When devout Christians, Mary and David Gentry, fall victim to a series of crimes and mishaps in their comfortable, upper middle class Michigan suburb, David convinces a doubtful Mary to move to New Jordan, a walled, secluded, community being built in Georgia and designed for Christians only. There is literally no crime, and the houses don't even need locks on the doors. David and Mary are thoroughly investigated and approved, but as part of the requirements to move in, they must surrender all of their considerable assets with the understanding that if they decide to leave, everything will be returned to them. Architect David is ecstatic when given the assignment of designing the new city, and the children love their new school and quickly make friends. Only Mary is unhappy. She soon rebels against the strict rules for women; no makeup, no hair color or haircuts, and worst of all, no birth control. When she begins trying to persuade David to leave, she falls victim to a series of accidents and starts to wonder if her husband is in on a plot to kill her. His new assistant is a beautiful young widow, and he seems overly fond of her. With only one friend, Mary wonders who she can really trust. Convinced that someone is coming into her home when she is away, she begins to investigate and discovers bugs planted in the house, including the bathrooms and bedrooms. Living with the knowledge that every day could be her last, Mary realizes that it was much easier to get into New Jordan than it will be to get out. One of the things her probing uncovers is that no one has ever left there alive.
A Michigan native who studied writing in school, Donna first came to Vegas to make costumes and soon was weaving the stories she heard in the back of the girls' dressing room into her first novel. Now she is the author of The Alexandra Merritt Mysteries, which include 'The Last Two Aces in Las Vegas', 'The Las Vegas Desert Flower', 'The Las Vegas Special', 'Rough Ride in Vegas', 'M.I.A. Las Vegas' and 'The Las Vegas Sophisticate'. Her latest novel, 'The Vegas Tycoon' is also set in Las Vegas
Donna has written several other stand-alone novels, recent releases 'Kaleigh McKenna' and 'The Russell House', as well as 'Desperate Ambition', 'The Right Society', 'The Other Hand', 'Conversations with Skip', and an anthology, 'Killer Coffee and a Batch of Cookies'.
In addition to those stand-alones and others, Donna has a popular series of historical romances, 'The Manhattan Stories', and a series of female detective stories 'The Case Files of Molly Evers".
Her most popular novel, 'Maude', the story of her Grandmother, is a #1 best-seller on Amazon and spent 16 weeks on the Wall Street Journal's Top-10 list. 'Maude' is available as an audiobook, and is published in Italian, Russian and German. Donna is actively working on the screenplay for 'Maude'.
She has also written three screenplays, a stage play, poetry, short stories, and a children's story.
Donna lives in Henderson, Nevada, sharing her home with two cats and her dog, Abigale, all three shelter rescues. She has two children, a daughter in Las Vegas and a son in New York and a grandson who is the light of her life!
Donna still takes occasional classes at UNLV and at writer's conferences and is an active member of the Anthem Author's in Henderson, NV.
This story would make a good movie. The idea this could actually happen is strong. A family experience several acts of crime even though they are comfortable well off. They are devote Christians and become interested in a new town. It is a controlled community and town for Christians only. Only after they are settled in do they see problems. Rules are very enforced. Heat, water, pets, their employment, holidays and vacations are controlled for the exchange of the new life. The wife resist the rules. However the husband is very desirable as a designer for the new homes and town. The wife fears for her marriage and life while the husband doesn't see the whole picture.
The plot moved consistently keeping me intrigued at what was going to happen next. Not edge of your seat, but a good read I enjoy christian novels however 90% are not, for lack of a better word, sophisticated. I usually feel like I'm reading a book written for teens. This one was more of an adult read with scripture I learned from rather than a Sunday school lesson or a teen youth group.
The plot of "The Right Society" is very similar to many other books - fiction and non-fiction - about cults; however, there are enough interesting twists to make the story unique. I think Donna Mabry did a wonderful job showing the portion of the Christian population most other Christians don't like to admit exists - the extremists who use religion as a means to control people and set themselves up as gods. The suspense was enough to keep me turning the pages and I read the book in one day.
This sounded like a good story idea but it didn't live up to what I hoped it would be. The events and characters didn't seem believable to me. (All those things could happen, yes, but unlikely they would all happen to the same family at the same time)
Sadly, I just felt the whole book was corny.
I really enjoy Donna Mabry's historical fiction books but this was not her best work.
Many truths about today's environment and how frightening our surroundings can feel. I can understand how appealing it might be to escape from it all. I wish the writing had been a little tighter as I almost stopped reading it but the premise was good.
I love Christian fiction and this is some of the best I've read recently! The slow slithering way that David and Mary are drawn into the cult sends chills. Her courage is remarkable!
Well written book. A look into the way cults draw in people to seek a stress free existence. It seems Mary the strong main character was the only one with a hold on reality.
I loved "Maude" and was excited to read this book. This might have been a good story if it wasn't also trying to fit into the Christian fiction niche. Way too much religion. I realize it needed some, but the excess detracted from the novel.
Very good. This book shows just how fanatic some religions can become. People have to be aware of weird things that do not seem correct. I do believe in God and know he cares for all in a wonderful way.
She gets it right again.well written and a great plot.she really does her research and gets it right every time.I like it that she puts in good things happening to people.makes you glad you read it.keep it up Donna.thanks
This book, though fictional, is an inspiration to any Christian who believes in being courageous til the end of their battles, and following the Word as it is written, not as some group of people interpret it.
Enjoyed this book. Sure wood not like to have been in Mary's place. I can't even start to be in small rooms I can't get out of , Good plot tho.Needs to be a movie.
I felt like this was a poorly written book. The paragraphs gave too much detail and not enough showing. As it neared the end, I got more interested but felt the end was anti-climatic.