For Time and All Eternities

Linda Wallheim Mystery #3

by Mette Ivie Harrison

The Mormon church may have disavowed the polygamy it became so infamous for in the 19th century, but for some Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints, -plural marriage- isn't just ancient history.
Mormon bishop's wife Linda Wallheim is stunned to learn her son Kenneth has gotten engaged to a young woman from a polygamous family. Naomi Carter may have left the religion she grew up in, but the Carters will still be the Wallheims' in-laws once Kenneth and Naomi are married.
Stephen Carter, Naomi's father and the patriarch of the Carter clan, invites the Wallheims over to the Carter family compound in the remote foothills of the mountains outside Salt Lake City. Stephen Carter wishes to extend an olive branch to his future in-laws, and introduce them to his five wives and twenty-two children. But Linda suspects he also wants to try to persuade the Wallheims that his way of life is truly righteous.
From Linda's point of view, polygamy is an abhorrent practice, one that dehumanizes women and makes children vulnerable to unhealthy family structures. She and her husband, Kurt, arrive at the Carter compound braced for trouble--Linda has her eyes peeled for signs that Stephen's wives and children are unhappy or abused. Although she can't find concrete evidence of mistreatment, Linda's gut instinct tells her that something on the Carter family compound is deeply wrong. She can't quite put her finger on what--until it's too late, and one of the family members is found murdered.
Afraid that Stephen Carter's unworldly, sequestered wives and children might suffer at the hands of investigating police, Linda vows to stay at the compound until the murderer is found and the survivors are safe. But even if she manages to do more good than harm with her snooping and interfering, Linda can't unsee what she has seen during her time at the Carters'--now, confronting the legacy of polygamy in her own Mormon family raises even more questions about her already shaky faith.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Religion, Polygamy, Crime, Adult

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 10, 2017

About the author

My name is pronounced "Metty" like my mother's "Betty." It is Danish, and we were all named after ancestors. I guess by the time they got to number nine (out of eleven), it was getting tricky. So I got the funny Danish name no one knew how to prounounce. In Denmark, it should be "meta" like "metaphysical." It's from the Greek for "pearl." And no, it's not short for anything. Not even Mediterannean.

My first book, THE MONSTER IN ME was accepted for publication in 1999 and was published in 2002. My second book, MIRA, MIRROR was published in 2004. The latest book, THE PRINCESS AND THE HOUND , was published in 2007. A sequel, THE PRINCESS AND THE BEAR, came out in April of 2009.

I now live in Utah with my husband and 5 children, ages 5 to 14. I write during nap time, or at 4 in the morning, or while the broccoli for dinner is burning. Whenever I get a chance. I love to write the kind of books that I love to read. And I love to discover what is going to happen next, just like a reader would. I also do some racing in triathlon.

from http://www.metteivieharrison.com/myli...

Reviews

[Sam (Clues and Reviews) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Mormon church may have disavowed the polygamy it became so infamous for in the 19th century, but for some Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints, “plural marriage” isn’t just ancient history....

For Time and All Eternities, by Mette Ivie Harrison, is a murder mystery that takes place at a compound that houses a polygamous family. The synopsis for this book hooked me; a murder surrounding a polygamous family. Since I am fascinated by religions and their practices (conventional or otherwise), I knew I needed to read this one. Initially, I was unaware it was part of a series and came to find out that it was actually the third installment that follows Linda Wallheim but I didn't find it difficult to read as a standalone.

The story opens with the main character, Linda Wallheim who is a Mormon woman, wife, and mother, finding out her son, Kenneth, is engaged to be married to Naomi Carter. His betrothed is a part of a polygamous family; her father had five wives. Linda and her husband, Kurt, make the drive to the Carter family compound to meet and greet with their new extended family. Upon arrival, they meet charismatic Stephen, the family patriarch, who speaks of his decision to live "the principle" and after a night spent at the family home, and mingling with his unconventional family, Stephen is found murdered. Since calling the police is out of the question, (the wives fear they will be taken to prison and the children into care), Linda takes it upon herself to investigate the murder and find out who, in the locked compound, is responsible for the murder.

