Official Review: Another Book of Mormons

[Gabriel Merêncio]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Another Book of Mormons" by Paul Raymond Reid.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Eugene Lannon is a writer looking for a scoop and some direction in his life. He seems to find both in the Mormon community, led by the Prophet Brigham Young. Alongside his wife, Abigail, and a painter, Abel, he is invited to stay with the charismatic Bishop John Sweet and his eight wives. Things take a turn for the worse, however, when the wives begin dying one by one. Will Eugene manage to find his path in the Mormon faith and solve this mystery?

Set in the late 1800s, Paul Raymond Reid’s Another Book of Mormons is a historical novel with touches of mystery. It’s a very character-driven tale, focusing on the relationships and psychology of individuals. There are seventeen chapters in total, either narrated by Eugene or one of the wives.

If you enjoy complex characters with troubled pasts, this novel is likely for you. Truth be told, most characters aren’t exactly likable or relatable, but each still serves as a piece of the puzzle. Add to this the well-researched setting filled with interesting historical details and a bucolic atmosphere and you have an engrossing book that should please many different readers.

That said, if you’re here for the murder mystery, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed since it’s the weakest aspect of the novel. For starters, the plot is incredibly slow-paced; it takes quite a while for the first murder to even occur, and the investigation never seems to go anywhere most of the time. Also, the climax is predictable and doesn’t reveal anything too surprising.

I’d guessed who the murderer was before the ending, but I thought I was missing something because the evidence wasn’t all that solid. Sadly, I wasn’t missing anything. The mystery relies on rather weak circumstantial evidence and conjectures about the murderer’s motive. There’s no logical justification for why a certain character is innocent besides the fact that it would be too obvious otherwise.

The novel takes a critical look at the Mormon Church, so readers who belong to the religion might want to skip this unless they don’t mind having their beliefs questioned. Indeed, Eugene ponders a lot on existential issues and matters of faith, which is a highlight if you’re interested in these themes.

Though not an excellent murder mystery, Another Book of Mormons remains a fascinating story that delves deep into Mormonism, its social structure, and its believers’ minds. As such, I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. I’ve only found one minor error, so it’s also exceptionally edited.

The novel features some profanities, general descriptions of sex scenes, and mature topics, such as rape, so it’s unsuitable for young audiences. I don’t recommend it for fans of traditional murder mysteries with complex plots and twists. On the other hand, fans of historical fiction should find plenty to enjoy.

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Another Book of Mormons
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[Cecilia_L]

I am not a Mormon but was intrigued by the book's title. Murder mysteries appeal to me, and I appreciate your interesting review.

[Gabriel Merêncio]

I am not a Mormon but was intrigued by the book's title. Murder mysteries appeal to me, and I appreciate your interesting review.

To be honest, the murder mystery aspect isn't all that great, but the novel is still worth checking out. Thanks for the comment!

[Kanda_theGreat]

I've always wanted to learn something about the Mormon church. I will definitely read this book to enrich my knowledge about some of their practices.
Thank you for the review.

[kandscreeley]

It's too bad that the murder was the weakest aspect of the book. Still, I like complex characters, so I'm glad that was well done. Some of the more sensitive topics do make me pause. Thanks for your thoughts.

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

This book sounds so exciting! I don't know much about the Mormon community, but this book would be a great place to start. Thanks for the fantastic review!

[Kaitlyn Canedy]

I am against the Mormon religion, so I will give this one a pass. A murder mystery involving this religion is interesting though; not a take that I would expect.

[unamilagra]

This book sounds like it has potential because the time period sounds really intriguing. It's too bad the mystery aspect was so weak. Thanks for your thorough and honest review!

[Wyland]

This sounds like an interesting book on faith amid mysterious deaths in a family. Thanks for the insightful review.

[Nerea]

A character-driven historical fiction story with a touch of mystery sounds appealing. I will give the book a try. Awesome review.

[Gabriel Merêncio]

It's too bad that the murder was the weakest aspect of the book. Still, I like complex characters, so I'm glad that was well done. Some of the more sensitive topics do make me pause. Thanks for your thoughts.

This book sounds so exciting! I don't know much about the Mormon community, but this book would be a great place to start. Thanks for the fantastic review!

I am against the Mormon religion, so I will give this one a pass. A murder mystery involving this religion is interesting though; not a take that I would expect.

This book sounds like it has potential because the time period sounds really intriguing. It's too bad the mystery aspect was so weak. Thanks for your thorough and honest review!

This sounds like an interesting book on faith amid mysterious deaths in a family. Thanks for the insightful review.

A character-driven historical fiction story with a touch of mystery sounds appealing. I will give the book a try. Awesome review.

I've always wanted to learn something about the Mormon church. I will definitely read this book to enrich my knowledge about some of their practices.
Thank you for the review.

Thanks for the comments! It's a very interesting novel, and I don't think you'll have a problem with it if you disagree with the Mormon faith; quite the opposite, in fact.

[Nisha Ward]

Murder mysteries are always fun and tying it into Eugene joining thw Mormon faith is an interesting take. I'm surprised it hasn't turned him off, but then again, faith doesn't always work on logic.

[Gabriel Merêncio]

Murder mysteries are always fun and tying it into Eugene joining thw Mormon faith is an interesting take. I'm surprised it hasn't turned him off, but then again, faith doesn't always work on logic.

That's a good point. Eugene is a very lost man looking for some answers, so the allure of faith is too much for him. Thanks for the comment!