Death In The Covenant: An Abish Taylor Mystery

(Hardback)

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The growth of the Mormon Church has slowed. Young men are abandoning the Church, leaving their female counterparts unmarried and childless. Now, the Church is about to lose one more member...and it may be due to murder. Detective Abish "Abbie" Taylor returned to the mountain town of Pleasant View, Utah, hoping for a quiet life. But that hope dissipates like a dream when she wakes to an unsettling phone call. Arriving at the scene of a fatal car accident, she discovers that the victim was one of the most beloved leaders of the Church-and an old family friend. Abbie is skeptical when her father insists the death was not an accident, but in an attempt to patch up their relationship, she takes a few days off from her job as the sole detective in the police department, and heads to Colonia Jua_x0301_rez, a former LDS colony in Mexico. There, she uncovers a plan hearkening back to the Church's history of polygamy. But Abbie knows too well that bringing secrets to light can be deadly. Is that why her father's friend died Abbie realizes with a jolt that her investigation could cost her father his job and possibly get him excommunicated. Who is the murderous mastermind of this secret plot Time is running out for Abbie to save her father's position-and her own life-as dark forces close in, and the outlook for Pleasant View turns decidedly unpleasant.

Reviews

Praise for Death in the Covenant:
"[An] exceptional sequel...Readers will want to see more of Abbie."
Publishers Weekly starred review

Praise for Blessed Be the Wicked:
[A] thought-provoking and intricate debut featuring a well-drawn protagonist...Readers who enjoy Mette Ivie Harrisons Linda Wallheim mysteries will appreciate another insiders examination of Mormon rituals and traditions.
Library Journal

Surprising...The book contains a goodly dollop of Mormon history, which adds unexpected layers to the mystery. Readers will look forward to...[the] next outing.
Publishers Weekly

Blessed Be the Wicked is razor sharp and crackles with a relentless tension. D. A. Bartley takes readers on a dark passage into the depths of a little known society that is as fascinating as it is secretive.
New York Times bestselling author Linda Castillo

A fascinating and memorable story, full of twists and turns.
Emily Littlejohn, author of Inherit the Bones

Blessed be the Wicked is an insightful and compelling read.
Sarah Ward, author of In Bitter Chill

Author Bio

D. A. Bartley is a member of Daughters of Utah Pioneers. She traces her family history back to the earliest days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She spent much of her childhood in Utah, but her parents were incurable travelers. She was born in Scotland and lived in Germany, France and Russia. After studying international relations, politics and law, D. A. worked both as an attorney and an academic in Manhattan. In the end, though, she could not escape her life-long love of mysteries. She lives in New York City with her husband, daughter and son.