The Bishop at the Lake

Blackie Ryan #16

by Andrew M. Greeley

Matters of succession lead to attempted murder in the latest of Greeley's popular mysteries.

Archbishop Malachi Nolan has designs on the Diocese of Chicago despite the fact the Most Reverend Blackwood Ryan, himself recently appointed an archbishop, is currently in line for the post. Assigned to keep watch on his rival, Blackie travels to the Nolan family estate in Grand Banks, where he soon finds himself immersed in an entirely different dynastic struggle.

Spike Nolan, founder of Aviation Electronics, isn't even dead yet, but his children, grandchildren, and their respective spouses are already feuding over who will inherit control of the multimillion-dollar company. The only family member who doesn't have a stake in the quarrel is the clerical Malachi . . . so why is he the one targeted by an unknown killer?

To get to the bottom of the mystery, Blackie will have to sort through the tangled family dynamics of this highly dysfunctional clan, as well as figure how out his fellow archbishop was nearly stung to death by hornets inside a locked room!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Romance, Novels, Crime

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Andrew Greeley was a Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist, and author of 50 best-selling novels and more than 100 works of nonfiction. For decades, Greeley entertained readers with such popular characters as the mystery-solving priest Blackie Ryan and the fey, amateur sleuth Nuala Anne McGrail. His books typically center on Irish-American Roman Catholics living or working in Chicago.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...

Reviews

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Early in the book I've already decided "who done it". Will I be right? Doubt it. Gonna like this book as always! I wish Blackie Ryan was real, and could be cloned. Should be at least one in every good size town or city.
Went back and forth so it was a very good book.

[J. Ewbank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good story by Andrew Greeley. Like his work and this is one of the better ones. The story and characters are good, seem real. Typical Greeley and I loved it.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

[Harry Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle mystery, one of Greeley's better efforts. The plot is fairly straitforward, the novel's strength is the cast of characters, the touch of romance and, of course, the Bishop's inimitable running commentary.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic August lawn chair read. A little romance, a little mystery, a little water skiing on Lake Michigan. I'd recommend it. Not deep, but who wants that in August?

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read any Andrew Greeley books in many years but this Blackie Ryan mystery was a delight. The Murphy-Ryan compound in the dunes of Lake Michigan in August is all about jet skiing, family gatherings, barbecues, and ice cream. But Archbishop John Blackwood "Blackie" Ryan isn't on vacation he's there to spy on another bishop who is making trouble by spreading gossip.

Good theology, a delightful Irish American family, a locked door, and a bizarre attempter murder.

No sex
No violence

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Robert Lariviere · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good read in an entertaining series.

[Cynthia Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting story. Even on a third reading it was hard to remember who did it and why. Excellent observations about people.

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bishop at the Lake is a cute mystery with dark overtones. Greeley manages to light dark corners of spousal and child abuse, sibling rivalry, unconscionable government actions, and injustices resulting from officious policing. Since we rarely see a day go by without references to such things in the news, The Bishop at the Lake tolls a warning that is still topical years after Greeley’s death. The Bishop at the Lake begins with ecclesiastical intrigue and ends with a less formal, but potentially more damaging conspiracy. And, while The Bishop at the Lake is not a thriller in the sense of a clocking ticking behind the pacing of the story, there is a certain amount of foreboding telegraphed to the leader at various points in the book.

As opposed to some of the “Blackie Ryan” novels where the good bishop deliberately chooses the female pronoun for God through most of the book, Greeley balances the divine pronouns in this book. Not being a Catholic, but being involved in Christian ministry, I rather enjoyed two observations that Greeley placed in the fecund brain of Blackie Ryan. First, when the cleric was reflecting on the different congregations that he served, he noted: “Each Eucharist had to be drastically different from the others because they were drastically different congregations. The same story, however, would suffice for all of them. That’s the advantage of stories and that’s why Jesus told parables.” (p. 199)

A few pages later, the same character lamented the amount of time the Irish church had avoided singing in the liturgy and reckoned that it would take a few generations to get them back up to speed. “It will take a couple of generations before we can do it with the enthusiasm generated by the Methodists, the Episcopalians, or the Baptists or other such congregations bring to their singing. I think we should hire Southern Baptists to teach us how to sing gospel music in church.” (p. 203)

The Bishop at the Lake, like most good mysteries, has multiple layers. There is a locked room mystery that is supposed to be the main event, a mystery identity, and a puzzling background to go with the ecclesiastical conspiracy, the murder, and the romantic narrative being carried away on the undertow of the unfortunate events. I personally wasn’t thrilled with Greeley’s use of documents within the narrative as exposition. There were too many and, in my opinion, many of those were far to long to keep up pacing (or even interest). Frankly, I’ll never turn down a “Blackie Ryan” mystery, but this one simply wasn’t one of the late Father Greeley’s best.

