the woman wear the "Little House on the Prairie" style dresses and the fathers marry off their teenagers daughters to old men.
Jacob has a good sense of right and wrong, but does not seem totally committed to the church, for which I don't blame him. At 26, he is still unmarried, and he wants to do right by Eliza, and does not want to be the one to help force her into an unhappy marriage. Eliza is a little more committed to the beliefs of the church, but she is highly intelligent, and has dreams of someday going to college.
It's hard to review this book without giving away the plot, but as Jacob gets deeper into the murder investigation, he uncovers other crimes too, including more murders and fraud against the government.
This was a good story, and while there is a sequel, it's also a stand alone book. I have not decided yet if I want to read the next book or not, but I am curious to know more about the personal lives of Jacob and Eliza, and right now, the next book, called Mighty and Strong, is only $2.99 on Kindle.
Jacob is medical student in Calgary, specializing in forensic medicine. His father is a church leader, and also a polygamist. When another church member's wife is brutally murdered in the polygamist community of Blister Creek, Utah, they naturally want to keep the police out of it, so Jacob is sent down by his father to investigate, along with his 17 year old sister Eliza, because according to her father, it's "time to find a husband for her", and Jacob's other mission is to help his father find a husband for her.
Now, these polygamist are not the nice, welcoming people like the family on TLC's "Sister Wives", they are the more old fashioned kind, not wanting to mix with outsiders, which the call "Gentiles", and the woman wear the "Little House on the Prairie" style dresses and the fathers marry off their teenagers daughters to old men.
Jacob has a good sense of right and wrong, but does not seem totally committed to the church, for which I don't blame him. At 26, he is still unmarried, and he wants to do right by Eliza, and does not want to be the one to help force her into an unhappy marriage. Eliza is a little more committed to the beliefs of the church, but she is highly intelligent, and has dreams of someday going to college.
It's hard to review this book without giving away the plot, but as Jacob gets deeper into the murder investigation, he uncovers other crimes too, including more murders and fraud against the government.
This was a good story, and while there is a sequel, it's also a stand alone book. I have not decided yet if I want to read the next book or not, but I am curious to know more about the personal lives of Jacob and Eliza, and right now, the next book, called Mighty and Strong, is only $2.99 on Kindle.
October 11, 2011
I don't know how to qualify the experience I've had with this book. To me it was a totally emotional read.
It is beautifully written. The sentences are short and clear, and the book was really easy to read (I am not a native).
One would find it difficult to read a book about a religion that they've never really heard of before, but Michael explained everything clearly and it was really easy to imagine what life was like for the characters, and to understand the religion, its politics, the community, the life... not in depth, but the aspects of them that are relevant to the book. As a woman, I could identify myself with the female characters, imagining what I would feel if I was in their position. And while polygamy is often frowned upon and not accepted in the "world" I live in, and I've been raised with the belief that marriage is only between two people and two people only, I kept finding myself in total awe of the women's courage, loyalty, love, compassion and resilience.
The book kept me captivated, not because it was written in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat, but because it was a very interesting read as well as a book with a plot that was suspenseful. I still have a lump in my throat when I think about the book, it's how deeply it's touched me.
It is beautifully written. The sentences are short and clear, and the book was really easy to read (I am not a native).
One would find it difficult to read a book about a religion that they've never really heard of before, but Michael explained everything clearly and it was really easy to imagine what life was like for the characters, and to understand the religion, its politics, the community, the life... not in depth, but the aspects of them that are relevant to the book. As a woman, I could identify myself with the female characters, imagining what I would feel if I was in their position. And while polygamy is often frowned upon and not accepted in the "world" I live in, and I've been raised with the belief that marriage is only between two people and two people only, I kept finding myself in total awe of the women's courage, loyalty, love, compassion and resilience.
The book kept me captivated, not because it was written in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat, but because it was a very interesting read as well as a book with a plot that was suspenseful. I still have a lump in my throat when I think about the book, it's how deeply it's touched me.
December 1, 2015
The story is about a polygamist sect in Utah, mired in internal scandals of fraud and murder. Reading through the story, two bits of wise advices came to mind: "To each his own" and "Everything in moderation".
'Different' or even 'weird' is how we'd normally think of people who are not in the mainstream. These days, there is a much wider acceptance of the differences among people, be it lifestyle, race, creed, politics. Friendships, and even marriage is not limited to those who are in the same spectrum. Up until this point, I am only talking about people with open affiliations, and are in the mainstream. What about those in closed groups? "To each his own", we say. So long as the peace is kept, we live with each other's differences.
