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Father Koesler #18
Requiem For Moses
The author's eighteenth Father Koesler whodunit focuses on the death of the totally reprehensible Dr. Moses Green, the reactions of those who knew him, and Moses Green's miraculous resurrection.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1996
10 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
William X. Kienzle
28 books30 followersWilliam X. Kienzle was born in Detroit, Michigan. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1954 and spent twenty years as a Roman Catholic parish priest. Kienzle left the priesthood in 1974 because of his disagreement with its refusal to remarry divorcees. He became an editor of MPLS Magazine in Minneapolis, later moving to Texas where he was director of the Center for Contemplative Studies at the University of Dallas.
He was married to Javan Herman Andrews, a journalist from the Detroit Free Press, from 1974 until his sudden death from a heart attack on December 28, 2001.
Kienzle was the author of twenty-four crime fiction/mystery novels featuring Father Robert Koesler, a Catholic priest who doubles as a detective. One of his best known novels is his first, The Rosary Murders (1978), which was made into a 1987 movie starring Donald Sutherland as Father Koesler. Kienzle's books are set mostly in Detroit, Michigan.
His biography, Judged by Love, by Javan Kienzle, was published in 2003.
He was married to Javan Herman Andrews, a journalist from the Detroit Free Press, from 1974 until his sudden death from a heart attack on December 28, 2001.
Kienzle was the author of twenty-four crime fiction/mystery novels featuring Father Robert Koesler, a Catholic priest who doubles as a detective. One of his best known novels is his first, The Rosary Murders (1978), which was made into a 1987 movie starring Donald Sutherland as Father Koesler. Kienzle's books are set mostly in Detroit, Michigan.
His biography, Judged by Love, by Javan Kienzle, was published in 2003.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 18, 2025
Requiem for Moses (Father Koesler, #18) by William X. Kienzle.
This was a long haul in finishing this book. First I did not connect with the first few chapters at all and put it aside to read another book. Then I came close, very close, to not finishing it at all. Then getting closer to almost half way in the book I found my comfort zone and continued. Let me say I am so glad I made that choice to continue reading. There were a few of the usual characters although not the main characters from other books in this series.
So if you decide to try to read this one give it a few chances before throwing in the towel.
The last several chapters had me on the edge of my seat and happy to be there.
This was a long haul in finishing this book. First I did not connect with the first few chapters at all and put it aside to read another book. Then I came close, very close, to not finishing it at all. Then getting closer to almost half way in the book I found my comfort zone and continued. Let me say I am so glad I made that choice to continue reading. There were a few of the usual characters although not the main characters from other books in this series.
So if you decide to try to read this one give it a few chances before throwing in the towel.
The last several chapters had me on the edge of my seat and happy to be there.
May 27, 2016
#18 in the Father Koesler series.
Father Koesler series - Everyone at the wake seemed to agree on one thing: The deceased, Dr. Moses Green, was a totally reprehensible person. As they confide in Father Robert Koesler, their stories about the newly dead man poured out venomously. What might have been a simple, if nontraditional, Catholic wake for the Jewish doctor quickly turned into a maelstrom of animosity. Certainly Jake Cameron was glad Green was dead. As the doctor's partner in a string of nightclubs, Cameron was about to lose everything to the mercenary Green. Claire, and her fiance, Stan, also felt abused: Claire's single missed period had ended in a secret hysterectomy Green had performed, which included aborting his own child. Then there was Green's daughter, Judith, whose engagement to an African-American attorney was met with blackmail attempts from her father. Green's own wife, Margie, who'd been cut out of her husband's substantial will only days before his death, also felt ill-treated by her physician spouse. But all was not as it appeared at downtown Detroit's old St. Joseph's church. Just before Father Koesler began his generic eulogy for Dr. Green, a miracle occurred, a miracle that everyone agreed was completely undeserved.
Father Koesler series - Everyone at the wake seemed to agree on one thing: The deceased, Dr. Moses Green, was a totally reprehensible person. As they confide in Father Robert Koesler, their stories about the newly dead man poured out venomously. What might have been a simple, if nontraditional, Catholic wake for the Jewish doctor quickly turned into a maelstrom of animosity. Certainly Jake Cameron was glad Green was dead. As the doctor's partner in a string of nightclubs, Cameron was about to lose everything to the mercenary Green. Claire, and her fiance, Stan, also felt abused: Claire's single missed period had ended in a secret hysterectomy Green had performed, which included aborting his own child. Then there was Green's daughter, Judith, whose engagement to an African-American attorney was met with blackmail attempts from her father. Green's own wife, Margie, who'd been cut out of her husband's substantial will only days before his death, also felt ill-treated by her physician spouse. But all was not as it appeared at downtown Detroit's old St. Joseph's church. Just before Father Koesler began his generic eulogy for Dr. Green, a miracle occurred, a miracle that everyone agreed was completely undeserved.
