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Linda Wallheim Mystery #2
His Right Hand
In Draper, Utah, a tight-knit Mormon community is thrown into upheaval when their ward's second counselor, one of the bishop's right-hand men, is found dead in an elaborately staged murder on church property. Carl Ashby was known as a devout Mormon, a pillar of the community, a loving husband and father. Who would want him dead?
Linda Wallheim, the wife of the ward's bishop, can't rest as long as the ward is suffering. She is particularly worried about Carl's grieving family. But the entire case is turned upside down by the autopsy report, which reveals Carl Ashby was a biological woman. In the Mormon church, where gender is considered part of a person's soul, some people regard transgenderism as one of the worst possible transgressions of faith. Church officials seem to be more upset by Carl's gender than by his murder, and more concerned with hushing up the story than with solving the crime.
Linda realizes that if the police are to catch the killer, they are going to need an ally on the inside—and she is the only one who can help. Carl was living a life of secrecy for twenty years. What else was he hiding—and can Linda ferret out the key to his death before the rumors tear her community apart?
From the Hardcover edition.
Linda Wallheim, the wife of the ward's bishop, can't rest as long as the ward is suffering. She is particularly worried about Carl's grieving family. But the entire case is turned upside down by the autopsy report, which reveals Carl Ashby was a biological woman. In the Mormon church, where gender is considered part of a person's soul, some people regard transgenderism as one of the worst possible transgressions of faith. Church officials seem to be more upset by Carl's gender than by his murder, and more concerned with hushing up the story than with solving the crime.
Linda realizes that if the police are to catch the killer, they are going to need an ally on the inside—and she is the only one who can help. Carl was living a life of secrecy for twenty years. What else was he hiding—and can Linda ferret out the key to his death before the rumors tear her community apart?
From the Hardcover edition.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2015
61 people are currently reading
506 people want to read
About the author
Mette Ivie Harrison
68 books437 followersMy name is pronounced "Metty" like my mother's "Betty." It is Danish, and we were all named after ancestors. I guess by the time they got to number nine (out of eleven), it was getting tricky. So I got the funny Danish name no one knew how to prounounce. In Denmark, it should be "meta" like "metaphysical." It's from the Greek for "pearl." And no, it's not short for anything. Not even Mediterannean.
My first book, THE MONSTER IN ME was accepted for publication in 1999 and was published in 2002. My second book, MIRA, MIRROR was published in 2004. The latest book, THE PRINCESS AND THE HOUND , was published in 2007. A sequel, THE PRINCESS AND THE BEAR, came out in April of 2009.
I now live in Utah with my husband and 5 children, ages 5 to 14. I write during nap time, or at 4 in the morning, or while the broccoli for dinner is burning. Whenever I get a chance. I love to write the kind of books that I love to read. And I love to discover what is going to happen next, just like a reader would. I also do some racing in triathlon.
from http://www.metteivieharrison.com/myli...
My first book, THE MONSTER IN ME was accepted for publication in 1999 and was published in 2002. My second book, MIRA, MIRROR was published in 2004. The latest book, THE PRINCESS AND THE HOUND , was published in 2007. A sequel, THE PRINCESS AND THE BEAR, came out in April of 2009.
I now live in Utah with my husband and 5 children, ages 5 to 14. I write during nap time, or at 4 in the morning, or while the broccoli for dinner is burning. Whenever I get a chance. I love to write the kind of books that I love to read. And I love to discover what is going to happen next, just like a reader would. I also do some racing in triathlon.
from http://www.metteivieharrison.com/myli...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
November 28, 2015
I found this second mystery by Mette Ivie Harrison almost as enthralling as the first, in spite of the fact that I guessed the solution before the end. What sets this series apart is its setting in a modern mainstream Mormon community, a group I don’t know a lot about, and the open, intimate tone of the story. This time the characters are struggling with ripped from the headlines issues of sexual identity and acceptance of difference.
Main character Linda Wallheim, the wife of a bishop, is a devout believer but has some troubling questions about her church’s policies and power structure. Her marriage is generally good, but not without challenges, and she’s at loose ends because her youngest son has all but moved out of the house. When her husband’s rigidly traditional colleague is murdered Linda becomes deeply involved in helping the victim’s distraught, almost unhinged widow and two teenage children. This puts her in a position to notice disturbing patterns which could help solve the crime, drawing Linda further into dangerous circumstances, but church higher-ups insist that some aspects of the situation be kept from the public, hampering the police investigation.
The author is a Mormon herself and I greatly enjoyed having a glimpse into that community. It’s a moving, family-focused story and the non-murder themes have some basis in reality--Harrison explains in the afterword that the idea for the book came from an incident she witnessed firsthand.
Main character Linda Wallheim, the wife of a bishop, is a devout believer but has some troubling questions about her church’s policies and power structure. Her marriage is generally good, but not without challenges, and she’s at loose ends because her youngest son has all but moved out of the house. When her husband’s rigidly traditional colleague is murdered Linda becomes deeply involved in helping the victim’s distraught, almost unhinged widow and two teenage children. This puts her in a position to notice disturbing patterns which could help solve the crime, drawing Linda further into dangerous circumstances, but church higher-ups insist that some aspects of the situation be kept from the public, hampering the police investigation.
The author is a Mormon herself and I greatly enjoyed having a glimpse into that community. It’s a moving, family-focused story and the non-murder themes have some basis in reality--Harrison explains in the afterword that the idea for the book came from an incident she witnessed firsthand.
December 10, 2015
Update: More thoughts (and some spoilers) on Book Riot.
I wanted really badly to enjoy this book. I'm a former Mormon and looking at the Church's issues on gender and LGBT issues is a really intriguing place to take Harrison's series. I enjoyed The Bishop's Wife without loving it, but the things I wasn't crazy about seemed to be amplified in this second book.
I try not to leave a lot of negative reviews, but I've noted Harrison's first book as an example of writing Mormons well so I felt like I needed to see this one through. Harrison seems to be writing to both a Mormon and non-Mormon audience, so she explains the Church and she explains a lot of gender/transgender elements to her audience. It can feel like a lot of explaining. And while Harrison obviously cares about these issues, the subplots feel clunky and like an attempt to do too much to make a statement.