But we all know that the peace is not entirely kept... Abuse, greed and vengeance disturb it. When people start wanting and exactingly more than what is right, things go wrong.
This is an interesting story by an author who himself grew up in a religious community in the desert. This is the first time I've read a story set among people belonging to a religious sect. It is different, and different is always fascinating.
'Different' or even 'weird' is how we'd normally think of people who are not in the mainstream. These days, there is a much wider acceptance of the differences among people, be it lifestyle, race, creed, politics. Friendships, and even marriage is not limited to those who are in the same spectrum. Up until this point, I am only talking about people with open affiliations, and are in the mainstream. What about those in closed groups? "To each his own", we say. So long as the peace is kept, we live with each other's differences.
But we all know that the peace is not entirely kept... Abuse, greed and vengeance disturb it. When people start wanting and exactingly more than what is right, things go wrong.
This is an interesting story by an author who himself grew up in a religious community in the desert. This is the first time I've read a story set among people belonging to a religious sect. It is different, and different is always fascinating.
April 15, 2011
This is an interesting story and a fast read. But but but....it is not well written. It includes extraneous details and dialogue that don't contribute much and employs a blow-by-blow style that gets kinda dull after awhile. Or maybe that's the genre -- I don't read thrillers much.
More importantly, the story is an indictment of a small segment of the Mormon church that seems to rely on sterotypes and the kinds of facts you would read in a newspaper article. Although I would not defend polygamous marriages that involve young girls, I do not automatically assume the author presented a nuanced or well-researched representaton of the community. For example, I don't assume the community includes sanctioned sub-cults that kidnap babies and torture dissenters.
There are better thrillers and better stories about the Mormon community.
More importantly, the story is an indictment of a small segment of the Mormon church that seems to rely on sterotypes and the kinds of facts you would read in a newspaper article. Although I would not defend polygamous marriages that involve young girls, I do not automatically assume the author presented a nuanced or well-researched representaton of the community. For example, I don't assume the community includes sanctioned sub-cults that kidnap babies and torture dissenters.
There are better thrillers and better stories about the Mormon community.
April 30, 2011
This was a well-done thriller in the religious fiction mode. Apparently polygamist Paramormon societies are the New Amish.
As with Christian fiction, this book uses its format to lay out basic faith tenets, cultural constructs, rituals and viewpoints to the reader. Unlike Christian fiction, these details are somewhat fresh to the average reader.
While not new to LDS studies or the anthropology of Paramormon polygamy sects, I found the book informative as well as entertaining.
It was a .99 Kindle purchase, and well worth that amount.
As with Christian fiction, this book uses its format to lay out basic faith tenets, cultural constructs, rituals and viewpoints to the reader. Unlike Christian fiction, these details are somewhat fresh to the average reader.
While not new to LDS studies or the anthropology of Paramormon polygamy sects, I found the book informative as well as entertaining.
It was a .99 Kindle purchase, and well worth that amount.
March 25, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I started it last night, then had dreams about it all night. I couldn't wait to finish it when I woke up, and honestly, it's been quite a while since I've been that intrigued as a reader.
Most thrillers require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, and this one is no exception. Parts of the conspiracy plot are a bit over-the-top, which is why I'm giving it four stars instead of five. Still, I thought it was well-written. The characters were a great mix. I didn't want to put it down, and I've already purchased the sequel.
Most thrillers require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, and this one is no exception. Parts of the conspiracy plot are a bit over-the-top, which is why I'm giving it four stars instead of five. Still, I thought it was well-written. The characters were a great mix. I didn't want to put it down, and I've already purchased the sequel.
May 6, 2011
I bought this for $.99 on my Kindle. I wanted a mystery and it was cheap! What was fascinating was the Mormon polygamy information. I was also pulled in with the disgusting murder at the beginning of the book. Sadly, though, the mystery didn't really hold up, but I thought it was an interesting read for $.99.
November 14, 2011
This books was given to me by a friend. I really enjoyed the book. The characters were interesting and the story line fascinating. I like that it was set in UT with Polygamist Mormans as the main characters. It was different than other books I have read and now I want to know where these characters go next.
