Happy Are the Merciful

Blackie Ryan #4

by Andrew M. Greeley

The prosecutor who sent Claire Turner to jail for murdering her adoptive parents begins to doubt the conviction and confesses to Bishop "Blackie" Ryan, who must find the real killer before he becomes the next victim

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Romance

442 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

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

[Anna Ligtenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

ISBN 0515107263 - I'm probably prejudiced. Greeley - and Father Blackie - live in MY Chicago. There really are two; the one that you'll find in books by people who've never been here and the one that those who've lived here know. The difference is evident in little things, like the way Greeley refers to a Chicago neighborhood by it's current and former names while other authors do well to figure out where North, South and West Chicago begin and end.

Terry Scanlan comes to Father Blackie for help - Terry's managed to get a conviction in a high profile murder case and he's not happy about it. The adopted daughter of the wealthy Turners has been sentenced to die for killing the people who had taken her in as a young child. At first, she'd seemed guilty to him, and she had a sizable fortune as a motive. Still, the more time passed, the less guilty she seemed. Of course, falling in love with the accused didn't make it easier for Terry. Bishop Ryan loves a good locked-room mystery and can't resist "poking around". With a little supernatural guidance, the help of the North Wabash Avenue Irregulars and his own detective skills, Blackie Ryan has everything he needs - except time. Seems the person who set this whole thing in motion would like to put a very final end to it, and Blackie, before he can figure it out!

I love Father Blackie's books, and not only because of the Chicago connection. I like the happy and intelligent Ryan clan as a whole and have to laugh a little at all the swearing going on around, and by, the Most Reverend John Blackwood Ryan. The book does date itself a little, with a car phone (as opposed to cell phones) and the Compaq 386/20, but those are little and unimportant details. For a good mystery that won't melt your brain trying to keep you guessing, Greeley's always good.

- AnnaLovesBooks

[David Freas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is much better, more polished than the previous entry in the series, Happy Are Those Who Thirst For Justice, with a complex plot involving a locked room murder.

I have only 3 small nits to pick:
1/ The first half of the book is all backstory or set up for the rest of the book. I kept waiting (and waiting and waiting) for the main story to start. It would have been better had that backstory been told in chapters alternating with the rest of the book.
2/ In one scene between two characters, one makes coffee for the other that magically turns to tea as she pours it then transforms back to coffee as they drink it. Amazing!
3/ The solution to the mystery came in a rush over the last few chapters of the book instead of coming to light bit by bit as the story progressed.

Having said that, I encourage you to read any book in the author's Blackie Ryan series. You won't be disappointed.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining mystery series by Andrew Greeley, Catholic priest. In this series, his detective/protagonist is also a priest and, as usual, is Irish and lives in Chicago. He writes well, his characters are always intriguing, and his plots are interesting. I like how he often writes from differing points-of-view when telling the story.
This fourth novel in the Father Blackie Ryan series that I've now read twice is really good. The solution is quite twisted, but everything ultimately makes sense by the end.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fourth in the Blackie Ryan (Bishop John Blackwood Ryan) series. Andrew Greeley sets his books in Chicago with a strong Catholic element. This mystery is of the "locked room" type. I don't appreciate (actually I don't really 'get') the Irish family flavor of these works, but I do enjoy seeing Greeley tie mysteries up with an appropriate spiritual component. Not great mystery writing, but the character develops over the course of the series and that's interesting.

[Chrstn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow..and the mastermind is (drum roll)..you have have to read it to find out.

[ML Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good beach book if you're a Greeley fan.

[Steve Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read about Andrew Greeley's bishop detective. Set in Chicago's suburbs. This one is unusual in that Blackie doesn't get involved until half way through the book. Recommended.

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The late Andrew Greeley wrote a series of mysteries with titles building off the Beatitudes (from Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount”). Since his investigator in this series, who has appeared in most of Greeley’s mysteries is Monsignor Blackwood “Blackie” Ryan, the titles and the setting within the archdiocese of Chicago offered Greeley ample opportunity to express opinions on church politics, biblical theology, and modern theologians like David Tracy (also noted for his Chicago credentials).

The crux of Happy Are the Merciful is that the archdiocese is potential heir to the fortune left behind by a murdered “tech bro” and Archbishop Cronin is worried that the stink of wrongdoing will rub off on the church. So, he sends Blackie to investigate.
At first, Blackie is reluctant, but when he discovers that this is a classic “locked door” mystery, he finds himself pulled in. What is especially tantalizing about the “locked door” is that it is a high-tech lock with a specialized, personalized key which cannot be duplicated except by a firm in Switzerland that doesn’t do so without heavy-duty verification. As a result, there is only one key and it was found inside the locked room with the victims. Now, the solution isn’t as clever as one might expect with such an elaborate set-up, but the journey is worth the destination.

On that journey, Blackie discovers that a generous and attractive young woman is the prime suspect from the police and the assistant D.A.. Blackie is convinced that she is innocent, but the police and the D.A.’s office are determined to take the path of least resistance. The irony here is that the assistant D.A. is insistent upon prosecuting her even though he is infatuated with her and wishing he could be in love. Although the prosecutor doesn’t let this potential romance become a conflict of interest, he does help Blackie toward the end of the book when the monsignor uncovers evidence which can’t be denied.

Happy Are the Merciful is an intriguing maze of possibilities, including labyrinthine dead-ends and red herrings. As usual, Greeley’s pastoral perspectives inform the characterizations. Since I read it in one sitting on a plane (and I had other books, too), I figure it is worthy of a fairly high rating.

[Cathie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I really like the character of Blackie. The plot and the storyline were excellent. Matter of fact, I didn't figure the whodunit at all, which is not normally the case. Colorful characters. Some very good twists and turns in the book. Highly recommend.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trite. Sophomoric. Formulaic.

[Christy Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I tend to think Greeley's later Blackie Ryan mysteries are even better, this was a decent, quick read in the series. I prefer the ones that are written more in the voice of Fr. Ryan whereas this one spends much of the book being told thru the view of another character. Still, the bit of theology and mystery light are present as usual and it served the purpose of an entertaining read.

[JoAnn Ainsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found it confusing to start in the lawyer’s point of view and then go to the bishop’s POV fir the last half of the book. Thought the placement of clues was very well done. Could have used more delving into her past as a platform for the resolution. Liked it, though.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Father Blackie Ryan Mystery - Adopted daughter tried for murder.

[David Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant read, well written from two different perspectives. I always enjoy the irish of Father Blackie!

[Phyllis Murrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another locked room mystery solved by Father Blackie Ryan. Always a good read.

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

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