Rating: 
Summary: Exciting and Informative
Review: An intricate and absorbing plot creates a wonderful thriller. You also learn a lot of fascinating facts about the Mormon religion.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting as a thriller, if inaccurate as to Mormonism.
Review: As a born and bred Mormon, active and faithful, I read this story because it sounded intriguing. As a story, it lives up to its promise of mystery and excitement. I was dismayed at the Mormon bashing, and only want to tell prospective readers that the author has no real factual knowledge of the LDS Church and what life is really like in Utah. The truth is really simple and there's no mystery to it at all. Utah is far from a theocracy, and Church leaders do not dictate our actions, much less our thoughts. Unfortunately, the plot and premise of this book depends heavily on the possibility that even murder would be considered an option rather than have politically high-placed individuals exposed for practices which are not condoned by the Mormon religion. If you keep that in mind and discount 95% of what the author says about politics and religion in Utah, I do recommend the story.
Rating: 
Summary: Hmmm...
Review: As a non-Mormon living in Salt Lake City I find "A Higher Authority" to be amusing, but not highly accurate in it's portrayal of Salt Lake culture. For instance, we have coffee houses EVERYWHERE (even Starbucks!) and I have lots of Mormon friends who don't give a "heck" that I'm not Mormon and never will be. I have to say the herd mentality does seem a bit strong here, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it a theocracy. Otherwise, I don't think we'd have a female democrat in the attorney general's office. I also found the author's description of Torr's office extremely innacurate. Wasn't she working at a firm? Where were her partners/associates? A lawyer in a firm never works in isolation from his/her associates. And where is e-mail and cell phones in this story? These people can afford to hop on planes all over the Southwest, but they don't carry cell phones? or research Comedy Clubs in Taos over the internet? I found this book very unrealistic.
Rating: 
Summary: White is Right
Review: At first I thought the Mormon bashing was sort of funny, then it got old. Real old. I've lived in "small town" Utah for 37 years and I've never heard myself or anyone else refered to a gentile. As for the plot; lame, unbelievable story.
Rating: 
Summary: GET OVER IT!!!
Review: At first I thought the Mormon bashing was sort of funny, then it got old. Real old. I've lived in "small town" Utah for 37 years and I've never heard myself or anyone else refered to a gentile. As for the plot; lame, unbelievable story.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Fine thriller set against the backdrop of the politics and machinations of the Morman Church. While not great writing, strong characters and mysteriousness of the unusual setting succeed in making this story above average. Wish Dr. Gregory had played a larger part, but at least this book sent me to the library to learn more about Mormonism.
Rating: 
Summary: Many Stephen White fans will be confused and disappointed
Review: First, let me say that I am a big fan of White's books. Cold Case, with the exception of being a little overdone at the end, was one of the best mystery/thrillers I have read. In addition, while White makes no effort to hide his characters' political leanings, he never crosses the line to blatant prejudice.At least, not until this book. In Higher Authority, White has taken objectivity, solid plotting, and character definition and thrown them out the window. Instead the book is a poorly disguised attack on the Mormon Church. It is very clear that he did little research. There are huge flaws in both the plot and "facts" he reports about the Church. Access to library records at BYU do NOT require a temple recommend. In fact, the only places that requires a temple recommend to enter are the Mormon temples. And I don't know where he came up with the idea that Mormons believe that Christ was coming in the year 2000. It's a real shame that White uses fiction to attack people's religious beliefs. Unfortunately, the fact that the book is fiction allows White to make factual errors and state mistruths. Why would a fiction writer want to alienate thousands of potential readers by attacking their religion? What is really disturbing, though, are all those people who have posted on here saying "it really opened my eyes about the Mormon church" or "I learned a lot of fascinating facts about the Mormon religion." This is a work of FICTION. And as for trying to find an "objective" approach to Mormons, looking in books on Cults is not going to give you an objective view. If you truly want to get an objective view of the Mormon church, watch the PBS documentary called "Joseph Smith: An American Prophet". This is a true documentary, and simply covers facts and events. Even if you removed the Mormon bashing in this book, the plot is completely absurd. White has done much better with his other books.
Rating:
Summary: Axe to grind with the Mormons?
Review: Having a sister who is Mormon, I read "Higher Authority" with interest and expectation. I had never read any other of White's books so Lauren Crowder was new to me. My experience with Mormons is that they are strong prosyletizers and I can't see John Harley giving information that easily. They do in fact give you limited information when you ask questions in real life so I find Harley hard to believe. I feel while it places the Mormon (LDS) Church in a negative light - I, also, feel it might serve their purposes in that they would have more people exploring to see if it was correctly portrayed and may get caught up in the Missionary's zeal in presenting their views. Many spots leave you trying to figure out if the author really researched all the geographical features. For entertainment, I enjoyed it but I had trouble with all the negative - ism.
Rating:
Summary: Murder mystery based on little known Mormon doctrines
Review: Having been raised in Utah as a Mormon for 40 years, this book was interesting and admirably accurate. There are many things that the LDS would object to because they are told not to read "anti" literature (even if true). I know; I was there. The LDS people are mostly genuine, but their hidden history and some doctrines are deplorable - no wonder they are warned not to read about them. If Mormons would only realize that those who warn them about "enemies of the church" may actually have something to hide. Good book.
Rating:
Summary: Poorly written, Author has an agenda
Review: I felt sorry for Mr. White, because he doesn't know much about the Mormons, but is willing to bash the church. I have read several of his other books, and liked them. I was vastly disapointed in this work, and makes me wonder if he knows anymore about M.S. than he does about Mormons. The only thing that seems to come out in this book, is his obsession with drinking. Makes me wonder if he is an alcholic? As a practicing Mormon who went to B.Y.U. in the 60's, I know he hasn't bothered to talk to an educated Mormon, who knows much about the history and theology of the church. If he had, he wouldn't have said most of the stupid things he did. It would be like me saying that people with M.S. deserve to have the disease. I listen to about 60-80 books a year on tape, and find it is the most enjoyable way to pass time while traveling, and tend to read all that an author writes, if I like his work. I will be looking with an jaundiced eye at his next work because of the poor job he did on this one. I wonder who must have hurt him to have such a poor opinion of the Mormon church? I live in Denver, and like the fact that Boulder has several good authors, but don't consider Mr. White as one of them now.
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