Irish Crystal

Nuala Anne McGrail #9

by Andrew M. Greeley

"There's evil people around, Dermot love. . . . I knew about them even before me dream. Really evil people. Won't we have to fight them!" This latest tale of Nuala Anne McGrail, the engagingly fey heroine of such irresistible books as Irish Cream and Irish Lace, begins with a foreboding dream of some terrible impending evil. Dermot Michael Coyne, Nuala's adoring husband and spear-carrier, knows better than to ignore his wife's second sight, but from whence does this nameless peril originate? From the Homeland Security goons determined to deport the Irish-born Nuala on the basis of nothing more than vague suspicions and accusations? From the spiteful neighbors campaigning against their family's beloved Irish wolfhounds? Or from the tangled dealings of the Currans, a prosperous clan of Irish-American aristocrats, with whom Nuala and Dermot have recently become acquainted? The true danger becomes shockingly apparent when a catastrophic car-bombing rocks the Chicago riverfront. Uncovering the twisted minds behind the bombing is not easy; Dermot and Nuala soon find themselves enmeshed in a complicated tapestry of lies and secrets. Nuala's preternatural instincts also lead her to a forgotten manuscript revealing the treachery and deceit behind a tragic chapter in Irish the saga of bold Robert Emmet and the failed uprisings of 1798 and 1803. Between the past and the present, our heroine and her devoted spouse have more than enough mysteries to contend with, but the two of them are bound to make the truth just as clear as . . . Irish Crystal.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Irish Literature, Romance, Ireland, Historical, Historical Romance

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

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

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've truly liked the books of this series. There are some mystical elements that are a bit strange, but the characters are interesting and have mostly good morals. All in all, these are good mysteries. They are written well also although I was surprised at the level of eroticism considering the series is by a priest.
In each book,the couple solves at least one older often ancient mystery and a current-time mystery that are slightly connected as well as work through a crisis in their relationship or,in the later novels,family life.

[Alleluialu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for the April (crystal) selection in the Rainbow Reading Challenge. It was a cute book, but it dragged a bit. I liked Nuala. She is Irish and typically spunky and her brogue came through really well. She and her husband, Dermot, are amateur - well, according to Dermot Nuala is never wrong - detectives. I couldn't really follow their method of discovering information, but they did solve the crime in the end. There was a lot of sexual references - albeit they were between Nuala and Dermot who were married, but still it was a little excessive for me. I guess anyone would be lucky to have a spouse who was so enraptured with him/her. Anyway, the book was okay, but I'm not going to run out and find another book in this series. Oh well.

[Julaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a very cute series. The main character is an irish women who is "fey". Her husband helps her to solve mysteries. They always have a historical manuscript that follows along with the current day mystery. It provides for an interesting parallel.

[Kelly McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series takes the reader on an adventure. Each book is based on a mystery left behind from an event in history. They are amazing!!! All have some relation to the Irish culture, and I think they are excellent engaging reads.

[Markie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Father Andrew Greeley has been my favorite author for close to 40 years!!! I am close to my goal of reading all of his books!!! This book was truly awesome, weaving a modern mystery with historical fiction!!!

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone tries to kill the Currens - Nuala Anne becomes a yank!

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved reading another Nuala Anne adventure.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Nuala and all the family. Also the Irish!

[Linda Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Andrew Greeley and Nuala Anne!

[April Mc Vey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this new author ( to me) definitely need to look for others to read

[Jannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Andrew Greeley’s writing. He makes the characters live in my mind. And makes me wonder what it would be like to be fey.

[Karen Ruymann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stale. Too repetitive, cliched view of an Irish immigrant, not a great story line, and really REALLY hung up on the male's sex drive. Don't waste your time.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful mystery full of colorful Irish-American characters, good Christians all. I love the history that was introduced and paralleled the contemporary. Not as happy with the why for the who, which was not really very clear.

[Evelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book I every read - I could not finish

[Lettie Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of A. Greeley's writing. I wouldn't recommend it.

[Kay Sarver · Rating 2 out of 5]

I quit on it.

[Carol]

This was the first of this author I read. I love the characters Nualla Ann & Dermot. I loved their part of the book and their mystery solving. I did not care for the many pages of text from an ancient author telling the story of people from the 18th century. I was difficult to wade through for me, and I love history. I will definitely check out another. But it appears the series often or always includes ancient texts. If so that will blow my enthusiasm. As for whether others might enjoy this series, I found left wing Chicago political opinions were assumed to be obvious truths, and while there was not venom aimed at moderates or even conservatives, those assumptions often pulled me out of the story. So liberals would probably find this series more fun than those who are not.

[Karisa Sortor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am disappointed in this book. It says on the back cover that it is a mystery book. I realized at about the fourth chapter that this was not the case. It is more a book from the husbands point of view. The entire thing was basically about his lust for his wife. Not a bad thing, but I was under the impression that this was a mystery novel. I wouldn't recommend this and I won't be reading any more in this series.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do like Greeley's characters and the mysteries, but the book covers make me feel like I'm reading a romance novel. If I hadn't read Blackie books first, I would never have looked twice at Irish Crystal, with it's irrelevant title and cover art.
The Nuala story is good, but I wasn't able to relate the Irish history lesson to the present day events.

[Kasey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd have to say this book was disappointing. It was a little bit tedious to read the narrator speak in a faux Irish manner (he's from Chicago although is wife is Irish). The story plods along. The ending is predictable. Blah. I borrowed this from a friend - I'm glad I didn't buy it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are my guilty pleasure....

[Mary Frette]

VERY GOOD

[Gerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

good Nuala Anne read

[Colleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the series. The historical part was deadly dry, disappointing because it could have been so much more.