Irish Whiskey

Nuala Anne McGrail #3

by Andrew M. Greeley

Nuala Anne McGrail is almost more than any poor mortal man can handle without losing his her beauty causes shortness of breath in men of all ages, she's strong, she's smart, she's witty, she sings like an angel, and--to top it all off--she's psychic, or fey as they say in the Old Country. But our man Dermot Michael Coyne, "accidental millionaire," part-time writer, and full-time worshiper of Nuala, seems to be bearing up pretty well in as much as Herself has consented to marry him. Before that blissful day arrives, another one of Nuala's "spells" sends the pair on a hunt to find out what really happened to Al Capone's famous rival, Jimmy "Sweet Rolls" Sullivan. And as they've found in previous adventures, historic mysteries can often be too current for safety, and the dead should be left buried--wherever they are.

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

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

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

[AbbyreadaBook · Rating 2 out of 5]

This made reading border on tedium for me. The language gave me migraines, the romance is mostly about Dermot Michael(his name irks me for some reason, almost every name in the book) obsessing over sleeping with Nuala Anne (We didn't even get steamy sex scene at the end!) , I didn't see the point in nosing around in James Sullivan's business(Let the Man die in Peace!), Dermot is very dumb, the entire book is very boring, the author is a poor storyteller and the book lacks a substantial Plot.

[Heather Griffitts Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I think I read these just for the language in them...I love the lyrical sound/flow of how the Irish new to America (or sometimes long time American residents) speak....

I enjoyed this mystery - as I do all of Mr. Greeley's mysteries. I always learn a bit about history.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irish Whiskey by Andrew M. Greeley is the third book of the Nuala Anne McGrail mystery series set in late-20th-century Chicago. Dermot Michael Coyne and his bride-to-be Nuala are just a few weeks away from their wedding. They can't "coast" blissfully into the event, however.

On a visit to Dermot's grandparents' graves, Nuala is disturbed by Jimmy "Sweet Rolls" Sullivan's grave. She insists they must investigate why the 1920s bootlegger (rival of Al Capone) is not really buried there.

Nuala's jealous and manipulative brother Laurence wants to prevent their wedding. He tries to turn all her siblings against Nuala & Dermot's nuptials. Luckily Nuala's parents have met Dermot, when he visited Ireland and fell in love with Nuala (book 1 of the series). They know he's a good man.

If that is not enough to keep them busy, vindictive, twisted Dale Quade, Assistant US District Attorney, is out to get Dermot. She'll stop at nothing: breaks the law and legal ethics in the process. But never fear, Dermot's sister Cindy is a talented lawyer adept at courtroom battle.

Above all, enjoy the witty banter, portrayed as the Irish manner of speaking. For full enjoyment of the relationships and antics, read the series in order.

[Brent M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fey Nuala 'sees' there is something wrong with a tomb in Mt Carmel cemetery. This leads her and her fiancé , Dermot Coyne, on a search for puzzle pieces reaching back to 1920's Prohibition days in Chicago. Mix it with an indictment of Dermot by an overzealous US Attorney just before their wedding. Plus meddling siblings trying to stop the wedding. Greeley weaves one of his signature tales of Chicago' Irish Catholics. Fully enjoyable and the story pulls you along.

[Michael Parish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Catholic read

While not great literature, and entirely predictable it felt incredibly familiar to this Catholic boy. The. Church permeates their lives in the most common everyday routine like family member. Just a given presence we could not and would not want to lose.
I will be reading all the sequels.

[Dawnrenae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irish Whiskey, by Andrew M. Greeley! Another amazing piece of work! Magick and romance and mystery. Maybe it's these books that make me love Ireland so.

This tale shows the injustices that some people face in America today. About a corrupt legal system and media outlets. Yet, it also tells about triumph, and the power of love throughout history and today!

[Karen L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming story that gives a flare of Irish-American history in Chicago. A realistic story of how folks can be blinded by jealousy or just plain lack of comprehension how some can be so fortunate or “lucky”. An amazingly successful family who sticks together in support of each other and a fiancée who stands strong and also in support.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Learned a lot about Al Capone and friends and boot legging. The couple, can't remember their names, are just too too sweet. I like the writing style. Was a good airplane read

[NK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this better than 2nd in the series.

[Mary Ann Kierych · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable book. I found at times the Irish accent made it harder to read and didn’t flow. Did like the characters.

[Lynn Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. Confusing at times, but overall, satisfactory.