While a big part of Linda's history is revealed and was really interesting, I still felt detached from her as a character. And I definitely felt more detached and confused about her marriage, which feels very stilted. I just didn't connect with this book the way I hoped I would.
I wanted really badly to enjoy this book. I'm a former Mormon and looking at the Church's issues on gender and LGBT issues is a really intriguing place to take Harrison's series. I enjoyed The Bishop's Wife without loving it, but the things I wasn't crazy about seemed to be amplified in this second book.
I try not to leave a lot of negative reviews, but I've noted Harrison's first book as an example of writing Mormons well so I felt like I needed to see this one through. Harrison seems to be writing to both a Mormon and non-Mormon audience, so she explains the Church and she explains a lot of gender/transgender elements to her audience. It can feel like a lot of explaining. And while Harrison obviously cares about these issues, the subplots feel clunky and like an attempt to do too much to make a statement.
While a big part of Linda's history is revealed and was really interesting, I still felt detached from her as a character. And I definitely felt more detached and confused about her marriage, which feels very stilted. I just didn't connect with this book the way I hoped I would.
July 31, 2015
I received an ARC from the publisher for my review.
I really enjoyed The Bishop's Wife. Written by a practicing Mormon about practicing Mormons, it aired some dirty laundry of LDS culture and used it to form a compelling murder mystery. This followed suit, though certainly will push buttons with it's more controversial subject matter - a local church leader is murdered in a church building, and it is revealed that he was born a female.
My big beef with a lot of stories featuring Mormons is they're either treacly inspirational, or not at all sympathetic. Harrison's Linda Wallheim has done her own soul searching, and chooses to live the Mormon faith despite lingering questions and exasperation with the rigidity and culture of some of her fellow church members. Harrison allows for questions to rise, but bear testimony to the beauty of the LDS gospel without overtly proselytizing. The characters in her books are people I know from my own church experience, and I am still impressed and grateful for her portrayal of Linda's husband Kurt, the bishop of their ward. My dad's been a bishop, and I appreciate the honest and endearing way she presents Kurt with his compassion and his own struggles.
I could not put this book down. I started it last night, read a third, had to sleep, read some more before work, and every spare moment I had I read another chapter until the end. Parts of it made me uncomfortable from their truthfulness and their relevance to current hot topics within the LDS faith, and I hope will open up some discussions from readers about those topics. Your heart breaks for these characters, and I felt like Linda - at a loss sometimes with what to do, so you bake something.
I *highly* recommend this book, and though reading The Bishop's Wife first will set up some plot points, His Right Hand can stand on its own.
I really enjoyed The Bishop's Wife. Written by a practicing Mormon about practicing Mormons, it aired some dirty laundry of LDS culture and used it to form a compelling murder mystery. This followed suit, though certainly will push buttons with it's more controversial subject matter - a local church leader is murdered in a church building, and it is revealed that he was born a female.
My big beef with a lot of stories featuring Mormons is they're either treacly inspirational, or not at all sympathetic. Harrison's Linda Wallheim has done her own soul searching, and chooses to live the Mormon faith despite lingering questions and exasperation with the rigidity and culture of some of her fellow church members. Harrison allows for questions to rise, but bear testimony to the beauty of the LDS gospel without overtly proselytizing. The characters in her books are people I know from my own church experience, and I am still impressed and grateful for her portrayal of Linda's husband Kurt, the bishop of their ward. My dad's been a bishop, and I appreciate the honest and endearing way she presents Kurt with his compassion and his own struggles.
I could not put this book down. I started it last night, read a third, had to sleep, read some more before work, and every spare moment I had I read another chapter until the end. Parts of it made me uncomfortable from their truthfulness and their relevance to current hot topics within the LDS faith, and I hope will open up some discussions from readers about those topics. Your heart breaks for these characters, and I felt like Linda - at a loss sometimes with what to do, so you bake something.
I *highly* recommend this book, and though reading The Bishop's Wife first will set up some plot points, His Right Hand can stand on its own.
January 1, 2016
As she did in The Bishop's Wife, Mette Harrison takes on several big projects at once in His Right Hand. On one hand, she provides an honest, warts-and-all (but also decency-and-all) portrait of a Mormon ward. As with most modern mysteries, her project is partially anthropological. She writes from the inside of the Utah-Mormon community in a way that makes that community accessible to outsiders.
At the same time, both novels try to prod the people inside the Mormon community to behave better. The Bishop's Wife deals with the issue of sexual abuse--especially when combined with ecclesiastical authority. His Right Hand deals with issues of sexual and gender identity among the Saints. The core mystery is the murder of a male priesthood holder (and Bishop's counselor) who is revealed, after death, to have been biologically female. As in the previous novel, the mystery is complicated by traditional Mormon attitudes towards sex and towards authority.
Harrison's heroine, Linda Waldheim, must negotiate these issues from her officially marginal role as the bishop's wife. This turns out to be the best place to investigate things, however, because the margins is where most of the good stuff happens. Over and over again, Linda discovers that most of the important things in the ward happen outside of the corridors of ecclesiastical power--in the lives of its women, young people, troublemakers, and near-apostates. Because she has access to these people--who trust her in ways they will never trust her husband--Linda can piece together the real stories lurking beneath the official ones that everybody is supposed to believe.
I found His Right Hand to be a stronger novel than The Bishop's Wife (which was also pretty darn good). In the second novel, Harrison creates a tighter mystery, and though there are still substantial subplots, they are clearly subordinated to the primary mystery in ways that they were not in The Bishop's Wife, which occasionally allowed its subplots to take over. Harrison's voice is also more certain in His Right Hand--she does not come off as at all apologetic 1) for being a Mormon; or 2) for not believing everything that most Mormons believe and even some thing that have been declared official doctrine by the LDS Church.
Both Linda Waldheim and Mette Harrison have become more mature and more confident in their second outing together. I am excited to see where they both go from here.
