Irish Eyes

Nuala Anne McGrail #5

by Andrew M. Greeley

Nuala Anne McGrail, that beautiful Irish spitfire, now lives in Chicago with her husband, Dermot, and their new baby, Nellliecoyne. As Nuala fans may suspect, Nelliecoyne is no ordinary baby: she is fey like her mother, and can see into the past as well as the future. Both Nuala and her daughter have had strange vibrations from a place on the lake where a shipload of Irish-Americans lost their lives a hundred years ago.

In the course of their investigation, Nuala and Dermot make some dangerous enemies, and eventually have to solve a murder and find a buried treasure. Will Nuala survive the attacks of a sleazy DJ, and a dangerous run-in with the Balkan Mafia? And how does the diary of a young Irish woman at the turn of the century play into these events?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Irish Literature, Romance, Historical, Ireland, Historical Romance

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

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

[Nan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had difficulty getting thru it, but the alure of such an irish tone kept me going.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a husband and wife adventure with Irish humor. Fiona the wolfhound is adorable. I liked the book and wish to give it a 3 1/2 but there is not a rating for it. So, it gets a 3.

[Erin (Historical Fiction Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

Time it seems has changed my opinion of the Nuala Anne books. I read the first book of the series, Irish Gold, nearly ten years ago and greatly enjoyed it. So much so I immediately sought out the sequels. I devoured Irish Lace, Irish Whiskey, Irish Mist and Irish Eyes that same summer. I set the series aside to focus on my academic obligations but somehow didn’t find my way back to them until now. I decided to reread Irish Eyes to refresh my memory. Greeley tends to recap key information about the characters so I didn’t see much value in revisiting all five novels. No. Irish Eyes would be enough. Sadly, the book just wasn't as good as I remembered.

Why was I disenchanted my second go round? That’s a dumb question. The real query is where do I start. For one, Dermot is a push over and he knows it. He self-validates in every novel. It is annoying. Almost as annoying as his spending the entire book shaking his head and saying yes dear without complaint. I don’t find it appealing. I like a man with a little backbone, who has opinions and isn’t merely an extension of his spouse.

Nuala is perfection personified. She always has the answers, is always in the middle of things, never fails to be less than amazing and always looks fantastic doing it. People like her don’t exist. Real people have faults, real people make mistakes, real people have depth, complexity and baggage. Her flawlessness is exasperating.

Did I mention the couple has no real world worries or concerns? Dermot is a college drop-out who managed to make a pile of cash while working at the Exchange. His mistake allowed him to retire in his mid-twenties. He writes novels as a hobby more than anything else. Naturally the books are bestsellers. Nuala has an accounting degree but makes a living as a folksinger. Is anyone shocked that her records go platinum?

I don’t think I need to go into the fact that Dermot and Nuala’s daughter is a perfect replica of her mother (minus the red hair) and it goes without saying Nelliecoyne is intelligent and advanced for her age. No child of Coyne’s would dare be anything else less than impeccable. Gag me.

I think I’ve stated I don’t have a problem with sex in literature and for the record, I don’t think the intimacies in Irish Eyes would offend the casual reader. The problem is that I just didn’t find the scenes appealing. A man suckling his wife for breast milk just didn’t do it for me. I don’t mean to sound judgmental, some people might get hot and bothered by the idea but for me it was just awkward. Very awkward.

Having thoroughly stated why I dislike these books we come down to why I bother reading them. As always, it is the history. Greeley loves Chicago almost as much as he loves Ireland and her people. Reading his books is like entering a portal to times long forgotten. In Irish Eyes, we glimpse the booming shipping industry of the Great Lakes and harsh realities of life at the turn of the century with just a touch of Irish mysticism.

Greeley’s richly imagined storylines are also nothing to sneeze at. While vacationing, Nuala, Nelliecoyne and the Coyne's wolfhound, Fiona, pick up strange vibrations from a ship that sank off Grand Beach nearly one hundred years ago. In an effort to understand their latest physic episode, the Coyne’s start an investigation that leads them to a forgotten chapter of Chicago’s past, its connection with Ireland’s political struggles and the fate of the Ardagh Chalice. Meanwhile the couple is dealing with a media circus caused by the sensational accusations of DJ Nick Farmer. Nick’s unexpected death only complicates matters, more so as his fate seems to have ties to the Balkan mafia.

