Andrew M. Greeley: The Mysteries of Grace

by Allienne R. Becker

Andrew M. Greeley's Blackie Ryan stories are reviewed and explicated in this study of the author's novels featuring the delightful and leprechaun like detective. The book surveys detective fiction in which the unique, irrestible, and sometimes irrepressible Blackie Ryan, who is sometimes, but not always, a persona for the author, appears. A composite portrait of Blackie is drawn for the reader. The themesboth sociological and religiousthat occur in the fiction are highlighted and explored, as are the various literary devices that the author employs to create his stories. The book includes a "Foreword" written by Andrew M. Greeley, world renowned sociologist, priest, and Professor of Social Science at the university of Chicago.

260 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2002

Reviews

[Cynthia Grove · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 or 3 stars? There were a lot of typographical errors in the kindle version I read. It was really interesting to read some of the plots and characters of the books I haven't read as Becker describes them while showing the recurrent and particular themes Greeley was exploring.
In this exercise Becker has considered only the Blackie Ryan detective stories and looks at how the structure of a classic detective story provides the format for a novel which is far deeper and is about showing and considering important human values and issues. Most readers will have already noticed this teaching aspect of the books but it was fun to read an academic analysis of the issues as portrayed. Eventually however it started to pall as book after book is examined. (I have read none of the early books "Happy are . . ." which look at values from the Sermon on the Mount and the result was that I skipped about three chapters. )
The discussion of the later books, which I had read was more interesting although I did not always agree with Becker's reading of the books. But that is part of reading - we each bring our own knowledge, learning and perspectives to understanding our reading choices.
What did irritate me was some of the comments about British examples of the Golden Age of detective fiction. Margery Allingham has Albert Campion fall in love and get married and procreate, likewise Ngaio Marsh's Roderick Alleyn so Dorothy Leigh Sayers was not alone in this though I agree the norm may have been for unmarried detectives. And stately homes and mansions are not common in these books. But fair enough, an ugly little bashing to death in poorer areas wouldn't appeal much nor attract the detective.