I really enjoy books that not only have interesting plot, but allow me to learn something as well. We don’t have a ton of Mormons where I live, so I loved that this book not only provided me with a great mystery, but taught me about how the Mormon Church is organized and some of the darker aspects of Mormon history.
Not only was I creeped out, I was intrigued as well.
The book follows Abish (Abbie), who returns to Utah to work as a police detective after the death of her husband. She comes from a devout family, but is no longer a believer, so not only is she adjusting to being a female detective in a “Good ol’ boys” atmosphere, she’s dealing with being an outsider. When a prominent church member is found dead from what appears to be the old, controversial practice of blood atonement, Abbie finds herself knee deep in church politics and, possibly, a killer’s path.
Abbie is a great character, who is dealing with a lot of issues, both professional and personal. I really liked how well she handled herself, especially in some tough situations when I was feeling frustrated for her.
The mystery itself is also very good. There’s a lot of moving parts and I did not guess the solution until the very end - I was even questioning thing along with the characters and wondering what was true and what was just an illusion. The writing and characters were really good and well developed.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy a good mystery as well as a good story. This looks to be the start of a new series starring Abbie and I look forward to seeing where these characters go in the future.

Detective Abish Taylor has returned to Utah where she grew up. She's trying to put her life back together after the death of her husband and just had to get out of New York. She never intended to return to Utah. After leaving the Mormon faith, her family relationships are difficult....but this is a chance to start over so she's going to do the best she can. She expected her detective position at the Pleasant View PD to be pretty bland, as the crime rate is incredibly low. But then new homeowners find a dead man in their closet. Not just dead.....his throat has been cut. His clothing and body point to this being some sort of Mormon blood atonement ceremony. The local Mormons want this kept quiet to prevent scandal....but Abish knows she needs to solve this case.

I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. I'm not usually all that interested in books that lean heavily on religion, especially religious factions that control local government or attempt to hide crimes to stop scandal. But...this story is very well written and definitely suspenseful. Despite a few twinges at the Mormon-centric plot, I found myself engrossed in this story of secrets, lies, hypocrisy, and the many demons that can be hidden behind religion. I felt Abbie's frustration every time local Mormon leaders controlled information, slowed her investigation or put pressure on her and others to keep things quiet, even hinting the case didn't need to be solved. With a father who is high up in the Mormon hierarchy and already strained family relationships, Abbie is really between a rock and a hard place. She can stay true to herself and her career by solving this case, no matter what it brings to light. Or, she can placate her father and Mormon leaders and smooth her job, family and local relationships.

Great story! Very well-written. The suspense builds quickly and keeps steady from start to finish. The characters are nicely developed. I loved Abbie as a main character. She is strong, intelligent, somewhat broken, but always true to herself.

I will definitely be reading more of this series! That shocks me, really....as I usually just hate books that intertwine religion so much with the plot....but in this case, it really worked. Making waves in a place where religion forms the local culture is difficult and sometimes dangerous. As a former Catholic, I found myself sympathizing with Abbie. The Catholic church fights to cover up things that maybe should see the light of day....like abuse and other crimes. And, my leaving the Catholic church caused a very harsh family schism in my own life...one that still exists today. There will be no smoothing over the rift in my case, which I have had to learn to live with. I can see this becoming a favorite series for me. I can't wait for the next book!

A word of caution: This book might be a bit offensive for those of Mormon faith. It talks about some of the more violent aspects of Mormon history and shows a local church leadership bent on hiding secrets, even if that means stopping the investigation of a murder. The plot doesn't pull any punches and talks about some aspects of temple and Mormon life that according to a Mormon friend of mine are really not supposed to be talked about. If that would offend you, might be best to pass this one by.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

When her husband dies, Abbie Taylor leaves Manhattan to return to her home town of Pleasant View, Utah. As the only detective and only female on this Mormon town's police force, she is constantly aware of her limitations and the forces working against her. Abbie is a former member of the LDS church so recognizes the murder scene for a ritual death. She is working against the elders and the town who just want the case closed, no need to figure out who the murderer is. Plus Abbie's family drama is playing out in the background. This author has an extensive knowledge of the LDS church and Utah. This adds a realistic element to the story that enhances the reading experience. I'm looking forward to her next book.

Blessed Be the Wicked by D.A. Bartley is the first installment in An Abish Taylor Mystery series. Abish “Abbie” Taylor is a widow who has moved back to her hometown of Pleasant View, Utah where she is the only detective in the town’s small police force. Abbie is hoping to reconnect with her family who were less than understanding (except her brother, John) when she left the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). Abbie’s newfound peace is shattered when she is called to an unusual murder scene. The victim is wearing sacred temple clothes and killed according to an abolished punishment ritual called Blood Atonement. Abbie dives into the case with her partner, Officer Jim Clarke, but she is thwarted at every turn. Even her fellow officers attempt to hinder her investigation. Church leaders do not want their secrets coming to light and the police chief is pushing for her to close the case, but Abbie wants justice for the victim. Join Abbie as she follows the clues to catch a deadly killer in Blessed Be the Wicked.

