Book Review: The Bishop in the West Wing

Reviewed By: Webspinner - RAM

The Bishop in the West Wing     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Andrew M. Greeley
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Religious Fiction
Series: Blackie Ryan # 13
Tom Doherty Associates; 2002; 255pp

"This story is a fantasy set in a future White House administration. All the characters in it are fictional. Even the two seemingly nonfictional characters, Bill Clinton and Rich Daley, are fictionalized versions of themselves. Its major premise is that the fanatic partisanship which marks contemporary America gets worse and that therefore the determination of a radical minority that no Democrat can legitimately serve as President increases." -- Andrew Greeley

No murder this time, but a series of puzzles confront Bishop Blackie Ryan in the White House. A poltergeist, a new presidency, and assassination attempts keep the Bishop busy

"The story line is fun for everyone except right wing Republicans and the so-called liberal "muckraking" press as Blackie looks for a more mundane solution to the poltergeist question. Father Greeley makes no bones about his feelings towards the previous president with an engaging amateur sleuth tale that Mr. Clinton and many other fans will enjoy." -- Harriet Klausner - I can't say it any better!

This is now my favorite Blackie Ryan novel - even surpassing "The Bishop at Sea"! More lighthearted, Father Greeley has managed to confirm once again that I am not alone in my perception - not only of faith, but politics. I startled people around me with "YES!" and laughter throughout the book.Oh, for the presidency he portrays! Father Greeley manages ro reconfirm my own non-Catholic faith with each book in the series and shares with me what an ideal Catholic Church could be.

Webspinner - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Webspinner - RAM