Happy Are the Clean of Heart

Blackie Ryan #2

by Andrew M. Greeley

THE FALLEN STAR lay in a death-like coma, victim of an attack as mysterious as it was savage. Until violence interrupted her glittering career, she was a singer and actress adored by millions. But she held a very special, intimate place in the heart of Father Blackie Ryan, whose desperation to unmask her assailant proved the only force that could prevent the outbreak of a second, even more devastating tragedy.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

268 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Andrew Greeley was a Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist, and author of 50 best-selling novels and more than 100 works of nonfiction. For decades, Greeley entertained readers with such popular characters as the mystery-solving priest Blackie Ryan and the fey, amateur sleuth Nuala Anne McGrail. His books typically center on Irish-American Roman Catholics living or working in Chicago.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...

Reviews

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy are the Clean of Heart is an interesting mystery. The villain is not the character I would have preferred, but was the second-in-line on my suspect list. The story is, perhaps, overly embellished with sentimentalism. Circumstances make Monsignor Ryan more accessible as a man, but they tend to lend a melodramatic overcast to the novel as surely as the fog which plays a major role in the set-up.

In many ways, the introduction to this book may be more important than the story itself. Greeley interprets the beatitude for which the book is entitled as “pure” meaning single-minded, focused, and integrity of motivation. In this, he would agree with both the Greek root to the word (“uncontaminated” or “unmixed”) with its ties to metallurgy and Soren Kierkegaard’s great essay on purity as single-mindedness.

In this way, Greeley weaves a story about an entertainer, a performer who would not generally be classified as “pure,” but establishes that purity and devotion to God as he strives to solve the mystery. In so doing, he draws from logic (along with a delightful tribute to the pragmatic philosopher William James) and faith to pull together a love story, a story of redemption, and a story of betrayal such that only the most callous of readers can fault him for the way the story unfolds.

Although the genders are different, one almost senses an autobiographical awareness of Greeley himself within his female protagonist. One senses that otherwise devout people may have criticized the famous priest for his mystery and fantasy novels as being inappropriate for someone with a divine vocation. Yet, Greeley argues through the circumstances surrounding his “victim” that God chooses us to communicate however we may, whatever is important to us.

Certainly, one wishes that a Christopher Hitchens (who thinks it is evil for the 10 commandments to restrict one’s thought life from “envy”) would read this statement from Blackie Ryan’s “old fella’,” his father Ned: “Envy, Johnny, pushed to its utmost logical conclusion means murder. Fortunately, most of us are not logical or don’t have the courage of our convictions. The mixture of love and hatred that constitutes envy demands that the other be driven from the face of the earth.” (p. 179)

[Sallie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is another book from my TBR pile that has been languishing for a very long time. I got about 2/3 of the way through and then just scanned to the end to find out who dunnit. Turns out it was who I thought it might be, but it just took way toooooooo long to get to the final ending.

Into the bag of books to be given away.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am generally not as fond of books with a film/Hollywood setting, but Monsigneur Blackie Ryan solves his second mystery in the usual nick of time, with the usual self-recriminations about his slowness in realizing what is obvous to him in hindsight.
Even though it is not one of his specialties, the locked room mystery.

[Beatrice M · Rating 5 out of 5]

funseries

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun beach read with some surprisingly progressive and beautiful Catholic theology. The sexism doesn’t pass the test of time.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another entertaining mystery series by Andrew Greeley, Catholic priest. In this series, his detective/protagonist is also a priest and, as usual, is Irish and lives in Chicago. He writes well, his characters are always intriguing, and his plots are interesting. I like how he often writes from differing points-of-view when telling the story.
On the second reading, this second mystery of the Father Blackie Ryan series gained a star from 4 to 5 because the pace of the writing is faster than in the first of the series and because adding the anonymous musings of the would-be-killer adds so much to the novel. I truly enjoyed it. In this one, he talks about the biblical "clean of heart" as being single-minded and dedicated in a good purpose, a definition I rather approve of.

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one of Father John "Blackie" Ryan's mysteries based on the beatitudes. Clean of heart according Father Ryan is that one is sure of their purpose for doing something and accept the responsibility of their actions. A good lesson for us all. In this book, a woman, a former childhood sweetheart of Father Ryan is cruelly attacked. The Father interviews all the suspects in each chapter. Between the chapter is the musing of the priest and this is perhaps the most interesting part of each book. A good story, if a bit verbose, but likable or detesable characters add to the story. Definitely worth the time to read and it is an easy read,

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Greeley is a favorite author, but this book didn't seem to be in the same genre of writing that made him one of my favorites. While the writing was still good, I felt that the book spent too much time on the confusion in Blackie's mind, as opposed to finding more details about the murder.

Nonetheless, as a mystery, you weren't able to decide who the perp was until the very end, when it was revealed to the reader.

[Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first Blackie Ryan novel I've read. The other I listened to and it seemed more interesting. I like the idea of a priest detective though and while I don't know how real he is, I do take it that Andrew Greeley pictures Catholics and Catholicism in a way that I can understand them. This one was pretty slow though.

[C. John Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good mystery novel. Not to say too much lest I give stuff away but I will say that the clue that finally tells Blackie Ryan the identity of the perpetrator is a novel one and one that even though it is given to the reader early on is one that most people would be likely to miss. Recommended

[Jewell Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the Blackie Ryan mysteries. This one is about an actress who is brutally attacked, and Blackie's attempt to discover who did it. I love the way Andrew M. Greeley writes. The story is told through everyone's point of view, and I am never able to determine the end. Definitely worth the read.

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been a while since I have read an Andrew Greeley book, and I have forgotten how well-written they are. There is a calmness and a gentle philosophical aura along with the mystery which makes reading them a pleasure. This one was no exceptional.

[Peter Ackerman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the series. Much redundancy within Fr. Blackie' conversations with suspects and their chapter long monologues. An interesting presentation, that plods along to as satisfying, yet not very surprising conclusion.

[David Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read most of the Father Blackie Ryan series....but had not found this one before- was glad to read it - although these books sometimes seem to lose a bit of steam towards the end of them....

[Peggy]

#12, 2nd Happy one I read and looked for something else for next one, though still liked his books

[Phyllis Murrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoy Andrew M. Greeley's Blackie Ryan series.

[Patricia Franz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this awhile ago, but found all of his books a page turner.

[Elizabeth Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good characters and relationships as usual for Greeley. Not as highly recommended by me for it's unapologetic rape culture leanings and highly anti-feminist sentiments and anti-feminist stereotypes at times (though it is understandable for the time the book was written, it makes for a less enjoyable read now).

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

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