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Contract with an Angel
Millionaire media mogul Raymond Neenan can't believe his ears--or his eyes. the seat next to him, empty for the whole flight, now barely contains a huge man who looks a lot like Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan.
In fact, the "man" is the Archangel Michael ("Not Mike, not Mikey, but Michael. you got a problem with that?), and he's looking to make a deal for Neenan's immortal soul.
Neenan isn't interested in his soul or anyone else's unless there is money in it, but a little well-timed turbulence that sends the plane hurtling earthward caused him to reconsider. If he doesn't believe in it, what could it hurt to sign?
But for a man like Neenan,making amends is no easy task. Though he never knew it, he's damaged a lot of lives, including his own. He's hated or feared by his parents, his ex-wife, his children, and practically everyone he's ever met.
In fact, the "man" is the Archangel Michael ("Not Mike, not Mikey, but Michael. you got a problem with that?), and he's looking to make a deal for Neenan's immortal soul.
Neenan isn't interested in his soul or anyone else's unless there is money in it, but a little well-timed turbulence that sends the plane hurtling earthward caused him to reconsider. If he doesn't believe in it, what could it hurt to sign?
But for a man like Neenan,making amends is no easy task. Though he never knew it, he's damaged a lot of lives, including his own. He's hated or feared by his parents, his ex-wife, his children, and practically everyone he's ever met.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
10 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Andrew M. Greeley
373 books317 followersAndrew 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...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 22, 2020
As predictable as day following night, Greeley's books are formulaic, but comforting. He is the more expansive Catholic theology in his writing (and one presumes his beliefs), that is, small 'c' catholic as universal embracing overlaid on mystery or fiction. I often wonder if I could have remained more fully Catholic in practice rather than just by baptism had I had a priest around like him growing up yet today I retain that appreciation for this type of catholicism while embracing my Universalism. I digress.
In Contract With an Angel, an independent novel among Greeley's numerous series books, we have the wake up call of a man facing death to turn his life around and make amends with various family members to the best of his ability. The plot may be formulaic, but I find the assorted angelic and heavenly superior entities amusing in characterization. I love the more real and authentic way that our main character carries on conversations with these beings and brings his doubts fully into the dialogue, addressing the supreme one as Occupant or Another Reality Altogether. There is much laughter and beauty and love. You know up front that all will be resolved neatly, but that is what makes it a pleasant and easy read. Comfort food for the soul and reading pleasure in a time where the world and life could use a bit more of that.
In Contract With an Angel, an independent novel among Greeley's numerous series books, we have the wake up call of a man facing death to turn his life around and make amends with various family members to the best of his ability. The plot may be formulaic, but I find the assorted angelic and heavenly superior entities amusing in characterization. I love the more real and authentic way that our main character carries on conversations with these beings and brings his doubts fully into the dialogue, addressing the supreme one as Occupant or Another Reality Altogether. There is much laughter and beauty and love. You know up front that all will be resolved neatly, but that is what makes it a pleasant and easy read. Comfort food for the soul and reading pleasure in a time where the world and life could use a bit more of that.
November 19, 2023
This is not the kind of book I generally read. The premise is “What if I knew my time on earth was limited, what would I change?"
R.A. Neenan (business exec in his 50’s?) is confronted by Michael an archangel/seraph resembling Michael Jordan (big black athletic man), who contracts with Neenan in changing his life before his impending death. Neenan must completely change each close familial relationship in his life, which has become damaged due to his quest for more power, conquests and more money.
Raymond Neenan is an Irish American millionaire media mogul who meets his guardian angel on a flight into Chicago who no one else can see. Michael informs him that his life is almost over & he needs to make amends for mistreating & alienating a lot of people in his manipulative, mercenary, profit-centered existence – including his 2nd wife, Anna Marie Allegro, who is super sexy, but neglected; estranged daughter (actress who was brought up on her mother’s vicious tirades); gay son who is working as an overshadowed jr exec in Neenam’s company; numerous business associates; bitter parents; frigid & shrewish 1st wife (just like his mother); as well as numerous women he has used & discarded. He actually accomplishes much of this & seems to enjoy his newfound attitude while astounding others.
Neenan is forced to sign a contract with the Archangel Michael where he promises to follow Michael’s guidance to make amends for past mistakes. Nearing the end of the book, I found myself cheering for Neenan, but he’s shot fatally. It doesn't end quite like you'd expect, but I don't want to give the ending away.
Strangely there’s a chorus of angels lifting their lilting voices in accompaniment throughout the book.
Also strange is that Michael has a gorgeous ‘companion’ Gaby (Gabriel is a female angel) with whom he has angelic sexual encounters which last for days. Amazing how much sex a celibate Catholic priest can inject into his writings.
It’s a joyful romp of a book!
Greely intertwines his descriptive and lively characters around two equally lively and descriptive angels, doing all they can to insure Neenan turns his life around. Greely combines adventure, suspense, mystery and romance for a memorable tale well told even if it’s not great literature. I thoroughly recommend this book and you will have to read the book for the suspenseful ending!
R.A. Neenan (business exec in his 50’s?) is confronted by Michael an archangel/seraph resembling Michael Jordan (big black athletic man), who contracts with Neenan in changing his life before his impending death. Neenan must completely change each close familial relationship in his life, which has become damaged due to his quest for more power, conquests and more money.
Raymond Neenan is an Irish American millionaire media mogul who meets his guardian angel on a flight into Chicago who no one else can see. Michael informs him that his life is almost over & he needs to make amends for mistreating & alienating a lot of people in his manipulative, mercenary, profit-centered existence – including his 2nd wife, Anna Marie Allegro, who is super sexy, but neglected; estranged daughter (actress who was brought up on her mother’s vicious tirades); gay son who is working as an overshadowed jr exec in Neenam’s company; numerous business associates; bitter parents; frigid & shrewish 1st wife (just like his mother); as well as numerous women he has used & discarded. He actually accomplishes much of this & seems to enjoy his newfound attitude while astounding others.
Neenan is forced to sign a contract with the Archangel Michael where he promises to follow Michael’s guidance to make amends for past mistakes. Nearing the end of the book, I found myself cheering for Neenan, but he’s shot fatally. It doesn't end quite like you'd expect, but I don't want to give the ending away.
Strangely there’s a chorus of angels lifting their lilting voices in accompaniment throughout the book.
Also strange is that Michael has a gorgeous ‘companion’ Gaby (Gabriel is a female angel) with whom he has angelic sexual encounters which last for days. Amazing how much sex a celibate Catholic priest can inject into his writings.
It’s a joyful romp of a book!
Greely intertwines his descriptive and lively characters around two equally lively and descriptive angels, doing all they can to insure Neenan turns his life around. Greely combines adventure, suspense, mystery and romance for a memorable tale well told even if it’s not great literature. I thoroughly recommend this book and you will have to read the book for the suspenseful ending!
July 26, 2015
Originally published on my blog here in December 2001.
The Faust story is about a man who makes a contract with the devil, selling his soul for magic powers and the caresses of Helen of Troy. In this novel, unscrupulous businessman Raymond Needham makes a contract with an angel, who appears to him on a nearly disastrous plane journey, in which he undertakes to follow angelic guidance for the salvation of his soul. There is a tendency for stories involving angels to be rather sentimental (several films could easily be cited as support for this), and though Contract With an Angel is no exception, it is an enjoyable read.
Though Greeley is a Roman Catholic priest, his depiction of angels in his novels is not totally orthodox; but this has little direct effect on this particular story, even if his depiction of God as at least partially female might offend hidebound traditionalists. The angelic purpose is worked out almost entirely through Needham's attempts to restore broken relationships within his family; he is not successful in every case but manages to satisfy the demands of his guardians without much backsliding. (If neither of these statements were true, Contract With an Angel might have been a more literary novel, but probably less enjoyable.) Light and likely to leave a silly grin on the reader's face, Contract With an Angel makes an ideal pick-me-up.
The Faust story is about a man who makes a contract with the devil, selling his soul for magic powers and the caresses of Helen of Troy. In this novel, unscrupulous businessman Raymond Needham makes a contract with an angel, who appears to him on a nearly disastrous plane journey, in which he undertakes to follow angelic guidance for the salvation of his soul. There is a tendency for stories involving angels to be rather sentimental (several films could easily be cited as support for this), and though Contract With an Angel is no exception, it is an enjoyable read.
