Customer Reviews

The Mystery of Things (Ashland Grail Cycle ; Bk. 1)

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

 

 

Other reviewers have already noted that Debra Murphy draws a great deal from literature in this work: not just quoting Shakespeare and Spencer, but creating a narrative that is structored along Shakespearian and Spencerian lines. Fans of the medieval romance tradition may love the vision of the knight, the Lady, and the dragon which haunts James Ireton and the book. But Inklings fans --fans of Lewis, Tolkien, and Charles Williams-- will find the book particularly enjoyable, as it is a mystery in the tradition of the Christian romance (that's romance as in King Arthur, people, not as an in Danielle Steele!), grounded in theological truths. Murphy brings in the theology of the body and Hans Urs von Balthasar's theology of aesthetics, generally without pointing a huge narratorial finger at the influences. This should NOT scare away readers who are uninterested in or unaquainted with Catholic theology, however. You don't have to be a theologian to enjoy this book. (It probably helps more to be a mystery lover.) Suffice it to say that if you read the book and find yourself saying YES! at James Ireton's insistence that he needs beauty, and the novel's equation of ugliness and sin, then you may want to acquaint yourself with von Balthasar's theology of aesthetics, and if you find yourself eagerly nodding when Lupe talks about her body speaking a language to James, you may want to look into John Paul II's theology of the body, perhaps by way of Christopher West.

The novel is not perfect. Academic readers may find Murphy's description of literary theory and criticism to be a bit dated-- where's the post-colonialism? What happened to Edward Said? And who reads Derrida in English departments these days anyway? It's also worth pointing out that Marxism and New Historicism are not synonymous: for many historicists (who may have all different kinds of agendas), historicism is a methodology, not an ideology. For all the scholars of English who are interested in this book, I'd say, take these mistakes with a grain of salt, or else imagine the work as if it were set in the 80's, at which point it would be pretty accurate.

As for style and structure of the narrative, it took me a little while to get into the story, even though the book opens with some important events and encounters between characters. I also found it initially difficult to sympathize with James Ireton, but the novel develops his character fairly quickly and gives enough of the back story to help readers understand how he became who he is. However, like many mysteries, the book picked up speed in the second half; so much so that I made my husband wait to go out for dinner until I had finished the last 30 or 40 pages, because I couldn't stand not finishing it! For the most part, Murphy does a good job of maintaining all kinds of suspense: suspense about the crimes, but also about the characters' developments and relationships.

Mystery fans of many stripes will enjoy this book, I think, but Chesteronian readers and Inklings fans will be delighted with it and with Debra Murphy for working to start a new Catholic literary renaissance.

This is one of those novels that at first glance may be off putting - or at least it was for me. I'm not a Shakespeare scholar in the least and thought all of the literary references and Shakespearian quotes would go right over my head and I'd be lost. As soon as I started reading my apprehensions quickly evaporated. While it does abound with literary references and graduate students and their studies play a large part in in the book, the references only wet your appetite to read more of Shakespeare and those who influenced him. It truly is a mystery novel, but it is a lot more then your typical "who-did-it" variety. It is very well written and the descriptions and conversations bring the story and characters to life. While it is a mystery novel and the plot does move along pretty quickly, I really took my time reading it - enjoying each paragraph and savoring the writing and the story as it developed. I highly recommend this novel.

The Mystery of Things is a jolt to the minds of those of us forever mourning the death of the epic in modern literature. Debra Murphy's outstanding sense of the heroic plays on the best of our mythic sensibilities, producing a complex, multilayered story with classic echoes. A literary jamboree, the plot is riddled with salutes to the "greats" of western literature. However, the author does not stop at mere exultation of a form many call obsolete. Her profound awareness of the anxieties of modern life, coupled with excellent use of irony and humor, make The Mystery of Things that extremely rare text that bridges the daunting gap of old vs. new. While celebrating the beauty inherent in religion, a clear disdain for fundamentalism made the text palatable even to this heathen skeptic. The mystery compels, driven by genuine suspense and a feeling of horror Nabokov would appreciate. The love story is realistic and harrowing, challenging the limits of both the protagonists' and the reader's hearts. Characters are intricate and convincing, struggling with issues central to human existence: Love, Death, Faith, etc. The Mystery of Things is a refreshing revival of our most ancient forms that remains highly relevant to the modern reader.