An interesting concept and a well-written plot, I really wanted to enjoy this novel. My main issue with this one is the way it was marketed. I expected the novel would have religious undertones and welcomed that completely; I knew the concept of polygamy was a historically Mormon concept (especially in regards to the synopsis of this book). However, I was unaware that every character in the novel would be Mormon; thus, I feel this should have been marketed as a LDS or Mormon mystery since it truly became the sole “pusher” for plot points. For example, when Stephen is found murdered, instead of reporting the murder to the police, Linda waits for the Holy Spirit to guide her and decides to avoid calling. This completely pushes the plot, as now Linda must be the sole investigator, but I found it to be irritating. When you find a dead body, you call the police. This is only one, of many moments, where I found the religious undertones to be too distracting and took away from the plot.

If you do not mind a novel with significant religious discussion, then I would recommend this book (as mentioned, the concept is fantastic and Harrison writes a mean plot). Otherwise, I would skip this one. I ended up rating it a 2.5/5 stars.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life)]

DNF @40%
2017; Soho Crime/Soho Press

I have to give up on the series right here. The characterizations, have not gotten any better and the stories are not keeping me that engaged. I was waiting of the book on polygamy as Linda has told us her views from book one and two. For more thoughts on this series please see reviews for book one and two.

Book One

Book Two

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweis. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

[Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mette Ivie Harrison gives readers another fantastic story. This series just gets better and better. If I have one complaint it's that she needs to write faster. Linda Wallheim is such a wonderful, complex character. You do not have to be Mormon or a woman to understand the mental and emotional issues she is confronting in this and the earlier books. She could be you or someone you know or want to know.

Harrison delves into issues that permeate our lives -- not just issues of polygamy, but abuse and bullying between ages and within families. She tackles these issues with compassion.

Sometimes Linda's character gives me a connection of sorts to a friend, a very dear friend of mine, who was Mormon and passed away two years ago. In many ways she was like Linda -- intelligent, caring, loving and non-judgmental. My friend had such an impact on so many people that when she became ill with an inoperable brain tumor people she never met as well as those of us who were close to her donated hundreds of hours of their leave time to her. Even employees who had been on the other side of her in various cases donated time to her because she was such an amazing person. Through Linda's character I often feel that I'm still learning the many facets I knew my friend had in life.

While there are descriptions of the Mormon faith it is woven into the story so you learn something new without having something pushed at you. This is definitely one series that anyone can enjoy.

[Karen Loveridge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the series, and wanted to love this book!!!! But it seemed the main song Linda was signing was "me, me, me, me." Everything was about her ... she is to decide whether or not the police should be called. She gets to decide she knows more about investigating than the police, assuming they will immediately jump to the conclusion over who the murderer based on who found the body with no other investigation. She wants to know who is guilty, she wants to know what's going on in that household, she wants ... she wants ... she decides to .... Only her needs wants, and skills are of value. The conflict of a religious couple having a child come out as gay has so many possibilities. But while I understood her frustration with the church's stand, by her fourth railing against it I didn't care any more. I also hated that she was clearly angry at her husband not because he didn't respect her view (which she didn't share with him) or not accepting their son (he made his love clear), but because he didn't feel exactly the same way she did at the exact same time she did. gain, it was all about her feelings, what she wanted and what she needed. And if that meant breaking some laws and putting people in danger, and emotionally turning her back on her husband ... oh well. She did what she needed to do ... everybody else existed to meet those needs.

[Ellen H · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series has officially jumped the shark for me. It was hardly great literature, but it was entertaining and a window into a the Mormon community, which I knew little about but had always been interested in in a creepy kind of way. But the premise of this book was ludicrous, and not only that -- the protagonist, a Mormon Bishop's wife who seems like a very nice woman, has now waded firmly into Jessica Fletcher territory. Anyone seeing her coming would feel they had to flee quickly in the opposite direction, since her very existence in a place seems to predestine a murder there. Once ordinary people who are not actual police detectives (or private eyes at least) start stumbling over dead bodies everywhere they go, the series just goes over an edge. Done.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in a series set in the Salt Lake area and among the Mormon community. Linda Waldheim is the wife of a Mormon bishop and in this series, she finds herself involved in murder mysteries. This is not only just an excellent murder mystery series, but it also provides a keen insight into Mormon religious and social practices. And each book focuses on a specific issue. The first was about the role of women in the Mormon Church. The second was about the Mormon view of gay members. And in this series, Mette Ivie Harrison, who herself is a practicing Mormon, explores the role of polygamy in the Mormon religion, which had been banned but is still in practice by some.