Though Greeley is a Roman Catholic priest, his depiction of angels in his novels is not totally orthodox; but this has little direct effect on this particular story, even if his depiction of God as at least partially female might offend hidebound traditionalists. The angelic purpose is worked out almost entirely through Needham's attempts to restore broken relationships within his family; he is not successful in every case but manages to satisfy the demands of his guardians without much backsliding. (If neither of these statements were true, Contract With an Angel might have been a more literary novel, but probably less enjoyable.) Light and likely to leave a silly grin on the reader's face, Contract With an Angel makes an ideal pick-me-up.
November 1, 2012
The book Contract With An Angel is a story about many different things put into one story. I think this book mostly tells us about real life lessons we can learn from and put to good use. It starts out with a man by the name of R.A. Neenan a wealthy media mogul on a plane going to Chicago, while he is on that plane he meets a man by the name of Michael. Michael claims to be an angel sent from above to tell him that he doesn’t have much time left on earth and needs to change his life. R.A. blows him off and makes it off the plain but the one think he can’t ignore is that the so called angel keeps showing up everywhere. Eventually he realizes that Michael is in fact the real deal and decides to give him a chance. Neenan spends the rest of the book putting back together the life he thought was so great but really it was falling apart.
The message of the book is everyone needs to look at their own life and evaluate whether they are doing everything they can to make the most of their life and doing it in a positive manner. The book also makes you think about all the people in your life that have been bad influences and makes you think about how you could have made a situation a lot better by surrounding yourself with the people who do matter and with people who make a positive difference.
I personally think that this book opened my eyes on how I have taken some things in life for granted and it makes me think about how I could have avoided guilt, worry or sadness by making the right choices the first time. This book has made me look at what I have and how lucky I am to have it. This book has been positive reinforcement for my life because I look at life as you can’t change your past but you can how you respond and move forward in a positive way.
The message of the book is everyone needs to look at their own life and evaluate whether they are doing everything they can to make the most of their life and doing it in a positive manner. The book also makes you think about all the people in your life that have been bad influences and makes you think about how you could have made a situation a lot better by surrounding yourself with the people who do matter and with people who make a positive difference.
I personally think that this book opened my eyes on how I have taken some things in life for granted and it makes me think about how I could have avoided guilt, worry or sadness by making the right choices the first time. This book has made me look at what I have and how lucky I am to have it. This book has been positive reinforcement for my life because I look at life as you can’t change your past but you can how you respond and move forward in a positive way.
November 19, 2020
This is not a new premise for a story, but a fun twist with interesting characterization of the angels and other religious entities. Good variety with the male characters; very disappointing persistent objectifying of the female characters. Clearly the author had good intentions but doesn’t know the first thing about relationships and just defaults to appearance and sex, which was weird and tedious.
June 16, 2012
I couldn't finish this book. Same old stuff . . . angel wants Neenan to turn his life around, Neenan discovers life is better when he changes his behavior, he lusts after his wife, yadda, yadda. After a while, I couldn't help but wonder why a priest, the author, writes and knows so much about sex. Guess he must do his research!
July 24, 2013
Didn't care for this book. I had to keep reminding myself it was written by a Priest. Almost didn't finish it. Too much sex, the "angels" were turned into something sensual and full of magic acts. Had to read between the lines to get the story. Don't understand why he felt it necessary to have sex on every other page.
December 31, 2019
Raymond Neenan, a media mogul is sitting next to an angel on his flight. The angel bears a keen resemblance to Michael Jordan., the basketball superstar. However, the man is not the player, but an archangel. He has a contract for Raymond to sign that makes him vow to change his life. With the help from a little air turbulence, the archangel gets him to sign on the dotted line. To fulfill the contract Raymond must stop having money as his god. Also he must make amends to those he has hurt in his life and the list is long. Can he do it? I found this to be ne of Greeley's best novels. I really enjoyed it.
February 4, 2020
It was a little far-fetched but interesting and rather fun to read. And for some unreasonable reason, every time I thought of the author (especially through love making scenes), I became uneasy. Maybe it was the strict Catholic upbringing! Haha. I do like stories that include angels and demons, so this fit into my preferences. I also really enjoyed behind the scenes description of scripts becoming movie series. I like that level of detail in storytelling. Anyway, I have no regrets but I doubt I’ll pick up another one from him.
April 1, 2020
Had not read Andrew Greeley's work in a while but was instantly transported back into his unique style of writing, where humour abounds in a subtle fashion and where love of all kinds is celebrated. There are always strong encouraging messages encapsulated, which lead you to reflect on your life and to gently pick yourself up by your bootstraps and improve. And as always after finishing an Andrew Greeley novel I thank God that I was introduced to this author.
September 5, 2018
Obviously intended to give one pause as to the place they may be in their own life by the life of the characters, but simply too predictable, IMHO.
June 23, 2019
Loved this book.
February 7, 2020
I actually couldn’t finish it. I found it stupid and annoying.
May 18, 2020
A tale of angelic intervention in one man's life and how it changed him.
June 28, 2025
One of the best I’ve ever read!!
July 4, 2025
Not the usual Blackie characters but very good.
November 11, 2012
Previously someone gave me a copy of another Greeley book, St. Valentine's Night, which intrigued me on several levels, not the least of which was the familiar way in which the author (reportedly a Roman Catholic priest) handled physical intimacy, but also the infusion of a touch of supernaturalism in what was on some level a murder mystery romance.
Contract with an Angel is very different. It still has the intense physical intimacy, this time between husband and wife (although with hints of his desires for other women he has known in the past). However, the supernaturalism here has become overt--the second and fourth most important characters in the story are archangels, and Mother Mary appears as well. Right from the opening, the story caught my attention as the lead character, a multimillionaire media mogul, realizes that there is someone seated beside him in what he remembered being an empty seat on a commercial jet, and that person plays a reverse Faustian game in which he wants the man to sign a contract giving his soul to the angels and agreeing to do as they suggest in fixing his life before his apparently (but unexpectedly) rapidly approaching death. It then follows him, along with the angelic advice, as he discovers the wife he never really knew, and repairs relationships with everyone from his grown children to his employees and staff to his ex-wife and former lovers to his parents. Not all of these efforts succeed, but those which do do so remarkably.
I am strongly tempted to list it as a Christian book. It is not, I think, one that I would recommend for young singles, because of the strongly erotic passages which infuse his relationship with his wife and spill into the rest of his life; but it is very good at suggesting paths to reconciliation with others in our lives, and at recognizing that we must do what we can and not concern ourselves with whether others reciprocate.
Gradually a pall falls over the story, as the central character realizes that he wasted so much of his life and has so little time remaining, and that he will not be around to enjoy the restored relationships; but no one understands this because he won't tell them about the angels or the imminent death.
I was a bit bothered by the angelic insistence on referencing God as "she". Although I agree with part of the explanation at the end, that God is all that is male and female (indeed, so was Adam, prior to the removal of the feminine aspect to become Eve), and even the suggestion that for the main character the female aspect of God was more likely to mediate the divine to him, I'm still of the opinion that masculine pronouns are correct for gender-neutral or gender-unspecified persons, and particularly for the archangels to follow that feminine reference seems out of place.
There were many good points, though, and it will be worth reading again.
Contract with an Angel is very different. It still has the intense physical intimacy, this time between husband and wife (although with hints of his desires for other women he has known in the past). However, the supernaturalism here has become overt--the second and fourth most important characters in the story are archangels, and Mother Mary appears as well. Right from the opening, the story caught my attention as the lead character, a multimillionaire media mogul, realizes that there is someone seated beside him in what he remembered being an empty seat on a commercial jet, and that person plays a reverse Faustian game in which he wants the man to sign a contract giving his soul to the angels and agreeing to do as they suggest in fixing his life before his apparently (but unexpectedly) rapidly approaching death. It then follows him, along with the angelic advice, as he discovers the wife he never really knew, and repairs relationships with everyone from his grown children to his employees and staff to his ex-wife and former lovers to his parents. Not all of these efforts succeed, but those which do do so remarkably.