At the same time, both novels try to prod the people inside the Mormon community to behave better. The Bishop's Wife deals with the issue of sexual abuse--especially when combined with ecclesiastical authority. His Right Hand deals with issues of sexual and gender identity among the Saints. The core mystery is the murder of a male priesthood holder (and Bishop's counselor) who is revealed, after death, to have been biologically female. As in the previous novel, the mystery is complicated by traditional Mormon attitudes towards sex and towards authority.
Harrison's heroine, Linda Waldheim, must negotiate these issues from her officially marginal role as the bishop's wife. This turns out to be the best place to investigate things, however, because the margins is where most of the good stuff happens. Over and over again, Linda discovers that most of the important things in the ward happen outside of the corridors of ecclesiastical power--in the lives of its women, young people, troublemakers, and near-apostates. Because she has access to these people--who trust her in ways they will never trust her husband--Linda can piece together the real stories lurking beneath the official ones that everybody is supposed to believe.
I found His Right Hand to be a stronger novel than The Bishop's Wife (which was also pretty darn good). In the second novel, Harrison creates a tighter mystery, and though there are still substantial subplots, they are clearly subordinated to the primary mystery in ways that they were not in The Bishop's Wife, which occasionally allowed its subplots to take over. Harrison's voice is also more certain in His Right Hand--she does not come off as at all apologetic 1) for being a Mormon; or 2) for not believing everything that most Mormons believe and even some thing that have been declared official doctrine by the LDS Church.
Both Linda Waldheim and Mette Harrison have become more mature and more confident in their second outing together. I am excited to see where they both go from here.
February 20, 2016
I have no dog in any Mormon doctrinal fights, so to me this is a fascinating glimpse into the modern LDS church. As with the first book in this series, I appreciated Linda, who is both a modern feminist and a faithful Mormon woman (and bishop's wife). It was interesting to see how that tension played out, both with more emphasis on her own family and kids this time around, and in the main mystery, which touched on everything from the Biblical roles of men and women to transgender and LGB issues with both compassion and a relative lightness of touch.
October 23, 2015
ARC from work. The transgender aspect intrigued me but it was a whole lotta Mormon to wade through.
January 4, 2016
4 Stars...I love this series..This is a compliment, Nancy Drew for adults is how I find these books. I devoured all of the original Nancy Drew books and read these with the same pleasure.
March 30, 2018
I read the first in the series a while ago and thought it was pretty good. This one is better - I thought the first one bogged down at times in too much detail, and I thought the author definitely improved in how she paced and edited this story.
Linda Walheim is a wife and mother, but more importantly to the story, the wife of a Mormon bishop who lives just outside of Salt Lake City. Her life is defined by her children, her marriage, and her duties to and relationship with the LDS church. However improbably, Linda, somewhat nosy by nature, is now involved in investigating the murder of a church member.
The author shines everything through the lens of what it means to be LDS in the current world, at least from the author's point of view (surely not every Mormon would agree with her view). As a non-Mormon I am always intrigued by the history and development of this church, and that is certainly something that draws me to these books. But the author also writes well, and tells a well-crafted story.
There are a couple of things that I find a bit off-putting. The first is the relationship between the main character and her husband - he seems so cold and distant and quite self-interested - he is always asking his wife to not do or say something because of how it might reflect on him. The other thing that is a bit dissonant is the main character herself - she often takes actions that seem to be in conflict with the person that the author has spent a lot of time convincing you she is - there is one moment in particular in this book where the main character did something that I found way out of character, and actually criminal, and yet there were no consequences.
Still a good mystery, set in a world I find very interesting. I will definitely read the next in the series.
Linda Walheim is a wife and mother, but more importantly to the story, the wife of a Mormon bishop who lives just outside of Salt Lake City. Her life is defined by her children, her marriage, and her duties to and relationship with the LDS church. However improbably, Linda, somewhat nosy by nature, is now involved in investigating the murder of a church member.
The author shines everything through the lens of what it means to be LDS in the current world, at least from the author's point of view (surely not every Mormon would agree with her view). As a non-Mormon I am always intrigued by the history and development of this church, and that is certainly something that draws me to these books. But the author also writes well, and tells a well-crafted story.
There are a couple of things that I find a bit off-putting. The first is the relationship between the main character and her husband - he seems so cold and distant and quite self-interested - he is always asking his wife to not do or say something because of how it might reflect on him. The other thing that is a bit dissonant is the main character herself - she often takes actions that seem to be in conflict with the person that the author has spent a lot of time convincing you she is - there is one moment in particular in this book where the main character did something that I found way out of character, and actually criminal, and yet there were no consequences.
Still a good mystery, set in a world I find very interesting. I will definitely read the next in the series.
November 1, 2020
I enjoyed the first book of the series due to the thoughtfulness of the protagonist (and author?). This sequel is just as thoughtful but unlike the first book, the primary concern in this one is LGTBQIA and how it's being perceived in Mormon communities. I must say it was a struggle to read the back & forth arguments though I did appreciate author's note in that this was inspired by a friend's struggle.
While the mystery itself was intriguing, it was a heartbreaking one. I feel for these characters. I did enjoy, however, the portrayal of protagonist's marriage that isn't on the verge of breakdown or dysfunctional. They went through some rough patches in this book so it's not perfect but it works. The ending, however, too closely resembling the first book and for the protagonist to be involved in a car chase was a little unbelievable.
While the mystery itself was intriguing, it was a heartbreaking one. I feel for these characters. I did enjoy, however, the portrayal of protagonist's marriage that isn't on the verge of breakdown or dysfunctional. They went through some rough patches in this book so it's not perfect but it works. The ending, however, too closely resembling the first book and for the protagonist to be involved in a car chase was a little unbelievable.
June 25, 2020
I like this one more than the first. As an ex-Mormon, this is in my wheelhouse, with Linda's struggles with the church and kids and even stillbirth, all of which I have experienced. I am reminded in her thought processes how I used to justify some of the horrible teachings of the church to myself. I am curious to see how Linda evolves. Not a huge fan of her husband. This one touches on transgender issues and the church, and gay issues and the church, but Linda assumes better of the people around her than what I think most people, even now a few years later, experience when they are LGBTQ+ and Mormon, which is why the vast majority of them, and those who are staunch allies, leave. The mystery was kind of secondary for me because the themes touched a nerve. I am curious as to what those with little or no experience with Mormons and Mormonism would think.
