Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The First Book In This Planned Series Hooked Jackie Right Away


In the predominantly Mormon city of Draper, Utah, some seemingly perfect families have deadly secrets.

Linda Wallheim is a devout Mormon, the mother of five boys and the wife of a bishop. But Linda is increasingly troubled by her church’s structure and secrecy, especially as a disturbing situation takes shape in her ward. One cold winter night, a young wife and mother named Carrie Helm disappears, leaving behind everything she owns. Carrie’s husband, Jared, claims his wife has always been unstable and that she has abandoned the family, but Linda doesn’t trust him. As Linda snoops in the Helm family’s circumstances, she becomes convinced that Jared has murdered his wife and painted himself as a wronged husband.

Linda’s husband asks her not to get involved in the unfolding family saga. But Linda has become obsessed with Carrie’s fate, and with the well-being of her vulnerable young daughter. She cannot let the matter rest until she finds out the truth. Is she wrong to go against her husband, the bishop, when her inner convictions are so strong?

Inspired by a chilling true crime and written by a practicing Mormon, The Bishop’s Wife is both a fascinating look at the lives of modern Mormons as well as a grim and cunningly twisted mystery.

Jackie says:
"I found this book to be fascinating in many ways. I have an BA in religious philosophy/history, but I have never been privileged to learn any inside information about Mormonism. This book, and my long talk with the author, answered so many questions for me. I would have loved the novel for that reason alone, but within the plot there are several mysteries brewing in the church ward for which the bishop is responsible. People are dying or disappearing, families are breaking up, and the bishop's wife Linda is trying to get to the bottom of it. I'm so happy to know that Harrison has written two more books in this planned series, with notes and intentions for several more. This is a great story, and I look forward to reading more from Harrison."

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