Linda's son Kenneth, announces his engagement to a young woman who happens to come from a polygamous household. Her father, Stephen Carter, the polygamist, invites Linda and her husband to his home to meet him and all of his wives. Of course, this doesn't sit well with Linda's husband Kurt, who is the Ward Bishop. And as expected things don't go well and Kurt leaves in a huff while Linda remains behind, specifically to explore reports of one of the children being abused. Of course, while Linda is there, a murder takes place and she decides to try to find out who the killer is.

I enjoyed this book, as there were several twists and turns I didn't see coming. My only complaint is that Harrison sometimes stretches the limits of what Linda Waldheim, as someone who is not in law enforcement, can do in her investigations. But Harrison is getting better and better as the author of this series.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is definitely more heavy-handed in the whole questioning Mormonism theme than the two books previous are, but as an ex-Mormon, this obviously didn't bother me. In fact, I just kept wanting to push Linda just a *teensy* bit more so the whole shelf came crashing down. But I'm pretty terrible like that. I found the plot of this one interesting, as I find anything to do with polygamy fascinating (if off-putting in how it is often practiced). Hubby bugged the crap out of me in this one, but Linda did, too, at times. I think I probably just felt more sympathy for her because I related to her more. I can handle my own flaws better than someone else's.

[Margaret Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book of my read harder challenge-an assigned book you hated(or never finished).

This book needed to be edited for preachiness. I have enjoyed her moments of conscience in the previous books but the history of polygamy and discussion back and forth here were over the top.

I also found her actions in this book to be unbelievable.

The ending however was all about love in its many forms and I was glad I stuck with it as I cried through the last chapter.

[Dlmrose · Rating 2 out of 5]

2+

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll begin with this review with a disclaimer that I'm not Mormon. The author of this book is, as is the first-person narrator and a majority of the characters. The narrator (and author) is very much an open-minded Mormon, yet there were some references to Mormon beliefs still held by the narrator that prevented me from really connecting with the characters, because things accepted as truth just seemed so foreign to me. I am a religious person (Methodist), so I wasn't close-minded to the religious aspects or even learning about Mormonism...but just be prepared that this is a book written by a Mormon, about Mormons, and presumably even for Mormons, since a lot of beliefs weren't explained very clearly and were just kind of taken for granted that I knew what they were.

On to the actual story: The book wasn't awful, but it just wasn't great. Overall, the best word I can describe the writing is "clunky." Conversations between many characters, especially the narrator and her husband, felt stiff and unnatural. I haven't read any other books in this series—I didn't realize it was a series until after I started reading it—and I don't necessarily think you have to in order to not be lost. But I do wonder how the relationship between Linda and her husband is portrayed in the other books. It just came off as totally unrealistic to me. They have grown children but still find it awkward to have a conversation with each other? A sideplot in this book is about their marital problems, but the whole thing is handled strangely. It feels as if they are much younger (read: immature) than they are supposed to be, and I simply had little connection to them (especially the husband, who was a real piece of work at times).

I think the author is trying to use her fiction as an outlet to preach to people, which can sometimes work, but it seemed too obvious and forced here. The forefront of her message this time around was how polygamy is not OK and is not something most Mormons believe is OK, but instead of being a juicy suspense thriller, the plot was pretty boring. A side message showing support for LGBT people was kind of shoehorned in; maybe this was addressed more fully in the other books in the series, but it seemed out of place here, or at least extremely underdeveloped considering how much it played a role in the Wallheims' marriage. This book managed to both drag on at times and also feel rushed, especially its resolution. I was surprised when I read in the author's note that she had gone through over a dozen drafts of this book, because honestly it feels like a first or second draft. For anyone expecting an exciting, tantalizing mystery taking place at a polygamist compound (which sounds entertaining, doesn't it?), sadly, don't look here.

[Mrs. Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like some other reviewers, I enjoyed the two prior books as much for their honest but not hostile insight into less well known Mormon beliefs* as for their "mystery" component. For Time and All Eternities was fully as revelatory about Mormon practices, but so sharply critical - basically a feminist anti-LDS tract partly clothed in the poorly chosen garments of a mystery story - that I felt manipulated. And of course the book suffers from the problem which eventually confronts all mystery series with a lay protagonist: the man (actually usually woman) on the street does not run into more than maybe two or three murders in a lifetime, whether he manages a B&B or a bookstore or a church or a museum. A recurring character who regularly deals with murders must for plausibility’s sake be in the business of dealing with murders.

