The Bishop and the Three Kings

Blackie Ryan #10

by Andrew M. Greeley

A major relic - the remains of the Three Kings - is stolen from Cologne cathedral, and Bishop Blackie Ryan is called in to track down the thief. But each lead brings increased dangers and to publicize the theft could have dire political and religious consequences worldwide.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Catholic

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1998

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

[Nancy Brady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half-mystery novel, half romance novel, author Andrew Greeley, has his characters of Bishop Blackie Ryan along with his nephew (nefoo) Peter Murphy, and Cindasue McCloud of the Yewnited States Coast Guard solve the locked-room mystery of the stolen shrine of the Three Kings (AKA Magi) in Germany.

Patently and arguably, besides finding the missing shrine, there is a love story that involves Peter and Cindasue.

Greeley shows his characteristic humor in this one, but also adds in a bit of theology along the way...actually teaching what the cultural truth of the Gospels as opposed to the street version. He also goes between Standard English to Appalachian hill talk (note the use of nefoo and Yewnited above) to a bit of German and back again.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Blackie Ryan and Cologne and the old tale about the 3 Kings buried in the cathedral.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The three kings," sounds very seasonal. Blackie makes it clear that they were, perhaps more accurately, itinerant astrologers, uncertain in number. The book is more about needing to follow one's star, than gifts or gold. A good mystery, mingled with his usual dose of romance and his usual way with words. "ironies in the fire" indeed.
This marks my 104th book for the year, thus achieving reading an average of (more than) two per week. With a lot of help from the Fires of Summer that had me huddled over the air cleaners when not sequestered in a motel room for 18 days.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blackie Ryan case, the first one I have read, he mystery seemed to drag out, more attention seemed to be paid to relationship with his nephew and hillbilly girlfriend. The Appalachian twang was kinda annoying to understand. I did like it took place in Koln Germany which I have visited twice.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a sacred relic is stolen from Cologne Cathedral, Bishop "Blackie" Ryan, visiting from Chicago, is on the case.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, historical, detective story. Blackie Ryan and his nephew head to Germany to solve the mystery.

[Cynthia Grove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable. The relationship between Peter and Cindasue seems to foreshadow that of Dermot and Nuala Anne; same words and descriptions of the personalities Must check which was written first.
The setting in Cologne was an added bonus.
As ever the mystery is only there as a pretext for the story which shows a broad and compassionate exploration of human nature. The romance part, as in all of his books that I have read, is Greeley's parable/ sermon on the love of God for humankind.

1/2/21 continues to improve with re-reads.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another Blackie Ryan mystery novel where a priest is assigned to unravel church-related mysteris. In this case, the bones of the three kinds are stolen from Cologne Cathedral. To his credit, the priest doesn't think the bones were ever there to begin with. An annoying side story: the priest's well-educated nephew falls in love with an Appalachian girl who mostly speaks in incredibly annoying hill talk despite an ability to actually speak correct English. How improbable.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bishop Blackie Ryan and his nephew Pete Murphy are on their way to Cologne, Germany, for two different missions. Pete is looking to see a female Coast Guard officer who he had been involved with years earlier but lost. Bishop Blackie has been tasked with recovering the Three Kings that have been stolen from the shrine there. The two are intertwined. An excellent although the late Father Greeley spent a lot of time on the romantic overtures of the novel.

[Katrina Bergherm · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was given to me and I would never have purchased it on my own. After reading just the first chapter it has been tossed into the discard pile. Cheesy.

[Julie]

This is a tedious mystery, which is hard to pull off. Ridiculous, offensive portrayal of the heroine - shallow and unrealistic.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blackie goes to Cologne, Germany to save the Church. (Luckily, I got to tag along to Cologne, and enjoyed the trip.)

Most Assuredly.

[Mary]

Greeley is a reliable read for me. This was no exception - enjoyable, and very middle of the road. That said, sometimes a good, reliable author is just what I need.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blackie must find out who stole the relic from a cathedral in Cologne. Aided by his nephew and Cindasue.

[Rob & Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery of the stolen relics solved by Blackie Ryan.

Liz

[Pat Roseman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as clean as some of favorite authors, but the story line was good.

[David Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bishop Blackie's mystery books are always a nice light read . Enjoy Greeley's character very much and am sad that he has passed. I'll keep working my way through all the Father Ryan books.

[C.B. Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. It started a little slow, but picked up quickly. I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to following Blackie's mystery solving!

[Constance Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A favorite series, I adore Fr Blackie & Greeley's attitude toward humanity.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the characters this time and could really picture the scenes.