Till Death [Audio Cassette]

William X. Kienzle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 19, 2000

(22nd in Father Koesler Mystery series)

Sixty-year-old Father Rick Casserly, the much loved pastor at St. William of Thierry church, and Lillian "Lil" Niedermier, the principal at nearby St. Enda's elementary school, share a common bond. They are secret lovers, driven into the closet by the Catholic Church's position on the marriage of its clergy. When troubled former nun, now reporter, Dora Riccardo sets her cap for Rick, the already complex state of affairs unfolds into a spiraling scenario that isn't resolved until someone is dead. Father Robert Koesler is the confidant who struggles to bring closure to a set of circumstances charged with forbidden love and tortured souls.

"Father Koesler's new and long-time fans will appreciate the twists, turns and explosive social issues that are the hallmark of this captivating series. " (B-O-T Editorial Review Board)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With 21 previous Father Koesler mysteries to Kienzle's credit, it might be hard to deny that the 22nd (following No Greater Love) belongs to the same genre. But while this latest follows familiar ground in exploring the still-widening rifts in the Church caused (or revealed) by Vatican II, it departs from form by not including a conventional crime. Years before, after leaving the Detroit parish of St. Ursula's, Fr. Robert Koesler established the St. Ursula Survivors Club, to help salve the wounds and heal the souls of those priests and nuns who served as assistants under the despotic Father Angelico, who is now dead but whose victims still suffer from psychic scars. Among the dwindling members of the club are Fr. Rick Casserly, a popular and socially conscious pastor; Lillian "Lil" Niedermier, a lay principal of a parochial school; and Dora Ricardo, a nun turned reporter. In defiance of official church policy, Father Rick and Lil carry on a secret affair. When Dora begins to take a romantic interest in Rick, matters become even more difficult. Only death can bring any resolution. Kienzle's characters usually serve didactic purposes, and here they demonstrate changes in love and marriage and the clergy. Unfortunately, these figures lack the substance to lift the story to tragedy, nor does the novel boast sufficient suspense to succeed as a mystery. Some of Kienzle's fans may appreciate his ability to illustrate issues that confound many American Roman Catholics, but most will find little to cheer. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“The real mystery of the novel is figuring out who this dead person is. The book’s prologue takes place at the grave of an unnamed person, whose life changed many others, beginning forty years earlier. The identity of the dead person is not revealed until the death finally occurs near the novel’s end.”
–Flint Journal

“Kienzle uses his considerable skill as a writer to take us deeply into the lives of each of the principal characters, bringing them alive with all their flaws and virtues. Kienzle’s intimate knowledge of the Catholic Church gives a rare behind-the-scenes look at some of the church’s most heated issues.”
–Knoxville News-Sentinel

“Kienzle has a good eye for detail and a good ear for dialogue. . . . Till Death is one of his best recent novels.”
–Star Press (Muncie, IN) --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Books on Tape, Inc. (April 19, 2000)
• ISBN-10: 0736650865
• ISBN-13: 978-0736650861
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,607,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Till Death - A Deathly Boring Experience, April 13, 2000

By 

GRACE M. REAGAN (Brewster, New York United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Till Death (Hardcover)

Till Death, the latest of William Kienzle's books, was truly a deathly boring experience. Till death is nothing more than a summary of current Catholic church law regarding the celibacy of priests and those who "Do" and "Don't". Kienzle is noted for his mysterious plots with a Catholic twist. The only mystery here was why the book was written in the first place. If this reader had wanted a disertation on the current theological view of pastoral life, a read of cannon law would have held more intrigue. Kienzle's characters were flat and predictable. Fr. Koesler, who has reached the status of a retired priest, has indeed retired his membership in the Sherlock Holmes fan club. I'm sure that even his coffee was far more potent and enjoyable than this book. This avid Kienzle reader is EXTREMELY disappointed in his latest offering. Maybe Kienzle should have retired his word processor when Fr. Koesler retired from St. Joe's.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Like sitting through a long, dull sermon, April 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Till Death (Hardcover)

Im not quite done this book yet (about 1/2 through) but so far it's pretty bad. I've stopped expecting a good mystery from Kienzle since the mid-80s but still enjoyed his books as character studies. His earlier books were mostly good mysteries with interesting comments about the Catholic Church. This one reads like a religous text book with no mystery in sight. I will finish the book (though it won't be easy)...hopefully the next Kienzle book will be more like his earlier work. This series has been steadily declining since the mid-90s and with this latest book i think it's hit bottom.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Review, April 18, 2000

By 

S. Juleen (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Till Death (Hardcover)

I would like to nominate Ms. Regan for 5 stars for her steller review of Kienzle's new book, "Till Death." Ms. Regan, with wit and insight, enlightens us quite rightly about how disappointing Kienzle's new book is. Fr. Koesler who is retired at 70 needs to spend some time with Sr. Mary Helen in San Francisco. The change would do him good and he might learn something from the retired sister of crime. Ms. Regan however, did fail to mention that the publisher Andrews McNeill has given us the worst quality of book imaginable. It practically falls apart when you first open it. Kienzle should be ashamed to have his name placed on a book of such poor quality.