Will I read the rest of the series? Probably. Will I recommend to others? Not without a disclaimer. The books aren’t awful but they aren’t for everyone. I do want to make two further notes before I wrap up. Greeley is a Catholic priest. The books are not preachy in the least, I wouldn’t even call them religious fiction but I would avoid his work if religious concepts aren’t to your liking. The same concept applies to Republicans. I wouldn’t usually address the subject but every novel in the series seems to take a dig at conservatives. I find it annoying as I don’t appreciate party politics in fiction but I wouldn’t be surprised if these comments upset more political readers.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Irish Eyes by Andrew M. Greeley is book 5 of the Nuala Anne McGrail mystery series set in contemporary Chicago. Dermot and Nuala are the proud parents of Nelliecoyne, 7 months old, winning everyone's heart with her adorable ways. She's a "good baby", as in: sleeps all night so her parents can too. But one night when they're vacationing at the lakeshore, she wakes them screaming. Nuala tells Dermot, "It's the five-masted ship in the lake that's bothering her." Dermot knows there is no such vessel in the lake, hasn't been for a hundred years. It's the first time they knew Nellie is "fey" just like her mother.

Of course Dermot and Nuala must solve the mystery of why the ship appeared to Nellie and Nuala, and why it upsets them. "Isn't that the truth, Dermot Michael? We not only have to solve the mystery, we have to find out what it is."

They learn of a shipwreck at the spot one hundred years ago, then begin tracing what became of the few survivors. In 1860 Chicago was already the busiest port in the world. Indeed, forty years later it was still the fourth busiest port in the world after London, Hamburg, and New York.

Dermot's father needs to pull strings to arrange for Dermot and Nuala to meet with an oh-so-busy-and-self-important socialite, descendant of a survivor. "She's so busy doing so many good things I don't know whether she has time to talk to anybody, even to her husband." That was about as close to uncharitableness as my father or my mother ever came.

Meanwhile they must deflect troublesome journalist Nick Farmer, who once attacked Dermot in the press. He seemed to think that he could succeed only if other people failed. Now he insults Nuala for her popular Irish lullaby performances and recordings. When Irish mothers sang lullabies not so long ago, they knew how many dangers would threaten their children--hunger, disease, storms, English bayonets. So they sang prayers for the protection of their little ones.

Then there's Maybelline, neurotic sister-in-law with a psychiatrist husband, who is vicious to Nuala. "Psychiatrists can't deal with their own problems, Dermot, any more than surgeons can operate on themselves."

Nuala hates rarely, but when she does it is passionately. "At least I'll never be as fat and sloppy as you are."

"Oh, Dermot me love, haven't I done a terrible thing. Won't you be angry at me for ever and ever! Am I not just the most awful woman in the world!" All this must be translated as saying, "I expect you, Dermot Michael Coyne, to agree with everything I've done."

I suspected this was one of those times when it is the husband's role to listen very carefully, not to what his wife is saying, but to what she means. It was a knack I was in the process of developing. I'd improved at it but I doubted I'd ever be adequate to the challenge.

Dermot, Nuala and Nellie take a break from mystery and troublesome people, to spend Christmas in Ireland. Alas, they must leave Fiona the Irish wolfhound at home. Dogs, I told myself, are not like humans. They don't like to see us going away but they enjoy themselves until we come back and the go crazy with joy when they see us gain. As I reflected on this it occurred to me that it was a sensible way to deal with the uncertainties and the problems of life.

Back to the shipwreck...It cost a lot of money to mount a salvage operation even for somebody who had a lot of money. What could have been worth poking around on the bottom of Lake Michigan if it wasn't money? We were, I thought, beginning to get at not a solution to the mystery but a definition of it.

Dermot's resourceful, assertive sister Cindy once again is their attorney when police try strong-arm tactics. "Good day, gentlemen, we will see you later when you follow the standards of appropriate police procedure in this kind of matter."

Dermot walked out to face the assembled media, a challenge which after a number of incidents I rather enjoy. I'm not very bright, but I'm brighter than they are.

Dermot and Nuala are terrified when Nellie contracts a high fever. Luckily they only have to call Dermot's physician father for help. "It's something they never warn you about when you decide to have children. You just have to take it for granted that you are going to be sick about half the time. I'll call the prescriptions in to your local Osco."

Eventually they learn all that happened from century-old diaries. Politics, Irish nationalism, and the Church were all tied up in one twisted tangle.

The Catholic funeral liturgy, done properly as it would be in a church whose origins were German, is an extraordinary experience. Restrained sadness and serene joy invade the souls of the participants. The service dulls the pain and lifts the spirit.

We wanted to make money, become famous, and perhaps improve the world.

"It doesn't solve anything at all, at all, Dermot. But I have a hunch that it's going to solve everything."

Fiona the Irish wolfhound is the shining star of the story. Nellie's constant guardian, she risks her life to save Nellie from armed intruders.

When Irish eyes are smiling, sure they'll steal your heart away, especially when they are the green eyes of a little girl with red hair who has just learned to walk and whose smile is almost as big as her mother's.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, just not my favorite. Not the most interesting history topic, so found myself skimming parts. Plot took a while to get going but ended rather quickly. Still love the characters.

