Abish Taylor first appeared in Blessed Be the Wicked and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Abbie.
What is your name?
Abish Taylor. Yes, I’m named after Abish in the Book of Mormon.
How old are you?
32.
What is your profession?
I’m the sole detective at the Pleasant View City Police Department. Currently, we have three part-time and four full-time officers.
Do you have a significant other?
That’s an evolving situation. I moved back to Utah after Phillip, my husband, died. The idea of romance was the furthest thing from my mind. I just wanted to be near family. Now, though, there is someone special.
What is his name and profession?
Flynn Paulsen. This is embarrassing to say, but all I know about Flynn’s professional life is he’s involved in finance, venture capital to be more precise.
Any children?
No.
Do you have any sibling(s)?
I’m one of six, which isn’t at all unusual in Utah. I’m closest with my oldest brother John and his wife Libbie. Luke, Matthew, Heather, and Lily have distanced themselves from me since I left the church. I’m trying to re-connect, but it’s not easy.
Do your parents live near you?
My mom passed away a few years ago. We were really close; I still have the urge to pick up the phone and call her. My dad heads up the Department of Church History and Doctrine at BYU. He lives in Provo, which is about an hour-and-a-half drive south from where I live now.
Who is your best friend?
My brother John. Note to self: Find new friends in Utah.
Cats, dogs or other pets?
Sadly, neither.
What town do you live in?
I don’t really live in a town. My cabin is off UT-39—Ogden Canyon for those of you who know the area–and is pretty isolated. I can’t see the road or any neighbors. I’m closer to Huntsville than anywhere else.
House or building complex? Own or Rent?
After Phillip died, I was in pretty bad shape. I fell in love with this old house built by Swedish Latter-day Saints in the early part of the 20th century. It’s way too big for one person, but I hope someday to have my dad, all of my brothers and sisters, and their kids up here.
What is your favorite spot in your house?
In the winter, I love snuggling up in front of the fireplace in the living room with a good book. As soon as it warms up, though, I like to be outside.
Favorite meal? Favorite dessert?
Tacos from Café Rio. Strawberry milkshake from any place, but the Iceberg Drive-Inn does set the standard. If I’m feeling like something a little more upscale, I love just about everything on the menu at The Copper Onion.
Favorite hobby?
Anything outside: skiing, hiking, running, biking, waterskiing, and swimming. Utah is a beautiful state.
Favorite color?
All shades of blue.
Favorite author?
P.D. James, Linda Castillo, Tana French, and Lee Child.
Favorite vacation spot?
Italy is always wonderful. I adore Scotland and the coast of Maine, too.
Favorite sports team?
The Utah Jazz, of course. I also love watching the University of Utah’s women soccer team.
Movies or Broadway?
Depends on the night, now. After Phillip passed away, it was movies—in bed, in pajamas.
Are you a morning or a night person?
Both and neither. I’ve been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately.
Amateur sleuth or professional?
Professional.
Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
Officer Jim Clarke. He’s a returned missionary (RM) from Logan and is a few years younger than I am. When I first started at the PVCPD I wasn’t sure I would ever say this, but I trust him with my life.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
Utahns* start their days early—earlier than what I got used to in New York—so, I’m up with the sun or before. I like to go for a run or a hike if I can, but that doesn’t always happen. I head into the station if I’m not actively working on something. Pleasant View isn’t a big place, but I’ve been disabused of any notions that the life of a detective in a small town would be quiet.
*Not Utahans.
You can read about Abbie in Death in the Covenant, the second book in the “Abish Taylor” traditional mystery series, released August 13, 2019.
The Church is facing a demographic crisis like never before. How far will leaders go to grow Mormon families? And how far will they go to keep their plan secret?
Detective Abish “Abbie” Taylor returned to the mountain town of Pleasant View, Utah, hoping for a quiet life. But that hope dissipates when she wakes to an unsettling phone call. Arriving at the scene of a fatal car accident, she discovers that the victim was one of the most beloved leaders of the Church—and an old family friend.
Abbie is skeptical when her father insists the death was not an accident, but in an attempt to patch up their relationship, she takes a few days off from her job as the sole detective in the police department, and heads to Colonia Juárez, a former LDS colony in Mexico. There, she uncovers a plan hearkening back to the Church’s history of polygamy. But Abbie knows too well that bringing secrets to light can be deadly.
Abbie realizes with a jolt that her investigation could cost her father his job and possibly get him excommunicated. Time is running out for Abbie to save her father’s position—and her own life—as dark forces close in, and the outlook for Pleasant View turns decidedly unpleasant.
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About the author
D. A. Bartley (Alison) traces her family history back to the earliest days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She’s a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Although she spent much of her childhood in Utah, her parents were incurable travelers. She was born in Scotland and lived in Germany, France and Russia. She received a J.D. and a Ph.D. in political science before working both as an attorney and an academic in Manhattan. In the end, though, she couldn’t escape her life-long love of books. She and her family split their time between the Upper East Side and Upstate New York.
To learn more about D.A., visit her website at dabartley.com.
All comments are welcomed.