June 17, 2013
If the author had concentrated more on the plot and less on the names of the many characters (they were little hard to keep up with, especially since they were all related), or even a little less on the polygamist culture, it would have been more enjoyable. I have 2 other books by this author and will try another. He may have just felt he needed to lay a foundation.
February 26, 2013
I didn't finish this book --too many good books to read than to read one I'm not enjoying.
August 14, 2021
How do you solve a murder committed by people who are completely deluded? One way would be to bring in people who share their beliefs.
We're talking Old Testament here, insofar as it applies to a breakaway sect from the Mormons.
"The Righteous" by Michael Wallace starts out promisingly, a young mother in a polygamous sect is brutally killed in a manner which points towards the cult members. But, being a cult, they don't report it to any authorities except their own.
Jacob, a medical student, and his younger sister Eliza (at 17 of marriageable age) are sent by whatever passes for government in a bunch of crazy people to investigate. To be fair Eliza is more there to see if she can be married off to anyone who'll have her.
Hands up, I'll be completely honest here, religion is bunkum and the Mormons (in all their incarnations) are, in my opinion, several sandwiches short of a picnic.
Jacob is an interesting character in that he obviously doesn't believe in the claptrap, he very much questions it, but he's smart enough to hide his cynicism. He's learned to hide his subversion because he fears the result of detection - banishment from the church and his family.
Eliza, initially at least, is more accepting of the ways things are. She's naïve, not particularly happy at being traded like an animal, but she's is a true believer and not one to rebel ... at least not yet!
The investigation leads to their brother, Enoch, who has been ostracized. Jacob has an interesting view about polygamous cults and banishing the young males - with multiple females married to a single man it makes complete sense to cull the young male herd thus leaving older males to 'marry' younger and younger women.
His father notes to Jacob "Every minute you stay single you put yourself at risk. Other, more aggressive, will look to supplant you." Yikes! Not to mention " ... you know what they say about first wives. You'll have others. You can look for pretty down the road."
Personally, after having one mother-in-law, it would be a cold day in Hell before I would welcome another one into the fold.
At heart "The Righteous" is about power, continuation, control and corruption - it would be entirely possible to remove the religious aspect and replace it with, for example, a crime cartel. Oddly enough though, given my complete lack of faith, I think the book is fine just as it is.
It held my interest right to the somewhat hurried and implausible end. That's not really a criticism, books have to come to an end somewhere and many authors chose to opt for quick and dirty rather than slow and explanatory.
3.5 Stars.
P.S. The book sometimes skirts around and sometimes is straightforward about the problems of closed communities and genetics - it is the most disturbing element of "The Righteous!.
We're talking Old Testament here, insofar as it applies to a breakaway sect from the Mormons.
"The Righteous" by Michael Wallace starts out promisingly, a young mother in a polygamous sect is brutally killed in a manner which points towards the cult members. But, being a cult, they don't report it to any authorities except their own.
Jacob, a medical student, and his younger sister Eliza (at 17 of marriageable age) are sent by whatever passes for government in a bunch of crazy people to investigate. To be fair Eliza is more there to see if she can be married off to anyone who'll have her.
Hands up, I'll be completely honest here, religion is bunkum and the Mormons (in all their incarnations) are, in my opinion, several sandwiches short of a picnic.
Jacob is an interesting character in that he obviously doesn't believe in the claptrap, he very much questions it, but he's smart enough to hide his cynicism. He's learned to hide his subversion because he fears the result of detection - banishment from the church and his family.
Eliza, initially at least, is more accepting of the ways things are. She's naïve, not particularly happy at being traded like an animal, but she's is a true believer and not one to rebel ... at least not yet!
The investigation leads to their brother, Enoch, who has been ostracized. Jacob has an interesting view about polygamous cults and banishing the young males - with multiple females married to a single man it makes complete sense to cull the young male herd thus leaving older males to 'marry' younger and younger women.
His father notes to Jacob "Every minute you stay single you put yourself at risk. Other, more aggressive, will look to supplant you." Yikes! Not to mention " ... you know what they say about first wives. You'll have others. You can look for pretty down the road."
Personally, after having one mother-in-law, it would be a cold day in Hell before I would welcome another one into the fold.
At heart "The Righteous" is about power, continuation, control and corruption - it would be entirely possible to remove the religious aspect and replace it with, for example, a crime cartel. Oddly enough though, given my complete lack of faith, I think the book is fine just as it is.
