The Bishop's Wife by Mette Ivie Harrison
Published by Soho Crime
Publication Date December 30, 2014
Source: Library
Genres: Mystery
Goodreads
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.
First Impressions
The Bishop’s Wife by Mette Ivie Harrison could have been a good mystery novel if it focused on the murder of Carrie Helm.
Impressions While Reading
Biddy Linda Wallheim, amateur sleuth took center stage. She had to insert her nose into everything Gladys Kravitz style. What most annoyed me was her obsession with Carrie’s younger daughter Kelly. Linda’s feelings that she could give the girl a better life than her father Jared Helm grew tiresome. I felt that Wallheim’s personal convictions took up too much of the book. This was especially when the murder mystery aspect was rather clever.
Final Impressions
Despite plot development that was well set the lackluster characters did it in for me equalling a disappointing read.
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