Scan barcode
angelamichelle's review against another edition
5.0
A deceptively simple hapless-everywoman-gets-sucked-into-murder-mystery a la Murder She Wrote, but with a depth and ring of truth. Really well done.
khuizenga's review against another edition
3.0
Fast paced first half, second half lags, and although I loved the protagonist in the first half, I found myself getting frustrated with her. Still an interesting read.
cemoses's review against another edition
3.0
The mystery was just ok. The better parts were about the Mormon community.
shirleytupperfreeman's review
I read the ARC for this - to be published in December. The author is a practicing Mormon and the story is about some hidden domestic violence in a small Utah town. The writing is simplistic and character development a bit thin, but one does get a feel for the lives of normal people of the Mormon faith - as opposed to the super fundamentalist people who usually make the news.
alexisrt's review against another edition
2.0
I had a hard time deciding if I liked this book or not. After finishing it, I finally decided it had some significant problems, but I think the author has potential. I don't know if she'll manage to stretch this out into a series, but the sequel could wind up being a stronger work if she learns from her mistakes.
The negatives:
- Plotting. I spent the first 250+ pages thinking I'd cracked it. She curveballs it at the end, but it's too obvious in retrospect.
- She feels the need to provide a great deal of background information regarding the LDS church. Thankfully she doesn't go in depth over every last detail, but the balance between providing the reader with necessary context and overloading is uneven.
- The writing is awkward at times, though it sharpens over the course of the novel.
The positives:
- The main character. Although at several points, I thought "no one gets away with being that much of a busybody," she is interesting and sympathetic.
- The exploration of faith and culture is sincere. It is clearly the work of a believing Mormon, but it is not an overly shiny, polished whitewash of The Perfect Mormon Housewife.
- The main voices in the novel are those of the women, and they are the strongest. Harrison's decision to push the male characters to the periphery, despite their prominence in the events, allows the women's thoughts and actions to shine.
- There's a gentle but noticeable subversiveness throughout, as Harrison uses all the tropes of Mormon wifeliness as tools for Linda to do what she wants (many, many pans of baked goods are produced).
The negatives:
- Plotting. I spent the first 250+ pages thinking I'd cracked it. She curveballs it at the end, but it's too obvious in retrospect.
- She feels the need to provide a great deal of background information regarding the LDS church. Thankfully she doesn't go in depth over every last detail, but the balance between providing the reader with necessary context and overloading is uneven.
- The writing is awkward at times, though it sharpens over the course of the novel.
The positives:
- The main character. Although at several points, I thought "no one gets away with being that much of a busybody," she is interesting and sympathetic.
- The exploration of faith and culture is sincere. It is clearly the work of a believing Mormon, but it is not an overly shiny, polished whitewash of The Perfect Mormon Housewife.
- The main voices in the novel are those of the women, and they are the strongest. Harrison's decision to push the male characters to the periphery, despite their prominence in the events, allows the women's thoughts and actions to shine.
- There's a gentle but noticeable subversiveness throughout, as Harrison uses all the tropes of Mormon wifeliness as tools for Linda to do what she wants (many, many pans of baked goods are produced).
rayofhope's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This book was nothing like how I expected it to be and everything I needed and wanted it to be.
I expected the kind of novel you could recommend to your mom for a bit of light reading on a Sunday afternoon. The Bishop's Wife. She's a mormon woman who is doing her best to take care of her ward.
I was pleasantly surprised at the moderately progressive tone the book took within the first few chapters (asking questions about the sexism in the church, the fear of judgement 'imperfect' families face, etc) but I soon realized that it there was much more. This novel is a deep commentary on Mormonism, digging into the deep and unpleasant parts, and asking difficult questions that most members like to avoid. It does it all through the eyes of a faithful middle-aged woman, who knows what she believes and uses her faith to bring justice to her community, even when she has to struggle against the church institution and her own husband to do it.
It's a great work of mormon feminism, that allows our culture to shine through in all it's glory and with all it's flaws. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, genuinely. The mystery is engaging, the community is loveable, the plot twists are gut wrenching. Truly a work of art. I'm excited to read more of Harrison's work.
I expected the kind of novel you could recommend to your mom for a bit of light reading on a Sunday afternoon. The Bishop's Wife. She's a mormon woman who is doing her best to take care of her ward.
I was pleasantly surprised at the moderately progressive tone the book took within the first few chapters (asking questions about the sexism in the church, the fear of judgement 'imperfect' families face, etc) but I soon realized that it there was much more. This novel is a deep commentary on Mormonism, digging into the deep and unpleasant parts, and asking difficult questions that most members like to avoid. It does it all through the eyes of a faithful middle-aged woman, who knows what she believes and uses her faith to bring justice to her community, even when she has to struggle against the church institution and her own husband to do it.
It's a great work of mormon feminism, that allows our culture to shine through in all it's glory and with all it's flaws. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, genuinely. The mystery is engaging, the community is loveable, the plot twists are gut wrenching. Truly a work of art. I'm excited to read more of Harrison's work.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Miscarriage, and Rape
janetll's review
4.0
This was entertaining and informative, and it had some important messages. I don't know much about Mormonism, but I'd like to think some Mormons are as open-minded as our narrator. Some of the deep questions she wrestled with were portrayed very well.
The mysteries were intriguing, but, in the end, some of the plot devices used to reveal them were just too handy. My kids and I used to comment, when reading Nancy Drew mysteries, "How handy!" as yet another happy coincidence fell into Nancy's lap. So yeah, a burst pipe making us dig up the yard? How handy! Extensive diary left by someone who has disappeared? Also very handy! The mysteries had some good twists though, and I found the book worthwhile.
The mysteries were intriguing, but, in the end, some of the plot devices used to reveal them were just too handy. My kids and I used to comment, when reading Nancy Drew mysteries, "How handy!" as yet another happy coincidence fell into Nancy's lap. So yeah, a burst pipe making us dig up the yard? How handy! Extensive diary left by someone who has disappeared? Also very handy! The mysteries had some good twists though, and I found the book worthwhile.
krobart's review
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/day-681-literary-wives-the-bishops-wife/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/day-681-literary-wives-the-bishops-wife/
kaffzillah's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
melissasbookshelf's review
1.0
I’m sorry to say this book was not for me. I have previously read some of Harrison's other books including The Princess and the Hound, which I really liked. So, I went into this thinking it would be an interesting mystery set in LDS culture. What I got was a somewhat crazy Mormon woman who thinks there is abuse lurking in every household, fanatical Mormon beliefs that were so out of touch with the mainstream church that they were laughable with a few Catholic jabs thrown in, and seemingly dumb policemen who couldn't recognize a clue if it knocked them upside the head.
Of course, the main character is the font of all wisdom even though she is incredibly meddlesome and annoying and thinks she has all the answers while at the same time proclaiming her self-congratulating humility. She also proudly pronounces herself a recovering atheist which makes me wonder if she ever really understood the church at all. She seems to waver constantly which humanizes the character to a degree, but makes the reader's head hurt with all of her misgivings and philosophizing along the way. Can we just get to the mystery please?!
Sadly, the main mystery was somewhat of a rip off of the Susan Powell case. Many of the same facts that were part of her disappearance are in this book except the author does have the sense not to rip off too much from the well publicized case and adds a few twists. I think if I were Susan Powell's family, I would be a little angry that this hit a little too close to home, except in real life her body was never found.
Like other reviewers have said, I think this book was mainly about Ms. Harrison's negative views of Mormonism cloaked in a mystery. Sadly, many of the scenarios in this book are just too fantastical and unbelievable. For instance,Has the author even ever TALKED to a policeman? Ever consulted a book on police procedure?
If you want to write a feminist diatribe about male oppression in the church (which may have been true in the 60's but isn't today), then have the courtesy to just come out and say it without hiding it in not one but two super implausible mysteries. Seriously, Draper is just not that exciting. Last but not least, please stick to fantasy where your talent truly shines and facts just don't matter.
Of course, the main character is the font of all wisdom even though she is incredibly meddlesome and annoying and thinks she has all the answers while at the same time proclaiming her self-congratulating humility. She also proudly pronounces herself a recovering atheist which makes me wonder if she ever really understood the church at all. She seems to waver constantly which humanizes the character to a degree, but makes the reader's head hurt with all of her misgivings and philosophizing along the way. Can we just get to the mystery please?!
Sadly, the main mystery was somewhat of a rip off of the Susan Powell case. Many of the same facts that were part of her disappearance are in this book except the author does have the sense not to rip off too much from the well publicized case and adds a few twists. I think if I were Susan Powell's family, I would be a little angry that this hit a little too close to home, except in real life her body was never found.
Like other reviewers have said, I think this book was mainly about Ms. Harrison's negative views of Mormonism cloaked in a mystery. Sadly, many of the scenarios in this book are just too fantastical and unbelievable. For instance,
Spoiler
the main character steals key pieces of evidence not once but twice, yet is never charged with obstruction of justice. Somehow she finds these key pieces of evidence that the police couldn't find yet does she go to the police? Nope. She is able to access text messages on two different phones without a code? Most intelligent people have a password protected phone. Also, who leaves an instrument of death out in plain sight and then it's just the all powerful "Bishop's wife" who finds it?! The kids wouldn't have been the least bit curious about a seeming grave in their yard with an old bloody hammer next to it?! Really? A wife suddenly disappears 30 years ago and no one seems the least bit curious especially when the guy has lived in the same house the whole time? The kids don't say "hey Pop, whatever happened to mom?" Then, one of them conveniently remembers as an adult "oh yeah, mom was murdered,"and seemingly never had any issues growing up???? The husband whose wife has been murdered doesn't go to the police or press charges just buries her in the yard like a dead dog???? The parents who disown their daughter suddenly decide "hey let's not just disown her for joining another church let's kill her!" Maybe in fanatical Islam but not in Catholicism. Don't even get me started on the child abuse. Beyond that, the most fantastical event occurs when the all amazing Bishop's wife walks into a swat team/hostage scenario and the police just let her go into the house!If you want to write a feminist diatribe about male oppression in the church (which may have been true in the 60's but isn't today), then have the courtesy to just come out and say it without hiding it in not one but two super implausible mysteries. Seriously, Draper is just not that exciting. Last but not least, please stick to fantasy where your talent truly shines and facts just don't matter.