*full disclosure: I am not a current or former Mormon, nor is any of my relatives or close friends. I believe the LDS religion to be false (i.e. unScriptural). But I am leery of anyone’s account of the faults of her ex-boss or ex-husband or ex-religion.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Again, OK mystery, but these are clearly going to be issue books--the author seems to be airing all her grievances about the Mormon church in these novels. Her marriage to Kurt seems like it's just out of habit, her boys seem to be designed to introduce more ways for Linda to display how tolerant and "woke" she is, and it just drags down the story. I won't be reading any more of these novels because they're just incredibly heavy handed.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't the best-written mystery: the amateur sleuth, Linda Wallheim, a Mormon woman, does soooo many dumb things in this book (I was like, "call the policeeeeeee!" from the time the murder occurred), plus her narratorial voice is kinda preachy. But somehow the book kept my attention and I still want to read the last book in the series.

[Noelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was the most difficult of the Linda Wallheim mysteries to get through, only because of the chapter that felt bogged down in confusing thoughts about polygamy. As a mystery novel, I really like it. I like that the main character, Linda, is able to work through her struggles with her husband as a result of her trials. I also see Linda as someone who twists things to make them fit her needs, whatever they might be. One thing I do know, as a mental health professional, is that some people may think the portrayal of chaos, abuse, and secrets within polygamous sects may be exaggerated. While not every polygamous family hides those things, there are those that do....and they fear the outside world tearing their families apart if their secrets are found out. In spite of some of the unbelievable things Linda does, Harrison does a good job of researching the issues she builds into her plots. My biggest issue is with these books is that, while Harrison presents the way some people in the church might feel towards controversial topics within the church through Linda's character, I know without a doubt there are people who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who will presume they know all about the church on account of information they gained from fictional books that exaggerate *some* people's perspectives, but not church doctrine. (Which may be why I've heard Harrison will be shifting her intended audience in the future). All in all, I quite enjoyed this series.

[Sherrie74 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am up to the point of the murder and not sure how much more I can read .... BORING. One very long paragraph could easily be chopped into much shorter text. Will try more tonight but ... wait and see.

One of the worst books I have every read ( and finished ) in my life. Sorry but true. I was thinking about reading the first book but now ..... no way.

Mormon murder mystery. Main character is wife of a bishop in their religion, her and hubby go visit family their son will be married into. Other family is polygamist, he has 5 wives. Her hubby gets into a snit and takes off leaving wife on her own. She stays the night and a murder of in law husband happens. No police, they just pop him into a hole in the ground on the very large estate. Wife is in all aspects interrogating the wives, kids, neighbours as she is going to crack the case. In a two day span she still has not contacted her husband to tell him that their son's f-i-l has been killed nor has he called her to say ..... are you coming home yet? Why would strangers confide in her, telling her deep and dark family secrets ... why do they even want her there, why does she risk her life for a document that can be reproduced easily , and for a woman of Mormon faith (not that I know a lot about it) why hasnt she told her husband anything. You barely hear of her son at all during all this time that passes ... he pops in and out but what is he doing during these two days.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series with Linda Wallheim, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband, Kurt who is a Mormon bishop. This book seemed to contain more info,information about Mormon beliefs and practices than the first two, and I found it quite interesting.

At the beginning of the book, Linda and Kurt are at odds over a policy of the church that excludes gays. Their youngest son Samuel, currently on a mission in Boston, has come out to them,andLinda finds it hard to accept that Samuel could be seen as "lesser than" in their faith.

Then another son, Kenneth, who has left the Mormon church, announces he is engaged to be married. His fiancee Naomi, is also a former Mormon,but from a family where her father practices polygamy. When Naomi asks Linda to not just meet her family, but see if she notices any signs of abuse in one of her younger sisters, Linda reluctantly agrees to do so.

Kurt and Linda are invited to the family compound for an overnight visit. Things are interesting and weird from the get-go, and Kurt decides he's had enough and goes back home, annoyed at Linda, who feels obligated to see how the young girl seems to be doing.

There's a lot to unpack and track in this book, and much of it is disturbing, not just to Linda, but to the reader as well. But it is still very readable, and provides a bit of a look into the livesof contemporary Mormons, which I must admit fascinates me.

[Jaylia3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have a particular interest in plots involving polygamy, For Time and All Eternities could work as a stand-alone, but it’s actually the third book in this riveting Utah based mystery series featuring Linda Wallheim, the wife of a Mormon bishop. Linda is a great first person character, passionate about her family and committed to her faith, but not without serious questions about her church.

