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Father Koesler #6
Kill and Tell
Father Koesler threads his way through the boardrooms and backrooms of the auto industry in search of the person who is trying to kill rising executive Frank Hoffman
249 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1984
25 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
William X. Kienzle
28 books29 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 6, 2025
Kill and Tell (Father Koesler, #6) by William X. Kienzle.
The author out did himself with this entry. File it under My Favorites. It begins with the executives and those running the auto industry Frank Hoffman- a main character and those around him. His wife Emma and mistress Jackie, but that's not all. It's a dog eat dog world in that circle of "friends". All trying their best to out rank each other.
At first I thought this is a topic that doesn't interest me. Why not just not finish and grab another book instead. That's when Father Koesler entered the picture as well as his friends and acquaintances forming a story line AI could not put down.
If I ever recommend a Father Koesler book this is at the top of my list. The result is beyond anything my imagination could have conjured up. An excellent book and addition to my Father Koesler library.
The author out did himself with this entry. File it under My Favorites. It begins with the executives and those running the auto industry Frank Hoffman- a main character and those around him. His wife Emma and mistress Jackie, but that's not all. It's a dog eat dog world in that circle of "friends". All trying their best to out rank each other.
At first I thought this is a topic that doesn't interest me. Why not just not finish and grab another book instead. That's when Father Koesler entered the picture as well as his friends and acquaintances forming a story line AI could not put down.
If I ever recommend a Father Koesler book this is at the top of my list. The result is beyond anything my imagination could have conjured up. An excellent book and addition to my Father Koesler library.
October 25, 2017
As always Father Koesler always intrigues you. This book was no exception. I discovered Father Koesler mysteries years ago when my children were young and I used to take them to the library. I was hooked after hi book THE ROSARY MURDERS. That was the first of the 24 he wrote. KILL AND TELL, DEAD WRONG and BISHOP AS PAWN are the three I haven't been able to find. Just recently for my birthday my daughter gave me KILL AND TELL and DEAD WRONG. As always MR. Kienzle always has great stories and great characters in them. All those main characters automatically came back to life for me. This book held your interest all the way through the story and what a ending.
July 3, 2014
The first book of Kienzle's that I read, and the experience made me want to read more.
April 11, 2018
Hyggelig krimilæsning der kan anbefales til alle der ønsker en forholdsvis ublodig krimi.
July 30, 2018
Wonderful book from start to finish and finish, well not what anyone would expect.
May 12, 2024
Nice getting in touch again with my old friend, Father Koesler. And gives me a new appreciation for interesting poisons. 😉
May 5, 2017
A really fun light read a little slow at times and I cant say that I could not put it down but for a beach read or just something to fill down time this is the book for you
October 10, 2025
Quick-look at the Book
An auto industry executive is murdered, and there's no lack of people with a motive. I don't think I remember this one much.
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 7 here
An auto industry executive is murdered, and there's no lack of people with a motive. I don't think I remember this one much.
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 7 here
December 6, 2014
William Kienzle was a Catholic priest for over 20 years before he became an author. His protagonist, Father Robert Koesler is a parish priest in Detroit. When a powerful auto executive's wife is murdered at a party Koesler attended the amateur sleuth in the priest kicks in high gear. The book is sprinkled with the musing of Father Koesler as he contemplates the Catholic faith. As a convert to Catholicism I find these insights as interesting as the mystery story itself. However, in the this book the conclusion was a little strange and I found it not quite believable.
January 9, 2023
Reread after 30 years. A bit dated, but a good read. Took a while to develop the characters and their background.
March 31, 2015
the descriptions put me
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews