All the Dead Fathers

Wild Onion Ltd. #4

by David J. Walker

Two years ago, Father Michael Nolan was sued by the family of a seventeen-year-old girl who had committed suicide years ago after confessing to having an affair with Father Nolan. The lawsuit was thrown out, but all of Michael's secrets came out, resulting in the end of his life as a priest and ruining his relationship with his niece, Kirsten. Michael and Kirsten, a private investigator and the lead character along with her lawyer husband, Dugan, a lawyer, of David J. Walker's acclaimed Wild Onion mystery series, were quite close, especially after Michael helped her out of a big jam when she was in college, and Kirsten is devastated by the revelations about her uncle.

She still feels obligated to him, though, after everything they've been through together, and when a list of priests who have been accused of abuse appears in the Chicago newspaper, she is sympathetic. Unlike Dugan, who defended him against the lawsuit but since then would rather have less than nothing to do with him. But Kirsten's sympathy turns to real fear when one of the priests on the list turns up dead, murdered and his body mutilated. Has the list in the newspaper ignited a killer, or is it someone seeking revenge for a more personal reason?

Before they can get anywhere on the first murder, another priest turns up dead. In this latest intricately constructed novel by the award-winning author of the Mal Foley mysteries, Kirsten and Dugan try to find a killer amid the rising danger.

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

DAVID J. WALKER has written twelve published mystery/suspense novels, and one novella. His most recent book is Company Orders, a 2012 release. This is a stand-alone thriller in which the hero is--of all things--a priest.

David is the author of two private eye series, the "Mal Foley" series, and the “Wild Onion, Ltd.” series. The Wild Onion books feature a wife/husband private eye team, and are set in and around Chicago.

David is the author of the acclaimed 2008 suspense novel, Saving Paulo, also a stand-alone, and his short story, “A Weekend in the Country,” was published in the popular 2006 anthology, Chicago Blues.

One of Walker’s Wild Onion, Ltd. books was short-listed for the Society of Midland Authors best novel award. He has been an Edgar® nominee and has won several Lovie awards. He has served on the Board of Directors of Mystery Writers of America. He is also a member of Private Eye Writers of America, and has been a judge for both the Edgar and Shamus awards.

Walker is a life-long Chicagoan. He has been a parish priest in Chicago, an investigator with the Chicago Police Department, and an attorney. At present, he is a full-time writer
and lives with his wife just north of the city.

Reviews

[Liz Dalche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t enjoy this one. Really didn’t like the writing style at all - too American for me. Uncomfortable storyline too.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone is killing and torturing accused pedophile priests. Does anyone care if these men are murdered? Kirsten of the Wild Onion Detective Agency does care, because her uncle is among the accused. Over the objections of the police
and F.B.I. Kirsten sets out to protect her uncle and others
and to find a serial killer before he, or she, finds Kirsten.

This is a well-plotted mystery which should appeal to
fans of Parker and Paretsky.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

better than i expected. drew me in and kept me guessing.