Customer Reviews

The Mormon Murders (Onyx)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I was a young girl living in Ogden, Utah when these murders occurred. I read this book shortly after its publication, and found it very enlightening and true to form. It was a terrifying mystery when the events occurred, and the media never fully explained the behind-the-scenes facts surrounding the bombings. I feel this book was very objective about the Mormon religeon and its reaction to the events surrounding the bombings and forgeries. The book is a fascinating account of the greed and murders, and anyone remembering the events will find this an eye-opener. For those who aren't familiar with the history, it's a wonderfully written, insightful book that you'll find difficult to put down.

Each time I read this book (by my count, an even half-dozen to date), I marvel at the talent of these writers for turning an overwhelming volume of dry and complex research into a clear, compelling page-turner with more twists and turns than a mountain road. Aside from the crash course in history and culture of Latter Day Saints, I'm constantly intrigued by the detailed backgrounds provided for the antique document market, the business of printing and forgeries and the saint (no pun intended)-like patience of police investigators. All this, fleshed out with the strongly-drawn personalities involved, raises the normally lurid "true-crime" genre from the sensationalistic gutter and places it squarely into journalism -- definitely a new standard. There are a number of books published on this topic, and I've read most of them. This is the most comprehensive, the least "slanted", and certainly the most fascinating. I've got two copies -- one to read and re-read, and one to loan!

If you read the other reviews of this book, or any other book which Mormons might consider uncomplimentary of their faith, it is easy to pick out who are the Mormon reviewers and who are not. If the book criticizes Mormonism, the Mormon reviewers inevitably slam the book, call it fiction, say that it slanted, biased, uninformed, etc., etc.

That being said, I thought "The Mormon Murders" was excellent. The authors obviously had extensive information from insiders on the case, particularly some of the police officers and prosecutors. Mark Hoffman, perhaps the most accomplished forger in American history, manipulates and tricks everyone he comes in contact with, duping them like the con-man extraordinaire he is. And despite their alleged power of discernment, the Mormon leadership is duped even more easily than the common people in the book.

There was never a thorough, public accounting of the Hoffman case because the LDS leaders pressured the prosecuting attorney to lower the charges and let Hoffman plea-bargain---thus saving high-ranking LDS leaders from having to testify under oath.

This story has been depicted by a few different books. After this book, "Salamander" and "A Gathering of Saints" painted uncomplimentary versions of the LDS Church's complicity in these crimes the Church fought back in a round-about way by having some LDS scholar write a book called "Victims" and publish it through the Univ. of Illinois. Don't be fooled--the book's main purpose is to try and exonerate the LDS leaders from looking like idiots at best and conspirators at worse.

I've read that the rights to "The Mormon Murders" were purchased by a network. It is a great story for a TV movie and yet, not surprisingly, it has never made the big screen or little screen. Does anyone have to guess why?

The book names names and places and supports itself from an outside perspective in a very objective and informative manner. The scenario and politics of this mover and shaker conservative and very powerful organization is accurately portrayed in a bone chilling portrayal which enlightens the unaware reader as to the endless means man will go to to establish power and wealth--even to the ends of murder and self-conviction that the action is the Lord's will. I found the twists and exposures of this book a real page-turner and recognizing several of the persons described therein, found it amazingly accurate. An excellent and gutsy read for those within and without the organization of the Church. It has apparently been blackballed in this state. I have not been able to find it in any bookstore nor library. I purchased my copy in Chicago. There is apparently such thing in Utah as the Separation of Church and State.

A friend who had picked this book up (used) but hadn't read it gave it to me. After I read it I told him about it--and he wanted it back!

I won't recap the other reviews (so do check them out at this site. Suffice it to say that immediately after reading it I went on line to do some research and was told by several "recovering Mormons" (their term) that it was entirely accurate and, if anything, understated the power and goals of the LDS church.

i thoroughly enjoyed this book, read it straight through. it gives lots of good information on early church history and beliefs, which are often denied or ignored by the current church, but which came back to haunt it with the hoffman forgeries. this history is told in an engaging, quick-paced manner. while i would've loved footnotes, that's not really the province of true crime paperbacks........ this book will give you many such thoughts to consider.

This is a compelling account based on research by authors who are careful with evidence and committed to the truth. Amazingly, Hoffman used forged documents to exploit the Mormon leaders' need to conceal their Church's true history from their members. This increased the price of his forged documents. Although the Mormon leader was a seer through whom "secret things can be made manifest" he was fooled and paid substantial sums. After Hoffman committed murders the Church leaders tried to obstruct justice so that they could continue their deceptions. It's a factual account of deceived deceivers in Salt Lake City.

I was fortunate enought to have received this book when it was in print. I certainly hope that it gets re-printed soon. Can't imagine why it's not in print, unless.... Anyway, the authors have documented a very detailed investigation of a sordid piece of the Mormon church history. Bravo. The crime was bad enough, but the subsequent cover-up by the "high holy ones" at the Church was worse.

This book details the history of Mark Hoffman, one of the most controversial figures in modern day Mormonism. This was the first book that I had read on Hoffman. I read it as a young man (about 16 years of age), and it prompted me to do further study on certain questions regarding Mormonism that I found troubling. In a sense, I owe the authors of this book a debt of gratitude, as it was through them that I eventually learned of Fawn Brodie and the Tanners. I've been out of Mormonism for nearly 13 years now. I am deeply grateful to be out of Mormonism.

I re-read this book again recently. It is a fascinating tale, certainly. However, it does seem to be too sensationalistic in points (not that the Hoffman story isn't sensational!). For a more balanced version of the Tales of Hoffman, I would reccommend Robert Lindsay's A Gathering of Saints.

This is an incredible book that taught me so much about the history of the Mormon Religion and about the document selling industry! Although it is a book that brings insight to the reader about the above mentioned, it includes, the detective work and tenacity of the authorities and the power that religious figures hold over their believers. I did not come away with a bad feeling about the Mormon church. They no doubt have done a lot of good for vast amounts of people, but instead, it brought to life our justice system and its complexities. The genious of the criminal mind and how sad that such genious could be misguided so. Thanks for a great book! You won't want to put it down regardless of your religious beliefs.