In Death in the Covenant we find, detective Abish “Abbie” Taylor has returned to the mountain town of Pleasant View, Utah, hoping for a quiet life. But that hope dissipates like a dream when she wakes to an unsettling phone call. Arriving at the scene of a fatal car accident, she discovers that the victim was one of the most beloved leaders of the Church—and an old family friend.

There is enough mystery in this story to keep you engaged until the very end. Great job!

A fantastic follow-up to Bartley's first book in this series, BLESSED BE THE WICKED. A rare mystery that uses the Mormon church as a backdrop, Abbie must investigate the mysterious car crash death of a church leader and family friend--a death that has implications for the LDS church and even her own family. The Utah setting, as well as a side trip to Mexico that figures smartly into the plot, is refreshing and expertly drawn. I loved this unusual book, and Bartley is an author I'll continue to follow.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during that 2nd attempt, I have only managed to make it halfway through so I'd rather stop here and state that this book just wasn't for me.

I really like this series - it has a great subject matter that is so fascinating, the dark secrets of the Mormon church. And this is a great second chapter in the new series, which I look forward to enjoying more of in the future.

Abbie is back and is called to the scene of what looks like a straightforward car crash which left an important church official dead. But looks can be very deceiving and soon it becomes apparent that there is more to the death than meets the eye. As Abbie dives more into the mystery, a controversial belief from the church’s past comes back into focus - and the conspiracy goes all the way to the top.

One of the best parts of this series is getting to dive into a world that is little known to many people: devout Mormonism, with almost blind allegiance to the church’s leadership. It’s a line that Abbie has to walk throughout the novel, since even though she is not an active member of the church, her father, siblings and coworkers are. That creates a unique layer of conflict that is really interesting to see her walk.

The central mystery was also I really good, though I figured out most of it before the reveal. Abbie had to fight to get people to listen to her and see what she learns. There’s a lot of nuance and technical aspects to the mystery, which took a little bit away from things, but I think that was meant more to make things realistic, to make it seem like something that could happen, which I appreciate.

I also look forward to seeing where Abbie goes from here in her professional and personal life. Things are pretty intense in this book and I am looking forward to the third book to see how it all works out.

Highly recommended.

The writing is very good, smooth and easy to read, and the characters are good as well. The setting, including the religious system, is very interesting for an outsider like myself. What I dislike is people not fighting for what's right, as the main character should have been much tougher.

"Death in the Covenant" is the second book in the "Abish Taylor mystery" series by D.A. Bartley. I have not read " Blessed Be the Wicked" book one but it did not affect reading Death in the Covenant as it can be read as a stand-alone.

In the wake of Utah’s stringent laws against plural marriage, the growth of the Mormon Church has slowed. Young men are abandoning the Church, leaving their female counterparts unmarried and childless. Now, the church is about to lose one more member…and it may be due to murder.

Detective Abish “Abbie” Taylor returned to the mountain town of Pleasant View, Utah, hoping for a quiet life. But that hope dissipates like a dream when she wakes to an unsettling phone call. Arriving at the scene of a fatal car accident, she discovers that the victim was one of the most beloved leaders of the Church—and an old family friend.

Abbie is skeptical when her father insists someone murdered his friend, but in an attempt to patch up their relationship, she takes a few days off from her job as the sole detective in the police department, and heads to the Colonia Juárez, a former LDS colony in Mexico. There, she uncovers a plan to “seal” young women to church leaders in temple ceremonies, so the women can give birth and the children can be adopted by Mormon families in the United States. But Abbie knows too well that bringing secrets to light can be deadly. Is that why her father’s friend died?

When she returns to the States, some members of the LDS community certainly don’t seem happy that Abbie knows what she knows. Abbie realizes with a jolt that her investigation could cost her father his job. Who is the murderous mastermind of this secret plot? Is it Port, the young Second Counselor to the President of the Church? Bowen, the charismatic Church spokesperson? Does the “accident” victim’s widow know more than she’s told police? Time is running out for Abbie to save her father’s job—and her own life—as dark forces close in, and the outlook for Pleasant View turns decidedly unpleasant.