It held my interest right to the somewhat hurried and implausible end. That's not really a criticism, books have to come to an end somewhere and many authors chose to opt for quick and dirty rather than slow and explanatory.
3.5 Stars.
P.S. The book sometimes skirts around and sometimes is straightforward about the problems of closed communities and genetics - it is the most disturbing element of "The Righteous!.
May 15, 2023
A "thriller" written unapologetically in a polygamous Mormon society? I bought this one years ago but just got around to it. Honestly, I'm not a "thriller" guy. If you're dealing out murders, own it. I say this, simply to share my bias that I'm more of a "horror" reader than a "mystery/thriller" one.
That said, Michael Wallace kept my attention and impressed me with The Righteous. I don't know enough about Mormonism or Polygamous Cults to judge how accurate or inaccurate the day-to-day activities, rituals and culture is on the page, but I can say this - at no point did I think it was unrealistic. It felt real. And interestingly, it felt both open to point out the problems, but refused to actively demonize them. There are some relationships that, I think, the average person would not support which the book shares as relatively healthy and loving. I think this is the best aspect of the book, and I will probably read through a few of the sequels just to have a glimpse into a world that I am so far removed from.
So, how about the whole murder mystery? It's okay. There really isn't a lot of a "mystery" here. The only question is how deep the conspiracy goes. There's a secondary activity that I won't spoil that is, at least in my opinion, far more disturbing than the murder that opens the story. That was appreciated as it pushed the stakes substantially.
Overall, it's a pretty quick read which pulls the veil off a world that most of us will never see. That alone makes it recommended. Nits can be picked about a lack of tension, but overall you'll probably still walk away happy to have taken the chance. Even if you're not much of a "thriller" reader.
That said, Michael Wallace kept my attention and impressed me with The Righteous. I don't know enough about Mormonism or Polygamous Cults to judge how accurate or inaccurate the day-to-day activities, rituals and culture is on the page, but I can say this - at no point did I think it was unrealistic. It felt real. And interestingly, it felt both open to point out the problems, but refused to actively demonize them. There are some relationships that, I think, the average person would not support which the book shares as relatively healthy and loving. I think this is the best aspect of the book, and I will probably read through a few of the sequels just to have a glimpse into a world that I am so far removed from.
So, how about the whole murder mystery? It's okay. There really isn't a lot of a "mystery" here. The only question is how deep the conspiracy goes. There's a secondary activity that I won't spoil that is, at least in my opinion, far more disturbing than the murder that opens the story. That was appreciated as it pushed the stakes substantially.
Overall, it's a pretty quick read which pulls the veil off a world that most of us will never see. That alone makes it recommended. Nits can be picked about a lack of tension, but overall you'll probably still walk away happy to have taken the chance. Even if you're not much of a "thriller" reader.
October 7, 2022
I actually quite enjoyed this book. Set across Nevada, Utah and I think Montana, it is set around a murder in a polygamist Mormon community. Now I didn’t know where that particular plot was going to lead, but it worked!
It’s the old story of good guys vs evil guys (not just bad, truly nasty). The good guys are likeable and the bad guys really are scum. The plot is a bit corny, but it did seem to work in a very readable way. It is set in current time, but the remote community is kind of stuck in a time warp in many ways.
There is a lot about Mormon ceremonies in here, which I think is why the book held my attention more than it should have. Without being a religious nut I find it interesting to read about other beliefs and how they go about things. Magic Mormon underwear explained!!
There is also the undercurrent of the power that a powerful church has over a close knit, remote community. Thank god I wasn’t born into that crap!
The book has a conclusion, so you could give it a whirl, get your ending, and decide whether or not it’s worth continuing the series. I’m in two minds… whilst it was a decent enough easy ‘bubble gum for the brain’ read, I’m 50/50 on whether to read book 2.
It’s the old story of good guys vs evil guys (not just bad, truly nasty). The good guys are likeable and the bad guys really are scum. The plot is a bit corny, but it did seem to work in a very readable way. It is set in current time, but the remote community is kind of stuck in a time warp in many ways.
There is a lot about Mormon ceremonies in here, which I think is why the book held my attention more than it should have. Without being a religious nut I find it interesting to read about other beliefs and how they go about things. Magic Mormon underwear explained!!
There is also the undercurrent of the power that a powerful church has over a close knit, remote community. Thank god I wasn’t born into that crap!
