Irish Tenure

Notre Dame #3

by Ralph McInerny

In the University of Notre Dame's philosophy department two young scholars, Amanda Pick and Hans Wiener, are competing for the same tenure position. Sleuth Roger Knight is a friend to both, and as he painfully witnesses the fierce competition unfold, he also becomes keenly aware of the many secrets that both professors have to hide. While Amanda is a beloved teacher who incorporates a passionate and liberal approach to her students' learning, Hans follows a more conservative route, and has a family to support. Through their designs, both earn the ire of their many colleagues, until Amanda Pick crosses the wrong path and ends up dead.

At the same time, speculations are building about the true origins of an unknown manuscript by G. K. Chesterton, who spent time on the Notre Dame campus. How is the awkward researcher of these papers tied into Amanda's death? And how did Notre Dame's foremost Chesterton scholar, Sean Pottery, fall madly in love with the young ill-fated professor?

Displaying Ralph McInerny's trademark wit and intelligence, Irish Tenure is another clever romp through the hallowed halls of academia, and once again demonstrates why McInerny is considered a master of the mystery form.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Catholic

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

About the author

Ralph Matthew McInerny was an American Catholic religious scholar and fiction writer, including mysteries and science fiction. Some of his fiction has appeared under the pseudonyms of Harry Austin, Matthew FitzRalph, Ernan Mackey, Edward Mackin, and Monica Quill. As a mystery writer he is best known as the creator of Father Dowling. He was Professor of Philosophy, Director of the Jacques Maritain Center, and Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame until his retirement in June 2009. He died of esophageal cancer on January 29, 2010.

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE any book relating to the University of Notre Dame so this whole series is a MUST read for me. I highly recommend for any Notre Dame alumni, Notre Dame fans, and fans of academic literature.

Things I loved:
- I LOVE that it is set at the University of Notre Dame. I can picture all of the places on campus in my mind.
- I love all the references to literature!
- I love academia books in general, especially books about professors.
- Diction is great!
- Interesting plot. I couldn't predict the ending on this one.

Quotes:
- "In a distant future, however toothless and forgetful they become, they will always remember that they are Domers who spent the best years of their youth at Our Lady's University."
- "Novels have plots, beginnings, middles, and ends; but a human life is a sequence of actions whose real meaning is not what they aim at but what they are. It is a difficult things for one whose passion is literature to realize that a story inevitably distorts life by giving it an intelligible completeness."

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever - That's what I think of all of Ralph McInerny's works. Best know for being a philosophy professor at Notre Dame, McInerny wrote a couple of cozy murders series. This is the third in his Notre Dame series and we have two young philosophy professors pitted against each other for tenure. Toss in a lost G. K. Chesterton Father Brown mystery written during his visit, and the Knight brothers ( a professor and a P. I.) are kept busy. Lots of red herrings and an unreliable witness (written a decade before they were popular!) keep readers on their toes.

[Tommie Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at the politics that takes place in getting a permanent position at a major University. The only thing didn't like was that the murderer was only barely named until the end of the story.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably much better to someone who is more familiar with philosophy, Notre Dame, or faculty life.

[Jeanne Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy mystery series set at the University of Notre Dame. The detectives are a pair of brothers.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kind of fun! It's written by a Professor of Notre Dame, and as the title says, it's a mystery set at the University. It was clean and well written, but the best part was I could actually picture in my mind where everything was taking place. I miss Notre Dame!!!

272 pages, 544 for the year

[Steve Vetsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ralph McInerny tells a good story. Always fun to read one of his mysteries, or detective tales.

[Roger Smitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The inclusion of a murder In a comedic treatment of academic life is a bit unusual. Still, it's a good read.

[Ruthmarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable quick read while at Notre Dame.