The Bishop in the Old Neighborhood A Blackie Ryan Story (15th in the Series) by Andrew M Greeley Reviews

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From ">Booklist
The indefatigable Greeley never runs out of mysteries for the perspicacious Bishop Blackie Ryan to solve. As both the author and Bishop Blackie age gracefully, more and more of the puzzles seem to be rooted in an idealized version of the tight-knit Irish American neighborhoods that characterized midcentury Chicago. This time around, Blackie races against the clock to expose the psychopath who is threatening the literal and figurative contemporary resurrection and gentrification of St. Lucy's Parish by charismatic Monsignor Mikal Wolodyjowski. What connects the three mutilated bodies discovered in St. Lucy's sanctuary to six teenagers killed in a tragic automobile accident 60 years earlier? It's up to Bishop Blackie, with the able assistance of assorted Wabash Street Irregulars and his own long-dead father, to connect the dots between then and now. Of course, it wouldn't be a Greeley novel without a little romance thrown in for good measure; this one features a hopelessly idealistic South Side Irish cop and a gorgeous Sicilian district attorney. Greeley conjures up equal portions of fun and suspense with typical effortless aplomb. Margaret Flanagan
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From Publishers Weekly
The first half of Greeley's fifth Bishop Blackie Ryan book (after 2003's The Bishop Goes to the University) drags a bit, but the pace picks up when Blackie starts digging into the past of Father Mikal Wolodyjowski, the charismatic priest at St. Lucy's, a Chicago church where three corpses have turned up in the sanctuary. Blackie discovers that Wolodyjowski was peripherally involved with the odd deaths of six college kids 60 years earlier, a mystery that proves to be more engaging than the initial deaths at St. Lucy's. Unfortunately, the novel's other main subplot—the blossoming romance between a cop and a lawyer—borders on the far-fetched. The pace, melodrama and gravitas with which young love blooms will strike any reader under 40 as laughable. And Greeley spends too much time musing on the tensions that separate Polish, Irish and Italian Catholics from one another. Still, Blackie, with his quick wit and his fondness for Bushmill's, is his usual delightful self, and his many fans will enjoy this sojourn in the old neighborhood.
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“Father Greeley always succeeds at penning a fascinating tale, complete with ripe moments of humor and a touch of romance.”--Romantic Times Bookclub on The Bishop Goes to The University

“Greeley interweaves both spiritual and educational topics into another supremely entertaining adventure.”--Booklist on The Bishop Goes to The University

“Blackie once again proves to be a loyal friend, a formidable foe, and a gifted spiritual advisor. An entertaining romp through the West Wing.”--Booklist on The Bishop in the West Wing

“Will delight Greeley fans because it follows his near-perfect formula of adventure and amusement, mystery and mastery of the English language. Enjoy this one--The Bishop in the West Wing is a winner”--Star Newspapers

“Fun is the word for bestseller Greeley’s latest, lively Bishop Blackie Ryan thriller....[Readers] will appreciate the well-drawn characters, swift action, and logical resolution.”--Publishers Weekly on The Bishop in the West Wing

“It’s an especially enjoyable tale for a mystery fan on a hot day when murder is just too heavy to deal with and a poltergeist’s antics can be just the thing.”--Abilene Reporter-News on The Bishop in the West Wing

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