The Gathering [Hardcover]

William Kienzle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002

In this new entry, we revisit Koesler's adolescent and teen years, to a time when young Catholic men and women were encouraged, even expected, to become priests and nuns, whether or not their vocation was real. We meet his group of six young aspiring religious (four men and two women) who underwent the rigors of the seminary and the convent together. We learn of their individual struggles with their faith, their mentors, and their commitments to difficult choices. And we painfully discover how one member of this group is inflicted with undserved guilt by a selfishly cruel pastor and how this dooms his life. Now in their seventies, the group gathers together, a reunion of sorts, after one of their number is found dead. Suspicions arise, and once again Father Koesler's acumen is called on to solve the puzzle. Bill Kienzle's mystery series has a faithful audience who has bought his books in hardcover and paperback for a combined total sale of more than 2 million copies. Nearly all of Father Koesler mysteries have been Main Selections for the Mystery Guild; all have been sold to Books On Tape. In spring 2000, the Chicago Sun-Times named William X. Kienzle's first book, The Rosary Murders, one of the top twenty-five mysteries of the twentieth century.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

If at times Kienzle seemingly walked in the shadow of that other popular Catholic priest crime author, Andrew Greeley, this highly intelligent, wonderfully human and compassionate novel, the 24th in his Father Koesler series, is a reminder of how good a writer he could be. Sad to say, the author's recent death means that it's the last in the series, which began so strongly with The Rosary Murders (1979). More a coming-of-age story than a mystery, this new outing follows six young people from Detroit four boys intent on the priesthood, two girls on becoming nuns from their entry into religious life until middle age. Two fail in their ambitions, and one is a fraud through no fault of his own. Kienzle brings them all beautifully to life as he focuses on the Catholic Church during a time of change as well as on the trials of growing up in a Catholic family, in particular the painful ordeal of sexual awakening. He also celebrates the friendships that last a lifetime. A death occurs, but those looking for conventional crime-solving should look elsewhere. As ever, some Catholics may not care for the author's challenges to orthodoxy (he left the priesthood after 20 years and later married), but for everyone else this thought-provoking, philosophical last hurrah will provide rich spiritual satisfaction. attack on December 28, 2001.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Shortly before his death in December 2001, Kienzle completed his twenty-fourth Father Robert Koesler mystery. In a fitting finale to a reflective as well as suspenseful series, Koesler reaches back in time and memory to clarify the ambiguous details surrounding the death of an old friend and fellow priest. Father Stan Benson is declared accidentally dead by carbon monoxide poisoning. Nursing his own doubts, Koesler convenes a reunion with the five remaining members of a close-knit group of friends who all initially chose religious vocations as a way of life. Now in their seventies, these three men and two women gather to remember and to reexamine their commitments and their relationships. As their interweaving stories unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that multiple personal and theological motives for either a murder or a suicide exist. Koesler's natural flair for detection is surpassed only by his deep and abiding compassion for the human condition. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740722298
• ISBN-13: 978-0740722295
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,272,257 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars So disappointed, March 6, 2006

By 

Joan Wester Anderson, "Author of 'In the Arms... (Prospect Heights IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gathering (Mass Market Paperback)

I hated The Gathering to be the last mystery William Kienzle wrote. For years I have waited in happy anticipation for the next book, loving Father Koesler and all the characters Kienzle drew with such a fine hand, as well as his even-handed explanations of Catholic doctrine and thought. I grabbed The Gathering with the same joy---only to be tremendously disappointed.
The most difficult part of this book was the endless repetition and back-tracking---explaining and re-explaining the already tedious details. The characters were wooden--I couldn't care less about any of them.... And the dialogue: had Kienzle ever tuned in to a conversation between Catholic teenagers, even in that era? About as unrealistic as I could imagine. And was it necessary to create perhaps the worst priest to ever be ordained as the antagonist here? Having gone all through Catholic school during this era, and knowing hundreds of priests, I can't imagine any of them playing with Church doctrine in this way. Bottom line--an awful book. Save your time and money.

P.S. I seriously wonder if Keinzle's mind was going when he wrote this book. If it was, I do beg his pardon. And in any case I thank him for earlier years of true reading pleasure.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a mystery at all..but still good, September 29, 2003

By 

S. Colbert (Portsmouth, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gathering (Hardcover)

If you picked up this book expecting a good mystery like The Rosary Murders, you will be greatly disappointed. However, if you're interested in a pretty decent character study of 4 young people preparing to enter the religious life, then you might enjoy it. In the last 10-12 years, Kienzle really hasn't written mysteries but rather character studies set against a Catholic background. Taken on that level, this is one of his best in the last few years.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Gathering, May 5, 2003

By 

joanne weimer (MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gathering (Hardcover)

How do you explain growing up Catholic to your non-Catholic spouse, friend?
This book evokes the feelings and isolation of being raised Catholic.
It is written in a timeline any baby-boomer or younger will relate to.
The ending is a tribute to William Kienzle's life.
The story circle back to the beginnings of William Kienzle's choice of vocation and leaves the reader knowing why he left the priesthood.
The question remains where and what do today's Catholic's do with their faith.
Thank you,
William Kienzle
for all the insights about beinging Catholic