Read
May 29, 2017Interesting insight into the LDS culture. No graphic sex or violence.
May 19, 2022
This second installment in the Linda Wallheim series is a shock to the system and raises serious questions about diversity in the LDS community.
December 3, 2015
Interesting!____3 1/2 stars
A Mormon enclave in Draper, Utah is the setting for murder unexpected. A crime committed that uncovers a shocking truth and that throws the Mormon hierarchy into disarray. Carl Ashby, a respected member, has been killed and during the investigation, it is revealed that he had transgendered from female. Linda Wallheim, wife of the ward's bishop is determined to help uncover the truth of the murder as suspicion casts a festering pall over the community.
In the course of looking into the murder, the main character Linda, gives the reader a fascinating insight into Mormon mores. Many of which are dissected in terms of individual responsibility, interpretation and grace. Referenced is the churches adherence to strict lines of communication, order and within that a person's place according to gender and hierarchy. And here shockingly, a crime has exposed that those gender lines having been crossed. Many questions arise. How then should the church leaders respond ? How did Carl maintain his secret? How much should be revealed to the family and to the community? A problematic area in terms of the crime is that this is a closed community, used to being self supporting with no need of outsiders, or outsider interference. This might be ok in terms of relief work and general community support but murder is a legal matter and as such falls to a different authority. So we are left with the picture that hindrance rather than help is given to the police in the course of the investigation. Those actions might mean the murderer is unwittingly hidden due to the protective intentions of the leadership. The hints of blockage by the church authority and President Frost's involvement with the police is puzzling to the reader and to Linda. The discussions via Linda about the LDS stance on transgender and gays is fascinating, as are other aspects of the Church's practices and history. The response by President Frost proclaiming that all ordinances would have to be nullified and redone is troubling for the leaders because of some quite far reaching ramifications. These insights drew me on--as some of the practices of Mormonism are revealed. Because of the carefully built background it was some time before the actual murder took hold of the writing. When I compare the plot construction with that of one of my favourite mystery writers and coincidentally, a LDS member, Anne Perry, I feel that the buildup of tension in His Right Hand is sporadic, and although I understand that explanations about the faith are important to some of the happenings, their complexity acted against the plot. Fortunately all came together rather dramatically in the last couple of chapters.
Linda is a strong and likeable character, who seems to push the boundaries, and yet struggles to work within the confines of her community, at the same time accepting that those limitations are part and parcel of where she has chosen to stay.
A NetGalley ARC
A Mormon enclave in Draper, Utah is the setting for murder unexpected. A crime committed that uncovers a shocking truth and that throws the Mormon hierarchy into disarray. Carl Ashby, a respected member, has been killed and during the investigation, it is revealed that he had transgendered from female. Linda Wallheim, wife of the ward's bishop is determined to help uncover the truth of the murder as suspicion casts a festering pall over the community.
In the course of looking into the murder, the main character Linda, gives the reader a fascinating insight into Mormon mores. Many of which are dissected in terms of individual responsibility, interpretation and grace. Referenced is the churches adherence to strict lines of communication, order and within that a person's place according to gender and hierarchy. And here shockingly, a crime has exposed that those gender lines having been crossed. Many questions arise. How then should the church leaders respond ? How did Carl maintain his secret? How much should be revealed to the family and to the community? A problematic area in terms of the crime is that this is a closed community, used to being self supporting with no need of outsiders, or outsider interference. This might be ok in terms of relief work and general community support but murder is a legal matter and as such falls to a different authority. So we are left with the picture that hindrance rather than help is given to the police in the course of the investigation. Those actions might mean the murderer is unwittingly hidden due to the protective intentions of the leadership. The hints of blockage by the church authority and President Frost's involvement with the police is puzzling to the reader and to Linda. The discussions via Linda about the LDS stance on transgender and gays is fascinating, as are other aspects of the Church's practices and history. The response by President Frost proclaiming that all ordinances would have to be nullified and redone is troubling for the leaders because of some quite far reaching ramifications. These insights drew me on--as some of the practices of Mormonism are revealed. Because of the carefully built background it was some time before the actual murder took hold of the writing. When I compare the plot construction with that of one of my favourite mystery writers and coincidentally, a LDS member, Anne Perry, I feel that the buildup of tension in His Right Hand is sporadic, and although I understand that explanations about the faith are important to some of the happenings, their complexity acted against the plot. Fortunately all came together rather dramatically in the last couple of chapters.
Linda is a strong and likeable character, who seems to push the boundaries, and yet struggles to work within the confines of her community, at the same time accepting that those limitations are part and parcel of where she has chosen to stay.
A NetGalley ARC
August 16, 2016
Very well-constructed mystery story, making excellent use of its setting in a small-town Mormon community.
"Mormon murder mysteries" is kind of the tagline for the Linda Wallheim books, but they genuinely work - religious community and culture are really their own thing; they change familiar dynamics in intriguing ways. Harrison has a keen eye for those differences, finding key elements for her story that are uniquely Mormon and religious, without making them feel outlandish or ludicrous.
Both the author and the main character come across as sensible and down-to-earth, making the mystery and tension feel remarkably intimate and realistic. Linda Wallheim isn't some larger-than-life hyper-capable detective; she's just a person involved in her local community, who tries to take care of the people around during difficult times. Her constant feelings of responsibility and guilt, the sense that she wants to know more about her family, friends and neighbors but is toeing the line between caring concern and invasion of privacy, are very realistic and easy to relate to.
This book starts out with a murder, which Linda is more than happy to leave to the police. It's the awful repercussions in the ward that she wants to help out with. The deceased was keeping an impossible awkward secret: These events and revelations leave both the grieving family and the religious community in impotent turmoil.
His Right Hand is ultimately much more focused, better constructed, and better plotted than the previous book, The Bishop’s Wife. The mystery is clear and very compelling, and events spiral naturally and convincingly from the initial setup, all through the book.
The one thing that bothered me in the book is that it spends a lot of time in musings and asides about gender roles and LGBT issues, which are central to the book. Since I consider this pretty much a non-issue, the frequent hand-wringing over acceptance and understanding wear pretty thin. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to be the author or the editor responsible fiddling with those passages - I suspect that, both for a wide, popular readership, and to provide a strong portrayal of religious Mormons with various degrees of understanding and acceptance of LGBT identities, Harrison pretty much had to have a strong, continuing focus this. If it came out a little more heavy-handed than I might have wished, well, I can live with that, and it didn't keep me from thoroughly enjoying the book.
"Mormon murder mysteries" is kind of the tagline for the Linda Wallheim books, but they genuinely work - religious community and culture are really their own thing; they change familiar dynamics in intriguing ways. Harrison has a keen eye for those differences, finding key elements for her story that are uniquely Mormon and religious, without making them feel outlandish or ludicrous.
Both the author and the main character come across as sensible and down-to-earth, making the mystery and tension feel remarkably intimate and realistic. Linda Wallheim isn't some larger-than-life hyper-capable detective; she's just a person involved in her local community, who tries to take care of the people around during difficult times. Her constant feelings of responsibility and guilt, the sense that she wants to know more about her family, friends and neighbors but is toeing the line between caring concern and invasion of privacy, are very realistic and easy to relate to.
This book starts out with a murder, which Linda is more than happy to leave to the police. It's the awful repercussions in the ward that she wants to help out with. The deceased was keeping an impossible awkward secret: These events and revelations leave both the grieving family and the religious community in impotent turmoil.
His Right Hand is ultimately much more focused, better constructed, and better plotted than the previous book, The Bishop’s Wife. The mystery is clear and very compelling, and events spiral naturally and convincingly from the initial setup, all through the book.
The one thing that bothered me in the book is that it spends a lot of time in musings and asides about gender roles and LGBT issues, which are central to the book. Since I consider this pretty much a non-issue, the frequent hand-wringing over acceptance and understanding wear pretty thin. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to be the author or the editor responsible fiddling with those passages - I suspect that, both for a wide, popular readership, and to provide a strong portrayal of religious Mormons with various degrees of understanding and acceptance of LGBT identities, Harrison pretty much had to have a strong, continuing focus this. If it came out a little more heavy-handed than I might have wished, well, I can live with that, and it didn't keep me from thoroughly enjoying the book.
October 27, 2015
A mysterious murder is not what one expects in the tight-knit Mormon community of Draper, Utah. Linda Wallheim is married to the ward's bishop, and discovers all is not as it appears as she struggles to honor her role as a submissive wife.
The carefully staged murder of the Bishop's right hand man on church property sets the plot in action. Carl Ashby had been a devout Mormon and a pillar of the local Mormon community. The tight-lipped members of the local church are wary of the official police inquiry. Linda realizes if the police are going solve the case, they will need an ally on the inside. She unofficially investigates the truth beneath layer after layer of deception, within their congregation.
The Mormon hierarchy is turned upside down when the autopsy report reveals that Carl Ashby was born a biological female. The Mormon Church considers gender a part of a person's soul, and some Mormons regard transgenderism as one of the worst possible transgressions. The church leaders reluctantly decide not to reveal to the public, his family or the congregation that Carl was born Carla. Multiple plot twists keep peeling back layers of the story, gradually revealing new truths.
This baffling additional information make the bishop and his wife realize how little they knew about Carl Ashby, and perhaps any of their congregants. During the grueling police investigation, almost everyone is suspected at one time or another: Carl's emotionally unstable wife, Emma; his adopted teenage son, William; his old college friend, Grant; various friends in the church, even the Bishop's wife. Linda tries to sort out the drama and determine the source of these seeds of doubt.
During the crisis the Wallheim's youngest son reveals to his parents that he is gay. The Bishop struggles to accept this news. Linda develops more empathy as her investigation places her in situations that this mother of five adult sons never anticipated.
The importance of this book is the in-depth information it provides the reader of the inner workings of the Mormon Church. The relationships between the well-developed characters thread believably through the book. Just when I thought I'd figured out the plot, a new curve is thrown and the novel ends with an unforgettable bang.
by Ann McCauley
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
The carefully staged murder of the Bishop's right hand man on church property sets the plot in action. Carl Ashby had been a devout Mormon and a pillar of the local Mormon community. The tight-lipped members of the local church are wary of the official police inquiry. Linda realizes if the police are going solve the case, they will need an ally on the inside. She unofficially investigates the truth beneath layer after layer of deception, within their congregation.
The Mormon hierarchy is turned upside down when the autopsy report reveals that Carl Ashby was born a biological female. The Mormon Church considers gender a part of a person's soul, and some Mormons regard transgenderism as one of the worst possible transgressions. The church leaders reluctantly decide not to reveal to the public, his family or the congregation that Carl was born Carla. Multiple plot twists keep peeling back layers of the story, gradually revealing new truths.
This baffling additional information make the bishop and his wife realize how little they knew about Carl Ashby, and perhaps any of their congregants. During the grueling police investigation, almost everyone is suspected at one time or another: Carl's emotionally unstable wife, Emma; his adopted teenage son, William; his old college friend, Grant; various friends in the church, even the Bishop's wife. Linda tries to sort out the drama and determine the source of these seeds of doubt.
During the crisis the Wallheim's youngest son reveals to his parents that he is gay. The Bishop struggles to accept this news. Linda develops more empathy as her investigation places her in situations that this mother of five adult sons never anticipated.
The importance of this book is the in-depth information it provides the reader of the inner workings of the Mormon Church. The relationships between the well-developed characters thread believably through the book. Just when I thought I'd figured out the plot, a new curve is thrown and the novel ends with an unforgettable bang.
by Ann McCauley
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
October 24, 2015
ARC (A few big errors that hopefully will be caught before print..)
Finding a rating and reviewing this is difficult. On one hand I couldn't put it down. But like I said in my review of the first book, it is more a character study than a mystery. I want to shake the main character. Call the cops, don't be a hero.
