The Veil

by Diane Noble

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A shroud of secrecy cloaks a new nineteenth-century sect known simply as the Saints ... but that veil is about to be drawn away. Amidst the Majestic Beauty of 1857 Utah, the members of one secluded religious group claim to want nothing more than to practice their beliefs without persecution. Yet among them are many who engage in secret vows and brutal acts of atonement... all in the name of God. But one young woman, Hannah McClary, dares to question the truth behind the shroud. Soon Hannah and the young man she loves -- Lucas Knight, who has been trained from childhood to kill on behalf of the Church -- find themselves fighting for their very lives. As a group of unwary pioneer families marches into Utah toward a tragic confrontation with the Saints at a place called Mountain Meadows, Hannah and Lucas are thrust into the most difficult conflict of all -- a battle for truth and justice -- even as they are learning for the first time about unconditional love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

I found "The Veil" to be intriguing and suspenseful throughout. It was a dark and depressing picture of the clash between the Mormons in Utah and the settlers in wagon trains moving through Mormon territory to realize their dreams in California. I found this to be an upsetting book as it realistically described the rituals of sealing in the temple, blood-letting, and plural marriages. I wanted to read as fast as I could to finish for two reasons. One: I wanted to finish what I considered to be a depressing book. Two: I was dying to know how it would all turn out, knowing full well that many characters would lose their lives before the story was over.

Being familiar with Mormons growing up in a southern Alberta community, I was already aware of many of these rituals and practices, but I can imagine this would be a very informative book for those who don't know too much about the Mornmons and would like to know more. I would recommend this book to those people. This is not a particularly uplifting book, but if you want a deep and realistic fictional account of the Mormons, you may enjoy reading this.