For Time and All Eternities

By: Mette Ivie Harrison

Narrated by: Kirsten Potter

The Mormon Church may have disavowed the polygamy it became so famous 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 22 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.

©2017 Mette Ivie Harrison (P)2017 Recorded Books

Off the beaten path

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this issue in the series. I actually really liked it.

It’s different and off the beaten path, but I liked it a lot!!

Great mystery!

I really enjoy her books. I am an ex-Mormon myself so for me it's a nostalgic look at a world I don't get to see up close anymore. Her depictions are authentic. I think her books would appeal to religious and non religious alike, so long as you're interested in understanding another worldview. Also great for modern liberal Mormons, as she speaks honestly about the modern experience of a thinking Mormon. Great series, very addicting and fun! I hope she writes many, many more!!! I've never read mysteries before but she's got me hooked.

Mystery solving through empathy

Great protagonist, an upside down Sherlock who solves mysteries through understanding each person as an individual and seeing the dynamics of the group. Her compassion and empathy allow her to slowly reveal the truth.

The First Two? Great? This One? Fuggedaboutit

Any additional comments?

Oh my.

Where to start? The plot? Jumps the shark. From the beginning, it's unbelievable.

The lead character? Now an insufferably self-righteous Nancy Drew. Also deluded, in thinking she can "solve" a murder. (I won't even go near the aplomb with which she faces gruesome murders in the course of a day - but cannot "get over" the death of stillborn infant 20 years before.)

Advice to readers: skip this one, and let's hope the author regains her form.