Review: The Moroni Deception by Jack L. Brody

The Moroni Deception by Jack L. Brody

Publisher: Visigoth Press 

Pages: 285 

Format: ebook 

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  Michael Chenault, award-winning investigative journalist with the New York Times, is rousted in the middle of the night by NYPD detectives and accused of the bizarre murder of a complete stranger. After clearing himself, Chenault finds that Martin Koplanski, the retired history professor he’d been accused of murdering, was likely killed for a mysterious Mormon relic long thought to be just a myth. Twenty-four hours later, Chenault receives an email with a photo of the recently murdered wife of Presidential candidate, Brockston Ratchford. She too appears to have been ritually killed in the exact manner as Koplanski, right down to having the same cryptic character scrawled in blood across her forehead. With way more than just a hunch to now go on, Chenault heads out to Salt Lake City, the site of the Ratchford murder investigation, to find out what, if any, connection there is between the murders.


Kritters Thoughts:  I read that this book could be compared to a Dan Brown religious adventure and I completely agree; although what made it different is the contemporary feel compared to Dan Brown's historical angle.  Chenault, the main character, is a journalist and by happenstance is thrust into this scavenger hunt for the unknown at the beginning and then finally a certain religious object that may validate or invalidate the Mormon faith.

The interesting thing about my reading of this book, was my finishing it on the night that a Mormon candidate lost his bid for the White House and my proximity to the White House.  As a religious scavenger hunt, this book was great, but I didn't love the representation of Mormons, it was quite negative.  I am not Mormon and don't wish to share my opinions on religion on this site, but I did feel like the book was a little skewed and really put a negative light on the people who practice that faith, not sure how I would have fixed it, but didn't love it.

The mystery intrigue and hunt of the book were fantastic - I loved following the clues and the twists and turns.  There were some really good hints to unfold a few details, but never too much - the reader knew just the right amount and was kept out of the dark until the bitter end.    

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2012 Challenge: 70 out of 25

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.