Lack of the Irish: A Mystery Set at the University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Ralph McInerny (Author)

Book Description

Series: Notre Dame Mysteries | Publication Date: August 15, 1999

When sports and religion collide, it results in an ungodly murder...

As the Notre Dame campus gears up for one of the most religiously-charged sporting events in history-the big game between Catholic Notre Dame and Protestant pastor Edwina Marciniak, plans to make a statement by disrupting both the game and the theological conference campus scholars are holding. But the murder of an administrator threatens to steal the headlines...

Who killed the unlamented Hazel Nootin? Detective Philip Knight and his brother, brilliant philosophy professor Roger Knight, are summoned to put a lid on the case. As they hone in on their prime suspects-and on-and-off-the-wagon reporter, a troubled football star with an explosive secret, and Hazel's hapless husband-the Knights must score a goal for justice. This is one game they can't afford to fumble.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Hazel Nootin, a faceless but nevertheless unpleasant bureaucrat in the Notre Dame convention office, is brutally murdered. Her death occurs as the university is preparing for a football game with Baptist flagship Baylor University and a ballyhooed conference between the respective theological departments. Notre Dame hires private investigator Phillip Knight, whose brother Roger will be the keynote speaker at the conference. Among the suspects are an alcoholic Notre Dame public-relations flack, a sometimes violent husband, and a frustrated ex-Catholic. McInery, whose Father Dowling mysteries have delighted readers for years, has struck gold again in the Brothers Knight. The Nero Wolfe-Archie Goodwin relationship between the two is an endless delight, especially since they are on equal footing, unlike Stout's pair. McInery's 40-year Notre Dame career is the basis for the profound understanding of university life that underpins this well-plotted, very amusing mystery. Wes Lukowsky --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Mystery at its bloodless, cerebral best." --Chicago Tribune

"Literate...clever...thoughtful...readable...It is easy to understand why Ralph McInerny was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at Bouchercon." --Mystery News on On This Rockne

"[Conveys] a sense of the human tragicomic aspect of real heroes." --Irish Echo on On This Rockne

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Dead Letter; First Edition edition (August 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312969279
• ISBN-13: 978-0312969271
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,051,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Serious and hilarious!, October 23, 2000

By 

David Wihowski (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lack of the Irish: A Mystery Set at the University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

A classic, though not complicated mystery (I did not solve it --prior to the solution being revealed--even though it was right there in front of my eyes).

Delightfully human (and sometimes hilarious) characters. A few malcontents you can love to hate, as well.

I have visited ND only once briefly, so I'm sure a few of the "in" jokes escaped me. I have enough Catholic friends and watch an occasional college football game, so much of the ND humor still was intelligible.

Incidentally, a serious look at some "ecumenical" religious topics.

A fun read that made me think a little, as well.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny and absorbing for those in the know, September 7, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Chicago, Il) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lack of the Irish: A Mystery Set at the University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a very funny and interesting murder mystery that takes place at the U. of Notre Dame. There are a lot of "in-jokes" for those familiar with the ND campus and history.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Primarily for Notre Dame Fans, May 26, 2009

By 

J. S. Breunig (Princeton) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lack of the Irish: A Mystery Set at the University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

As a recent alumn, I enjoyed reading Lack of the Irish for its constant, detailed reference to the campus, the student body, and the regular traditions of the place. That being said, if the story took place on any other campus (Georgetown, BC, St. Mary's, or Baylor) I would have been fairly bored.

The plot is basic, a classic murder-whodunit, with multiple suspects and self-righteous manipulators. I felt a little cheated at the reveal; the story did not seem to lead up to its end. Additionally, the side plot (about an overzealous preacher) took over the story and seemed more important than the murder (at least to Ralph McInerny) and I wish the book had focused more on the suspects and investigation.

Lack of the Irish is short and fun, and reads fairly quickly. While it's not Dan Brown-pulp, you will find yourself struggling to set it down. The drive to uncover the truth drives the book, unfortunately the novelty of ND and an eccentric side plot are crutches that are leaned on a bit too much.