Dan Waddell

Nigel Barnes helps the police investigate a current situation with roots deep in the past. Their biggest clue lies in mtDNA found at the scene. They want Nigel to trace the matrilineal line. A connection with the Mormon Church and a mysterious photo leads Nigel and a female detective to Salt Lake City where they uncover a tie to fundamentalist sect with strange ways of practicing their ordinances-- including the requirement of blood atonement. Although I am not Mormon, I was put off by the plot. I felt he was attacking the LDS church. I know the book was written many years ago when DNA was first being used in genealogy, but I'm not sure the author understood mtDNA enough to include it in the plot. He never really did anything with it. I think the author could have spent his words and pages better developing a mystery plot and less time discussing Mormon religious practices.… (mais)