The author seems to write on a line of either not explaining enough to non-Mormons or seeming to reveal a lot that either isn't important or could possibly be things that I didn't think were open to the general public. Because my grandparents were Mormon and I went to church with them a lot, I could picture the church scenes in the book clearly. The fact that they call the Relief Society President or Bishop before the cops is a blessing and a curse, and that seems to be a bit of the underlying message too.
In my opinion the killer's identity was a no-brainer, but the getting there was sometimes a bit ridiculous.
The book went into some more of the main character's history and family, which was interesting. Still I thought, maybe you are wrong about that person.
It was nice to see that in the author's mind and experience the LDS church is being more accepting, but the author seemed to be using this more as an education/research piece and throwing in a bunch of facts about the transgendered community.
I would probably read the next book in the series... and I'm passing this on to NG for her opinion.
Finding a rating and reviewing this is difficult. On one hand I couldn't put it down. But like I said in my review of the first book, it is more a character study than a mystery. I want to shake the main character. Call the cops, don't be a hero.
The author seems to write on a line of either not explaining enough to non-Mormons or seeming to reveal a lot that either isn't important or could possibly be things that I didn't think were open to the general public. Because my grandparents were Mormon and I went to church with them a lot, I could picture the church scenes in the book clearly. The fact that they call the Relief Society President or Bishop before the cops is a blessing and a curse, and that seems to be a bit of the underlying message too.
In my opinion the killer's identity was a no-brainer, but the getting there was sometimes a bit ridiculous.
The book went into some more of the main character's history and family, which was interesting. Still I thought, maybe you are wrong about that person.
It was nice to see that in the author's mind and experience the LDS church is being more accepting, but the author seemed to be using this more as an education/research piece and throwing in a bunch of facts about the transgendered community.
I would probably read the next book in the series... and I'm passing this on to NG for her opinion.
October 22, 2015
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2015/10...
The sequel to Harrison's first book, The Bishop's Wife, is more of the same--a Mormon woman, wrestling with her own issues, finds herself involved in a murder investigation--though the case here is a bit different, as her husband's friend and fellow bishop is murdered, only it turns out he was biologically female. (According to an author's note, this book was apparently written after a friend's child came out as trans, and there is some feeling here of trying to help people accept others' sexualities and genders, or of making Mormon seem less un-accepting, or something.) The mystery itself was a bit all over the place, but I enjoy the protagonist and her family, and Harrison has pretty good timing. I would definitely read another of these if this does turn into an ongoing series, but I do hope the author works on building an actual /mystery/ a little bit more. (Not that I don't enjoy the in-depth look into the Mormon community, just the mystery feels sort of slapped-on.) B+.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on December 1st.
The sequel to Harrison's first book, The Bishop's Wife, is more of the same--a Mormon woman, wrestling with her own issues, finds herself involved in a murder investigation--though the case here is a bit different, as her husband's friend and fellow bishop is murdered, only it turns out he was biologically female. (According to an author's note, this book was apparently written after a friend's child came out as trans, and there is some feeling here of trying to help people accept others' sexualities and genders, or of making Mormon seem less un-accepting, or something.) The mystery itself was a bit all over the place, but I enjoy the protagonist and her family, and Harrison has pretty good timing. I would definitely read another of these if this does turn into an ongoing series, but I do hope the author works on building an actual /mystery/ a little bit more. (Not that I don't enjoy the in-depth look into the Mormon community, just the mystery feels sort of slapped-on.) B+.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on December 1st.
January 27, 2016
Linda Wallheim is back, still reeling from the events of "The Bishop's Wife". This time, the second counselor in the bishopric is found dead in an elaborately staged murder at the church and Linda is determined to find out why. Along the way, she continues to ruffle feathers with her liberal ideals in the peaceful, conservative, Mormon community.
As a practicing Mormon, I appreciate Harrison's attempt to share Mormon culture with the outside world. She makes a point to distinguish between culture and religion, which is refreshing. However, the story is packed with so many pulled-punches and hot-button issues, to where it feels like whiplash when you get to the end. The mystery itself is quite mundane, with the killer being so obvious from the beginning that the finale seemed somewhat staged.
Overall, it's a decent entry, but I hope the next book focuses more on the mystery, as opposed to the politics of Mormonism.
As a practicing Mormon, I appreciate Harrison's attempt to share Mormon culture with the outside world. She makes a point to distinguish between culture and religion, which is refreshing. However, the story is packed with so many pulled-punches and hot-button issues, to where it feels like whiplash when you get to the end. The mystery itself is quite mundane, with the killer being so obvious from the beginning that the finale seemed somewhat staged.
Overall, it's a decent entry, but I hope the next book focuses more on the mystery, as opposed to the politics of Mormonism.
May 15, 2019
An exciting murder mystery, just what I expected after reading the first Linda Wallheim book. What I liked about the representation of Carl Ashby is that his gender transition wasn't a "gotcha" twist at the end of the book; it was presented up front as foundational to the story. This is a story about a trans man's life, not a story where transness is a plot device. What bothered me was her repeated use of "transgenderism" - a word that pathologizes transgender people's identities. I don't get why Harrison chose to use the language she did, beings that she's not an ignorant person, which you can see from her author's note at the end. I understand you want to separate the voice of your character from your voice as the author, but if that was the reason, then the way you did it was clumsy and did not actually fit in with what we know about the character Linda Wallheim.
December 28, 2015
Very mixed feelings about this one, as I really enjoyed the first book - The bishop's wife. It felt as if the author was trying to shoehorn her personal experiences into the plot which felt contrived and the killer was obvious too. Linda made really foolish choices, more so than the first book, and I became irritated by that. On the other hand, her caring for the children was obvious, as was her sympathy for Carl and Grant, and her understanding of her son was one of the best parts of the book. I think it crammed in a bit too much LDS info and I was frustrated by the apparent sexism too.
August 18, 2017
More of the same in this sequel to "The Bishop's Wife". What was once a wildly refreshing and eye opening book about a Mormon family is now a bit of old hat. Not bad, but I sort of expected the drama from Linda Wallheim and her fictional family. Not a bad mystery, but it's just kind of a continuation of the family saga. I can guess what the third installment will hold.
February 26, 2021
Linda “Karen” Wallheim needs to BACK OFF and stop harassing the neighborhood! She frequently trespasses into people’s homes, and even punched a grieving widow in the face! What the hell is wrong with this lady??
January 22, 2016
I find Harrison fascinating for her commentary on the Mormon world....while she is solving a murder. a guilty pleasure this book!
April 29, 2016
Oh, that Linda. She makes me crazy.
***
Extreme Book Nerd Challenge - Book set in the country of one of your ancestors (Mormonism isn't a 'country', but kinda the same idea...)
***
Extreme Book Nerd Challenge - Book set in the country of one of your ancestors (Mormonism isn't a 'country', but kinda the same idea...)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2024
I hate to say this, but this was a DNF for me. I tried. I really tried, but I thought I was going to be reading a mystery sprinkled with some interesting tidbits of information. Instead, I was engulfed by what seemed more like the author's external debate on transgenderism and sexuality along with the mores of Mormonism. At the one-third mark, we're up to one transgender, two gay, and one rumored to be gay, and it seems these revelations about community members are only coming to light in this book as a way for the author to continue her one-sided conversation. This would have made a great nonfiction book since there were some very thought-provoking ideas to spark discussion and also a lot of explanations as to the inner workings of the Mormon faith. As a fiction novel set forth as being a mystery, however, not so much.
I also was not a fan of the main character at all. While I appreciated her openness and acceptance of people and behaviors that the Mormon church's strict ideals wouldn't agree with, I didn't like her attitude about it. She was constantly getting angry with people who didn't think the same way she did rather than understanding that these are issues people in her community needs to slowly come around to. I especially didn't like the way she was with her husband. I get that you don't agree with a lot of the moral standards and beliefs of the church you are a part of, but you are the bishop's wife, so maybe you should be a little more subdued about it. Basically, this chick is a narcissist right down to keeping a major secret about her past while being upset that others are keeping secrets of their own and being angry with a teenager for doing something potentially dangerous and, two minutes later, literally causing that teenager to get into an accident. She feels guilty about things, but her guilt always comes too late and with caveats. Classic narcissism.
Had the mystery been more in the forefront of this book, I would have probably been able to stick with it, but it got so completely lost as an afterthought. If the author can't even stay focused, I don't know how I was expected to.
I also was not a fan of the main character at all. While I appreciated her openness and acceptance of people and behaviors that the Mormon church's strict ideals wouldn't agree with, I didn't like her attitude about it. She was constantly getting angry with people who didn't think the same way she did rather than understanding that these are issues people in her community needs to slowly come around to. I especially didn't like the way she was with her husband. I get that you don't agree with a lot of the moral standards and beliefs of the church you are a part of, but you are the bishop's wife, so maybe you should be a little more subdued about it. Basically, this chick is a narcissist right down to keeping a major secret about her past while being upset that others are keeping secrets of their own and being angry with a teenager for doing something potentially dangerous and, two minutes later, literally causing that teenager to get into an accident. She feels guilty about things, but her guilt always comes too late and with caveats. Classic narcissism.
Had the mystery been more in the forefront of this book, I would have probably been able to stick with it, but it got so completely lost as an afterthought. If the author can't even stay focused, I don't know how I was expected to.
June 15, 2024
I admit I did not enjoy this book, not because of the topic, which was controversial, but because of the glaring errors in the writing. So many things that could not/would not happen, especially around legal procedures and child welfare. This is a work of fiction (which doesn't have to be realistic) and I'm admittedly coming from a Canadian viewpoint of legal process, so I'm willing to overlook some of the stretches. But I also got a bit irritated by the use of cliche, the idea that a Bishop would ask someone not to come to their ward (I've NEVER heard of this happening), the idea that Mormons "shun" excommunicated members, and finally, the grating assumption at the end that an empty-nester just needs to spend her life baking cookies in order to feel fulfilled. Hmm. I guess I expected more from an author who was trying so hard to "break out of the mold" and instead ended up sort of reinforcing it. I ended up disliking every single character and thanking my lucky stars that I wasn't married to any of the men in this book.
My Canadian perspective also got jarred when the author referred to holding a teenager down to force him to have medical treatment against his will, which would be illegal and considered assault in Canada. If this happens in the U.S., I'm alarmed.
I applaud the author for championing a topic that isn't spoken of much in the LDS church (transgenderism), but I would have appreciated more fact-checking and proofreading. Between that and the occasional "infomercial" feel of the writing, I just couldn't get into the story. I actually found myself grabbing a pen and scribbling rebuttals in the margins, which is a rarity for me. Usually I pass books on to other readers when I'm done with them, but this time I think it's going in the bin. I'm sorry. Being a writer myself, I hate to criticize, but I need to be honest.
My Canadian perspective also got jarred when the author referred to holding a teenager down to force him to have medical treatment against his will, which would be illegal and considered assault in Canada. If this happens in the U.S., I'm alarmed.
I applaud the author for championing a topic that isn't spoken of much in the LDS church (transgenderism), but I would have appreciated more fact-checking and proofreading. Between that and the occasional "infomercial" feel of the writing, I just couldn't get into the story. I actually found myself grabbing a pen and scribbling rebuttals in the margins, which is a rarity for me. Usually I pass books on to other readers when I'm done with them, but this time I think it's going in the bin. I'm sorry. Being a writer myself, I hate to criticize, but I need to be honest.
June 29, 2022
This book has elements that work, and elements that don't.
I appreciate the challenge of reading about a world that I'm not part of, and whose world views are very different from mine. So a mystery set in the world of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) church in Utah is a door into a different world, one that challenges my assumptions. And the writing about the good aspects of the church (emphasis on family and community) is lovely. You see both what is wonderful and horrible for people that are part of this community, and the spiritual struggles they have.
However, the writing style is often maddening. This is especially true whenever the narrator is in "mystery" mode. Too much of the inner narrative of the protagonist is written in the form of soap-opera style headlines:
Was Eli telling the truth? Did Arman know about Trixie? Could Topsy have murdered Vega? Was this why the cookie cutter had gone missing?
There is way, way too much of this. It's irritating, and it actually diffuses the tension of the mystery. This thin inner narrative is interspersed with more nuanced and emotive writing about being part of a modern LDS family.
