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Blackie Ryan #15
The Bishop in the Old Neighborhood
"Blackwood, there's trouble in the old neighborhood! Murder in the sanctuary of the Church!"
The church in question is St. Lucy's, a humble edifice at the heart of a venerable Chicago neighborhood now suffering the throes of gentrification. St. Lucy's has long stood as a bulwark against evil and change, which some in the community have often seen as much the same thing.
Now three dead bodies have been left in the sanctuary, stripped, mutilated, and shot through the head, execution-style. A warning to those who would remake the neighborhood---or to St. Lucy's charismatic monsignor, who has made a few enemies of his own?
Dispatched by his cardinal to investigate, Bishop "Blackie" Ryan fears that the atrocious murders are only the beginning of a campaign of terror directed at this particular church. But to solve the mystery, and to banish the evil gathering over the community, Blackie will need an unexpected assist from his own long-dead father, as well as the help of Declan O'Donnell, a savvy young cop with a touch of the second sight, and of Camilla Datilo, a radiant assistant state's attorney of Sicilian origins.
The Bishop in the Old Neighborhood is another charming and compelling page-turner by bestselling author Andrew M. Greeley.
The church in question is St. Lucy's, a humble edifice at the heart of a venerable Chicago neighborhood now suffering the throes of gentrification. St. Lucy's has long stood as a bulwark against evil and change, which some in the community have often seen as much the same thing.
Now three dead bodies have been left in the sanctuary, stripped, mutilated, and shot through the head, execution-style. A warning to those who would remake the neighborhood---or to St. Lucy's charismatic monsignor, who has made a few enemies of his own?
Dispatched by his cardinal to investigate, Bishop "Blackie" Ryan fears that the atrocious murders are only the beginning of a campaign of terror directed at this particular church. But to solve the mystery, and to banish the evil gathering over the community, Blackie will need an unexpected assist from his own long-dead father, as well as the help of Declan O'Donnell, a savvy young cop with a touch of the second sight, and of Camilla Datilo, a radiant assistant state's attorney of Sicilian origins.
The Bishop in the Old Neighborhood is another charming and compelling page-turner by bestselling author Andrew M. Greeley.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Andrew M. Greeley
381 books319 followersAndrew 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...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 3, 2010
Excellent mystery sprinkled with love and grace.
August 18, 2020
Darker. Not as much fun in it is as other Blackie books.
December 19, 2020
A thoroughly enjoyable book which is why I have just re-read it. Even the thoroughly unpleasant murders are dealt with very quickly and not dwelt upon.
Greeley's stories always contain an element of the best sort of sermon. They point out the good things in life and good behaviour, especially as seen in counterpoint to the ugly.
There is a great deal of depth in these books which can be picked up by the attentive reader. In every book there is something to learn about life; nuggets of information that can be easily overlooked in following the narrative but can deepen one's appreciation of human life.
And just as a by-the-way the picture of Pablo, his wife, family and their ethos is a gem though very brief.
Greeley's stories always contain an element of the best sort of sermon. They point out the good things in life and good behaviour, especially as seen in counterpoint to the ugly.
There is a great deal of depth in these books which can be picked up by the attentive reader. In every book there is something to learn about life; nuggets of information that can be easily overlooked in following the narrative but can deepen one's appreciation of human life.
And just as a by-the-way the picture of Pablo, his wife, family and their ethos is a gem though very brief.
March 6, 2015
First, let me say that I like the Blackie Ryan books. They are entertaining and have twists and turns. This book was not one of his best, but still worth reading.
October 16, 2018
One of the best in an interesting series.
February 19, 2019
Greeley did a good job of developing characters and creating a very believable story line.
July 30, 2025
I enjoy Blackie. I love following is internal dialogue. His thoughts veer unexpectedly making associations that are sometimes useful in developing his solution to the mystery. Other times they make associations that are surprising and hysterically funny. This book we uncover much more than usual how his mind works and how he can wind his way through the different threads that pull the story together.
Two other characters share their own internal dialogues as they are drawn together romantically and still have their own streams of consciousness about the revelation of facts they uncover in the mystery.
My own stream of consciousness is much like Blacky’s so I immediately follow his line of thought. I wish I could quip back at him. We would be good friends.
The mystery itself is a very tangled web of horrible murders, continued threats of more and even an older unsolved murder that had direct bearing on the more modern one. Everything is interwoven with local politics, church politics and cultural politics involving Irish and Mediterranean Catholics, black and Hispanic cultures integrated into the congregation/ school and surrounding neighborhoods. It’s a really good read for mystery fans and for people who enjoy political intrigued.
Why have none of the Blackie stories been picked up by television networks or streaming sites? These are tailor-made for the screen, large or small.
Two other characters share their own internal dialogues as they are drawn together romantically and still have their own streams of consciousness about the revelation of facts they uncover in the mystery.
My own stream of consciousness is much like Blacky’s so I immediately follow his line of thought. I wish I could quip back at him. We would be good friends.
The mystery itself is a very tangled web of horrible murders, continued threats of more and even an older unsolved murder that had direct bearing on the more modern one. Everything is interwoven with local politics, church politics and cultural politics involving Irish and Mediterranean Catholics, black and Hispanic cultures integrated into the congregation/ school and surrounding neighborhoods. It’s a really good read for mystery fans and for people who enjoy political intrigued.
