Blessed Be the Wicked

August 1, 2018

Having left the Mormon Church, gotten married, and joined the NYPD as a detective, Abish Taylor finds herself back in Utah after her husband's death, serving as the sole detective on the Pleasant View police force. Although viewed as an outsider by church members, she's ordered by her Mormon boss to investigate the strange death of Steven Smith, which appears to mimic ritual blood atonements of the church's past. Despite another death and pressure to close the case quickly, Abbie and her young partner persist in probing church finances, Smith's business trips, and his relationship with a young woman. The author's background knowledge of the Church of Latter-Day Saints aids in the skillful plotting of this thought-provoking and intricate debut featuring a well-drawn protagonist. VERDICT Readers who enjoy Mette Ivie Harrison's "Linda Wallheim" mysteries will appreciate another insider's examination of Mormon rituals and traditions.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 30, 2018
Abish Taylor, the heroine of Bartley’s surprising debut, left Pleasant View, Utah, and the Mormon faith early in her life, eventually becoming a police officer in New York City. After her husband’s death, she returned home to Pleasant View, where she assumed the detective position for the local police force. She thought it would be an easy way to pass the time between hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter, but the job turns serious when a man is found dead in the basement of a newly purchased McMansion in a swanky part of town. The victim is dressed for Temple in full ceremonial regalia, his throat cut from ear to ear. As she sets out to solve the murder, Abish must navigate the particular realities of Mormon culture, where protecting the reputation of the church often takes precedence over investigating a grisly murder or two. The book contains a goodly dollop of Mormon history, which adds unexpected layers to the mystery. Readers will look forward to this unusual woman’s next outing.

June 1, 2018
As the lone detective in her small Mormon community, Abish "Abbie" Taylor must use her understanding of the faith she rejected when a religious leader is murdered.Abbie has been living a life of luxury and privilege with her husband in New York City, but after his death, she returns home to Pleasant View, Utah. She takes a job as the small force's detective, assuming it will be an easy one given the area's predominantly Mormon, law-abiding makeup. But then a church leader is found dead, bearing wounds and wearing clothing that hint at a violent and bloody chapter of the church's past. As she and the promising young Officer Clarke investigate, Abbie realizes that many of the church's leaders are involved in actions that are less than legal, let alone moral. Even her own boss seems reluctant to fully investigate. Further complicating matters is Abbie's troubled past with her father, a man whose position as a respected church historian doesn't match up with his treatment of his own wife. The reader is given many, many passages about Mormon history and practices, yet key facts of the plot, such as those about Abbie's past career in law enforcement, are distributed sparingly. One wants to like Abbie, but Bartley's sluggish, predictable prose makes it hard to engage.Although the book's setting and subject material give it potential, the lackluster style keeps this off the must-read list.

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