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Title: The Bishop and the Beggar Girl of St. Germain : A Bishop Blackie Ryan Novel by Andrew M. Greeley ISBN: 0-8125-7597-0 Publisher: Forge Pub. Date: 17 June, 2002 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.94 (18 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Another Winning Bishop Blackie Novel
Comment: "The Bishop And The Beggar Girl Of St. Germain" by Fr. Andrew M. Greeley, Audio book Version narrated by George Guidall. Recorded Books Productions, New York 2001.
The author, Fr. Andrew Greeley, moves the venue for this Bishop Blackie mystery to Paris, and it seems that he certainly knows Paris: at least the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the subway system, many subway stops and the little bistros on the Left Bank. Using this as backdrop, Fr. Greeley has Bishop John Blackwood Ryan accompany his Cardinal, Sean Cronin, of Chicago, to Paris, where Bishop Blackie is impressed as a detective in the service of the local cardinal. "Blackie" is requested to find the young television priest, Jean-Claude, who had disappeared during a TV shoot in the 3rd Century basement of Notre Dame.
Needing an interpreter, Bishop Blackie "stumbles" on Marie-Bernadette, an accomplished musician who is begging outside the Church of St. Germain. Greeley's fascination with thing Celtic (pronounced as KEL-tik) means that Marie-Bernadette's accomplishments are in Celtic music, whether from the Celtic region of France or the Basque region of Spain, or, of course, from Scotland and Ireland. This makes a nice little sub-plot, with Bishop Blackie officiating at Marie-Bernadette's marriage at the end of the book.
Of course, Blackie solves the mystery of the disappearance of the television evangelist priest, Jean-Claude, and while doing so, Author Greeley comments on the loneliness of the celibate clergy, their trials and temptations. I couldn't help wondering if there was some autobiographical issues buried in those comments. The story's main plot had a nice little twist that I should have been able to catch earlier than I did!
Narrator George Guidall was again excellent. I have listened to him as the voice of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee in the Tony Hillerman mysteries, and it is amazing how Mr. Guidall can range from "flat" Navajo tone in those books to an excited French accent for the exalted cardinal of Paris in this book. I enjoyed the book and listening to Mr. Guidall as I commuted on I-495, the ring road around Boston... Five Stars.
Rating: 4
Summary: Greeley is still challenging...
Comment: and this novel makes for a neat twist on the "locked-room" mystery style that is Blackie Ryan's forte. One of the biggest problems an established author has with an on-going series is to make sure that the stories don't become too "formula," like the last couple of Bond films with Roger Moore did.
Greeley avoids this with his Blackie Ryan novels by going for interesting locales...he takes Ryan out of Chicago without taking the Chicago out of the good bishop.
So, without giving the story away (a sin for a reviewer of a mystery novel), suffice to say that Blackie Ryan has a wonderful time in Paris, with his boss, the more-than-formidable Sean Cardinal Cronin. My only major complaint is that the love-story-subplot in this novel is a bit formula.
Greeley's descriptions of Paris are excellent, giving the reader a good feel for the neighborhoods and the metro without being a Fodor's book. _Beggar Girl_ doesn't tackle any serious hot-button issues of the modern Catholic Church, but the author still throws out tidbits that make those who are interested in church politics and such say "hmmmmmm."
Rating: 3
Summary: 3and1/2 stars.Slow moving but packs a punch at the end.
Comment: This was my first Bishop Blackie book and I liked it but it did drag in places. The interchange between the bishop and the beggar girl helped to punch it up before I lost intrest. The solution when it comes makes it worthwhile. I certainly never saw it comming. But for those who like strong realisum in mysteries it is pretty far fetched. Such things do not bother me though and I think I will read about Bishop Blackie agian.
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Title: The Bishop in the West Wing by Andrew M. Greeley ISBN: 0812575989 Publisher: Forge Pub. Date: 16 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Bishop and the Three Kings: A Blackie Ryan Mystery by Andrew M. Greeley ISBN: 0425166171 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: November, 1998 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Bishop and the Missing L Train by Andrew M. Greeley ISBN: 0812575962 Publisher: Forge Pub. Date: 15 July, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Bishop at Sea by Andrew M. Greeley ISBN: 0425160807 Publisher: Berkley Pub Group Pub. Date: November, 1997 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Irish Stew! by Andrew M. Greeley ISBN: 0812576071 Publisher: Forge Pub. Date: 14 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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