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Father Koesler #9
Deadline for a Critic
"Kienzle's ninth may be hailed as his most complex and finest mystery." --"Publishers Weekly"
..". good character analysis and a tantalizing story make this one of Kienzle's best." --"Library Journal"
"As Kienzle addresses serious modern issues, he stops to digress and tell his wonderful stories. He always plays fair with readers, though, providing a neat solution with a twist." --"Chicago Tribune
"
It's curtains for Ridley Groendal. When the performing arts critic for the "Detroit Suburban Reporter" dies suddenly, insiders know he could have choked on his own rage. Having returned to Detroit from a vituperative career at the prestigious" New York Herald," Groendal was known to have destroyed more than a few reputations with his vicious criticism. Was his death an act of revenge?
If so, at least four of his victims had ample motive. Was it Dave Palmer, whose concerts after Groendal's review would forever be heard in a minor key? Was it Carroll Mitchell, whose plays could never again get a serious reading? Was it Charlie Hogan, whose newspaper career was put out with the garbage? Was it Valerie Walsh, who must now look offstage for a dramatic role? Or was it long-time companion Peter Harrison, who may have had his own dark reasons to want Groendal dead?
Readers know Father Koesler is no newcomer to the role of sleuth. "Deadline for a Critic" is the ninth in the Father Koesler series.
..". good character analysis and a tantalizing story make this one of Kienzle's best." --"Library Journal"
"As Kienzle addresses serious modern issues, he stops to digress and tell his wonderful stories. He always plays fair with readers, though, providing a neat solution with a twist." --"Chicago Tribune
"
It's curtains for Ridley Groendal. When the performing arts critic for the "Detroit Suburban Reporter" dies suddenly, insiders know he could have choked on his own rage. Having returned to Detroit from a vituperative career at the prestigious" New York Herald," Groendal was known to have destroyed more than a few reputations with his vicious criticism. Was his death an act of revenge?
If so, at least four of his victims had ample motive. Was it Dave Palmer, whose concerts after Groendal's review would forever be heard in a minor key? Was it Carroll Mitchell, whose plays could never again get a serious reading? Was it Charlie Hogan, whose newspaper career was put out with the garbage? Was it Valerie Walsh, who must now look offstage for a dramatic role? Or was it long-time companion Peter Harrison, who may have had his own dark reasons to want Groendal dead?
Readers know Father Koesler is no newcomer to the role of sleuth. "Deadline for a Critic" is the ninth in the Father Koesler series.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1987
15 people are currently reading
62 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 26, 2024
Deadline For a Critic (Father Koesler, #9) by William X. Kienzle.
Father Koesler is involved with the sudden death of a classmate from his seminary years. Ridley C. Groendal is known for not only his reviews of those in the arts, but of how his scathing reviews have destroyed the dreams of those very people. When Groendal dies suddenly at his home Father Koesler is taken back to bygone years and of incidents that occurred with mutual friends. Ridley C. Groendal made many enemies and few friends during his career as a critic would any of them be capable of murder?
This book was fascinatingly involved in the lives of Groendal, Father Koesler and most of all the 4 victims of his vicious criticisms. The author did a superb job of detailing the possible motives that may have prompted a murderer to strike. Was it a revenge killing or a natural death?
Highly recommended for those who want to be involved in a rare gem of a mystery.
Father Koesler is involved with the sudden death of a classmate from his seminary years. Ridley C. Groendal is known for not only his reviews of those in the arts, but of how his scathing reviews have destroyed the dreams of those very people. When Groendal dies suddenly at his home Father Koesler is taken back to bygone years and of incidents that occurred with mutual friends. Ridley C. Groendal made many enemies and few friends during his career as a critic would any of them be capable of murder?
This book was fascinatingly involved in the lives of Groendal, Father Koesler and most of all the 4 victims of his vicious criticisms. The author did a superb job of detailing the possible motives that may have prompted a murderer to strike. Was it a revenge killing or a natural death?
Highly recommended for those who want to be involved in a rare gem of a mystery.
May 31, 2021
See Peggy's review.
This is the looonnngest Mass / Communion possible! It takes up the entire book! I did find it clever when Father Koesler recalls saying "Corpus Christi" to a parishioner who responded "Texas"!!
Ridley Groendal's reviews were horrible, thoroughly destroying, among others, those who wronged him when he was a teenager. (We do remember those who wronged us back then, but we grow from then on!) Those people that he decided to wreak special revenge upon are relieved when he dies, but have made peace and taken better routes with their lives. However, Mr. Kienzie has made Mr. Groendal a solidly terrible person from the get-go, with no redeeming features; the only person who finds him palatable (no pun intended) is his life partner, Peter Harison. Cleverly, Harison manipulates the possible suicide of Groendal so as to enable Father Koesler to give him a Catholic burial, and himself to escape punishment, which I found very satisfying. A good read.
This is the looonnngest Mass / Communion possible! It takes up the entire book! I did find it clever when Father Koesler recalls saying "Corpus Christi" to a parishioner who responded "Texas"!!
Ridley Groendal's reviews were horrible, thoroughly destroying, among others, those who wronged him when he was a teenager. (We do remember those who wronged us back then, but we grow from then on!) Those people that he decided to wreak special revenge upon are relieved when he dies, but have made peace and taken better routes with their lives. However, Mr. Kienzie has made Mr. Groendal a solidly terrible person from the get-go, with no redeeming features; the only person who finds him palatable (no pun intended) is his life partner, Peter Harison. Cleverly, Harison manipulates the possible suicide of Groendal so as to enable Father Koesler to give him a Catholic burial, and himself to escape punishment, which I found very satisfying. A good read.
May 12, 2015
This is a Father Koesler mystery which has the priest tying to aid his policeman friend in eliminating suspects and solve the crime when an art critic is murdered.
April 22, 2013
Good plot. I would never have guessed the ending.
July 3, 2014
Will definitely read more!
June 25, 2017
This was a really good read. Written from a unique perspective. At the funeral for a critic the priest reviews the deceased life and solves the crime
November 5, 2023
A bit slow at times but otherwise a good read
May 19, 2024
I don't usually like flashing back and forth between times, but it really works in this case. And for Father Koesler to be so intimately aware of all the particulars made for a very good read.
November 30, 2025
3.5 stars
October 10, 2025
Quick-look at the Book
A critic responsible for destroying the lives of so many people is murdered. And Koesler has to find the right person! An intriguing one.
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 10 here
A critic responsible for destroying the lives of so many people is murdered. And Koesler has to find the right person! An intriguing one.
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 10 here
February 5, 2015
I decided early on that I wasn't going to like this book, but as I continued to read I found myself wanting to know what happened next. This is a disturbing story about a noted arts critic who dies. Father Koesler, who had known him most of his life, performs the funeral Mass. Through a series of reflections Koesler and others remember the life of this most unpleasant man. Beginning in grade school we watch the emotional and spiritual fall of this boy as he grows into a disillusioned, miserable man. He creates his own hell and drags as many people he has declared enemies with him. He thinks he is following Jesus' example of being assertive and in control as he systematically tries to destroy all those he believes have wronged him. The words of the funeral Mass and prayers highlight the sadness of this man's journey.
Read
April 20, 2009it was okay. though you do get bored after a while.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews