On a cool night in the Utah desert, a young woman flees her home, her sleeping child clutched in her arms. Hours later, she is found dead, her tongue torn out and her daughter mysteriously returned to her own bed.
The residents of Blister Creek are anxious to solve this shockingly brutal crime, but theirs is a unique community—a conservative polygamous sect that cannot afford for news of the murder to reach the outside world. So, they call upon one of their own: Jacob Christianson, son of a respected church official and cousin of the victim. With the help of his teenage sister, Eliza, Jacob digs into the bizarre murder and uncovers a monstrous, blood-soaked secret that could destroy the very foundation of their church.
Chilling and engrossing, The Righteous is a tightly plotted novel, the first in a series about love, loyalty, and dark secrets.
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"The books of Wallace's Righteous Series, of which this is the first, are compelling mysteries with two strong lead characters, Poligamist Mormon brother and sister. Wallace pulls off sympathetic portraits of both prevailing against the turmoil of their world and he does it with seeming ease."
— John (4 out of 5 stars)
" Found this book as a 99 cent deal of the day at Amazon & I'm so glad I picked it up. It usually takes me about a chapter to really get into a book. The very first couple of sentences in The Righteous sucked me in & I couldn't put it down. Will definitely be reading the rest in this series. "
— Tara, 2/19/2014" Mixed feelings about this book. Wallace does a good job differentiating the novel community from mainstream Mormonism, which I was concerned about. I like the characters, though they feel a bit one-dimensional -- maybe they'll be developed more through the series. I liked the plot, but the pacing was a little off, and I wish the reader weren't omniscient -- leave a mystery for us to solve. I do like that Wallace set himself up for the sequel, but the story was still resolved, so I didn't feel cheated. "
— Lauren, 2/17/2014" This book read like a polygamist Mormonism primer with a mystery sprinkled through. It was the first of the series, and had I read it first, I would not have read the next 2 much better books in the series even though they cost only $.99 for my kindle. There is another coming out in the series which I am ging to skip. "
— Gaylinn, 1/29/2014" Got this book as a joke, turns out has a lot of mormon information. The other parts in it were just plain spokey! "
— Ryan, 1/21/2014" Torn between two and three stars. It was entertaining but reeked of Dan Brown, if that's his name, of the DaVinci Code. Read this while flying from coast to coast. A little over the top but I finished it, not sure I'd recommend it to friends. "
— Marion, 1/2/2014" This was a good story. Got it free from amazon prime. I think I would read more of this series. "
— Diane, 12/30/2013" Fairly good mystery but too religious for me. I don't think I would read the next in the series. I bought this book because it was a special on Amazon (cheap). Lots of suspense and I did like Jacob and Eliza but the whole polygamy and Mormon storylines are very foreign and distasteful to me. The author did a good job of looking at the life from many sides, though. "
— Kathy, 12/29/2013" Page turning book requiring some suspension of disbelief. Sexist writing that the author undoubtedly believes is not sexist but enjoyable and twisty. "
— Elizabeth, 12/24/2013" I really liked this book. I loved learning about the polygamist Mormon society. "
— Shauna, 12/18/2013" Very interesting account of life within groups that practice multiple marriages in modern times. I bought it four my Kindle. Since then I have bought another book by the same author. "
— Carolyn, 12/17/2013" I liked this a lot. Once I started it I couldn't put it down! "
— Cathy, 12/14/2013" A good read, it pulled me along and I learned a little more of the culture of many wives and the "inner temple". I guess it is a series, but I don't think I will read the rest. "
— Lisa4piano, 12/3/2013" This was an ok story, onto the next book in this series. "
— Stacy, 12/3/2013" I loved this series and can't wait until October for the fourth book. I am interested in all types of religion and love murder mysteries and it was refreshing to have a new perspective than a cop or detective series! "
— Sarah, 11/22/2013" Good, different from my usual. Enjoyed this. Some is a bit far fetched but good entertaining fiction. "
— Julia, 6/23/2013" I enjoyed the book had a hard time putting it down the ending left another book to read "
— Janice, 6/21/2013" I couldn't finish reading this book...it failed to hold my attention. "
— Rick, 6/14/2013" I found it difficult to get into this book and did, in fact, abandon it at 20 percent in. However, I don't really like being beaten and went back to it and was able to finish it quite quickly. I found the subject interesting but don't think I will be reading the rest of the series. "
— Pammiecee, 12/20/2012" Interesting plot with some twists - some too many at that. Parts of it even reminded me of Boys from Brazil. "
— Ralf, 11/22/2012" An interesting and fun read. The Mormon aspects of it set it apart and kept it from feeling too cliche. "
— Morgon, 11/17/2012" The topic intrigued me and now I wonder how much of the lifestyle is based upon fact. I will be reading the rest of the books in the series. "
— Melissa, 11/8/2012" I would probably give this one 3.5 stars. It was a fast read. Gave some insight into the Mormons. I will eventually read Michael Wallace's next one. This one was a kindle daily deal-$.99 or $1.99. I probably would never have come across this one otherwise. "
— Joannie, 9/16/2012" Way to gory for me. "
— Lynn, 8/29/2012" Kept interest moving throughout book. Suspense, action, in polygamist religious group. I enjoyed and look forward to book 2 Mighty and Strong "
— Paula, 7/4/2012Michael Wallace is the author of more than a dozen novels, including the popular Righteous series. In addition to working as a writer, literary agent, and innkeeper, he previously worked as a software engineer for a US Department of Defense contractor, programming simulators for nuclear submarines. He was born in California and raised in a small religious community in Utah.
Arielle DeLisle is an Earphones Award–winning narrator, voice actor, and commercial producer. She has recorded more than sixty audiobooks, including dystopian young adult titles and Michael Wallace’s Righteous series.