Book Review: The Bishop Goes to the University

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Bishop Goes to the University     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Andrew M. Greeley
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Religious Fiction
Series: Blackie Ryan # 14
Forge, Oct 2003, $24.95, 256 pp.

Cardinal Sean Cronin sends Bishop Blackwood Ryan to investigate the locked door murder of Russian Brother Semyon Ivanivich Popov. The Cardinal is more concerned with the wardrobe the police found at the crime scene than who killed this instructor at the University. Apparently Brother Semyon had garbs that are only given to archbishops and cardinals and His Eminent Lordship Cronin sarcastically believes that Chicago does not need two cardinals.

Blackie visits the Divinity School and learns that when Brother Semyon was shot in his locked office only four other people, all professors, were in the building at the time. He questions the foursome to see what he can learn. However, instead of a simple homicide case, the espionage community, Russian and Italian mobsters, and the Vatican are tripping over one another doing their own inquiries. Blackie is warned off the case with bullets to emphasize the advice. If he fails to heed this expert advice, he will see his maker a lot sooner than he expected.

THE BISHOP GOES TO UNIVERSITY is an entertaining modern day Catholic Church who-done-it that quickly spins into a cloak and dagger thriller. The story line moves forward rather quickly even when Andrew Greeley deftly makes a left turn. The support cast is solid as each key participant enhances either the understanding of aspects of the Church or insight into Blackie, whose pride in his perfect crime solving record comes across a bit arrogant, making him humanly falling into one of the seven deadly sins. Readers will appreciate this well written Bishop Blackie tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner