Masquerade

Father Koesler #12

by William X. Kienzle

A rabbi, a nun, a monk, and an Episcopal priest - all mystery writers - have been invited to appear at Marygrove College to speak at a mystery writers' conference. Although different in denomination, they all have one thing in they loathe the featured speaker, the popular and sleazy televangelist, the Reverend Klaus Krieg. When murder suddenly smites the Reverend, the hateful faithful are prime suspects. Father Koesler, serving as consultant at the conference, throws himself into the investigation and discovers that, although being wrong isn't a sin, it could be murder... "Kienzle writes with his usual panache...One of Kienzle's best mysteries." (Grand Rapids Press)

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Religion, Novels

272 pages

First published March 1, 1990

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

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a murder mystery about a writing seminar where the speakers (all authors) are a monk, rabbi, nun and an Episcopalian priest, and a televangelist (of course, I was rooting for the televangelist to be the murder victim). In any case, lots of discussion about Vatican II and the differences between various Christian churches. Which I found tedious and boring, and skipped right over. I am more than happy to read a book w/a religious theme or that discusses religious issues, but the minutiae of Vatican II probably leaves even the most ardent Catholic bored to tears.

[Gail Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An old book that was fun to read.

[Midu Hadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick-look at the Book
A rabbi, a nun, a monk, and an Episcopal priest walk into a...mystery writers' conference. And then the televangelist they all love to hate is murdered. It's up to Koesler to find out who hated the man enough to off him!

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 13 here

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this series was a Roman Catholic priest for 20 years before becoming a mystery writer. The main character is a priest who is friends with a homicide detective in Detroit. Father Koesler finds himself injected into cases when religion is a component of the crime. In this book a rabbi, nun, Episcopal priest, and Trappist monk are asked to teach at a week long symposium about religious mystery books. Each is a mystery author. Father Koesler is not an author, but he is asked to help. Also scheduled to attend is a notorious televangelist who is a publisher. Each of the authors hates the publisher for very personal reasons. When a murder occurs at the symposium Father Koesler must help the police figure it out. I enjoyed this book. Father Koesler reflects on his faith and traditions as he looks for clues.

[Chana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an OK murder mystery, it had a few bright moments but mostly it sat in mediocrity. I heard more about Catholicism than I cared to know but that was to be expected as this mystery was written by an ex-priest. The worst of the writing was at the end when the author has two characters discussing the motives, crime and results for a very boring 11 pages.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a quick read with an interesting, if altogether too predictable plot. I figured out the major plot by the first chapter. No surprises or twists. However, his writing was pleasant enough to get me through the tediousness that is flying for 15 hours in an economy seat.

[Joann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed explanations about different religions while wondering "who done it"..

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I had to skim most of this. This book sounded very interesting, and turned out to be a major bummer.
Bummmmmmerrrrrrrrr

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

HB-B F@ 1990, 4/95. Murder at Marygrove College among the religious. Okay.