Happy are the Merciful

Like the many other Andrew M. Greeley books, the focus is on the qualities and interaction of a few people. The mystery element is deftly handled. Father Greeley's unique perspective gives this subseries from the Sermon on the Mount a special flavor which makes the reader think.

ISBN 0515107263 - I'm probably prejudiced. Greeley - and Father Blackie - live in MY Chicago. There really are two; the one that you'll find in books by people who've never been here and the one that those who've lived here know. The difference is evident in little things, like the way Greeley refers to a Chicago neighborhood by it's current and former names while other authors do well to figure out where North, South and West Chicago begin and end. Terry Scanlan comes to Father Blackie for help - Terry's managed to get a conviction in a high profile murder case and he's not happy about it. The adopted daughter of the wealthy Turners has been sentenced to die for killing the people who had taken her in as a young child. At first, she'd seemed guilty to him, and she had a sizeable fortune as a motive. Still, the more time passed, the less guilty she seemed. Of course, falling in love with the accused didn't make it easier for Terry. Bishop Ryan loves a good locked-room mystery and can't resist "poking around". With a little supernatural guidance, the help of the North Wabash Avenue Irregulars and his own detective skills, Blackie Ryan has everything he needs - except time. Seems the person who set this whole thing in motion would like to put a very final end to it, and Blackie, before he can figure it out! I love Father Blackie's books, and not only because of the Chicago connection. I like the happy and intelligent Ryan clan as a whole and have to laugh a little at all the swearing going on around, and by, the Most Reverend John Blackwood Ryan. The book does date itself a little, with a car phone (as opposed to cell phones) and the Compaq 386/20, but those are little and unimportant details. For a good mystery that won't melt your brain trying to keep you guessing, Greeley's always good.

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.

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.