[Bridgette Redman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bulk of what I know of Catholic mysticism I have absorbed from the keyboard of Fr. Andrew Greeley. Likewise, my introduction to Roman Catholic canon law and dogma came from the novels of the ex-priest from Detroit: William Kienzle. It was a helpful introduction for a Protestant lass who was later to marry a Roman Catholic man.

While Kienzle’s books are solidly classified as murder mysteries, Greeley is harder to categorize. The book Irish Eyes is part of a series that is part mystery, part supernatural, part love story, and a dash of politics.

The Story

Ultimately, it is the story of Nuala Ann McGrail and Dermot Coyne. The happily married couple is vacationing on Lake Michigan with their six-month-old daughter (whom they call Nelliecoyne) and their oversized, devoted Irish setter. Nuala, whom Dermot establishes as fey, sees ghost ships out on Lake Michigan. Dermot, our narrator, does research into shipwrecks and determines that there was a major shipwreck of Irish immigrants right where Nuala was seeing the ghost ship and it had happened exactly 100 years ago.

From this sighting, Nuala and Dermot begin a search into the story of the shipwreck, the survivors, and the victims. It takes them deep into the history of Irish Catholic immigrants working in the Chicago packing firms made infamous by Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle. But Greeley presents an alternative view to Sinclair’s. He shows how what the packing firms were offering provided a new life and prosperity for the people who worked there and that Sinclair twisted certain conditions for his own political agenda.

There are several side stories to this novel. The first major one is the determination of a would-be reporter, Nick Farmer, to destroy Nuala Ann’s singing career. He is publicly nasty about her abilities, training, accent, and even accuses Nuala of exploiting her daughter by making a recording of Nuala singing lullabies to the baby. He launches an extensive attack on her that ends with his murder and our protagonists falling under suspicion.

Another side plot that the book would have been better off without is the feud between Nuala and her sister-in-law Maybelline.

I almost couldn’t get past the beginning

It was this third minor plot line that almost made me return the book to the library without finishing it. Indeed, I almost wrote a letter to Andrew Greeley in protest of his insensitive writing. Nuala is a character that we are supposed to like and sympathize with. Her sister-in-law Maybelline is someone we are supposed to dislike. Yet, I found Nuala’s comments to her sister-in-law so nasty and uncalled for that it took me a long time to like Nuala.

Yes, Maybelline is nosey, but Nuala responds to her interfering, condescending comments with insults about Maybelline’s weight—even though Dermot tells us that Maybelline is only slightly overweight. Nuala calls both her and her children “fat slobs.” Granted, everyone is allowed their flaws—indeed, protagonists are much more interesting and engaging when they have flaws, but this particular prejudice is otherwise inconsistent with Nuala’s character. It’s also just highly offensive to have the most sympathetic character making such bigoted remarks.

The other major flaw in the book is the way that the Lake Michigan and Chicago history is presented. Whereas most of Greeley’s storytelling comes off with a charming, engaging voice, he does not handle the historical tales well. The historical passages are dry and read as though they’ve been plopped in from county proceedings or a college history book. The history itself is fascinating, but I found myself starting to skim over important information because it was so dryly presented.

Yet, I was charmed

Once I got over my aversion to the callousness directed at anyone with a less-than-perfect body, I was able to enjoy the novel. All of the characters we meet are very human. They hurt when they’re attacked, they get defensive, they are playful, they are considerate, they are busy and harried. There are all sorts of people in this book and nearly all of them are interesting. There is sometimes too much of a tendency to divide characters into sympathetic and unsympathetic ones, but I won’t complain when it is done in such a way to snare my interest so thoroughly.

The language is delightful. Nuala Ann is Irish and speaks with Irish constructions and brogue. Even Dermot finds himself slipping into it occasionally—usually in a very self-conscious and deprecating manner. The lilt and melody of the language captures one the way a song does, enthralling one until the melody finally draws to a close. Long after I put the book down for the last time, I found strange constructions and soft lilts creeping into my thoughts and speech.

Then there is the treatment of Chicago, which becomes almost a character in and of itself. For me, Chicago is a travel destination, one of my favorite weekend getaways. For Greeley, Chicago is something more. It’s alive, it’s a plane onto itself. He treats it almost like a small town where everyone knows everyone, or at least through a few degrees. He talks about neighborhoods and city sections as more than mere addresses and streets. Rather they are living entities with histories and characters. He also interweaves such Chicago stereotypes as the mob and the mayoral monarchy that rules the city.

There were a few more weak moments

Although I enjoyed the telling of the story, I was disappointed in the construction of the plot and its resolution. Perhaps it is because although I accept mysticism and its existence, I had a hard time suspending disbelief. Greeley pushed the envelope of what I was willing to accept—even though part of the point of mysticism is that it cannot be explained in a rational or logical manner. Perhaps it is because it was so much a plot device that it seemed overly convenient.

