Happy Are the Merciful

Rating:
Summary: Dependable author
Review: Andrew Greeley can always be counted on for an entertaining "whodunit"? In this installment of the Blackie Ryan series, Father Ryan is asked to help an idealistic young prosecuting attorney, Terry Scanlan, in the case of Clare Turner. Scanlan was instrumental in getting a conviction against Turner, but in the meantime he has fallen in love with her and is convinced of her innocence. Claire's parents were brutally murdered and she was the only one with motive (a huge inheritance) and opportunity (she was in the house with them at the time of the murder.) Terry asks Father Ryan to use his contacts, influence, and sleuthing skills to help find the real killer and the Bishop is happy to oblige. Greeley fans old and new will enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Dependable author
Review: Andrew Greeley can always be counted on for an entertaining "whodunit"? In this installment of the Blackie Ryan series, Father Ryan is asked to help an idealistic young prosecuting attorney, Terry Scanlan, in the case of Clare Turner. Scanlan was instrumental in getting a conviction against Turner, but in the meantime he has fallen in love with her and is convinced of her innocence. Claire's parents were brutally murdered and she was the only one with motive (a huge inheritance) and opportunity (she was in the house with them at the time of the murder.) Terry asks Father Ryan to use his contacts, influence, and sleuthing skills to help find the real killer and the Bishop is happy to oblige. Greeley fans old and new will enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Hang in there!
Review: I am a huge Blackie Ryan fan, and have read just about every book in the series. My advice to readers of _Happy are the Merciful_ is to hang in there through the first half of the novel. It is not told from Blackie's point of view, but from that of an idealistic young district attorney. I actually gave up on this book about halfway into the D.A.'s narrative, because, though well-written, it just wasn't giving me the "Blackie fix" I crave in one of Greeley's novels. It turns out that the information provided in the D.A.'s narrative is information vital for the reader to fully comprehend the case once Blackie steps in. Without it, the story would just not work. Once you reach the portion of the novel where the narrative switches over to Fr. Blackie, you will NOT be disappointed! I am so glad I went back to this book, and would encourage Blackie fans to keep the faith.

Rating:
Summary: Hang in there!
Review: I am a huge Blackie Ryan fan, and have read just about every book in the series. My advice to readers of _Happy are the Merciful_ is to hang in there through the first half of the novel. It is not told from Blackie's point of view, but from that of an idealistic young district attorney. I actually gave up on this book about halfway into the D.A.'s narrative, because, though well-written, it just wasn't giving me the "Blackie fix" I crave in one of Greeley's novels. It turns out that the information provided in the D.A.'s narrative is information vital for the reader to fully comprehend the case once Blackie steps in. Without it, the story would just not work. Once you reach the portion of the novel where the narrative switches over to Fr. Blackie, you will NOT be disappointed! I am so glad I went back to this book, and would encourage Blackie fans to keep the faith.