Protagonist Abbie, is a strong, educated woman, and the side characters are realistic, like Clarke and Flynn. I felt sorry for her father throughout the story.

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it over several days. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises. I learned a lot about Mormon history, culture and customs. I am fascinated by religion and am always open to learning about different kinds.

I requested and received an Advanced Reader Copy on the book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and pinions are my own

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

This is a mystery police procedural set within the LDS church and their beliefs. As one who had spent time in a LDS community as a non LDS and a outcast I was interested to read this mystery. Not many mysteries are written including the LDS church as they are a closed society cult that does not allow non members inside.

Heber Bentsen is a pillar of the (LDS) or Mormon) church. He is investigating a hidden church agenda. A loss of young men in the church has led to 1.5 young women for each young man. Could the church be reinstating polygamy? This is highly controversial and would put the church in the spotlight with illegal marriages and separate the church from the non polygamists .

When Heber is killed his family friend, and former LDS, Abbie Taylor, investigates . The investigation takes Abbie into the cult of LDS where she is not welcome. She struggles to find out what happened and get to the truth of his death.

This was a strong mystery with interesting aspects due to the LDS theme. I found it a fascinating read.

Seamlessly blending the history of Mormonism with a present day police procedural, Death in the Covenant is a fascinating look inside a secret world.

Heber Bentsen is a beloved pillar of the Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormon) church. As a counselor to the church president, he is investigating a hidden church agenda. A loss of young men in the church has led to 1.5 young women for each young man. Could the perfect solution be reinstating polygamy?

When Heber is killed in an auto accident, foul play is not suspected. However, the autopsy reveals he was killed by a rock to the head and no rock was found at the scene. His longtime family friend, and former LDS member, Abbie Taylor, investigates the crime.

As someone who watches every special on plural wives, both modern and historical, I loved Death in the Covenant. I learned many details about the Latter Day Saints’ beliefs. But it was the mystery itself which will force me to read earlier episodes in this series. It is a twisty ride into an unfamiliar culture. Just when you think you have it figured out, pow, the plot shifts abruptly in another direction.

Overall, this is an excellent police procedural tackling a subject I’ve never seen in a mystery before. Please correct me in the comments if I’m wrong. I highly recommend it. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This story was written as a third person omniscient descriptive where characters are described indirectly. The major conflict was a mixture of internal and external as characters battle themselves, other characters and society. The popular themes shown throughout include character, circle of life, dangers of ignorance, death, everlasting love, faith versus doubt, family, female roles, manipulation, power of silence, power of tradition, quest for discovery, and role of religion.

Abish Taylor is a protagonist, she is a also a police officer who is no longer active in the Mormon church even though her family is. She is close with her brother and father though does not see eye with them on many aspects of the church and her job. President Port is the antagonist, he is an elder in Mormon church and is starting to strike up change, He is a supporter of polygamy coming back to the church, he is manipulative and holds a lot of influence and power in the community. A supposed of drunk crash sends Abish on a new case that once again entails the politics of the Mormon church. First its the death of church leader, followed by the witness of his crash and ends with the death of her father's former student. Abish also discovers a family dark secret that has influenced some of the current church decisions. Her sniffing around has lead to multiple disciplinary hearings of her own but also one for her father who could lose everything he has believe and work for, including his teaching spot at the university. The only bright spot in all of this is Abish has found a confidant in Flynn. They both acknowledge that the love the felt as teenagers is still their, but things have become complicated. President Port doesn't care who he hurts to keep his secrets or acts of manipulation under wraps or how many of Abish's relationships he needs to destroy to make this possible.

The ideas were unique and interesting as the voice was individualized and fir the culture being portrayed. The flow was organized and sentence structure and word choice help to enhance the overall story. Yes, I would recommend this story. For those interested in Mormon faith, police drama, family, dedication to faith, renewed love and seeking the truth should pick up this book. Those who are not interested in Mormon faith, polygamy, religion coming between family, or religion interfering with justice may want to look at different book.

