Customer Reviews

The Bishop at the Lake: A Bishop Blackie Ryan Novel (Blackie Ryan Novels)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Every time I try to get out, they suck me back in"----paraphrase of Al Pacino's lament in "Godfather" part three about attempts to take the family mob racket into legitimate businesses. I have been reading Fr. Greeley's books for about thirty years, with quite a bit of enjoyment. His novels, however, do fall into certain formulas, and he is so prolific I do get a bit tired every now and then. Just how many affluent, talented but dysfunctional Chicago Irish families will have locked room murders or attempted ones in any given decade? Especially if the family is connected in some manner to Fr. Blackie, the assistant to the Cardinal in charge in the Windy City? I try to quit Greeley, with varying degrees of success. For instance, I have totally avoided the seven novel series about the O'Malley family in the 20th century. But I have read every Blackie Ryan mystery, six or more now, every Nuala McGrail book, ten of those, and at least ten of his other works, fiction and non-fiction. Fr. Greeley's plots are often unrealistic, his characters' dialogue and emotions either idealized or demonized to a fault, his happy endings welcome but predictable. Still, he creates a world of families with as much to be envied as to be lamented. His heroes and heroines are people you wish you knew, and for whom you root without reservation. In this latest Blackie mystery, to my surprise, I really was not certain of the villain until the end. Therefore, it counts as quite a success. I found it a slow start, and after a chapter or two I was not sure I would finish it. Then, however, some twists occurred and I became reluctant to put the book down at all. If you like Greeley's past work, this is more of the same but well-done.

. . . even when I find myself profoundly out of sympathy with some of his views. This is the first "Blackie Ryan" novel I've read in awhile (though I really enjoyed many of his "Beatitude" novels) and I wanted to enjoy it. I really did. And it was okay, but in the opinion of this reviewer, nothing particularly special. We have a (predictable) dysfunctional family, a (predictable) locked-room mystery, and a (predictable -- but in this case, delightful) Irish heroine.

What we DON'T have -- is a reasonable or (to my mind) believable mystery. Without providing plot spoilers (this is, after all, a mystery!) I found the motive for the crime to be lacking in realistic believability; the perpetrator weakly portrayed; and the accomplice little more than a "flat" character.

Do I have any doubt that we'll see the heroine and her erstwhile beau in later novels? Nope! I just hope that they are placed in a better plot line!

If you're into the "Blackie Ryan" mysteries -- this is good for a summer afternoon. But not much more.

It is with great expectation when a new Blackie Ryan mystery arrives to join my must read pile. Father Andrew M. Greeley doesn't disappoint his fans with the current THE BISHOP AT THE LAKE. Bishop Blackie is sent to vacation with his family while sleuthing out the designs of Archbishop Malachi Nolan who has his sights set on replacing Cardinal Sean Cronin.
Before Malachi Nolan can cause Blackie's boss any problems he is the victim of an attack by hornets, which for him is a life-threatening allergy known to his entire family. Who would want to kill an ineffectual member of the church in the home of his parents and family?
A must read that flows quickly to the final pages. Greeley interweaves ambition, greed, malice and romance into a satisfying read.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

Cardinal Sean Cronin, Archbishop of Chicago, directs Blackie, now Coadjutor Archbishop John Blackwood Ryan with right of succession, to go with his family to Grand Beach, Michigan and take a vacation. This rather unusual directive leads Blackie into a holiday of intrigue and violence. The Bishop, of course, is required to investigate the situation and " see to" its resolution.

The first part of the story is a long scene at a family dinner. Have patience. Once you run the gauntlet of family abuse you discover a real problem to solve. This novel is unusual among Blackie Ryan stories in that it does not begin with an actual mystery. Instead the good Bishop stumbles into a puzzle quite by coincidence. Naturally the mystery involves a locked room.

Some of the characters in this story are well known to Andrew Greeley fans. Mary Kate Ryan Murphy, Blackie's sister, her husband Joe, and her son Joseph are each involved as is Peter Murphy and his wife Cindasue McLeod. Getting an update on these old friends is a treat.

Most of the story concentrates upon the relationships among the members of the Nolan family. The Nolans are very wealthy individuals who manage an aerospace company. We are introduced to Spike Nolan and his wife, Lady Anne Howard Nolan, their children and grandchildren, The conflict among these individuals becomes an interesting study in family dynamics.

For the mystery in this novel, the assaults are unique and easily solved but the perpetrator is not. Who would attempt to kill the victim? Why would they wish to do so? Was it members of the family; the caretakers of the property, competitors of the very successful family business; or Blackie himself?

Andrew Greeley integrates several bits of wisdom. Referring to a recent Papal encyclical God Is Love: Deus Caritas Est he says human passion is a sacrament that reflects God's love. He also jokingly suggests that Irish women "repealed the principle of contradiction." Finally, Blackie's guidance to a character who struggles with forgiveness is an implied testimonial to God's love.

The Bishop at the lake is an excellent mystery and an insightful reflection on family dynamics. I highly recommend this book.

Andrew Greeley imparts his knowledge of the Catholic Church, the Irish, and the well-to-do in a convincing manner again. Action is seen through the eyes of an archbishop who often refers to himself in the third person; this can be confusing at first if the reader isn't familiar with Blackie but it quickly becomes amusing. Greeley hits the mark: annoying antagonists are authentic, demented relatives infuriate readers who've experienced them for real, and the innocent young heroine aviator is refreshing to all. I could smell the water and feel the wind of the setting on the shores of Lake Michigan. Good writing, but I marked it down one star because of the predictable formula.

Kathy Noltze

This is the BEST Blackie Ryan mystery yet!! A wonderful read. I pray that Fr. Greeley will continue to write more Blackie Ryan mysteries and soon!!

I have read all his series, Andrew Greeley is truly an excellent writer in fiction and non fiction. This book is no exception. I am anticipating reading the newest one. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves mysteries and a little humor along the way. Blackie is differently superb at locked door mysteries.

Father Andrew Greeley's books (especially Blackie Ryan) are always an excellent read, any purchases I have made through Amazon always arrive within a reasonable time of ordering and in excellent condition, enjoy doing business with Amazon.

A fast paced mystery that held my interest from beginning to end. I love to read the Grand Beach mysteries because I spent some summers in my youth in the Duneland Beach/Michigan City Area.

I love Blackie Ryan and have been following his adventures since the first of the "Beatitudes" books. Greeley has a wonderful hero and I look forward with extreme anticipation to another Blackie book. Glad to see he's making progress up the hierarchy in the Church.