Happy Are Those Who Thirst for Justice

Blackie Ryan #3

by Andrew M. Greeley

A luxury yacht sailing the calm waters of Lake Michigan is the stage for bloody death when a wealthy dowager falls victim to a murderer's bullet. Father Blackie Ryan, clerical detective and Chicago's contemporary Father Brown, returns in his most complex and fascinating case.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

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

[David Freas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very slow to get going. Greeley spends most of the first 96 pages introducing the players, bringing the murder on-stage on page 65 and Blackie Ryan, his main character, in (briefly) on page 78. Blackie doesn’t take center stage until page 97. That’s far too late for both. Later novels in the series are much quicker off the mark.

This book has the same ‘telling a story around the dining room table’ tone and humorous asides that make Greeley’s books such a delightful read, but his voice is not as fully developed here as in later ones. That’s to be expected in an early entry in the series.

Greeley plants his clues fairly in the complex plot and only a careful reader will pick up on every one.

Since Greeley recently passed away and there will be no more new Blackie Ryan books, I’ll have to go back and read the many I haven’t read yet.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another entertaining mystery series by Andrew Greeley, Catholic priest. In this series, his detective/protagonist is also a priest and, as usual, is Irish and lives in Chicago. He writes well, his characters are always intriguing, and his plots are interesting. I like how he often writes from differing points-of-view when telling the story.
This third book in the Father Blackie Ryan series is the best one I've read of the ones I've been able to find. The plot is so twisted and the characters are so crazy, that it definitely makes for one truly fascinating mystery. I can definitely see where the author's study of sociology shows up in his characterization and plots.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dragged a bit. Greeley repeats phrases and thoughts but that is his style.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I remembered who the murderer was after the first chapter of this book, and I was wrong, so imagine my surprise at the ending! (I did remember one of the key reveals of the book, which misled me into thinking I remembered who did it).

Blackie’s internal monologue is always a pleasure, but the book is marred by having some takes on race and sexuality that were somewhat open-minded for the time but haven’t dated well at all (the takes on race were, I feel, more well-intentioned than the ones on sexuality).

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Blackie Ryan mysteries. Sometimes I get confused with all the family in & outs of the Ryan family and this book had as many twists and turn with the Victim's Family. Good read but you may have to refer to the "Dramatis Personae" often.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twelfth Blackie Ryan mystery I have reported on here.
Oustanding as usual.

[Holyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great mystery novel! I could not figure out who murdered whom until it all was revealed at the end of the book. In many ways Greeley's writing in this novel reminded me of an Agatha Christie mystery - many different characters, several possible motives and killers, all confined within a small span of time and space and with still more surprises at the end. If you want to read a great classical mystery, this is the book for you!

[C. John Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very intriguing book. Another locked-room mystery, this one aboard ship. The motives and identity of the culprit were a bit of a surprise for me. Mind you if I was aware of what goes on in yacht clubs part of the solution might have occurred to me. An intriguing mystery with some interesting characters. Well worth picking up. As usual Chicago's gift to the Roman Catholic Church comes through in the end to see justice done.

[Cws]

F Gre

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Greeley draws a person into his books. I feel like I am a part of everything that happens. Greeley creates characters that seem to be a part of your very own family.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Father Blackie Ryan Mystery - Locked room Rich old lady killed on her yacht. Granddaughter arrested.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of his books are good

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

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