In this book Linda becomes involved with a polygamous family when her son gets engaged to one of the daughters. The story also necessarily involves “the policy” about gay families which came to light in November 2015, because in an earlier book another of her sons came out as gay. That son is now on a mission and can’t be in close touch with his family, but he and his life are very much on his mother’s mind which helps drive the action.

As in the previous books, this story has a strong murder mystery plot, but is also very much character driven. Though the Mormon religion is central to all of the books, you don’t need to be a Mormon or even religious to enjoy this series. Readers will learn a lot about Mormonism, which author Mette Ivie Harrison knows well through personal experience--she is a practicing Mormon herself--and research. Since it’s written with heart and passion, I wasn’t surprised to see that in an afterward Harrison admits this is her most personal book yet.

I read a free advanced review copy of this book supplied to me by the publisher. Review opinions are mine.

[Ann Woodbury Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 3rd Linda Wallheim mystery, set in Utah with a Mormon woman as the (accidental) detective--except that by now she's gained a reputation for sleuthing and is requested to step in. When Wallheim's son becomes engaged to the daughter of a polygamist, she and her reluctant husband visit the Carter family at their rural compound. The day after the arrogant, 5-times-married Stephen Carter lectures the Wallheims on polygamy and its history, he's murdered and Linda stays to help. Like the previous books, this is a mixed bag. There are too many characters to keep track of, and several potentially fascinating ones are poorly developed and too quickly dismissed. Stephen turns from a charismatic, intriguing person into evil incarnate--so much so that it's incredible ANYONE would speak to or associate with him. The plot is overly complex, although I did like the sweet and believable reconciliation between Linda and her husband as she decides her love for him overrides some theological differences. Harrison is worth reading, especially for those with an interest in Mormonism, but in my opinion her novels still just aren't quite "there."

[David Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think it's good to fight for things you believe in and to work to change things that are wrong. And I agree with this author that polygamy as practiced by certain authoritarian groups and anti-gay discrimination wherever it crops up are both valid targets for criticism. However, literature written in the service of a cause often falls flat when it becomes so consumed with making its case in support of its cause that it fails to tell a good story.

So many of the details of this story seem contrived. Here are just three examples of many:

1- Naomi knows her half sister is being abused, but she doesn't know who's behind it. Turns out it's the girl's own mother, yet no one ever saw it until she slapped her in public. 2- Linda Wallheim feels compelled to stick her nose in everyone's business on the compound, yet no one complains. 3- Linda and her son, Kenneth, casually go along with a polygamous wife's plan to cover up the murder of her husband and are not charged with a crime.

I think this author has narrative skill and lots of promise as an author. I'm confident she can do much better than she's done here.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linda Wallheim is very excited; her son Kenneth has announced his engagement to a delightful lady named Naomi. Linda's husband, Kurt, is less excited; he's a Mormon bishop and Kenneth and Naomi have both left the religion. On top of that, Naomi comes from a polygamist family ... and she wants Linda and Kurt to meet them. Not only that, she suspects that one of her sisters is being abused. So, Linda promises that they will go for a visit ... and then there's a murder in the compound that Linda decides to investigate.

What I found refreshing about this book is that the author (who is herself Mormon) makes it clear through Linda's character that she disagrees with many of the patriarchal notions of the religion ... and particularly with the anti-LGBT exclusion policy. Linda and Kurt have a son, Samuel, who is gay ... and the parental arguments about what the policy means for their son demonstrate the conflicts that these prejudicial rules from on high do to families.

The mystery is well constructed, and there is a plot twist that I didn't see coming at all. Nicely done.

[Teresa Osgood · Rating 2 out of 5]

Linda Wallheim, an LDS bishop's wife who has apparently stumbled upon mysteries before, goes to visit her son's prospective in-laws. As if that weren't awkward enough, they are a polygamous family, determined to follow 19th-century Mormon customs. And then, someone murders the charismatic but manipulative patriarch. Can Linda figure out who did it in this weird little community?

Yes, and that's the good part of the book. But while she does, she agonizes over Church policies, past and present, and lets them interfere with her own marriage. Linda's concerns are real, and affect a lot of people in the real world. However, I could not agree with some of her views, which made it hard for me to relate to this protagonist. The author seemed determined to bring out everything awkward about the Church, without presenting much on the positive side. So, if you're looking for a cozy mystery with a side of faith affirmation, or an entertaining way to introduce your friends to the Church, this is not it.

