For Time And All Eternities: A Linda Wallheim Mystery

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

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.

Reviews

Praise for For Time and All Eternities

"An intriguing murder mystery, as alluring and confounding as the inscrutable history of polygamy itselftold with refreshing honesty and a ton of heart."
Jamie Ford,New York Timesbestselling author ofHotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

"A provocative piece of work."
Salt Lake City Tribune

"Harrisons mystery also offers a fascinating insiders look at a faith that is strange and mysterious to outsiders. Lindas struggle to accept church doctrines is an issue to which many readers can relate. Highly recommended."
Library Journal

"A compelling readone that will have readers considering if their love for family is stronger than their preconceived expectations for each other. Readers will become wrapped in the Wallheim familys idiosyncrasies, which will leave them looking forward to the next book in the series."
Dialogue

"Totally spellbinding! I couldn't read quickly enough."
Fresh Fiction

"A very talented writer. She's also very rave for writing these books."
Kittling Books

"Plural marriage in Harrison's hands is not like it is onSister WivesorBig Love; nor is it like reading about the Jeffs family or other extreme fundamentalist Mormon families (despite the compound; I guess they all need compounds). It's a nuanced imagining of what it might be like to have made that choice; each wife has different reasons for living in a plural marriage and a distinct personality."
LitHub

"An exciting and well-crafted mystery."
MysteryPeople, Pick of the Month

Praise for the Linda Wallheim mysteries

The Bishops Wife has good reason to draw a large readership . . . Ms. Harrisons Linda is
such a welcome character.
The New York Times

The issues the book raises will make readers hungry for more of Linda and her close-knit community.
Los Angeles Times

A fast moving crime story, but also far more than that. Deep social and moral issues dealt with, and made real with compassion and honesty. I couldnt put it down!
Anne Perry

Absorbing . . . Rich with real-life details that often get lost in stereotypes.
NPRs All Things Considered

Sane, wise, likable . . . [The] solution is nicely surprising, and Linda has an engrossing voice, at once modest and assured.
Charles Finch, USA Today

A heartfelt story that opens outsiders to a fascinating world.
The Boston Globe

Edgy and engrossing . . . Harrison delivers a provocative tale that doesnt shy away from timely social issues.
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Author Bio

Mette Ivie Harrison is the author of two other novels in the Linda Wallheim mystery series, The Bishop's Wife and His Right Hand, as well as numerous books for young adults. She holds a PhD in German literature from Princeton University and is a nationally ranked triathlete. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she lives in Utah with her husband and five children.