Customer Reviews

Irish Stew!: A Nuala Anne McGrail Novel (Nuala Anne McGrail Novels)

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

 

 

Andrew Greeley begins this novel with a celebration of love. We are introduced to Socra Marie, a less than one pound premature baby
with a determination to live. Against medical advice the parents, Naula Anne McGrail and Dermot Coyne, decide to keep the child alive and she becomes the center of a family love fest. Greeley provides a testament to the wonders of modern medical science where such a child only twenty years ago would have been called a miscarriage and the parents left to grieve the loss of a child.

Irish Stew is one of the Naula Anne McGrail series, which chronicles the lives and adventures of Naula and her husband Dermot. Every story contains mysteries which Naula investigates, usually by using her psychic senses. Each story absorbs the reader in the growing Coyne family and their increasing devotion to each other.
Socra Marie is their third child. They also have two very accomplished Irish wolfhounds.

Irish Stew highlights the historical Haymarket riot of 1886. The contemporary characters, using a diary that provides flashbacks, investigate the riot. Although the story is fictionalized, the major players and incidents of the Haymarket events are real. Greeley's presentation is entertaining and intriguing. The characters he describes are realistic and captivating. This is a fun way to review history.

The Haymarket scenes share another love story that began in Irish Love.
Irish Love (Nuala Anne McGrail Novels) Ned Fitzpatrick, while in Ireland , began a loving relationship with Nora, a very poor widow. Although he knew that she did not love him, he married her and brought her to America to protect her and her baby. In Irish Stew their relationship continues and, slowly, she begins to love him. Ned and Nora are delightful people.

I have read all of the previous novels in this series, and liked them all. This one communicates a selfless love. I recommend Irish Stew, it is a refreshing tale of benevolent love and social justice. It is a great family love story and an exciting historical mystery.

I am a long time fan of Andrew M Greeley, but I must admit I cheated and checked the books out from the library first. I knew I would re-read them so I ordered the entire set. I love the dual mysteries being solved by this husband and wife team, one puzzle from the past, one from the present and how they intersect. I also love their extended family and group of friends. READ THE SERIES FROM THE BEGINNING IN SEQUENCE.

Slow and BORING! Sorry I bought it. The purchase price of "free" would have been too expensive.