Brigham's Day

by John Gates

Book Overview

In 1857, on a wagon train bound for California, 120 settlers were slaughtered and some of the women and children kidnapped, in what has come to be known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre. There was no... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0965022161
• ISBN13: 9780965022163
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Walker
• Length: 187 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Latter Day Saints and Sinners

After reading Brigham's Day, I am certain of two things. John Gates is a fine writer and a great story teller. The characters are well drawn, and Gates uses them to great effect in drawing the reader into the shadowed secrets of the Morman experience. I hope to meet Brigham Bybee again,and soon.

Interesting Subject and Well Worth Reading

This is the story of an attorney responsible for defending a man accused of murder. The once well known and well respected Brigham Bybee is at the center of the novel. Unfortunately, he is no longer well respected and is on the verge of being disbarred. In order to save his license, he is appointed to represent a man accused of killing a person who holds a very important Latter Day Saint secret.This secret goes back over 200 years and at first blush, although the theory of defense is somewhat farfetched, as the novel progresses, the author does a good job of tying the events of the past to the events of the present. Although the story is not factually accurate, it would not be difficult to imagine an organization killing in the attempt to preserve the "good name" of the organization.I thought this was a very good debut novel and the creativity was very impressive. Although this was a very well written legal thriller, I was somewhat disappointed in what appeared to be the authors lack of recognition of the obligation of an attorney to his/her client. Bigbee's relationship with Zolene created a major conflict of interest and had the effect of undermining his duty,responsibility and obligation to his client.The dynamics of that relationship was somewhat at odds with the representation of his client. However, notwithstanding that minor nuance, I thought the book was quite good and look forward to the second Bigbee novel.

Murder in Utah

BRIGHAM'S DAY is the debut novel by John Gates. Brigham Bybee, an attorney on the verge of being stricken from the bar, is assigned to the case of a poor young man who is accused of murder, in Kanab, Utah. The book is very dark, telling tales of not-so-savory events in the days of Brigham Young and Joseph Smith, the founders of The Church of the Latter Day Saints, and the modern Church, all taking place in the ethereal beauty of southern Utah. This is not a true historical novel, but rather a modern day murder mystery with historical undertones, and well worth reading

A historical mystery well worth reading

Attorney Brigham Bybee once walked with the state's elite. In those days, he would never set foot in a place like Kanab, Utah. However, that was then and this is now and Brigham is divorced and an alcoholic with no future. Thus, Brigham agrees to assist the defense team as they defend drifter Owen Parks accused of killing a former local bishop Douglas Farnsworth.Though no one expects much of him in what is apparently an airtight case (the accused took a picture of the scene) Brigham begins to investigate the murder. To his shock, he begins to unravel a totally different scenario than that painted by the police and prosecutor. Instead, Brigham begins to believe that his client is a victim of a conspiracy linked to a mass murder over a century ago that if ever revealed would shake the Mormon Church.BRIGHAM'S DAY is an exciting legal thriller that provides the audience insight into Mormon history and beliefs. The story line is fast-paced and Brigham is a cynical antihero. Several subplots such as an unnecessary romantic interlude detour the main tale, but John Gates' novel is worth reading because of its fine focus on the Mormon lifestyle inside a well-designed legal thriller.Harriet Klausner