[Penny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read a number of this series a number of years ago, and then found this one on a giveaway library shelf during the Coranavirus pandemic and decided to pick it up. Honestly, I should probably have let it stay there. The mystery isn't that much of a mystery - there are other parts of this book that are more mysterious. The author only seems to be able to distinguish the voice of his young people from their elders by sprinkling their speech with like totally all the vocal fillers you can think of, you know. And these are Notre Dame educated young people, not Valley girls.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I had a better solution to the locked room mystery.
But I may have to seek out the rest of the mysteries by this author.
It may be true that he "never had a thought that he didn't publish." Those thoughts are wrapped in wit and charm and humor and fairly happy endings. If they also enclose a mystery, I will happily read them.

[Ted Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vacation in New Buffalo, MI? Not so fast. Bishop Ryan has to intervene in a family dispute, attempted murder and ultimately serve as a spiritual advisor to a Notre Dame alumnus. Lots of action and intrigue in this entertaining Blackie Ryan mystery. Another Andrew Greeley winner!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blackie is at the Ryan family compound at Lake Michigan. He gets involved in an attempted murder of another bishop who is spending time at his family's compound on the lake. He solves the mystery but not before another attempt is made on the life of a second member of the Nolan clan.

[Helene]

A little repetitive, but because it was written a while ago, well what can you do?

[Sandra Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

[Cathie Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book. The plot and the storyline were interesting. Some twists and turns. Characters were well developed. Lots of good Irish humor. Recommend.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I personally am very fond of Andrew Greeley's books (he's my favorite author) and I am especialy fond of the Blackie Ryan stories.

This time, Blackie is sent to Spike Nolan's lavish estate in Grand Beach. Initially, he's sent to keep an eye on Archbishop Malachi Nolan, Cardinal Sean Cronin's rival and Spike's son.

The Nolan family is in a feud over who will inherit control of Spike's multi-million dollar company, Aviation Electronics. Archbishop Nolan is the only family member present who has no stake in this quarrel -- but he is the target of an attempted murder when he is nearly stung to death by hornets in a locked room. (The Archbishop is deathly allergic to the stings.)

Greeley weaves another story for Blackie in which love and redemption bring us to the answer.

[Mascanlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always I enjoyed my visit with the fabulous Ryan clan. This is Blackie Ryan story. He is of course the archbishop of Chicago (administrative duties) and the titular head of a large Irish catholic clan. He is also terrific at figuring the mysteries the family runs into along the way. A good read and I love meeting characters along the way as the grow and their lives change.
And on a side note...this book completes my 50 book challenge for 2008....the first week in August! Yea me!! So now I'll just read away and see how close I get to 100 for the year.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy reading, but fun book. An archbishop from a parish in
Chicago was at his family's summer home at Lake Michigan when it appeared that someone tried to kill another bishop who was visiting his dysfunctional family down the beach. Of course he immediately started his own investigation even though the local police and state police were called in. Lots of twists and turns and family members ganging up on the one young lady that seemed to be the only decent percent.

[Denise Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Classic Greeley and Blackie. I read it mostly because it was set in Michigan. His characters are always the same - the good people are oh-so-wondrous (the heroine worries that she forgives too easily), the bad people are ignorant, immature or mentally ill. And, "patently", people just don't talk like he writes dialog. I guess I read them for their uniqueness, but that does not necessarily mean they are good.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these characters and the story. I don't know why because the writing, although entertaining, is repetitious. Reminds me of my mom who repeats things all the time. Without the unnecessary, redundant and boring summary police reports, it would have been a snappy story. But I'm reading more Greeley right now.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Blackie Ryan series and feel this is one of the better ones. It had mystery, romance, and all sorts of conflict and misunderstanding, mixed in with a few delightful people who cared about one another. Very good read!

[Darlene Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Fr Greely's sense of humour. I haven't read one his books for a length of time -- was pleased to see he alludes to characters in other series, other books. Very enjoyable read!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Father Greeley since the "Cardinal Sins". The Blackie Ryan series is my favorite and this about a disfunctioal, rich Irish family is no exception.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoy this series!

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another "locked room" mystery with Bishop "Blackie". Always a good read - part mystery and part homily.

[Janie · Rating 2 out of 5]

So so mystery.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bishop Blackie #16

[Abbie Watters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another in the continuing saga of the little Bishop of Chicago. Typical Andrew Greeley (and that's all to the good).

[Cyril · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than some of the Bishop Ryan books - not quite as much RC theology.