Lenny Swiatko, murmuring his last sentences in Latin, does a swan dive off a balcony and winds up the first body the police discover fallen from a great height in Milwaukee one summer. He will not be the last.

I discovered Debra Murphy's novel THE MYSTERY OF THINGS after I read a terrific article by Murphy on art and faith in Godspy, a popular online e-zine. The book is a murder mystery and so much more. It may be the first fictional
inquiry into Pope John Paul II's groundbreaking theology of the body.

Set in an elite Catholic graduate studies program on the shores of Lake Michigan, THE MYSTERY OF THINGS tells the story of James Ireton, a brilliant and promising Shakespeare scholar, and the seven other doctoral students enrolled in Fr. Arthur Bricusse's rigorous but acclaimed Shakespeare seminar. Class meetings are tense, chock full of academic rivalries and personal jealousies worthy of the Bard himself.

And then the mayhem starts.

Why do I like this book? It is literate and it thumbs its nose at the prevailing postmodern prose style of "less is more", glorying in adjectives and descriptive language in a way that would curl the hair of most contemporary editors.
Each chapter begins with a quotation from Shakespeare or Spenser, which should have clued me in that Murphy is dizzyingly in love with language. It takes some getting used to for anyone who has bought into the idea that prose should be sparse.

More to the point, the book portrays one of the basic realities about people who come into intimate contact with the Catholic Church, whether as cradle Catholics, converts, or what we used to call "fallen away Catholics". Love it or hate it, practice it or aggressively sin against it, the characters in Murphy's novel orbit around the Catholic Church, pulled by bonds from which they cannot get free. James Ireton, Lupe Cruz, Fr. Bricusse, Bel Gunderson, Jack Sigur, Richard Crato, and the rest of the faculty and students of the Heisler Institute for the Study of Western Civilization manifest every possible attitude towards the Church but one - indifference. And isn't that true of everyone who has been singed by the fire of Catholicism?

The book is based loosely on the legend of the Grail quest, with echoes of
St. George and the dragon. It is the first of what Murphy intends to be her Ashland Grail Cycle.

I finished the last page, and turned right around and started reading it
again. Now I am recommending it to one and all. I am not at all reluctant to put Murphy in the same category as Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene and Walker Percy. I predict we will hear much more from her.

Came across this book from reading [...]. Totally original mystery novel - loaded with Shakespeare, Catholic teaching and suspenseful mystery! An excellent combo that was a delight to read. Beautiful characters I relate to. So excited to hear this "series" will continue in the near future! Debra has a great talent!

Debra Murphy has created a unique blending of classical literature, mythology, theology, mystery, and romance, in this novel. Within the first few chapters she skillfully introduced the characters, who in turn carry the plot of the story.

Obviously well versed in classical literature Murphy uses dialogue to establish and introduce into the text various interpretations of well known works of literature. The story revolves around the members of a graduate seminar course in Western Literature. Murphy's characters, steeped in class literature and drama, often use familiar quotes conversationally to bring home a point. Excerpts from these quotes become clues as the multileveled plot unravels.

Murphy has an uncanny ability to understand human nature. She opens up the mind of her characters making them vulnerable, and believable. I found myself experiencing a roller coaster of emotions as I was bonded to some. In others she elicited empathy, disgust, respect, and loathing.

I found myself joining forces with detective Masefield, James Ireton, and Lupe Cruz as they tried to get to the bottom of a complicated case of mafia connections, theft, and murder as I tried to solve the puzzle of the intricate and expanding wave of crime and intrigue. Page after page of conflict, action, and mystery will keep you racing through the narrative to the fast paced, action packed, graphic conclusion.

