Happy Are the Oppressed

Blackie Ryan #8

by Andrew M. Greeley

One hundred years after the wife of tycoon Peter Paul Cardin is brutally murdered, Mrs. Peter Paul Cardin V realizes that she is destined to share the same fate unless Bishop Blackie Ryan is able to solve a mystery from the past. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

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

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It was entertaining and engaging from the very beginning. I powered through and could not put it down. Mystery, intrigue, wry Irish wit, and charming. Catholics like myself will get the most out of the story because of the backdrop of parish life and Church dealings, but I suspect even non-Catholics will like the energetic Irish Bishop who is the centerpiece of the story. Great reading!

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too much of the mystery was given over to exposition for my tastes, and on the contrary the good bishop held the cards too close to his chest as he approached the unveiling of the perpetrator. Still a first class novel by a first class author.

[David Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Been wanting to finish up the series -- have just one more to go. Hard to find these in the library - this was the last copy available in Maryland! Thankful that we have a system where it can be borrowed!

[Cindy Pao · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good Blackie Ryan mystery!

[David Freas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another typical Greeley novel, only this time Blackie Ryan is on a mission to stop a murder, not find who committed one.

Ryan’s wry asides about himself and Greeley’s ‘telling you a tale over a glass of Irish whiskey’ writing style always make these books a pleasant read.

The long article on the history of the family that is the center of the plot and numerous letters from a maid in their home to her sister in Ireland slowed the flow somewhat. Some of the article and many of the letters could have been trimmed from the novel without damaging the story.

If you're looking for books a little lighter than your usual fare, you can't go wrong with this series.

[Christy Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of a series of light mysteries that I enjoy for the interweaving of liberal Catholic theology by main character Father Blackie Ryan, Happy Are the Oppressed was an a pleasant quick read that was about average as far as this series goes (the newer/later ones in the series have more complex stories and characters that I enjoy a bit more). The pleasure in this one is lengthy segments from the imagined historical letters of a maid from Ireland working in a Chicago mansion 100 years ago when a crime was committed that has bearing on the modern crime.

[JW van der Merwe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bishop Blackie the catholic priest is the main character investigating a murder that is yet to take place because an influential woman came to see him stating she will be dead soon. He received a note of a family curse on the family line of her husband. In the investigation he digs into the past and discovered letters of an Irish maid working for the predecessors of the family. The story of the letters is actually more of the story and more interesting than the rest of the book where many characters are sometimes confusing. The good part is the letters.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Father Blackie Ryan finds himself drawn to helping a woman from a famous family who is sure someone in her husband's family wants her dead. mainly her husband. While trying to figure out if she has anything to worry about Blackie is given letters from 100 years ago to read. They are from a young women who worked for this family and her life with them. The letters are about her life and the family curse the wealthy family has. Could this have any thing to it now and can it help this young woman today. Has you wondering along with Father Blackie, A great read.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Bishop Blackie novel in particular because this is the one where he 'meets' Clare Raftery, who he mentions in several other books. The mystery is absorbing, the interludes with Clare funny, and overall, it's a fine addition to the series.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Father Blackie Ryan mystery. You can see where it's going fairly early on, but that doesn't really matter. Blackie (and the author) try too hard to be hip and cool (or whatever the current word for that is), but it's hard not to like them anyway. Fun. Silly. Catholic.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naturally, during the holiday season Bishop Blackie is busy, but not too busy to solve a 100 year old locked room mystery, and prevent a modern copy cat murder. My gray matter must be going as well, because I didn't figure out "who done it" until Blackie recounted the details at the end.

[Laurie Stoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bishop Ryan books are delightful! This one was especially good because of the historical references of old Chicago and an unsolved murder from the 1890's. Good stuff!

[Xhan-ger Cayanong · Rating 5 out of 5]

first novel that i have read way back in highschool-2002

[Kevin]

Good stuff. I haven't read a Bishop Blackie novel in decades. I forgot how much I enjoyed the little Irish Bishop.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Father Greeley's theology more than I like his mysteries or his writing style.