The Bishop at Sea (A Father Blackie Ryan Mystery) (ISBN 0425160807)

Amazon.com Review:
Bishop Blackie Ryan--who spends more time troubleshooting and solving crimes than he does on spiritual matters--is back in action in a paperback original that's sure to delight Father Andrew M. Greeley's faithful fans. Sent by his boss, Cardinal Cronin, to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Langley ostensibly to perform a confirmation, Blackie finds that his detecting talents are more in demand than his devotional ones. ("Those of you who have seen the film Pulp Fiction will doubtless remember Harvey Keitel. He was a sweeper, a person designated by God and his betters to sweep up the mess left by higher-ups in the outfit. That's what I am, Sean Cronin's sweeper") Disappearing crew members and other strange occurrences have led to talk of the new ship being haunted, a situation that dedicated debunker of demons Bishop Ryan can't resist.

Blackie at sea:
This was my second Blackie Ryan book and I found that I enjoyed it far more than the first which was The Bishop and the missing L Train. This one kept me on the each of seat and page turning, trying to guess what had happened, along with all the other enjoyable characters kept me going untill the final page. A first rate book and a new author to read had me doing handstands for joy.

The Bishop at Sea:
Andrew Greeley is back with Bishop Blackie Ryan and his adventures. Part detective novel, part romance, and part Catholic religion, Bishop Blackie is always one step ahead of the reader, and usually a half-step behind the criminal mind. Truly delightful reads.

Sea Stories and Mysteries:
I served on a Nimitz class carrier, so some of this was so familiar, but a few items seemed out of place. I found it brought back many memories, and some long buried feelings. Father Greeley did a wonderful job conveying the feel of the ship, sprinkled with many of the terms I remember so well. I even visited the captain's in-port cabin a few times for various reasons, and I was so envious. I lived in a compartment with 30 other guys. This was before women on ships, and I think it would be hard to separate them the way he portrayed. I know the one ship I was on this was not possible. At any rate, this book has me hooked to try another Blackie Ryan novel!

Locked Room at Sea:
Greeley's Bishop Blackwood Ryan is famous for solving locked room mysteries. In Bishop at Sea the room is not only locked, it is guarded by two Marines and is on the USS Langley, an aircraft carrier at sea. Blackie solves the puzzle while the reader is treated to a very suspenseful time. Blackie comes to the ship assigned by his boss the Cardinal to conduct the sacrament of Confirmation, while solving the strange disappearance of crew members. The Captain of the Langley is Dave Cronin, the Cardinal's nephew, whose career may be ruined by the scandal on his ship. Greeley's talent for description shines in this book. Although I have never been on a aircraft carrier, I now feel that I have. I can picture the cramped quarters, the maze of corridors that make one lost, and I hope to avoid landing on a carrier since it is "nothing more than a controlled crash". Blackie's humor is delightful, for example: the sailor "saluted like he was a Swiss Guard and I the Pope (at least)"; and "Congress would choke on their gin martinis". Bishop at Sea is beautifully written story with charming characters, and an intriguing plot. I recommend it for a rainy day escape.

Irish Heaven:
Fr. Greeley sure can write a mean dectective story. This one is loaded with his trademark Irish, Chicago, Notre Dame and Catholic references. It moves quickly and keeps you guessing for just long enough. It is like a sip of the Cardinal's whiskey....smooth and full of Irish flavour.