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.
It's been a long time since I read it but I remember the theme that run through them was redemption.You wish that your neighborhood clergymen sounded like 'Blackie' Ryan.As I recall most of the characters in that series were middle aged like I am now but the plots were so well written that even a twenty something like I was then could immerse herself in them even found the odd character I could relate too.