In the final chapter Murphy hints of more to come in this complex mystery of Things. Lupe and James plan for the future rebuilding of their life. Be sure to watch for the second in the Ashland Grail Series, "All the World's a Stage".

This book was a hard-to-put down, compelling tale and one of the most entertaining and engaging Catholic novels I've ever read, filled with rich language and beautiful imagery, as well as excellent (and brilliant) writing. There's a definite Flannery O'Connor feel to it, but this novel was unlike any other Catholic novel I had ever read. As an NFP teacher and as a novelist whose own books' themes center around the Theology of the Body, I was particular impressed with how well the author illustrated these teachings within the context of the book.

The story centers around James Ireton, a man who grew up in England but who now lives in Milwaukee. He is unlike any other protagonist I've ever known and seems to have more vices than virtues. Although Catholic, he does not practice his faith at all (more specifically, he is promiscuous). In the midst of it all, he becomes a suspect in a series of local murders.

St. Francis De Sales' quote, "To believe is to be drawn," is illustrated quite well in this novel. James is attracted to a fellow student at the university, Guadalupe (Lupe), who is not the most beautiful woman he has ever met, but he is attracted to her all the same. She also stutters, but more importantly, is about as Catholic and faithful as they come.

The well-drawn and well-developed characters were so real to me and the situations so expertly described that during one particular scene, I actually yelled at one character "Don't do it!"

There is one proviso: this book is not for the faint at heart, or those Catholics who do not want to read dialogue from characters blurting out swear words (yes, even the "F" word.) Because of the themes regarding sexuality, there are scenes which are particularly graphic. So if you are a Catholic who is bothered by sexual situations or graphic language, then this probably isn't the book for you. If, however, you can tolerate language and graphic descriptions, this novel is probably one of the most entertaining reads you'll ever enjoy.

There are so many things I love about this book and so many different aspects which will engage any reader. Although I have always appreciated a good murder mystery, this one in particular kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed the quotes from Shakespeare at the beginning of each chapter, and the references to Our Lady of Guadalupe, as well as the interesting and well-developed, multi-layered, believable characters. I highly recommend this book and I look forward to the author's future books!

Ellen Gable Hrkach
award-winning author
In Name Only

I have just spent the weekend reading The Mystery of Things and like others here have said, I really could not put it down. I had to know what was going to happen and who was going to be the dragon.

The author does a very good job with planting clues, creating suspense, and the plotting is excellent. The characters are flawed like real people, and the symbolism of our sins creating a dragon that comes back to haunt us was tremendously thought-provoking.

Having grown up in Milwaukee, lived both on the East Side and in suburban Germantown, and visited Holy Hill, I loved reading about the place and descriptions that I was familiar with; that was an added bonus. But, it would have been a good novel, even without that familiarity.

A page-turner for sure. I recommend this for a long weekend when you really just want to read, read, read. You will not be disappointed.

This is a very difficult book for me to review as the author very kindly sent me her book. I was raised Methodist, but have a fairly decent understanding of Catholicism, and I do have a great love of Shakespeare, so I don't think that's it. But I read this as a mystery, and that's where I had a problem. The story starts out with a death and there is a second death, but they almost seemed incidental to the story. I often comment on lack of character development; that wasn't a problem here. I like good development, but I didn't need ~38 pages of it. James struck me as immature; his juvenile recitation of previous lovers when sexually rejected by Lupe, his girlfriend, almost made this a DNF. I loved the elements of Shakespeare's work. I felt excluded by the lack of translation of the Latin. By the time the story circled back to the mystery of the deaths, I had nearly given up. There is a good, story here which I'd probably have enjoyed with some very strong editing. Conversely, I have a friend who would love all the detail and relish looking up every Latin phrase. It just didn't work for me. But this is purely my opinion.