Blessed Be the Wicked is a different type of cozy mystery. It is set in Pleasant View, Utah where many of the citizens are members of the LDS. The author provides readers with the inner workings of the church (the hierarchy, various committees, rituals). It did seem that D.A. Bartley is not a fan of the church or its practices based on the criticism. The details provided on the church slowed down the pace of the story and some of it was just baffling. I did enjoy discovering the history behind the Mormon faith. The author created a complicated mystery with a simple solution. The crime scenes are explained in graphic detail which is unusual for a cozy mystery. The author has a descriptive writing style which allows me to visualize the scenes. I did wonder at the overabundance of detail regarding high end clothing and accessories. At the end of the book, I was left with unanswered questions (which is so frustrating). I was never able to get into Blessed Be the Wicked, and I struggled to finish it. Blessed Be the Wicked was not the right fit for me.

An intersting start to a new series (at least I'm hopeful it will be a series.). Abish is an intriguing woman- she's returned home to a place where she's now considered an outsider and is trying to reconcile with her family. Working as a law enforcement officer is not easy, especially as the only female on the force. The murder in this mystery serves as a platform for an exploration of the LDS Church and some of its history, practices, and lingo. Bartley weaves together a plot which will educate as well as entertain. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one!

Blessed by the Wicked by D. A. Bartley
An Abish Taylor Mystery #1

Abish Taylor: widow, ex-Mormon, returned home from New York, sole detective on Pleasure View police force, knowledgeable about LDS and detective work.

Abish left New York for Utah after her husband died to see if she could reconnect with family members that did not see eye to eye with her when she left the Mormon faith. Not much is said about Phillip, her deceased husband, but she did love him and he left her plenty of money when he died. Abbie is not really accepted by the old-boy network at work so it can be tough at times. When a man is murdered in what appears to be a ceremonial way mentioned in older LDS writings the church really would prefer to keep things out of the media and let Abbie know this in more than one way.

There is quite a bit of sleuthing. Interviews are done with various suspects as well as those that might have information that might help solve the murder. Tidbits are unearthed that lead the reader to potential suspects and reasons for the murder. The case is eventually wrapped up by Abish and Clarke, the colleague assigned to work the case with her. She does make inroads into getting along better with her father and she meets up with an old friend that may prove to be a potential love interest as she moves forward in the series. There is a mystery left unsolved – why were the two men in her home one night when she got home and what were they looking for?

There was considerable information about the history of Latter Day Saints that might not appeal to everyone but it was informative and based in fact. Having done much comparative religious study over the years I did enjoy the story and do look forward to reading what comes next in the series. If there is anything I might have wanted more of is information about why Abbie left the church, how she met Phillip and how Phillip died. That said, my guess is that more of this information will show up in future books…hope so!

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

4 Stars

First the first in a series, this book was a solid effort by Bartley. The main character is interesting as a self-sufficient police detective who struggles to do her work in the midst of a patriarchal culture. Her gender is not the only thing that makes Abish an "outsider"; she is also a former Mormon in a Mormon community and family. The first murder of the book provides a great entry into some of the historical concepts of the Mormon faith. The book does not take cheap shots about this religion, but it does not raise some questions about Mormonism and its practices. The best complement about a series, in my opinion, is that the book leaves you anxious for the next one. Bartley has accomplished this; I look forward to what comes lies ahead for Abish.

This is just not a book for me. The book was very hard to get into. Bartley wrote a very violent book which may appeal to some readers, I am not one of them. I am not Mormon, yet this book seemed to have a very strong bias against the Mormon church and the church's past.
I realized I was skimming through the book so I finally just gave up. It is really too bad because this book had so much promise.

3.5 stars, rounded up
A lot of things drew me to this book. A female detective protagonist. A state and a religion I know little to nothing about. In fact, I probably know more about Buddhism than Mormonism. Oh, and a sleazebag developer with a history of bankruptcies. As a retired banker, I’ve had my own experiences with borrowers who think nothing of not paying their subcontractors while still “driving expensive cars and wearing designer clothes”.

I loved the start. “The rest of the small police force behaved exactly as she had expected them to when she’d taken the job a few months ago: white male with a strong undercurrent of chauvinism.”

Bartley has a very direct writing style which I enjoyed. She just hits the nail on the head with her blunt descriptions. She’s written a well done police procedural. It’s perfect for those who enjoy different settings to their mysteries. Bartley delves into the whole Mormon culture, including the insider nomenclature. For example, a fighter isn’t what you’d think. It’s a woman fighting the effects of multiple births on a forty year old body. Who knew plastic surgery was so popular in Utah? She explains the hierarchy of the church and a lot of the more different beliefs, so you don’t feel lost.

She’s also done a good job with her character development. I liked Abbie but I really liked Clarke. As the book progresses, so does their partnership and his development as an investigator. Even Henderson doesn’t fall into a cliche. But I do have to wonder if Bartley has something again Mormon women. They all seemed to be on antidepressants in this book.