[Mardi D · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this less than the first I read which I found only so so. This one was more of a grind. I won't be looking for any others by this author.

[Lyn Soulia-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read any others in this series but will very soon.
Nuala reminds me of my grandmother and love her character. This was a good book

[Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rollicking good Greeley read well-soaked in Irish whiskey.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was very charming and I enjoyed the Irish lilt in the dialogue very much. The story was compelling and interesting. In fact, I discovered mid book....it is a series, so I'll go back and read book 1 and 2.

[Storm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the best, and most fun to read one so far. Really liked the mystery of the Chicago gangster who didn't really die and how it was interwoven with Dermot's grandparents.

[Paigersoccerfan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the third in the "Irish" series by Andrew M. Greeley. It was by far my favorite, so far (I have read #'s 1,2, and 4.) I think that the historical part of the book was blended into the story a little better than in the other books. The romance was fun and sweet. The author wove the story so that the reader is completely rooting for the main character, which is of course as it should be. I enjoyed getting more a glimpse into Mr. Greeley's theology, which the main characters espoused. I found I quite liked his idea of God, and married love being, "... an excellent metaphor and indeed a reflection of the most inner and personal activity of the deity." (pg. 174) I think I might consider becoming Catholic, if Father Greeley were my priest. !

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I truly did enjoy this book, but Greeley’s writing gets tiresome at times. It’s his love affair with the Irish. It’s as if there is no other culture or heritage and rich, mystical and wonderful as the Irish. It gets to be a bit much by the end of the book.

I do like, however, the bits of history he is weaving into these stories. This one, like the second book, involves an era in Chicago’s past that we have hopefully lived down at this point in time – Prohibition and Al Capone. While the mystery is a literary invention, you still learn something about the past and that era along the way.

[Zarina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book came in when my brother borrowed two sets of encyclopedia for a photo shoot. It is hard cover without its jacket and no write up of the book. But the title was interesting enough for me to pick it up.

I love the story but it tends to drift away - the language is a bit weird for me to understand that I really have to fully concentrate on the reading.

I love how the book tells about the rivalry of the two Chicago mafia and the romance of one. It also brings a bit of history about the city.

One thing I do not understand is why a new arraignment came in just before the wedding. But then, to make a story we need a bit of a twist.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light, quick, summer read. The setting in Chicago and references to Dublin made the book more enjoyable. Three themes were interwoven: what happened to an Irish gangster who lived in Chicago during the Al Capone era, trumped up charges of fraud and the goings on at the Mercantile Exchange, and family problems with an upcoming Irish wedding. Since Andrew Greeley recently passed away, and he wrote many, many books, I felt it was time to read one of his books. I am glad I read this one and I have one more in this series but I do not think I will read too many more. It was just too predictable.

[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.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I anticipated both more and less of a story from this novel. There were several stories being told, and none of them particularly well. Greeley told more than showed throughout. We're too much in the narrator/ main character's head. If this was presented in my writing group, I'd have pages of notes. Unbelievable, undeveloped characters. Paltry description. And then descriptions that slow the action down.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dermot & Nuala stories are always interesting. :) This one took a little while to get started- but once it did I was able to get more involved in the story. I know they were almost- newlyweds- but could have done without knowing how often they wanted to ravage each other - not sure it was always necessary to know what Nuala was wearing. Just little nit-picky things that bugged me. Overall a good read.

[Beth McGoldrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't my favorites in this series. I like to read these stories for the plot and relationship between the two main characters (still good in this episode), for the historical fiction / mystery plot (meager at best in this story), and for the "modern" day story plot (not my favorite in this episode). The main modern day plot is about a court trial and I'm not a fan of courtroom dramas. it was written well, but not my cup of tea.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sure and I've liked some of his books before, but wasn't this the tedious one with all its 'if only I'd listened' or 'wasn't the worst to be coming' and such shite. Read not quite half and skimmed the rest.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these books even though Nuala is a little too perfect and you don't ever really doubt that things are going to turn out altogether grand, brilliant even. The lovely melody if the Irish Americans and their charm draw you in. I will always read these books, they are a light fun read.

[Becky]

It was okay; might read the rest.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's still a good mystery but becoming too political and Nuala is a bit too perfect.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dermot & Nuala's wedding almost because fed's think his stock dealing was an inside tip.

[Salsadancer · Rating 2 out of 5]

takes place in Prohabition-era Chicago