Reviewer: Mary Lignor
Title: The Compassion of Father Dowling - An Anthology of Stories
Author: Ralph McInerney
Publisher: Gale/Cengage
ISBN-13: 978-1-4328-2510-2
Release Date: December 2011
Genre/Sub-genre: Cozy Mystery
Year/Setting: Present/Fox River a small town in the Midwest
Overall Rating: 5.0
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: Moderate
Publisher's Website/Blog: www.gale.cengage.com/fivestar
Dear Readers,
This book is a collection of short stories featuring Father Roger Dowling, Priest of St. Hilary's Parish, located in a small Midwestern town. These mysteries by Ralph McInerney, were some of the most fascinating mysteries of all time. The Priest and his housekeeper, Marie Murkin, along with the local police detective Phil Keegan have solved some of the best mysteries. This collection of short stories, are interesting crime solving stories and I'll list a couple of them to bring readers into the lives of this quiet Parish.
The first story called Occult Compensation begins as someone has left a suitcase full of money on the back porch of the Rectory. Marie wouldn't open it as there had been so many stories lately of bombs left in suitcases and backpacks. The police were called, much to the dismay of Marie, who figured that if the money was left to the church, the church should keep it. But, the hunt was on for the owner of the suitcase and the money was checked out to see if it had been stolen. I won't tell the solution of this story as well as the other that I will tell you about in order not to give the end away. But, it is a great solution and Father Dowling and Marie are right in the middle of it all.
The second story called The Dutiful Son starts with a man Francis Stendall, who was born in this town but, left to live in California with his mother after his father's death. He has come to see Father Dowling because of a confession of his mother's before her death. She told Francis that, in the backyard of the house that they had lived in there is the grave of a baby, who died at birth, and she wants the baby to be buried in consecrated ground and when the authorities dig up the grave they do not find a baby's skeleton but, an adult along with a case full of stocks, bonds and money. This is another mystery that is so intricate that it will keep readers guessing as to who did what to who.
There are sixteen stories included in this anthology and every one of them is an intriguing look into the life of the Parish of St. Hilary's. These books were also used in a television series called The Father Dowling Mysteries. Each case written about is examined by the good Father and his pals, who bring their own perspective and quiet investigations into the forefront and always manage to find the guilty person without any bloodshed. So, all who love short stories will love this one. Enjoy.
Mary
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