Killing in Zion vs Under the Banner of Heaven: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Mormons, Murder
Killing in Zion
More
The murder of a polygamous paterfamilias forces a Salt Lake City cop to confront his Mormon past in this historical mystery.After a high-profile case thrusts deputy Art Oveson into the spotlight, Salt Lake City's mayor…
Under the Banner of Heaven
“Balanced atop the highest spire of the Salt Lake Temple, gleaming in the Utah sun, a statue of the angel Moroni stands watch over downtown Salt Lake City with his golden trumpet raised.”
More
Jon Krakauer's literary reputation rests on insightful chronicles of lives conducted at the outer limits. In UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN, he shifts his focus from extremes of physical adventure to extremes of religious…
Side by side
The verdict
- Readers rate Under the Banner of Heaven highest: Under the Banner of Heaven 4.0 · Killing in Zion 3.6.
- Under the Banner of Heaven has the widest readership — 231239 ratings behind its score.
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases.
Scores by source
| Killing in Zion | Under the Banner of Heaven | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.6 (86) | 4.0 (231239) |
| Hardcover | — | 4.0 (354) |
| Apple Books | — | 4.0 (810) |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Reception
| Killing in Zion | Under the Banner of Heaven | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 86 | 231239 |
| Editions | 2 | 23 |
| Film adaptations | — | 1 |
| Want to read | 68 | 191943 |
| Reading it now | 10 | 11408 |
| Written reviews | 17 | 16819 |
| Wikipedia attention | — | 9914 |
| Pages | 400 | 395 |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: Killing in Zion or Under the Banner of Heaven?
Under the Banner of Heaven has the higher combined reader rating across sources (Under the Banner of Heaven 4.0/5, Killing in Zion 3.6/5).
Which is shorter to read: Killing in Zion or Under the Banner of Heaven?
Under the Banner of Heaven is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: Under the Banner of Heaven (395 pages, ≈ 7 h 19 m); Killing in Zion (400 pages, ≈ 7 h 24 m).
Which is harder to read: Killing in Zion or Under the Banner of Heaven?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Killing in Zion: Moderate; Under the Banner of Heaven: Moderate.