The book has a conclusion, so you could give it a whirl, get your ending, and decide whether or not it’s worth continuing the series. I’m in two minds… whilst it was a decent enough easy ‘bubble gum for the brain’ read, I’m 50/50 on whether to read book 2.
February 11, 2020
This was a freebie which has been in my TBR pile for yonks and as part of my resolution to clear down many such miscellaneous books I began reading. I suppose it isn’t very fair to rate a book I abandoned at page 17 but I disliked it so much from the start I doubt my opinion would ever improve. I have not read anything by this author before but having liked Linda Castillo’s “Kate Burkholder” series set in the Amish community I thought this might appeal. Unfortunately the writing style did not draw me in, the plot opening felt formulaic and when one of the characters moans that “There are never enough wives to go around” it felt stupid too, the girl in question was to be wife #13, I know this is about a polygamous sect but WTF. I set the book aside a few pages later and have started and completed several other books since then never once feeling any inclination to return to this one. I just can’t find the enthusiasm and I doubt I will ever choose another by this author.
January 17, 2018
A window into a world very few outsiders know, the extremely insular, polygamous, and convoluted Mormon religions -- of which there are many, interconnected by various forms of faithfulness to their originators in the 1800's -- in central and southern Utah. This series is fiction, but drawn from hard and scary knowledge, much of which can be corroborated if you look carefully into other sources. The author knows how to relate human tragedy and does it extremely well. Very frightening story, extraordinary verisimilitude, worthwhile read. Am reading these very very slowly because there is a lot to process! Missing one star just because of just how scary these are, I may add the fifth if I grow better. Profoundly worthwhile input into the human challenge of loving our neighbors. If you dare...!
August 20, 2025
One review said people would either love or hate this book. I didn't hate this book, but I didn't care for it either. I knew it would be iffy because I'm not a huge fan of books with strong religious themes. This story takes place in a very traditional Mormon community. A woman is murdered, and most of the men don't care that she was murdered. There was a strong current of male supremacy and women as objects to be owned and traded. I tried to get into it, but every time the mystery started pulling my attention, there was a switch to archaic ways of thinking, like men are more important than women, and women need to be dominated in any way necessary so that they submit.
December 15, 2017
So Wallace is a gamer. He's got an idea. How bout I marry a suspense thriller, a bit of CSI, and some mormon polygamist cult background.
Perhaps there's a supremely talented writer who could pull this off. Shades of Stephen King's Mist surface in my mind, but no.
There's just too much suspension of disbelief from the over the top plot twists to the characterizations that try to beat together people who can be devout and still retain healthy skepticism.
But Wallace tries and his gambits never insult, and hey I got the book for nothing.
Perhaps there's a supremely talented writer who could pull this off. Shades of Stephen King's Mist surface in my mind, but no.
There's just too much suspension of disbelief from the over the top plot twists to the characterizations that try to beat together people who can be devout and still retain healthy skepticism.
But Wallace tries and his gambits never insult, and hey I got the book for nothing.
April 26, 2019
So, this one I started reading based on the novella "Trial by Fury". Maybe it was tolerable because it was short. However, "The Righteous" was too gruesome and unsettling for me to continue - especially since there are SEVEN more books in this series!!! If you like murders in fine detail and religious fanaticism - these books are for you. But, not for me.
March 25, 2018
An educational and pleasing read with a bit of a predictable plot in places.
Entertaining, predictable, educational but not really spell-binding. A nice story that seems like it is set up for more. Entertaining but not a deep read.
Entertaining, predictable, educational but not really spell-binding. A nice story that seems like it is set up for more. Entertaining but not a deep read.
January 11, 2020
Unbelievable story of Mormon polygamous life
Good writing and thrilling plot. Informative about the mysterious polygamous cult life in 21st century in America along with story of murder and cover-up.
Good writing and thrilling plot. Informative about the mysterious polygamous cult life in 21st century in America along with story of murder and cover-up.
September 9, 2017
Suspense and intrigue
Great book! The suspense and intrigue of a murder mystery incorporated with a curiosity of how polygamist community. A gripping page turner U enjoyed.
Great book! The suspense and intrigue of a murder mystery incorporated with a curiosity of how polygamist community. A gripping page turner U enjoyed.
March 17, 2018
Polygamy
It was interesting reading about Mormon beliefs and some ideas about the psyche of polygamy. The murder story bit was patchier.
It was interesting reading about Mormon beliefs and some ideas about the psyche of polygamy. The murder story bit was patchier.
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