Item Description

"The Locket, the first novel in the Escape from Deseret series by Adell Harvey, sheds light on the Mormon church and its early history.

This historic novel is set in the 1850s when thousands of poverty-stricken Scandinavians were lured to America and promised prosperity by Mormon missionaries. It tells the story of 16-year-old Ingrid Thirkelsen, an orphan who marries a widow, a Mormon missionary. As she makes the trek across the Plains and Rocky Mountains, Ingrid learns the truth about this new religion and the horrors of polygamy, blood atonement and blind obedience to cult leaders. Her only comfort is her mother's Bible and a locket that she promised to deliver to a young girl in Zion."

Biography of Adell Harvey:

Item Special Note

REVIEWS:

"Well worth your reading time." By Hoyt Lovelace on April 30, 2015 "This is not the normal type of book that I tend to read; however, I was encouraged by a friend to read it since I love historical literature (though it is more of a romance novel). I am happy to say that I truly enjoyed the book. The characters and their development captured me from the beginning and the adherence to historical accuracy demonstrated the integrity of the author. The story was constructed well (it could be a true story I guess), written well, and edited well. I see that it is book one, so I am actually looking forward to book two whenever it is published."

By Rebekah A. Harvey on May 11, 2015 "This book shares a different perspective on the difficult journey taken by so many newly converted Latter Day Saints from Denmark to America and across the North American continent during the challenging overland handcart trek. The author does a masterful job creating complex and thoughtful characters. Her extensive research about the early days of Mormonism is clear as she tells a more detailed and richly woven story of not only the overland journey with it's many complications and hardships, but also of the deeply personal spiritual journey that some on the handcart trail must surely have experienced as they began to question a religion that required them to endure such hardship and to accept plural marriage as God's ordained plan for humanity. Based largely on journals and first-hand accounts of the handcart trek, as well as ethnographic research, this work of historical fiction is compelling and thought-provoking."