Why have none of the Blackie stories been picked up by television networks or streaming sites? These are tailor-made for the screen, large or small.
May 29, 2022
In the past I have enjoyed books by this author but this one relied too much on the writers “formula” and too much attention was spent on Bishop Blackie being amusing and on a love story and not enough on the development of the mystery The book is also rife with ethnic stereotypes and the presentation of the Asian captain was very insulting. I kept reading because I wanted to see how the mystery was solved but even the solution did not salvage this book.
October 10, 2017
"What is it that Sean (the Cardinal, his boss) says of you?"
"Sometimes in error, never in doubt?"
"No, his other mantra."
"Thank God, Blackwood, you are on our side."
"See to it, Blackie!" says the Cardinal.
And Blackie does.
April 4, 2020
This series is not for me. I don't understand many of the references (and don't care), couldn't keep the characters straight (and don't care) and just plain didn't enjoy what I read. So i didn't finish.
November 1, 2024
Very good book. It's always interesting to read about the Irish in Chicago. Great set of characters. Plot and storyline was good, though at times it was easy to get confused. But in the end, the plot was easy to follow and understand. Highly recommend.
December 4, 2017
Lots of local neighborhood color.
August 19, 2019
Such a good book. A mystery, a bit of romance, good guys and bad guys, Chicago with its warts, great characters, the Roman Catholic church, and often some good theology.
December 10, 2019
An enjoyable read. It brought back memories of home and familiar places.
January 28, 2024
Bishop Blackie are great mysteries. This one was hard to decipher the killer. Not till the very end.
January 5, 2016
Finished reading … The Bishop in the Old Neighborhood / Andrew M. Greeley … 05 Jan.2016
ISBN 10: 0765342359
ISBN 13: 9780765342355
Non-stop action: murder in a church, Catholic bishops and priests, gangs in the neighborhood, tragedy from 60 years ago, secret agents, a hint of police corruption, lots of guns, romance – something for almost everybody.
Who wanted to stop the reintegration - white Americans returning to a neighborhood they had fled when African-Americans started moving in decades before? Why was it focussed on St Lucy's church and school?
This wasn't a bad story, an intricately involved plot that saw the good guys win and some bad guys live to fight another day. It was tightly written, leaving barely a moment for characters or reader to draw breath.
I liked this well enough but lots of guns always put me off quite a bit.
Book loaned to me by a friend who loves this author whom I knew and liked from his sociological writings.
April 16, 2014
The Bishop in the Old Neighborhood: A Bishop Blackie Ryan Novel
By Andrew M. Greely
Bishop "Blackie" Ryan is called to investigate three dead (murdered) bodies found inside of St. Lucy's Church. With the assistance of police officer Declan O'Donnell they have to dig deep to get to the bottom of this crime. Secrets surface and surprises arise while the try to solve these murders.
I have read all of the "Blackie" Ryan books by Mr. Greely. I really like Blackie, he is not the ordinary priest, he has character and is more like an average person than a priest. I also enjoyed the setting (Chicago). Although fictitiously used, the streets and neighborhoods reminded me of my childhood growing up in Chicago.
I liked this story but, I felt there was more back story than crime investigation. I do recommend to those who like a cozy murder mysteries, with a touch of romance and religion.
By Andrew M. Greely
Bishop "Blackie" Ryan is called to investigate three dead (murdered) bodies found inside of St. Lucy's Church. With the assistance of police officer Declan O'Donnell they have to dig deep to get to the bottom of this crime. Secrets surface and surprises arise while the try to solve these murders.
I have read all of the "Blackie" Ryan books by Mr. Greely. I really like Blackie, he is not the ordinary priest, he has character and is more like an average person than a priest. I also enjoyed the setting (Chicago). Although fictitiously used, the streets and neighborhoods reminded me of my childhood growing up in Chicago.
I liked this story but, I felt there was more back story than crime investigation. I do recommend to those who like a cozy murder mysteries, with a touch of romance and religion.
February 1, 2009
I choose this book only as a start point. Any of 'The Bishop' books prove to be not only a light 'who-done-it', but more to the point they reveal the author as a compassionate, funny orator. Read one of them that includes the 'The Marriage' story - it's great (example is the Bishop in Andalusia).
July 12, 2009
Blackie Ryan #15
October 6, 2011
Bishop Blaclie Ryan is sent by the cardinal to investigate murders at a church in the neighborhood he grew up in.
July 28, 2011
Ok story line, but it took me awhile to decipher how the chapter titles were different characters. Not really what I like to read.
August 6, 2016
love Bishop Blackie, love the Chicago setting where I went to college, too bad Andrew Greeley is in poor health, wish there were more locked room mysteries to come :(
January 25, 2012
This book was slow to capture my interest....but I still enjoyed it.
February 7, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I think I say that a lot. I rarely find a book I don't like. And I'd like to find more of this series.
August 18, 2020
Not bad. Again, good beach read.
July 24, 2010
Blackie must solve another locked door mystery connected to a 60 year old murder.
February 20, 2013
A good read. I was born and raised in Chicago, so it is like visiting home for me.
September 29, 2015
mystery, good
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December 21, 2017started 12/17/2017 finished 12/19/17.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews