The Bishop at Sea

Blackie Ryan #9

by Andrew M. Greeley

Bishop Blackie Ryan is feeling a little out of place on an aircraft carrier on duty hundreds of miles from land, but he must investigate the disappearance of several crewmembers and the discovery of a dead officer.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

407 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1997

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

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Finally Andrew Greeley's Chicago Irish priest grates on my ears. Read about 20 pages and just gave up. I can get this shelf of "to be read" books off of my shelf.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book at a Used Book Sale at my local library and I got it to read on an airplane trip.
It's very light and somewhat absorbing but if you aren't Catholic, you probably won't appreciate as much as if you were. You will know more about aircraft carriers than you did before you read it.
I can see how people would like to read the Bishop Blackie books but I doubt that I would read another unless someone gave one to me and I was traveling and wanted something very light.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am growing quite fond ot the self-effacing little auxiliary bishop of the coke-bottle glasses and the one-word responses. This time the solver of locked-room mysteries is doing so on an aircraft carrier with 3000+ "spaces," rooms.
A very enjoyable and laudable book.
Arguably.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A good old fashioned mystery set on an AirCraft Carrier off the Coast of California. A modern Navy with a mix . Bishop Blackie Ryan is sent to help solve the mystery. We meet a mix of characters both good and bad. A very readable book with a lot of action.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining read (nice light reading after finishing 1999 in the Irish century series).

[Evelyn Harvill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best so far! Bishop Blackie is in fine form!

[Jeff Clausen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the storylines run low in Chicago, let’s send Blackie to sea for some sleuthing. He gets hooked up with a big naval vessel, actually the biggest, an aircraft carrier, and so the possibilities on a boat with 6,000 people are many. I picked up a lot about the Navy here, and will take the author’s word that it is accurate. And then there’s the detective part, which we must believe is true, or at least true to the fictional Father. He still has a very sharp eye for the ladies and that is a good diversion from the ornery navy men. Sometimes Blackie encounters spirits that are nasty and evil, and this volume promises more of that, with a twist at the end that will pleasantly surprise.

[Cathie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I think it's one of his best. It kept my interest. The storyline and plot was excellent. The characters were well developed. Couldn't put the book down. Some suspense. Highly recommend.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

#9 in the Blackie Ryan mystery series, The Bishop At Sea is set in modern times on an aircraft carrier out of San Diego CA. Blackie has been sent by Cardinal Cronin to solve a 'locked room mystery' on board the ship. A mentally disturbed executive officer assigned to the ship had caused trouble for months, then mysteriously disappeared along with a few supporters. It was assumed he had gone overboard due to foul play, and that together with ghostly sightings in women's quarters had the entire population of 6000 on edge. Cardinal Cronin's nephew was captain of the ship, and his career was in jeopardy due to the events, so the cardinal directed "See to it, Blackwood!"

As all Blackie Ryan books, this is is a joyous celebration of love and women along with an interesting puzzle. Blackie uses gentle wit and an unassuming manner to interview all ship officers and those terrorized by the missing officer. He quickly finds out what happened to the crew members who disappeared with the officer, which makes prior investigators look incompetent. Sabotage and a heroic rescue heighten the suspense. Blackie solves the case just in time to save lives.

[David Peters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another paperback mystery.

The vote is still out on this series for me until I try another one.

While the writing was tight the mystery was a little ambiguous. The hero pulled it all together out of the blue without a lot of warning. Plus the dialogue was very distinctive and I need to read a bit more of it to be sure if it is working.

So the final vote is wait and see.

But then again it fits my paperback requirement, so I might just keep reading the series for that alone. Andrew Greeley is quite prolific, so it will keep me going for awhile.

[Cynthia Grove · Rating 3 out of 5]

The inimitable Blackie as ever so really this should be 3.5 stars. The setting, on an aircraft carrier, was not something that appealed which is why I have not given it 4 stars; if you like that setting definitely 4 stars. This is the earliest one in the Blackie series that I've read and some of that shows. In later books the writing is surer and flows better - for me that is.
The story doesn't rest on but does include incidents of possible paranormal activity. Necessary to help account for the atmosphere on board but, again for me, not as well handled as in "The Bishop in the West Wing".

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cardinal Cronin's nephew has problem when 3 people go missing on his aircraft carrier. Blackie is sent to solve the mystery.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love the Blackie Ryan series!!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read. Patently.

[David Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this. Have read a number of Father Blackie mysteries. light reading. good read between some other things.

[Jim Hager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting style combining a murder mystery with religious wit and a little theology. Fascinating that he was also able to place the story on a naval ship.