Rating: 
Summary: Another Winning Bishop Blackie Novel
Review: "The Bishop And The Beggar Girl Of St. Germain" by Fr. Andrew M. Greeley, Audio book Version narrated by George Guidall. Recorded Books Productions, New York 2001.The author, Fr. Andrew Greeley, moves the venue for this Bishop Blackie mystery to Paris, and it seems that he certainly knows Paris: at least the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the subway system, many subway stops and the little bistros on the Left Bank. Using this as backdrop, Fr. Greeley has Bishop John Blackwood Ryan accompany his Cardinal, Sean Cronin, of Chicago, to Paris, where Bishop Blackie is impressed as a detective in the service of the local cardinal. "Blackie" is requested to find the young television priest, Jean-Claude, who had disappeared during a TV shoot in the 3rd Century basement of Notre Dame. Needing an interpreter, Bishop Blackie "stumbles" on Marie-Bernadette, an accomplished musician who is begging outside the Church of St. Germain. Greeley's fascination with thing Celtic (pronounced as KEL-tik) means that Marie-Bernadette's accomplishments are in Celtic music, whether from the Celtic region of France or the Basque region of Spain, or, of course, from Scotland and Ireland. This makes a nice little sub-plot, with Bishop Blackie officiating at Marie-Bernadette's marriage at the end of the book. Of course, Blackie solves the mystery of the disappearance of the television evangelist priest, Jean-Claude, and while doing so, Author Greeley comments on the loneliness of the celibate clergy, their trials and temptations. I couldn't help wondering if there was some autobiographical issues buried in those comments. The story's main plot had a nice little twist that I should have been able to catch earlier than I did! Narrator George Guidall was again excellent. I have listened to him as the voice of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee in the Tony Hillerman mysteries, and it is amazing how Mr. Guidall can range from "flat" Navajo tone in those books to an excited French accent for the exalted cardinal of Paris in this book. I enjoyed the book and listening to Mr. Guidall as I commuted on I-495, the ring road around Boston... Five Stars.
Rating:
Summary: Another Winning Bishop Blackie Novel
Review: "The Bishop And The Beggar Girl Of St. Germain" by Fr. Andrew M. Greeley, Audio book Version narrated by George Guidall. Recorded Books Productions, New York 2001. The author, Fr. Andrew Greeley, moves the venue for this Bishop Blackie mystery to Paris, and it seems that he certainly knows Paris: at least the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the subway system, many subway stops and the little bistros on the Left Bank. Using this as backdrop, Fr. Greeley has Bishop John Blackwood Ryan accompany his Cardinal, Sean Cronin, of Chicago, to Paris, where Bishop Blackie is impressed as a detective in the service of the local cardinal. "Blackie" is requested to find the young television priest, Jean-Claude, who had disappeared during a TV shoot in the 3rd Century basement of Notre Dame. Needing an interpreter, Bishop Blackie "stumbles" on Marie-Bernadette, an accomplished musician who is begging outside the Church of St. Germain. Greeley's fascination with thing Celtic (pronounced as KEL-tik) means that Marie-Bernadette's accomplishments are in Celtic music, whether from the Celtic region of France or the Basque region of Spain, or, of course, from Scotland and Ireland. This makes a nice little sub-plot, with Bishop Blackie officiating at Marie-Bernadette's marriage at the end of the book. Of course, Blackie solves the mystery of the disappearance of the television evangelist priest, Jean-Claude, and while doing so, Author Greeley comments on the loneliness of the celibate clergy, their trials and temptations. I couldn't help wondering if there was some autobiographical issues buried in those comments. The story's main plot had a nice little twist that I should have been able to catch earlier than I did! Narrator George Guidall was again excellent. I have listened to him as the voice of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee in the Tony Hillerman mysteries, and it is amazing how Mr. Guidall can range from "flat" Navajo tone in those books to an excited French accent for the exalted cardinal of Paris in this book. I enjoyed the book and listening to Mr. Guidall as I commuted on I-495, the ring road around Boston... Five Stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Greeley is still challenging...
Review: and this novel makes for a neat twist on the "locked-room" mystery style that is Blackie Ryan's forte. One of the biggest problems an established author has with an on-going series is to make sure that the stories don't become too "formula," like the last couple of Bond films with Roger Moore did. Greeley avoids this with his Blackie Ryan novels by going for interesting locales...he takes Ryan out of Chicago without taking the Chicago out of the good bishop. So, without giving the story away (a sin for a reviewer of a mystery novel), suffice to say that Blackie Ryan has a wonderful time in Paris, with his boss, the more-than-formidable Sean Cardinal Cronin. My only major complaint is that the love-story-subplot in this novel is a bit formula. Greeley's descriptions of Paris are excellent, giving the reader a good feel for the neighborhoods and the metro without being a Fodor's book. _Beggar Girl_ doesn't tackle any serious hot-button issues of the modern Catholic Church, but the author still throws out tidbits that make those who are interested in church politics and such say "hmmmmmm."
