This was highly recommended by my friend Liz and she was definitely right. The novel is structured in a way that weaves history with a good story, and a murder mystery to boot. The historical aspect recounts the life of Ann Eliza Young, the 19th (more or less) wife of Brigham Young. It was Ann Eliza who spoke out about polygamy, against Brigham Young. Her testimony to Congress probably helped get polygamy outlawed. While the telling of her story is fascinating, the author has added another voice, that of Jordan Scott young man in present day, who was thrown out from a fundamentalist sect of polygamists years earlier. Jordan journeys home when he learns that his mother (also a 19th wife) has been arrested for the murder of his father. With band of misfits he collects along the way (including his dog Electra, a runaway and an outcast from the Mormon church), Jordan sets about trying to unravel the mystery and prove his mother's innocence.

Ebershoff's extensive research is fascinating and he skillfully brings the reader along on both tales. I appreciated his sensitivity to present day Mormonism, distinguishing some of the early customs and beliefs from today's main practices of the faith. I thought it particularly interesting how he was able to portray the all-consuming total immersion that comes about in so many cults that seem to crop up over the years. He did this both through Jordan's memories of life amongst the Firsts, and Ann Eliza's rebuttals to critics of her when she was on the road. And he did it all while spinning a good mystery, too.