[Joe Orozco · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an active LDS member, it was nice to pick up something that makes references to familiar church concepts. I don’t know that I always felt swept away by the fiction writing itself. At times it seemed as though Harrison wanted badly to show off what she knew of anti-Mormon material. I think I could have appreciated that on its own merits, but the story itself was decent enough. I did not guess the murderer correctly, perhaps more a sign of my own simpleton manners, but I don’t know that the writing necessarily paved the way in that direction. I feel as though a good mystery will lead you by the nose, completely surprise you by the end, and then make you feel just a little dumb for not having guessed what was in front of you all along. On the whole, I’m intrigued enough to go back and read the first two books in the series, but I wouldn’t beg you to go making it your next read.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I am generally enjoying this series and learning a lot more about mormonism than I knew before, this book had two very annoying things that I couldn't stop thinking about. One, there were significant developments in both plot and character that happened between books and I wish authors would show and not tell. I make this comment about Jacqueline Winspear and the Maisie Dobb books too - the writing is always better when you don't just spring new things on your readers. The second thing is that we received an update about Kurt and Linda's grandchild (yes, born between books) and they named her Carla... the same name as the murder victim in book 2!! Why would you do that? There was no connection between Kurt and Linda's family and that person... it's the strangest thing. I have two more to go in this series and I hope there are some improvements!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to 4 - I love mystery series, you feel involved in characters lives and watch them develop. The third entry in any series is often a “make or break”, and I will keep going with this series because I find the inside look at the LDS community fascinating. But this entry was a heavy story involving a serious subject within the LDS Church history - polygamy. While the investigation qualities of the main character are extremely far fetched in this book, her inner dialogue is what I imagine would be real for a woman struggling with her love of family and church (and in this case church=culture) and her disillusionment with the same church. This story is a clunky at times, but I plan on reading the next installment.

[Michael Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just about everyone who writes mystery novels about Mormons eventually gets around to the polygamous compound. For some (Robert Irvine, Gary Stewart) it never gets anywhere else. But Harrison works it logically into the overall narrative of Linda Waldheim--more successfully, I think, than Andrew Hunt--the other contemporary mystery novelist with a Mormon series--does in A Killing in Zion, which has similar themes. But what I liked the most about For Time and All Eternities was its development of Linda as a protagonist with her own angels and demons. She has become someone that I could care about even if she were in a novel where nobody even died.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooner or later Linda would have to face the specter of polygamy, which surrounds and pervades the inter-mountain mormon west... And when there is a murder of course she can't stay out of it. The details of these mysteries are just so fascinating to me, and the "side issues" that are discussed and explored are just as interesting (if not more so) than the mysteries themselves, which are generally fairly standard as far as murder mysteries go. I really like this series for all of those reasons, and because i genuinely like spending time in Linda Wallheim's world and in her head.

[LeNee Gatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this installment of the popular Linda Wallheim Mystery series Harrison delves even deeper into family relationships and the struggles that can arise when a family member suddenly doesn't fit the mold we thought we had neatly put them in. In addition to the turmoil in her marriage and family Linda stumbles into a tragic polygamous family situation when trying to help her son and future daughter-in-law. Her will to help may drive her to breaking the law and her faith in order to help.

[Jeanine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like a mystery so I found it interesting that there was no dead body ,no missing child, just a domestic situation that held my attention for the better part of the first half the book before the mystery is finally served up. There is a nice development of characters and a good mystery when the murder finally happens. However, I don't believe the actual who done it and was disappointed with the ending.

[Taylor Bleazard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I TORE through this book. As a convert the Church, and rather stubborn person when it comes to complicated doctrine, I appreciated Harrison's no-sugar-coating ideas regarding several church issues which she seamlessly blends into the narrative. The outcome was unexpected, and I liked that there so many routes the main character could take in solving this mystery; it kept me guessing. I love this author very much and am excited to get my hands on The Bishop's Wife ASAP!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for interesting setting and nuanced characters. Marked improvement from the previous two, nice light read. I'll continue to follow as light mysteries. Still had some major plot holes (murder happens, and like 6 adults just decide, it's ok, we'll just bury him in the backyard and not tell anyone? Really?) and lots of telling not showing, but Harrison gets better every time and the unique lead character and setting keeps me going.