Lying Three: A Father Dowling Mystery

Father Dowling #4

by Ralph McInerny

International politics and terrorism invade a small Chicago suburb when a bungled assassination attempt on a visiting Israeli consul is followed by the murder of Aaron Leib, Fox River's most ardent Zionist

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

250 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1979

About the author

Ralph Matthew McInerny was an American Catholic religious scholar and fiction writer, including mysteries and science fiction. Some of his fiction has appeared under the pseudonyms of Harry Austin, Matthew FitzRalph, Ernan Mackey, Edward Mackin, and Monica Quill. As a mystery writer he is best known as the creator of Father Dowling. He was Professor of Philosophy, Director of the Jacques Maritain Center, and Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame until his retirement in June 2009. He died of esophageal cancer on January 29, 2010.

Reviews

[EuroHackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Shots are fired at the Israeli consul during a Chicago Cubs game; two days later, the man's companion in his box, Fox River's own Aaron Lieb, is assassinated on a golf course. International implications bring national attention to the tiny Chicago suburb, and complications arise when others start to fall over dead. The circle of conspirators is small, and we have an inside look at the man pulling the strings, crafting the perfect closed loop of murders to advance his own financial machinations.

This wasn't my favorite kind of story - I am not a fan of parallel POVs between the killer and the police who are perpetually in pursuit but about three steps behind - but it did rather bring out the Miss Marple in Father Dowling, who spends most of his time on the periphery of this story, observing everyone and quietly drawing his own conclusions. He was the only one who truly thought the turns of events were too pat, the explanations too good to be true, and he took the brave (if rather foolhardy) step of confronting the mastermind himself. I like this version of Father Dowling, for the most part, even if I did find it a bit tedious to read about his constant disapproval of 1970s culture. Also tedious in this novel were the broad strokes of politics, both regarding the US's relationship with Israel, and "women's lib," of which way too many of the menfolk here disapprove.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A golf course, a security guard, a congressman and a realtor cross paths and lead to murder.

[Gene Georgelis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the spirit of Father Dowling.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Father Dowling #4