This second excellent book featuring Detective Abbie Taylor jumped straight into the action and never stopped. The action was intense, but left plenty of room to further Abbie's character, as well as her friends, family, and the local culture. I hope this series continues as I think the author has mined a ripe area for mystery with the focus on the potential for secrecy and scandal within the Mormon faith.

Death in the Covenant by D. A. Bartley
An Abish Taylor Mystery #2

Having read the first book in this series I was eager to read the second.

Abbish “Abbie” Taylor is called to what has been assumed is an auto accident related to alcohol only to quickly realize that is not true at all. With an urgency to find out what really happened to Heber Bentsen, First Counselor to the President of the Mormon church, the hunt is on.

Once again Abbie’s team seems a bit leery of her take on some issues with the good old boy network in place, the fact that she is not necessarily in good standing with the church and...she is female. Though she has moved home to be near family – most of her family is keeping their distance. Abbie is still dealing with issues related to the death of her husband and mother and is in the beginning phases of a “liking” with her older brother’s best friend, Flynn.

In both books of this series historical information related to the Mormon church is presented. Having an interest in the study of religions and having done some research in the past related to this one I found the idea of Covenants – especially in relationship to marriage – fascinating.

What I liked:
* Abbie: She is someone who has moved away from the religion of her childhood, as did I, and uses her life experiences to assist her on the job. She is complex, interesting and I want to know more about her.
* The romance that is growing between Flynn and Abbie
* The way family impacts Abbie and others
* The way religion/belief is woven into the story
* The fact that I was given new insight, history and ideas to contemplate
* The way it made me think about myself as a young woman and what caused me to change my religious beliefs. That said, I could see how some of the young women in this book made the decisions they did although I can only hope I was not as naive as they were in the story.
* That it made me think

What I didn’t like:
* The way people in power manipulated others
* That some put so little value on the lives of others
* Having to look at the idea that some people use their idea of “right” to achieve goals that may or may not be “right”
* The way some of the “bad guys” seem to have gotten away with “it”

I noticed in my review of the first book that I was wondering why two people were searching Abbie’s house and those two people did show up in this book. I am still wondering if perhaps in this series some of the “bad guys” will meet their comeuppance.

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I like to read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Croooked Lane Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

I enjoyed the characters so much and the story is incredibly amusing.For some reason, it bothers me that both books paint such a negative picture of the church. I have no connection with the church, I just find it little boring and less interesting when first book had the same set

Unfortunately this book couldn't keep my attention. It's well written but it wasn't my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

3.5 stars, rounded down

What starts as a possible car accident is quickly determined to be the murder of a Church of the LDS leader, a friend of Detective Abbie Taylor’s family. Once again, Bartley has done a great job of creating a fast paced mystery that uses church history to spin out a conspiracy story. There’s a sense of underlying dread here that permeates the entire story. Abbie walks a fine line and is always in danger of being called out, by both her boss and church officials.

I enjoyed the characters here. Not just Abbie, but also Clarke and Flynn. I also just felt for Abbie’s father.

For some reason, it bothers me that both books paint such a negative picture of the LDS church. I have no affiliation with the church, but I just wish the second book had taken a different track. I did appreciate that Bartley takes the time to give us some of the history of the church and an understanding of their beliefs and practices.

This is a well paced, straightforward police procedural. I would definitely seek out the next book in the series.

One doesn’t need to have read the first book in the series. But Bartley doesn’t go out of her way to provide much in the way of background from the first book.

My thanks to netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of this book.

Another mystery series set in the LDS world? Sure, I'll try. Unlike Mette Ivie Harrison's Linda Wallheim series with its amateur detective, Abish Taylor is a police detective descended from an 1800s Prophet and very well known to church leadership. That is a blessing and a curse: she knows the ins and outs of the Church and the religion (nicely explained here for those who don't know a lot about LDS theology or practices) but as someone who hasn't been a part of the church life since her return to Utah she's also an outsider. As far as procedurals go, this plays by the rules of the convention and wraps up just enough of the whodunnit and whydunnit to satisfy readers while leaving a little something left out that could become part of the next book in the series. I'm definitely going to find the first book and will keep my eyes open for the next.

eARC provided by publisher.

