The Fourth Wife
In 1880s Utah Territory, the polygamous practice of the Mormon church is coming under the scrutiny of Federal officials. Hazel has been raised in a polygamous home to be meek and obedient, her highest achievement to be in a plural marriage, but when she and Samuel plan to marry, they will enter a monogamous marriage against church teachings. While Samuel is away on a mission, Hazel is deceived by church leaders into marrying Jacob, becoming his fourth wife. As the couple journey to his isolated mansion, Jacob is kind and attentive. It appears her life will turn out better than expected. But red flags start appearing.
Run-down and derelict, the mansion is not the elegant home she expected; Jacob’s purported wealth doesn’t exist; there is dissent and turmoil among the other wives, with jealousy toward Hazel as the new, favored wife. Her new home emits dread and apprehension as she comes to realize it is haunted; add to this her terrifying nightmares. Her husband’s reassurances and promises are gradually revealed as lies and deceit. When the heat is on from Federal agents, he goes on the run, abandoning his wives and children to starve and fend for themselves, and to lie for him. Hazel makes friends with the ghost inhabiting the mansion, who assists her in uncovering the secrets and evil. This is where the novel stumbles. The ghost’s ability to converse and tell its story makes it more human than ghost, which is difficult to buy into.
The Mormon history is interesting. Hazel is a complex character, believably portrayed in her struggles to sort truth from a lifetime of lies indoctrinated into her. We see the oppression and damage done to women by the Mormon church and a patriarchal society in a very affecting way. But beware, this is true gothic horror, haunting and bloody. Readers who enjoyed The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas will enjoy this novel.
