Synopses & Reviews
Father Dowling has been serving as parish priest and resident sleuth at St. Hilarys for a while now, but hes no lifer, and theres plenty that he doesnt know about the old guard. So when a stranger comes to Fox River who isnt a stranger to anyone but him, he has to rely on his prying housekeeper to tell him that the mystery man is actually a well-known murderer. Ten years ago, Nathaniel Greens wife was dying of cancer, and after a short remission she relapsed into a coma. That small sliver of hope so utterly dashed must have been too much for him because when the nurses came to check on her they found that he had taken her off of her life support. Greens return divides the community, but the more Father Dowling ponders the moral questions and reinvestigates the case, the more he wonders if Green committed any crime at all.
With parishioners up in arms, Father Dowling has to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that a conviction is no proof of guilt in Ash Wednesday, the newest addition to Ralph McInernys acclaimed and beloved mystery series.
Review
Praise for Ralph McInernys Father Dowling Mysteries
“Mystery at its bloodless, cerebral best . . . Dowling is the perfect father confessor, dealing with moral dilemmas and the weakness of man with compassion and understanding.”
---The Chicago Tribune
“You dont have to go to church to worship mystery lovers esteemed Father Dowling.”
---Entertainment Weekly
“Father Dowling is not the average priest. . . . He has been through the mill himself, is tough, yet has compassion.”
---The New York Times Book Review
“This series continues to deliver, with a fascinating protagonist, intelligent plotting, and dry humor.”
---Booklist on The Widows Mate
“Entertaining . . . McInerny keeps the story moving with several twists and turns, producing another solid parish mystery for Father Dowling to solve in his usual quiet and compassionate way.”
---Publishers Weekly on The Widows Mate
Synopsis
Parishioners are poised to revolt when Father Dowling welcomes a convicted murderer with open arms, in the 27th title in McInerny's beloved mystery series.
About the Author
RALPH MCINERNY has authored more than forty books, including his popular mystery series set at the University of Notre Dame, where he has taught for more than fifty years and is the director of the Jacques Maritain Center. The recipient of the Bouchercon Lifetime Achievement Award, he has also been appointed to the Presidents Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. He lives in South Bend, Indiana.