Thicker Than Water

Father Dowling #6

by Ralph McInerny

In the dreary, cold pre-Easter lull, Mrs. Murkin develops a case of persnicketiness. Someone has stolen from the church’s offering box. The meat she has taken from the freezer and jars of her preserves have vanished. Footprints on the kitchen floor. But when she and reluctant Father Dowling track the footprints through the snow, they come upon something more horrendous than either Mrs. Murkin or Father Dowling has anticipated: a body in a pool of blood.

Thus begin the dire events that shatter the seemingly peaceful innocence of Fox River, Illinois. Murder follows murder. Shades of drug-trafficking and organized crime loom large and menacing. The police press hard and Father Dowling is himself endangered before the murderous attacker is put to ground.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

255 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1981

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

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another boilerplate entry in the Father Dowling Mystery series by Ralph McInerny. I enjoy these as a pleasant diversion from heavier literary fiction. It's the equivalent of a police procedural, with explicit Catholicism mixed in. McInerny's style is to begin with multiple character plot-lines that are eventually woven tightly together. This one was particularly weak in joining the various strands, so much so that an entire character was superfluous. For Dowling completists only.

[EuroHackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The struggle was real to get through this one. The plot was totally scattershot, the elements hanging together only by the proverbial chewing gum and baling wire. There were way too many characters floating around, quite a few of whom are complete loons, and the ending is ridiculous and improbable.

[Jlnpeacock Peacock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Father Dowling was a wonderful character, and the story line was very well done. I enjoyed the mystery being portrayed but appreciated the humanness of the characters. I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part of the book and the last part of the book were exciting. The middle of the book, hard more words than was actually necessary. This is the first Father Dowling book I've read. I like the Priest's easy mannerisms, wit and logic. There were two separate murders you kind of had a hunch might be connected, though nothing obvious. It was just before Easter, cold and snow was still on the ground. Small thefts had also happened at the church. The majority of the book revolves around the Father's dialogues with others and his thoughts and Detective Phil Keegan's dialogues with others and with Father Dowling including the detectives thoughts. Certain individuals from the adult day care may hold the clues. I was a bit caught off guard by the author's use of God's name in vain in more than one instance. The book was fun; however, but could have condensed some of the useless bit of information midway.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the 'water' books that is part of the adult summer reading program at the local library. It was written nearly thirty years ago and was a lot of fun to read. This is the first Father Dowling book I have read but I would be up for reading another sometime.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rectory housekeeper has discovered that some one has stolen from the poor box. She persuades a reluctant Father Dowling to help track the thief through the snow. All the find is a bloody body. Drug dealing raises its ugly head in town and Father Dowling is forced to play detective.