Relic of Time

The Rosary Chronicles #2

by Ralph McInerny

When the Virgin's Cloak, a cloak marked with the image of the Holy Mother, is stolen, CIA operative Vincent Traeger, who has a history with the Vatican, comes out of retirement to retrieve the cloak, which pits him against longtime foes of the Church. Original.

Genres: Mystery

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 27, 2009

About the author

Ralph Matthew McInerny was an American Catholic religious scholar and fiction writer, including mysteries and science fiction. Some of his fiction has appeared under the pseudonyms of Harry Austin, Matthew FitzRalph, Ernan Mackey, Edward Mackin, and Monica Quill. As a mystery writer he is best known as the creator of Father Dowling. He was Professor of Philosophy, Director of the Jacques Maritain Center, and Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame until his retirement in June 2009. He died of esophageal cancer on January 29, 2010.

Reviews

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of started slowly for me. I probably should have read the first in the series first. It has an interesting conclusion. Worth it in the end. Traeger is a likable character.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 5 out of 5]

In an armed assault on the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City an American writer is killed and the image of the Virgin Mary as she appeared to Juan Diego is stolen. Catholics and others raise an uproar. When an American militant group leader claims responsibility for the act, Mexican civilians invade Arizona and Latinos in the US come to their aid against US militia groups. Vincent Traeger, a former CIA agent, is enlisted to find the image and return it. He then becomes the target of a manhunt. Numerous twists and turns occur in this novel.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Virgin Mary made a visit to a poor man in Mexico 500 years ago. This man was wearing a very special cloak that included a picture of the Holy Mother and roses. This garment has gone missing. In an attempt to uncover the truth, Vincent starts looking for clues. What he finds is a huge mass of lies that has been covered up for centuries.

I love a good conspiracy theory. Ralph is a talented writer that can capture an audience in the matter of seconds. This is a masterpiece.

[John Hanscom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the first, as less "preachy."