The Compassion of Father Dowling (Five Star Mystery Series)
St. Hilary’s parish, in the sleepy Illinois town of Fox River, is, to outward appearances, a quiet institution with a devout congregation. But within its walls lies a never-ending series of mysteries inevitably resolved by the Holmesian intellect of Father Dowling. Here, with the able assistance of the rectory housekeeper, Marie Murkin, and Phil Keegan, the Fox River Police Department’s chief of detectives, the good father sorts out mysteries large and small. A highlight among the 16 stories is Dowling’s investigation of how a suitcase packed with cash came to be left on the rectory steps. Another features a deadly competition between two business partners vying for the same woman. And for a unique murder weapon, let’s try a bee. The late McInerny wrote several mystery series, but the Father Dowling books were his most popular. Readers who savor relatively bloodless, nonviolent, cerebral mysteries have long gravitated to McInerny and Dowling. A satisfying, posthumous treat for McInerny fans. --Wes Lukowsky