Rating: 
Summary: First and last book by a priest
Review: This book took me forever to read because it was extremely slow-paced and uneventful. The idea of poltergeist attacks sounded interesting to me but this book focused more on the sour relationships between the Democrats and Republicans in office than the acutal poltergeist attacks (which were more of a side note). I also found the character of Bishop Blackie to be rather annoying. Perhaps though, I just do not like political novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Blackie at His Best
Review: This was a good read - a combination of a ghost story and old-fashioned mystery. Greely at his best.
Rating: 
Summary: The Bishop should take an eternal sabbatical!
Review: This was a very thin and obvious story -- I figured out who the perp was after the vice president and her daughter were initially introduced. I agree with all the points made with another reviewer who gave this novel two points. Especially on how Andy portrays certain people in a sterotypically fashion. However, I have a stronger dislike for novels written by liberals who use them as political platforms. Seems history was trying to be rewritten here, and a sickly yearning back to the Days of Camelot were very much evident and not appreciated by this reader. Overall this was a stupid and ignorant novel.
Rating: 
Summary: the best Blackie Ryan novel in several years
Review: United States President John Patrick McGurn has enough to deal with between the eastern established media and the Republicans. However, the Irish-American from Chicago, dubbed rancorously by the press as "Machine Gun Jack" and want to tie him with the Irish Mafia, has a poltergeist wrecking havoc in his new home, The White House. Jack asks long time friend and successful amateur sleuth Father Blackie Ryan to exorcise the spirit by discovering who is really behind the shake, rattle, and roll in the Oval Office, West Wing, and Lincoln Room, etc.Unable to mount more than a weak argument to remain in the Windy city, Blackie travels to Washington DC upon the orders of his superior Cardinal Cronin. Blackie quickly concludes that the ghost is more likely a young female suffering from unrequited love or vengeance against a President detested by his enemies as he begins eliminating the candidates one at a time. THE BISHOP IN THE WEST WING is the best Blackie Ryan novel in several years as Andrew M. Greeley provides insight into the White House from a guest's perspective while satirizing the seemingly endless attacks on Bill Clinton, obviously Jack's model. The story line is fun for everyone except right wing Republicans and the so-called liberal "muckraking" press as Blackie looks for a more mundane solution to the poltergeist question. Father Greeley makes no bones about his feelings towards the previous president with an engaging amateur sleuth tale that Mr. Clinton and many other fans will enjoy. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Great writing, is it a 'done right' version of Clinton?
Review: When newly elected President Jack McGurn (a Chicago Democrat, Catholic, and liberal) finds his white house apparently haunted by a poltergeist, he calls on his Church for help. The Cardinal of Chicago sends his trusty associate Bishop, Blackwood (Blackie) Ryan to sort things out. Once he reaches the white house, however, Ryan learns that there is more going on than just an apparently harmless poltergeist. The evil Republicans are willing to do anything to get rid of this Democratic President, his own Vice President won't talk to him, and the death of his wife prevents McGurn from finding a healthy relationship with women. Meanwhile, a civil war in China threatens to draw the world into a nuclear holocast. Blackie has his work cut out for him. Fortunately, he has the help of McGurn's two teenaged daughters, a beautiful deputy chief of staff (who just might be in love with the President), and a sister who happens to be an expert in poltergeist behavior. Battling conservative Christians, including the local Archbishop, Blackie supports his friend, does damage control on the rumors of sexual misbehavior that (falsely) plague the president, and helps preserve world peace. Author Andrew M. Greeley is a wonderfully talented writer and Bishop Blackie, with is ratty White Sox jacket and inability to keep track of his ring of office, is simultaneously sympathetic and quietly noble. Greeley fans won't be surprised to find that, as usual, women dominate the men around them, occasionally allowing their men to have the illusion of any control over their lives (could this attitude explain why Greeley became a priest???). This isn't all bad, however, and Greeley delivers some nicely sympathetic and attractive female characters. The politics in THE BISHOP IN THE WEST WING are a little heavy. McGurn is a liberal democrat and Blackie (and presumably Greeley) is quite sympathetic to these views. Still, some of McGurn's ideas (like a congressional override of the Supreme Court which might be popular with some Democrats after what they see as the stealing of the 2000 election) are frightening to anyone who has concerns for civil rights or a fear that congress can get railroaded into anything. The idea that a politician could be elected Governor based on asking for higher income taxes seems stretched, but not impossible and certainly in keeping with a Priest who has taken a vow of poverty. In some ways THE BISHOP IN THE WEST WING can be seen as a Clinton done right. The loving assistant is there, but she is age appropriate rather than a young intern. The President is conveniently single rather than married. I found the stained dress parallel a little much, but some readers may get a kick out of it. All of Greeley's THE BISHOP novels are enjoyable and THE BISHOP IN THE WEST WING certainly will not disappoint fans of the series.
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