Lord of the Dance

Passover #3

by Andrew M. Greeley

Noelle is the daughter of Roger, a college professor and candidate for public office with adulterous tendencies, and Irene, once a very promising bright young woman, and still beautiful, but clearly broken by years of a domestic life with a cheating husband. — She becomes obsessed with her uncle, Danny Farrell, who has always been a black sheep of sorts in the family. Danny is believed to have died in an airplane flying over china while working for the CIA. Roger's mother, Brigid, is a powerful widow with a lot of dirty secrets. The family is an example of an Irish Catholic family's ascent into the upper middle class, perhaps even the upper class, after a few generations, reflecting a common theme of sociologist Greeley. However, aside from Danny, there have been other mysterious deaths in this family, and Noelle courageously probes this dark side of her ancestry, leading to the truth about who she really is.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Chick Lit, Novels, Catholic

464 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1984

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

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the only book by Greeley that I’ve read. He is a story teller, and does that well. I’m not keen on the over sexualization and objectification of women. Also, I’m not keen on the over emphasis around strong women being portrayed as negative. Can we just have strong, determined, and assertive women characters who are just that? Why do they have to be seen as victims or “harridans” ? It’s not always entirely so, but overly so, for sure. Not sure if he does that in his other books. I was interested in the “mystery” and its solution was fascinating. That was well done.

[Tess Mertens-Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW – this book had me turning pages by page 25.
Set in the early 1980s, the Farrell family, from the outside, looks like your standard Irish Catholic family.
But behind closed doors are lies, secrets and murder.
Noelle (Mary Noelle – born of Christmas) is the daughter of Roger a stuffed shirt attorney, and Irene his society wife borderline alcoholic. She is 17 and needs to write a family history for school. She is very precocious and digs deep into the family dirty laundry.
Her uncles on her father’s side are John, hip good looking priest with a controversial talk show, and Danny, the foster son’s whose CIA jet was shot down 18 years prior. Noelle digs into if Danny is really dead (no body found) and digs up the murder of her grandfather (or was it an accident??)
There is infidelity, lies, social climbing, politics, mobsters, love affairs and a family is brought to its knees by documents that are put into the wrong hands.
This was a fabulous book and kept me guessing on the who’s who and who du-it’s up to the last few pages. WOW.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read reviews of this book by others, and how anyone could read it and think the adult Farrells are the primary characters is beyond me. Noele Marie Brigid Farrell is the embodiment of a teenager; fey, funny, nosy and lively. This book made me love Andrew Greeley and wish he were MY parish priest - and I'm not even Catholic! I saw so much of myself in Noele that I was finally convinced I was a normal girl. Mystery, intrigue, family dynamics, sexual relationships and even PSTD are all spell-bindingly woven into the fabric of this story. I highly recommend this novel!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have never read any of Andrew Greeley's books, you should. Being a Catholic Priest
he has a unique approach to mystery writing. This book didn't let me down! It's about the
rich and influential Farrel's of Chicago. The family has a private scandal more shocking
than anyone imagined. Once again, Andrew Greeley gives us a story of renewal, hope and
resurrection, always with the Dance of the Lord. I highly recommend this book.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first Andrew Greeley book I read and loved! It really got me to think about grace in my life.

[F · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel is a stand-alone. I didn't understand why this novel is Book 3 of Greeley's Passover Book Trilogy. This novel did not have any character from the first two of the trilogy. Chicago's Mafia played a small role in LORD OF THE DANCE's mixed-web of storylines -- that was unexpected when I picked the book up to read. At some point in the book, I thought the novel was like playing a game of CLUE (who got killed, with what & in what room?). LORD OF THE DANCE was very different type of novel than the first two of the trilogy. I did enjoy the character of Noele --"part giggly teenager, part sophisticated woman of the world, part ancient Irish witch. And each one of her parts was almost impossible to resist." I'm glad I read LORD OF THE DANCE, but the middle book of the trilogy, ASCENT INTO HELL, was the best of the three, and remarkably the novel that's under-read / under-reviewed based on Amazon review count.

[Carol Pucak · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as good as most Greeley books, too convoluted, much does not make sense, too many "secrets" for no reason, meh

[Renu Sahni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could not finish it

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warner Books, 1984, Book Club Edition

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Irish-American family's secrets are threatened when the granddaughter seeks family information for a paper she wants to write. This story was interesting with twists and turns right up to the end. Andrew Greeley (author) was a Catholic priest, who wrote wonderous moral stories that raise difficult issues. Loved this book.

[Shirley Freeman]

I used to read many of Andrew Greeley's books,especially those with characters Blackie Ryan or Nuala Anne McGrail, but hadn't read any for quite awhile. Since Greeley recently died, I figured I would read one of his books in his memory. This one was okay but wasn't a favorite. I wouldn't recommend it - though I generally like Greeley's take on what a loving God is about.

[Marian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge Greeley fan, so when I discovered a book of his I hadn't read yet I was thrilled. He's so good at telling stories about real people and their relationship with their church and God. He intertwines both with such dexterity!

[Ancie Wilfred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it quite a few years back. Had borrowed it from dear friend, Annie.
I remember that it was a racy-read. I couldn't wait to find out who'd dunnit n what'd happen to Irene n Noelle. :)
All in all, a good read.

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andrew M. Greeley, PB-B @ 1985, 8/85. Secrets in an irish catholic, teenage girl's family lead her to search out the truth about her uncle supposedly shot down over China while working with the C.I.A, and other family mysteries. Good.

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horribly written and trite. Greeley phoned this one in and just barely at that.

[Cws]

F Gre

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Greeley book. It had a lot of local Chicago customs and lore in it.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was well written, up to a point. Then it became disgusting. I still have nightmares about the rape scene.

[Ariane]

I don't really remember this book. Hence, no review.

[Deborah Treon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it - read several times. I do not always fall in love w/Andrew Greeley but this one - yeah.

[Bernadette]

Read many many years ago....

[Peggy]

#5, a good one I think I recall

[R.W. Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, could not put it down.

[Diana Kolovos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chicago Irish family secrets

[Bruce Hammond · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup o' tea. Don't know why he was a big seller in his day.