July 21, 2015
A new widow pressures a priest to allow a wake in his church for her husband. He is Jewish but she, the kids, and all attendees but one will be Catholic.
Waiting to say a few words, the priest hears nothing but horror stories on how evil the man was. And then larger-than-life Aunt Sophie shows up and knocks over the coffin. The shrouded man opens his eyes.
And it escalates from there.
With minor flaws, this is a readable and entertaining book. Recommended.
Waiting to say a few words, the priest hears nothing but horror stories on how evil the man was. And then larger-than-life Aunt Sophie shows up and knocks over the coffin. The shrouded man opens his eyes.
And it escalates from there.
With minor flaws, this is a readable and entertaining book. Recommended.
December 11, 2019
Quick read kept you on your toes. It's about a Catholic priest who gets roped in to do a mass for a Jewish (not well liked) person. He has to make a fast decision him being Jewish and not embalmed. So what do you say about a man people certainly dislike. You really don't get a chance because surprise surprise read the book to find out. Fun mystery..
May 15, 2017
I have never read a William X Kienzle book I didn't enjoy. The twists and turns in the story always keep me glued to the book. This one didn't disappoint n
June 24, 2024
Interesting twist, and I'm not sure the ending was completely satisfying. Thus, a very good read.
January 2, 2026
One of the better Father Koesler books
Interesting style of presentation. Plot developed slowly but evenly. Less emphasis on Catholic doctrine than some books in this series. Mystery remained until near the end. I enjoyed this book very much.
Interesting style of presentation. Plot developed slowly but evenly. Less emphasis on Catholic doctrine than some books in this series. Mystery remained until near the end. I enjoyed this book very much.
March 14, 2020
Too much detail about Catholicism, ok mystery.
August 22, 2020
Interesting plot twists but heavy on Catholicism.
August 14, 2025
I tried for a couple hundred pages, but gave up. Just not engaging for me.
October 3, 2025
Quick-look at the Book
Koesler agrees to allow the funeral of a Jewish doctor to take place in his church. He thinks as long as no one really rubs it in his boss's face, he should be fine. Right. Right? Wrong!
Thoughts on this Series
This is a nice enough cozy mystery series. The central character is Father Koesler who by no actions of his own--mostly--keeps tripping over murdered people and getting roped into police investigations.
While the characterization and motivation behind each suspect are well-described, there can be often too many POVs or too many details that detract from the action.
That said, the author repeatedly hits you over the head with the same details about priesthood and religion. If you can bear with that, and are okay with the protagonist arriving at the euphoria! moment while in the bathtub or car or...you get what I mean...read on.
My advice? Space em out. Or, they start to become a blob (Lily & Marshal style).
Review of Book 17 here
Koesler agrees to allow the funeral of a Jewish doctor to take place in his church. He thinks as long as no one really rubs it in his boss's face, he should be fine. Right. Right? Wrong!
Thoughts on this Series
This is a nice enough cozy mystery series. The central character is Father Koesler who by no actions of his own--mostly--keeps tripping over murdered people and getting roped into police investigations.
While the characterization and motivation behind each suspect are well-described, there can be often too many POVs or too many details that detract from the action.
That said, the author repeatedly hits you over the head with the same details about priesthood and religion. If you can bear with that, and are okay with the protagonist arriving at the euphoria! moment while in the bathtub or car or...you get what I mean...read on.
My advice? Space em out. Or, they start to become a blob (Lily & Marshal style).
Review of Book 17 here
July 24, 2012
2.5 This is an unusual murder mystery, but then it's been a long time since I read one as evidenced by the fact that I just added "mystery" to my shelves. Only 4 days after finishing it I don't remember "who done it." Mostly because I liked it better when I thought everybody did it. You can tell by how few people added comments about this book that it doesn't require a lot of thought and wouldn't be good material for a book club. I never heard of the author or the 18+ books in the Father Koesler mystery series. A few more people wrote about the first book in the series, possibly beccause it was re-released and a movie was made of it. I would listen to another one if I found a free copy.
August 1, 2010
I have read 4 or 5 books by this author and this is the one I have enjoyed the least. It had to do with a man who comes to life in his casket and if it was a miracle or not. The man who died (Moses) had not been embalmed per Jewish custom and was a vile human being. The stories that different characters at the wake came through with seemed a bit rushed. The part dealing with miracles however was very interesting. I am going to offer his to my Aunt or leave it somewhere between Michigan and South Carolina.
Read
July 29, 2011An interesting premise but plods along slowly for much of the book. However, the rousing finish makes it a worthwhile read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews