Assault with Intent

Father Koesler #4

by William X. Kienzle

Four rather clumsy assassins stalk the seminaries of Detroit. So far only luck stopped them from killing a priest. But time is running short, and murder lies within their vicious grasp. Who's behind this quarter of killers? An angry seminarian? A fanatical leader of an arch-conservative Catholic society? Another priest? Keen-witted Father Koesler, clerical sleuth extraordinaire, had better find the answer soon. Because he's next on the killers' list.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Religion

273 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

William X. Kienzle was born in Detroit, Michigan. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1954 and spent twenty years as a Roman Catholic parish priest. Kienzle left the priesthood in 1974 because of his disagreement with its refusal to remarry divorcees. He became an editor of MPLS Magazine in Minneapolis, later moving to Texas where he was director of the Center for Contemplative Studies at the University of Dallas.

He was married to Javan Herman Andrews, a journalist from the Detroit Free Press, from 1974 until his sudden death from a heart attack on December 28, 2001.

Kienzle was the author of twenty-four crime fiction/mystery novels featuring Father Robert Koesler, a Catholic priest who doubles as a detective. One of his best known novels is his first, The Rosary Murders (1978), which was made into a 1987 movie starring Donald Sutherland as Father Koesler. Kienzle's books are set mostly in Detroit, Michigan.

His biography, Judged by Love, by Javan Kienzle, was published in 2003.

Reviews

[iasa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm usually a sucker for a novel with clergy sleuths and I've enjoyed the previous Father Koesler books I've read, but this installment just didn't do it for me. There were repetitive portions but I think the biggest problem for me was the amount of time spent with the villains and the reporters. Probably just not in the right mood for this one.

[Midu Hadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick-look at the Book
This one was when they were shooting a movie at the seminary, and unknown to all those involved, four would-be murderers have their own plans. The meetings those murderers held had me giggling. They were just so clumsy!

Thoughts on this Series
This is a nice enough cozy mystery series. The central character is Father Koesler who by no actions of his own--mostly--keeps tripping over murdered people and getting roped into police investigations.

While the characterization and motivation behind each suspect are well-described, there can be often too many POVs or too many details that detract from the action.

That said, the author repeatedly hits you over the head with the same details about priesthood and religion. If you can bear with that, and are okay with the protagonist arriving at the euphoria! moment while in the bathtub or car or...you get what I mean...read on.

My advice? Space em out. Or, they start to become a blob (Lily & Marshal style).

Review of Book 5 here

[Stewart Sternberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read several Kindle novels, and this is the first that never seemed to end. The whimsy didn't work, the mystery dragged until I didn't care any longer. Maybe I need to be Catholic to be entertained by this, but I think a book like this should stand apart and reach a broad audience.

[Joan Horkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as Kienzle's other books. Too much going on.

[Bobbie N · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the fourth of the series, a plot to kill priests teaching in Detroit's seminaries is uncovered.

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

HB-B @ 1982, 7/83. Four clumsy assassins in Detroit seminaries. Good.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow. I'd read a little, then put it down. Not exactly a satisfying ending, imo.