The narrator also says and does things that seem incredibly insensitive, unwise, or inappropriate, especially given her role as "helping hand" wife of an LDS bishop. Inconsistent action is very human, of course, but the way this is done seems less about the narrator's human frailty, and more about Useful Plot Devices. There's a chase scene at the end that just plain tests the bounds of belief. And let's just say the "crazy killer" trope has IMHO far outlived its usefulness.
So the unusual setting and culture is the attraction of this series. The mystery itself, not so much.
I appreciate the challenge of reading about a world that I'm not part of, and whose world views are very different from mine. So a mystery set in the world of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) church in Utah is a door into a different world, one that challenges my assumptions. And the writing about the good aspects of the church (emphasis on family and community) is lovely. You see both what is wonderful and horrible for people that are part of this community, and the spiritual struggles they have.
However, the writing style is often maddening. This is especially true whenever the narrator is in "mystery" mode. Too much of the inner narrative of the protagonist is written in the form of soap-opera style headlines:
Was Eli telling the truth? Did Arman know about Trixie? Could Topsy have murdered Vega? Was this why the cookie cutter had gone missing?
There is way, way too much of this. It's irritating, and it actually diffuses the tension of the mystery. This thin inner narrative is interspersed with more nuanced and emotive writing about being part of a modern LDS family.
The narrator also says and does things that seem incredibly insensitive, unwise, or inappropriate, especially given her role as "helping hand" wife of an LDS bishop. Inconsistent action is very human, of course, but the way this is done seems less about the narrator's human frailty, and more about Useful Plot Devices. There's a chase scene at the end that just plain tests the bounds of belief. And let's just say the "crazy killer" trope has IMHO far outlived its usefulness.
So the unusual setting and culture is the attraction of this series. The mystery itself, not so much.
February 18, 2017
I wanted to read this book to get information on life within the Mormon community, since my brother is a Mormon Bishop with the help of his wonderful wife. Unfortunately, the book was a "who done-it" with the most confused sexuality of characters and a bishop's wife that was better than Superman, as she told it. (Can you tell I don't get mystery thrillers?)
Nonetheless, I did glean an amazing amount of information about Mormon life: Bishops serve 5 years as volunteer, no pay....Monday night is family night so other demands aren't made for that night....In case there is an apocalypse, all families have a year's supply of food put away....Support organizations within the church abound so the bishop can send help to members at the drop of a hat....young males work their way through spiritual levels and are expected to go on a mission for one year away from the family....Marriages are for time and all ETERNITY.....Females have been strongly supported to be mothers as their most important role and are making some slight movements into other roles....So much of life roles are trained by expected rules and likely causes naivety about sexuality and no acceptance of anything but the original male/female sex roles....Afro-Americans could not be members until mid 1970s since their morality was in question. The complicated thriller, murder mystery story may have interested other readers.
Nonetheless, I did glean an amazing amount of information about Mormon life: Bishops serve 5 years as volunteer, no pay....Monday night is family night so other demands aren't made for that night....In case there is an apocalypse, all families have a year's supply of food put away....Support organizations within the church abound so the bishop can send help to members at the drop of a hat....young males work their way through spiritual levels and are expected to go on a mission for one year away from the family....Marriages are for time and all ETERNITY.....Females have been strongly supported to be mothers as their most important role and are making some slight movements into other roles....So much of life roles are trained by expected rules and likely causes naivety about sexuality and no acceptance of anything but the original male/female sex roles....Afro-Americans could not be members until mid 1970s since their morality was in question. The complicated thriller, murder mystery story may have interested other readers.
May 23, 2017
His Right Hand by Mette Ivie Harrison is a sermon masquerading as a murder mystery novel. The book is so bad that the only mystery I could see was why would our public library in Grapevine Texas even have a copy of this book on its shelves. It is an awful book. And it is not awful because of the subject matter. I actually found the subject matter rather interesting. It is awful because of the writing. It is impossible to believe that Harrison has a PHD from Princeton. It is NOT a fast-moving crime story. The entire story is told through the eyes of the protagonist. Because of this, the author has the protagonist meeting with people and doing things (including a really stupid car chase) that are not only unbelievable but incredibly stupid. If two aliens from the planet Gagarin IV would have shown up at her door, I would have made about as much sense. The writing is an atrocity from beginning to end. The most ironic part of the entire reading experience is that several times I laughed out loud at what I was reading. I am sure that was not Harrison’s intention, but the book was so ridiculous that it made me laugh. My recommendation is to stay far, far away from anything she writes.
August 6, 2019
I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series, as we get to know more about the main character and her family. His Right Hand is not quite so "feminist" as The Bishop's Wife. Even so, I love strong/busy-bodied/service-oriented/outspoken Linda Wallheim, and how she found herself once again caught up in a whodunit.
It's entertaining (sometimes even shocking!) to hear her representation of Mormon Utahns. Mette keeps readers guessing till the end.
I REALLY appreciate Harrison's courage in exploring "controversial" or "difficult" subjects within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which in this particular book included a look at transgenderism (I loved the story she shared at the end of the book, in which she talked about one of their family friends who went through his own journey of transitioning and what it cost him to make the change.
One of my favorite quotes...."Being a mother is a big job with a lot of power. God is the craziest of all parents. He gives us enormous power, then steps back and watches what we do with it. It is up to us to prove that we have done something good, and on a very deep level, I believe that the most important thing I will ever do with my life is be a mother. That is the greatest power of all."
It's entertaining (sometimes even shocking!) to hear her representation of Mormon Utahns. Mette keeps readers guessing till the end.
I REALLY appreciate Harrison's courage in exploring "controversial" or "difficult" subjects within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which in this particular book included a look at transgenderism (I loved the story she shared at the end of the book, in which she talked about one of their family friends who went through his own journey of transitioning and what it cost him to make the change.
One of my favorite quotes...."Being a mother is a big job with a lot of power. God is the craziest of all parents. He gives us enormous power, then steps back and watches what we do with it. It is up to us to prove that we have done something good, and on a very deep level, I believe that the most important thing I will ever do with my life is be a mother. That is the greatest power of all."
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