I am also suspicious of too-easy solutions and super-human heroics. This book didn’t cross the line in its conclusion but it came very close. There were a few twists that were just too neatly done to be believable. They can be forgiven only because they enabled Greeley to provide the reader with a wonderfully, charming story within a story.

Overall, Irish Eyes is a book that I would recommend only with qualifications. Read it if you’re a Greeley fan. Read it if you have an interest in Irish history, Chicago history, or shipwreck history. Read it if you’re looking for a charming story that shows many portraits of love. Skip it if your reading list is already long and other more intriguing books await you. Skip it if you prefer your fiction to be highly rational and gritty. Or indeed, skip it in favor of Greeley’s novels that focus on his Chicago priest and his extended family.

[Nanine Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

I randomly plucked this novel by an unfamiliar author from my (late) Irish mother’s book collection - later discovering that it was written by a Roman Catholic priest.

Dear readers, I am amazed at how this brilliant author describes the physical passion that often ignites between the beautiful and feisty Irish singer, Nuala Anne, and her novelist husband, Dermot Michael – a man who is often distracted by his wife’s overt sensuality.

But there’s plenty more in this book to excite the reader when the mystery surrounding a shipload of Irish immigrants who perished aboard a paddle-wheeled steamer that sank in Lake Michigan in 1898, sends investigative Dermot Michael and the clairvoyant Nuala Anne on their intense mission of discovery.

It will take the revealing diary that was written by a survivor of the fatal accident in 1898 and, Nuala Anne and her fey, toddler daughter Nelliecoyne, to finally solve the mystery of how the steamer went down and WHAT lay buried at the bottom of the lake.

‘Tis indeed a fact that, in between the excitement, you’ll be catchin’ a glimpse of Irish history and delightin’ to the lyrics of an Irish lullaby.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of Greeley's romantic novels with plenty of Irish and Catholic threads woven into the story. There is also some amazing history of the Chicago and Lake Michigan area in this book and I learned so much about shipping on Lake Michigan in the 1800s and the many shipwrecks there. I cannot help but be amazed that a ship, the Eastland was wrecked there in 1915 and 844 lives of American Irish people were lost. That this was only 3 years after the well-known sinking of the Titanic make me incredible that this one has had so little publicity. Is it that some lives do matter more than others? Was it the wealth of the passengers on the Titanic that made the difference?

[Dawnrenae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Irish Eyes! 5th in the Nuala Anne McGrail series by Andrew M. Greeley!

A passionate tale about greed, lies, selfishness, grief, love, forgiveness and overcoming tragedy gracefully A romantic mystery that survives through the ages, to be solved yet again, by an Irish Mystic, and this time, her young daughter!

A must read, for anyone who loves mysteries!

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read and enjoyed all of Greeley's Blackie Ryan myteries but have not pursued the Irish series. How much Irish speech patterns did I want to wade through?
There is plenty of that, but not so much to deter me to read this book when it fell into my hands through the thrift store. I did not mind as much, at all, at all.

[Brent M · Rating 3 out of 5]

More mysteries to be solve by Nuala Anne & her fey child Nelliecoyne. Something about a ship collision in Lake Michigan in an October winter storm 100 years earlier. Then a mystery of who killed a local media personality out to ruin Nuala’s budding recording career. This one didn’t trip the intrigue of others in the series. Still getting used to the language of the Irish.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for my book club. It was all over the place with multiple story lines. I was really surprised because I used to read Andrew Greeley's books years ago and really enjoyed them. I don't know if it's this particular book or this series but I was disappointed.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not get in to it all

[Boulder Boulderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard issue romantic story. Weird bit right at the end which was so brief as to make you wonder why it was even in there, but generally a sweet story.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've truly liked the books of this series. There are some mystical elements that are a bit strange, but the characters are interesting and have mostly good morals. All in all, these are good mysteries. They are written well also although I was surprised at the level of eroticism considering the series is by a priest.
In each book,the couple solves at least one older often ancient mystery and a current-time mystery that are slightly connected as well as work through a crisis in their relationship or,in the later novels,family life.

[Paigersoccerfan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but did find a little of the historical details about Chicago, boring. I wish the author could weave the history into the story more. I have found that he most often uses the same device to get the history across. He has Dermot write notes for Nuala, and then we, the readers, read his notes along with Nuala. He has used diaries, also as a way to tell the history. He does tat in this story and I find it a lot more interesting than Dermot's notes.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

7 mo old Nelliecoyne is Fay just like her mother.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all of Andrew Greeley's fiction books, especially his Nuala books! I plan to read as many of his non-fiction as I can absorb, also!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story.A little light weight in style.

[Beth McGoldrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked every one of the three story lines going on in this edition of the lives of the characters in this book.

[Elliedakota · Rating 3 out of 5]

annoying