Rating:
Summary: Greeley is still challenging...
Review: and this novel makes for a neat twist on the "locked-room" mystery style that is Blackie Ryan's forte. One of the biggest problems an established author has with an on-going series is to make sure that the stories don't become too "formula," like the last couple of Bond films with Roger Moore did. Greeley avoids this with his Blackie Ryan novels by going for interesting locales...he takes Ryan out of Chicago without taking the Chicago out of the good bishop. So, without giving the story away (a sin for a reviewer of a mystery novel), suffice to say that Blackie Ryan has a wonderful time in Paris, with his boss, the more-than-formidable Sean Cardinal Cronin. My only major complaint is that the love-story-subplot in this novel is a bit formula. Greeley's descriptions of Paris are excellent, giving the reader a good feel for the neighborhoods and the metro without being a Fodor's book. _Beggar Girl_ doesn't tackle any serious hot-button issues of the modern Catholic Church, but the author still throws out tidbits that make those who are interested in church politics and such say "hmmmmmm."
Rating:
Summary: Greeley is still challenging...
Review: and this novel makes for a neat twist on the "locked-room" mystery style that is Blackie Ryan's forte. One of the biggest problems an established author has with an on-going series is to make sure that the stories don't become too "formula," like the last couple of Bond films with Roger Moore did. Greeley avoids this with his Blackie Ryan novels by going for interesting locales...he takes Ryan out of Chicago without taking the Chicago out of the good bishop. So, without giving the story away (a sin for a reviewer of a mystery novel), suffice to say that Blackie Ryan has a wonderful time in Paris, with his boss, the more-than-formidable Sean Cardinal Cronin. My only major complaint is that the love-story-subplot in this novel is a bit formula. Greeley's descriptions of Paris are excellent, giving the reader a good feel for the neighborhoods and the metro without being a Fodor's book. _Beggar Girl_ doesn't tackle any serious hot-button issues of the modern Catholic Church, but the author still throws out tidbits that make those who are interested in church politics and such say "hmmmmmm."
Rating: 
Summary: Great writing, obvious mystery
Review: Bishop Blackie is off to Paris to chaperone his boss and to solve a little mystery while he's there. A popular French Priest has disappeared, apparently sucked back into 3rd century Gallo-Roman Paris. Blackie may have faith, but he thinks that a more modern explanation is likely. Yet how could a well-known and much recognized Priest simply vanish? Fans of Andrew Greeley and the Bishop Blackie series will rejoice at the return of this fiesty and witty detective. Working with a providentially provided translater (the beautiful Beggar Girl of St. Germain), Blackie goes to work tracking down clues and interviewing a number of odious males and wonderful females (this seems to be a theme for Greeley). All of Greeley's works reflect his Catholic faith, yet do so without being offensive to those with other beliefs. Some may be put off with what could be seen as an overly saccarine view of women, but THE BISHOP AND THE BEGGAR GIRL OF ST. GERMAIN pulls off this balance well. Unfortunately, the mystery that underlies THE BISHOP AND THE BEGGAR GIRL is fairly obvious. Although Blackie must wait for divine revelation, most mystery readers will know the solution to this mystery before they have read fifty pages. Come on, Father Greeley--make us work at it, that's why we read mysteries in the first place....
Rating:
Summary: Fr Greeley does it again.
Review: Blackie is back and travels to France. In this latest book of the Blackie Ryan mysteries, Fr Greeley has Blackie and Cardinal Cronin travel to Paris and have to find a missing priest and uses this vehicle to convey a parable of love and devotion. This mystery will keep you guessing and the characters, new and familiar, will endear themselves to you. This book is a very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon but the topics will stay with you for weeks.
Rating: 
Summary: Patently boring language and arguably redundant vocab
Review: Blackie Ryan is asked by Cardinal Sean to accompany himself and his sister Nora to Paris. Apparently, a TV priest has disappeared and the Cardinal in Paris wants Blackie to find out what happened to him. The Blackie Ryan series is one of my favorites. This book is formulaic, but it's a great formula. The author even adds characters from his Nuala Anne and Chuckie O'Mally series to the story. This works well as Blackie seems to find his way into most of Greeley's books.
Rating:
Summary: Another entertaining addition to the Blackie Ryan series.
Review: Blackie Ryan is asked by Cardinal Sean to accompany himself and his sister Nora to Paris. Apparently, a TV priest has disappeared and the Cardinal in Paris wants Blackie to find out what happened to him. The Blackie Ryan series is one of my favorites. This book is formulaic, but it's a great formula. The author even adds characters from his Nuala Anne and Chuckie O'Mally series to the story. This works well as Blackie seems to find his way into most of Greeley's books.
Rating:
Summary: Patently boring language and arguably redundant vocab
Review: Blakie needs to learn a few new words. Patently and arguably were so over-used that I dreaded turning the pages of what is an OK story.
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