I am strongly tempted to list it as a Christian book. It is not, I think, one that I would recommend for young singles, because of the strongly erotic passages which infuse his relationship with his wife and spill into the rest of his life; but it is very good at suggesting paths to reconciliation with others in our lives, and at recognizing that we must do what we can and not concern ourselves with whether others reciprocate.
Gradually a pall falls over the story, as the central character realizes that he wasted so much of his life and has so little time remaining, and that he will not be around to enjoy the restored relationships; but no one understands this because he won't tell them about the angels or the imminent death.
I was a bit bothered by the angelic insistence on referencing God as "she". Although I agree with part of the explanation at the end, that God is all that is male and female (indeed, so was Adam, prior to the removal of the feminine aspect to become Eve), and even the suggestion that for the main character the female aspect of God was more likely to mediate the divine to him, I'm still of the opinion that masculine pronouns are correct for gender-neutral or gender-unspecified persons, and particularly for the archangels to follow that feminine reference seems out of place.
There were many good points, though, and it will be worth reading again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2012
One of my favorites. Greeley portrays angels the way people would LIKE to think of them: humorous, sincere, adoring of their Creator, bemused and confused by their Creator's "favorite" creation. Greeley has a knack for portraying the emotional turbulence within families and an intriguing knowledge of the sexual relationship between men and women. Sometimes I wonder if he's been given some special information from God.
March 27, 2008
I loved this book! I read it in one morning on my day off over a pot of coffee! I am hooked and planning on reading all of his books! Its a feel good story about a man that gets a last chance from an "angel" to change his lifestyle since he only has 3 months to live. It is surprisingly funny, lighthearted and a great read and love story!
June 18, 2013
This book deals with God’s attempts to save the soul of an arrogant, type A media tycoon by sending an Archangel (who looks and sounds like Michael Jordan) to help him get his life in order before his eminent demise. It is a great story and reflects Catholic theology pretty well, but Greeley (RIP) is a much better story-teller than a writer. If you’re Catholic you might enjoy this.
August 20, 2014
I read this because I have enjoyed Greeley's novels in the past, and because my husband said it made him cry. I enjoyed the entire read, especially the depiction of God. A bit uncomfortable with angels as procreating beings, but I can forgive that. The concept of a spouse as metaphor for God's love is really quite lovely.
August 8, 2016
Contract with and Angel was really a delightful breath of fresh air. An angel appears to a man during a plane trip gone scary and tells him to get his life in order as he will die soon. The tone of the book is most interesting because Raymond immediately believes in the angel. This makes for a heart-warming story which even my husband liked.
June 1, 2009
I liked this book. I makes you realize that second chances are not always in vain and change is hard. Sometimes it takes a lot for a person to want to change but when they do great things can happen. It is a very sweet story.
June 18, 2009
I really liked this book. I was intrigued by the priest/author thing. Father Greeley has written a lot of other books. I've meant to read more of them...will have to see which ones get the best reviews.
August 3, 2010
Greeley went into the clouds for this idea: Mean Media Mogul turned pussycat by meddling seraphs. Reading is a study in plot twists but I preferred the last book I'd read of Greeley's called Irish Lace. It was two times better.
December 1, 2012
Another absolutely SUPERB novel by a wonderful author and Catholic Priest. This one I also read numerous times and each time learn something new and exciting. I recommend this for anyone who is trying to come to terms with everyday life and their own mortality.
April 21, 2024
The story dragged a bit in the beginning but eventually turned around. I liked how it ended.
This is the only Andrew Greeley book I have read. I see that he has passed away now, so no more stories from his unique perspective.
This is the only Andrew Greeley book I have read. I see that he has passed away now, so no more stories from his unique perspective.
September 30, 2014
A really good story of a man consumed with power who meets Archangel Michael on an airplane flight and signs an agreement to be a better man for the short time he has left. Andrew Greeley spins a terrific yarn and I really enjoyed this story.
Read
May 30, 2016A very entertaining and charming story. It is a story of Love and hope and being what God wants us to be. This is the 2nd book of this author that I read he has a lot of Father Blackie Ryan books plus some Irish stories. The author is a Catholic Priest.
September 24, 2008
This was an audio tape
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews