Customer Reviews

Relic of Time: The Rosary Chronicles

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

 

 

The McInerny wit and seemingly endless data base exhilarate. He is masterful in any venue, be it bloodless murders on the Notre Dame campus or exploring the mysteries and miracles of the Catholic Church and international governments. Really difficult to do anything but read when there is a new McInerny novel to lose one's self in. Relic of Time is the second in his "Rosary Chronicles" and I can't wait for the next one. McInerny is one of America's finest contemporary authors.

The Virgin Mary made a visit to a poor man in Mexico 500 years ago. This man was wearing a very special cloak that included a picture of the Holy Mother and roses. This garment has gone missing. In an attempt to uncover the truth, Vincent starts looking for clues. What he finds is a huge mass of lies that has been covered up for centuries.

I love a good conspiracy theory. Ralph is a talented writer that can capture an audience in the matter of seconds. This is a masterpiece.

This mystery fiction begins well, and is enticing in both topic and early writing. There is a major flaw, however: there are too many characters too soon in the unfolding of the story, in my opinion. One enters the world of the basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe and experiences high interest in both the original story and the folkloric faith of contemporary believers. The reader is upset by the crime, and feels empathy for the outrage of the people. This is wonderful.

Then it happens as with a blast. The unfolding tale is over-run with characters and sub-plots before the base story has sufficiently been created. In my reading experience I had a sense that the author knew his story, but became so excited about it that he lost his sense of audience which knows nothing. I found it akin to coming upon an event which has excited a group, but in the probe to find what has caused the excitement too many voices drown out the abitlity to discern the cause. Simply stated: it is unnecessarily hard to follow.

I am thoroughly disappointed. I wish the author, a fine scholar and mystery writer, had edited this tome-with- many-possibilities. There are many venues of high interest within this tale, but focus would have produced greater art, as well as information regarding this most unique Person and symbol of hope. The world of mystery fiction needs books like this, but of a far better flow and plot outline with fewer characters. I feel confident, based on the past, that the writer will improve his next volume.

Thomas Patrick Hull, Chicago

If possible I would give this book no stars.

I do dearly love the Father Dowling series. The Notre Dame series is hard to read.

But this book is totally impossible to read.

How many characters were introduced at the beginning? Way too many to even keep track of!! I had no idea through most of the first half of the book who was who and who belonged to whom. Even toward the last quarter, the relationships were confusing.

I am so very disappointed in Ralph McInerny. I did not read the first book in this series, not even realizing this was a series. And I darn sure won't go back and find it.

And the ending!! You've got this buildup for 300 pages, and then boom. It's over with one sentence. Nothing. So disappointing. And then the epilogues--STUPID. Wrap it up and leave the building. Just see how fast you can unwind the ridiculous previous 300 pages.

What a waste of a great writing talent.