The Bishop Goes to the University

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The irrepressible Bishop Blackwood Ryan returns as his Cardinal dispatches Blackie to The University on the South Side of Chicago to investigate a baffling locked-room mystery. Someone has assassinated a Russian Orthodox monk in his office at the Divinity School-despite the fact that the door of his office was bolted shut from the inside and no killer was found within.

Who shot Brother Semyon Ivanivich Popov? There were only four professors in the building on the night of the shooting: a feminist theologian, a distinguished scripture scholar, an expert on the Talmud, and a young tenure-seeking professor whom Blackie compares to a silverback gorilla.

It turns out that the mystery of the locked room is simple compared to the international intrigue that swiftly develops around the case. Intelligence agents from diverse nations seem to be involved, as well as both the Sicilian and Russian mobs. Blackie soon finds himself the target of threats and actual bullets as he seeks to unravel the deepening mystery surrounding the murdered monk-whose murky secrets may stretch all the way to the Vatican itself!

Murder is more than academic in yet another delightful whodunit by one of America's most popular storytellers.

Reviews

“Father Greeley has given great attention to the role of imagination in the life of faith. What he is doing is re-evangelizing the imagination, using fiction to address the faith and the mysteries of the faith. That’s an extraordinarily significant project.” —Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago

“Nobody has ever left the church because of an Andrew Greeley novel, but many have been attracted back to it by him.” —Reverend Ron Rolheiser, O.M.I.

“Blackie once again proves to be a loyal friend, a formidable foe, and a gifted spiritual advisor. An entertaining romp through the West Wing.” —Booklist on The Bishop in the West Wing

“Will delight Greeley fans because it follows his near-perfect formula of adventure and amusement, mystery and mastery of the English language. Enjoy this one–The Bishop in the West Wing is a winner.” —Star Newspapers on The Bishop in the West Wing

“Greeley writes fluidly, fluently, and with an engaging, cheeky, light style.” —Mystery Review on The Bishop in the West Wing

“Fun is the word for bestseller Greeley’s latest, lively Bishop Blackie Ryan thriller. . . . [Readers] will appreciate the well-drawn characters, swift action, and logical resolution.” —Publishers Weekly on The Bishop in the West Wing

“It’s an especially enjoyable tale for a mystery fan on a hot day when murder is just too heavy to deal with and a poltergeist’s antics can be just the thing.” —Abilene Reporter-News on The Bishop in the West Wing

“Full of unexpected turns and twists.” —Publishers Weekly on The Bishop and the Beggar Girl of St. Germain

“For the reader who enjoys clever dialogue and a thought-provoking story as much as a roller-coaster action thriller, Greeley continues to deliver.” —The Tampa Tribune on The Bishop and the Beggar Girl of St. Germain

“Fine for a day at the beach or a bistro on the Boulevard St. Germain.” —The Star-Observer (Hudson, WI) on The Bishop and the Beggar Girl of St. Germain

About the Author

Priest, sociologist, author and journalist, Father Andrew M. Greeley built an international assemblage of devout fans over a career spanning five decades. His books include the Bishop Blackie Ryan novels, including The Archbishop in Andalusia, the Nuala Anne McGrail novels, including Irish Tweed, and The Cardinal Virtues. He was the author of over 50 best-selling novels and more than 100 works of non-fiction, and his writing has been translated into 12 languages.

Father Greeley was a Professor of Sociology at the University of Arizona and a Research Associate with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago. In addition to scholarly studies and popular fiction, for many years he penned a weekly column appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times and other newspapers. He was also a frequent contributor to The New York Times, the National Catholic Reporter, America and Commonweal, and was interviewed regularly on national radio and television. He authored hundreds of articles on sociological topics, ranging from school desegregation to elder sex to politics and the environment.

Throughout his priesthood, Father Greeley unflinchingly urged his beloved Church to become more responsive to evolving concerns of Catholics everywhere. His clear writing style, consistent themes and celebrity stature made him a leading spokesperson for generations of Catholics. He chronicled his service to the Church in two autobiographies, Confessions of a Parish Priest and Furthermore!

In 1986, Father Greeley established a $1 million Catholic Inner-City School Fund, providing scholarships and financial support to schools in the Chicago Archdiocese with a minority student body of more than 50 percent. In 1984, he contributed a $1 million endowment to establish a chair in Roman Catholic Studies at the University of Chicago. He also funded an annual lecture series, “The Church in Society,” at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois, from which he received his S.T.L. in 1954.

Father Greeley received many honors and awards, including honorary degrees from the National University of Ireland at Galway, the University of Arizona and Bard College. A Chicago native, he earned his M.A. in 1961 and his Ph.D. in 1962 from the University of Chicago.

Father Greeley was a penetrating student of popular culture, deeply engaged with the world around him, and a lifelong Chicago sports fan, cheering for the Bulls, Bears and the Cubs. Born in 1928, he died in May 2013 at the age of 85.

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