I loved Abish Taylor (Abbie). She's caring, tough, intelligent, committed and the perfect protagonist, together with her very capable partner, Officer Jim Clarke, to walk us through the conservative and complex world of Mormonism. The setting, the beautiful mountains of Utah, add a sense of isolation and menace to this complex mystery. The story raises very interesting issues about plural marriage, the role of women in Mormonism and the cost of trying to break away from the church. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my e-book in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommended.

This is the second book in the Abish Taylor mystery series; I enjoyed it so much that I also read Blessed Be The Wicked before writing my review here! Abbie is a former deployed soldier, a widow, the only Detective in a small Utah police department, and a non-practicing Mormon. She is a strong and relatable main character, but is estranged from all of her family except her father and a brother, because of having left the Mormon Faith. Her father holds very strong Mormon beliefs; in fact, he is a theology professor.
This book centers on a secretive plan among some Mormon leaders to return to the old practice of polygamy, in order to allow that more pre-birth souls can be given human bodies and ensure the future and growth of the Mormon religion. There are several murders because of this secret plan, and both Abbie and her father are in danger because of Abbie's efforts to solve the murders. There are also threats by the hierarchy that Abbie's father may be excommunicated if she continues pursuing her efforts to solve the murders and expose those responsible. This would end his career, and also destroy his belief that he will be able to spend eternity with Abbie's mother, who died several years ago.
I've really enjoyed both books in the Abish Taylor series, and hope more will be published! Although there is much criticism of Mormon beliefs and practices in the books, these are tempered by some very positive insight into other beliefs and the Mormon culture as a whole. I learned a lot about Mormon history and some good things about the Faith in these books. Many thanks are given to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read Death In The Covenant. This is my honest review.

Abby Taylor has left the Mormon church that she was raised in after much soul-searching. Now, after some years away, she is back in Utah working as a police officer. When she is called to the site of an accident, she is disturbed to discover Heber Bentsen who is an old family friend and a higher up in the Church. She is even more distressed when she learns that Heber was murdered.

Abby immediately finds her investigation into his death hampered by her own boss at the police department and other leaders of the Church. They put pressure on Abby to declare the death an accident and end the investigation before the funeral. A talk with her father who was Heber's good friend points Abby in a new direction. Her father says that Heber was curious about the disappearance of a number of young women who were faithful members of the Church.

Abby's investigation leads her to Mexico where she learns that the long-outlawed practice of plural marriage might be being resurrected there. A recording of a meeting on the day of Heber's death confirms that leaders of the Church are floating the idea and that Heber was opposed.

This story is filled with looks inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with all their secretive practices. Abby's father is a church scholar and a devoted member of the Church. Threats to excommunicate him weigh heavily on Abby and spur her on to solve the murder not only of Heber but of a young rock climber who saw the "accident" and a young graduate student who is part of a plural marriage.

This was a fascinating look at a strange culture filled with members who believe with blind faith and don't let little things like truth and evidence sway them. I liked the story but wasn't really satisfied with the ending that was at best detente.

Abish Taylor is my newest female detective heroine. I found her incredibly relatable. Her conservative upbringing, walking away from the faith she was raised in, struggling with loss and moving on, are all things that I could connect with immediately. The author picked a beautiful setting in Utah to place this story and drew it in words to perfection. The story itself has a very complex plot woven into it that really gave me food for thought. The themes of domestic abuse and polygamy are seamlessly inserted into the plot and I think they were handled with care. This is the second book in this series and the author can't write a 3rd one fast enough for me. Highly recommend!

What a great book! Once I started reading... I could not put it down! Very unexpected twists! Can’t wait for the next one!