The Endless Knot

Rating:
Summary: "I used to come here when this place was a crypt...."
Review: In the sub-sub-genre of religious sleuthing, the protagonist perhaps most recalls Anthony Boucher's Sister Ursula -- if Sister Ursula had been a hard-drinking smoker, pulling no punches with unsatisfactory superiors. Father Brown, of course, would never have behaved like this, while Rabbi Small sighed over the foibles of the goyim.

I hope for a film version, with the soundtrack blaring "This Disco Used to Be a Cute Cathedral"... and wonder why Amazon does not carry the second book, "The Darkness Did Not" (which seems to be only available from catholictreasures.com)

One caveat... "Tumblar House" looks like a vanity publication or the next thing to one, and the accompanying binding is quite poor... especially if, as is likely, the buyer wants to read it repeatedly

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Summary: A GREAT Modern Mystery Novel
Review: "The Endless Knot" (TEK) is one of those novels that 'breaks the mold' a bit. Sure, we've seen novels featuring priests as detectives before, but in most cases this aspect has very little, or only a superficial resemblance, to the story. In TEK, however, everything becomes part of an ever-expanding thread that keeps the reader mystified and intrigued.

Another reviewer mentioned Tony Hillerman, and I think the analogy is a good one. Just as Navajo beliefs often contribute to the atmosphere and appeal of the Hillerman books, so the Catholic background adds a very colorful background to TEK, for this is a pre-1960's type of Catholicism, which still retained an aura of mystery and of a combat between Good and Evil about it.

As a mystery novel, TEK is wonderful -- the plot is intricate, but never slow moving. The settings and events are vivid, varied and sometimes almost surrealistically depicted. The characters are very well-drawn. Plus, there are ample traces of a sardonic humor that will have the reader chuckling when least expected, somewhat like the writing of the great Craig Rice.

"The Endless Knot" satisfies on ALL levels. It's a 'good read,' and a novel to sit back with and really ENJOY.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Catholic Traditionalist Crime Story
Review: Father Baptiste, the detective-hero, is a Catholic realist, hunting down evil through the labyrinthine ways of matter and spirit. This book was presciently written years before the current scandal in the Church, and is even more grimly funny today. It's Malachi Martin's "Windswept House" at the local parish level, only funnier, and with a ripping detective plot to boot.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Catholic Traditionalist Crime Story
Review: Father Baptiste, the detective-hero, is a Catholic realist, hunting down evil through the labyrinthine ways of matter and spirit. This book was presciently written years before the current scandal in the Church, and is even more grimly funny today. It's Malachi Martin's "Windswept House" at the local parish level, only funnier, and with a ripping detective plot to boot.

Rating:
Summary: A Novel You'll Underline
Review: I enjoyed The Endless Knot immensely. It has an utterly engrossing plot, terrific parallel lines of development, yet the best thing about it are the unforgetable characters. Couldn't put the book down!!

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Summary: Great New Characters!
Review: I enjoyed The Endless Knot immensely. It has an utterly engrossing plot, terrific parallel lines of development, yet the best thing about it are the unforgetable characters. Couldn't put the book down!!

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Summary: Real Reality
Review: The Endless Knot is a masterpiece. It's set in a Los Angeles very like the real one, only more so. One by one, the Catholic Bishops of Los Angeles are getting killed --- in horrible ways; as with any good mystery, you begin to realize that soem of the corpses deserve it. In the light of what's happening in the Catholic Church today, you find yourself wondering if Biersach knows more than he's telling! Certainly, it's pretty up to date. But there is a lot more; it's mystery alright, but it's also an occult thriller --- and a fantasy novel! And there's alot of humor as well. Biersach makes his secondary world come alive, with characters you are really interested in. Any you don't need to be Catholic to enjoy it, any more than you need to be Navajo to read Hillerman. It leaves you wondering where the novel ends, and real life begins. Great stuff, and I recommend it highly!

Rating:
Summary: A Novel You'll Underline
Review: This is a glorious read. The plot is marvelous and intricate. There is never a dull moment. Characters? Boy what characters! You will meet your friends, maybe your priest and people you recognize from your own parish/congregation.

While this is based on the Catholic Church it is an excellenct murder mystery. Perhaps we are seeing the debut of a new Chesterton.

I found myself underling the factoids and some of the better lines in this book. This is something I have never done with another novel. "The Endless Knot" is quite hilarious, informative and suspenseful all at the same time. I can't recommend this book too highly.

A superb first novel. You won't read it just once. I can't wait for "The Darkness Did Not" to hit amazon.com.