This is a book that keeps your turning pages to get to the answers. You’ve got lots of layers here. Not just a stylized murder, but hints of a conspiracy. Once it had ended, I did feel like there was one plot line that was not resolved. I’m not sure if that was on purpose and will be dealt with in a later book, but it nagged to be left hanging. Still, I enjoyed this and hope this is the start of a series.

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

Abish Taylor has returned to the small Mormon community that she had left behind. The passing of her husband has pushed her into attempting to reconcile things with her father, a Church University Lecturer. She is struggling with being the only female detective, while the only female, in the boys club known as the police force and being a non-practicing Mormon. She is paired with a young returned missionary who is dedicated to the faith. Together they must work together to solve a murder case of a high church member before their chief and other elders shut their case down.

This story is told in the third person. The author has given a substantial basis of background knowledge on the Mormon faith and takes time to explain the traditions and practices that are shown in the book. The characters have a good amount of growth and the interactions seem genuine and realistic. The characters are not the easiest to connect with as we do not see a lot of their personalities outside of the text of solving the crime. The events follow a logical sequence that could possibly be considered a true crime. There is an excellent usage of red herrings and plot twists.

Yes, I would recommend this book. The story is about forgiveness, reconciliation and how far would you go for your faith. It would be a perfect book for a young adult who is struggling with their faith but also anyone who is for a good mystery.

This is the first book in a series about Abish "Abbie" Taylor.

After the death of her husband, Detective Abbie Taylor moves to Pleasant View, but that also means being closer to a family she left behind. While she tries to reconnect with her family, she is called to a scene that is straight from the Mormon history books. As she tries to investigate, Abbie feels as if her hands are tied by high ranking officials in the Mormon church. Can she find the killer? Can she trusts the cops that she works with?

This is a promising start to a new series. The characters are well written, The story moves at a good pace. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

A serviceable mystery, but I just couldn't kindle to any of the characters

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with with an ARC ebook in exchange for a review.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for an advance copy of this well plotted mystery in return for an honest review. Detective Abish Taylor left the Mormon faith and worked as part of a team of detectives in New York City. She returns to a quiet Mormon community on the death of her husband. Once back in the community where she grew up she hopes to make peace with her estranged family. Abish finds herself working as the only detective in the small police force. Fortunately she is assisted by a young male officer who knows most of the townspeople and is committed to the Mormon faith.

A man has been murdered in a ritualistic manner from earlier times and the police chief insists no publicity which might put the religion in a bad light. He wants the case deemed a suicide. Abish is determined to get to the truth, especially when one week later a young woman is found dead in the same manner. Suicide? Not only the police force but also influential church officials seem to want the cases closed in a hurry and the truth covered up.

I enjoy a mystery which takes me to a far off place or into a different culture. The book informs us of past and present Mormon rituals, ceremonies and beliefs. Historical passages are included from the early founders. We also learn something about the church hierarchy.

I found the book slow at first as personally do not care for mysteries involving money trails and financial fraud. This soon shifted to crimes of a more personal nature and became more interesting to me. I also find frequent mentions of designer clothing, name brand luggage, expensive cars and watches a distraction.

I am hoping for a sequel. There is plenty of room for a series featuring Detective Abish Taylor which I would definitely read with interest. Review now on Goodreads and will be on Amazon.ca on date of the book's release.

This is D. A. Bartley's debut novel. There is a lot of church history about The Church of the Latter Day Saints, dating back to of a sacred ritual in the days of Brigham Young. Very interesting mystery

This is the first in a new series and I found this fascinating to learn about the Mormon community. This reminds me of another series out there about the Amish. Always good to learn more and I am sure there has been some liberty taken with the story line as this does not always put the Mormons in good light. The basic story is Abish Taylor left Utah and her family and was married and is now returning after her husbands death. A prominent church leader is killed is what is like a ritualistic style killing back from years ago. I found this to be an engaging story and look forward to the next installment.

Abbie was raised in the LDS church. After attending college on the East Coast and residing in Manhattan, she returns to Utah following the death of her husband to take a position as a police detective, in hopes of re-establishing some connection with her estranged family. An important church figure has been murdered in a ritualistic way especially disturbing to Mormons. Abbie is no longer associated with the church and this, plus being the only female in the department, makes it difficult to get cooperation when investigating the crime. I found the information on the Mormon traditions fascinating, but I wonder if current LDS members would agree, since the revelations weren’t all complimentary.

Detective Abish Taylor is returning home to Utah after the death of her husband to reestablish frayed relationships with her family. She works as her small Mormon town’s only detective, believing her job will consist of minor traffic infractions, but she’s in for a nasty surprise when a body is found. This is no accidental death either, but appears to be a bizarre ritual linked to the earliest days of the Mormon faith. Abbie discovers that her small town is far from serene and that the Mormon religion is just as corrupt as every other. Secrets must be kept, at any cost, and no one will be spare to protect the reputation of the church. Bartley’s debut mystery hits all the right targets and she’s created a sharp, likable protagonist in Abbie. Fans of Linda Castillo’s Kate Burkholder series will find much to like here