Till Death

"Father Koesler is on the case, thank God." —Baltimore Sun From William X. Kienzle, author of the mystery classic, The Rosary Murders. The priesthood or Lil. It would be a gut-wrenching decision for Rick. Sixty-year-old Father Rick Casserly, the much loved, socially conscious pastor at St. William of Thierry Church, and Lillian "Lil" Niedermeir, the principal at nearby St. Enda's elementary school, share a common bond. They are secret lovers, driven into the closet by the Catholic Church's position on the marriage of its clergy members. And when troubled former nun, now reporter, Dora Riccardo sets her cap for Rick, the already complex state of affairs unfolds into a spiraling scenario that isn't resolved until someone is dead. Till Death is the twenty-second mystery from the pen of William X. Kienzle featuring Father Robert Koesler. In Till Death, Father Koesler is a member of the "St. Ursula Survivors Club"—a group of current and former clergy who served under the tyrannical Father Angelico. Koesler is the confidant whom some of the club members turn to when there's nowhere else to go, but even the temperate Father Koesler struggles to bring closure to a set of circumstances charged with forbidden love and tortured souls. Kienzle fans have snatched up almost two and a half million copies of the author's mysteries. Till Death provides readers with his signature twists and turns, while also exploring the explosive social issue of whether priests should be allowed to marry.From Publishers WeeklyWith 21 previous Father Koesler mysteries to Kienzle's credit, it might be hard to deny that the 22nd (following No Greater Love) belongs to the same genre. But while this latest follows familiar ground in exploring the still-widening rifts in the Church caused (or revealed) by Vatican II, it departs from form by not including a conventional crime. Years before, after leaving the Detroit parish of St. Ursula's, Fr. Robert Koesler established the St. Ursula Survivors Club, to help salve the wounds and heal the souls of those priests and nuns who served as assistants under the despotic Father Angelico, who is now dead but whose victims still suffer from psychic scars. Among the dwindling members of the club are Fr. Rick Casserly, a popular and socially conscious pastor; Lillian "Lil" Niedermier, a lay principal of a parochial school; and Dora Ricardo, a nun turned reporter. In defiance of official church policy, Father Rick and Lil carry on a secret affair. When Dora begins to take a romantic interest in Rick, matters become even more difficult. Only death can bring any resolution. Kienzle's characters usually serve didactic purposes, and here they demonstrate changes in love and marriage and the clergy. Unfortunately, these figures lack the substance to lift the story to tragedy, nor does the novel boast sufficient suspense to succeed as a mystery. Some of Kienzle's fans may appreciate his ability to illustrate issues that confound many American Roman Catholics, but most will find little to cheer. (Apr.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Review“The real mystery of the novel is figuring out who this dead person is. The book’s prologue takes place at the grave of an unnamed person, whose life changed many others, beginning forty years earlier. The identity of the dead person is not revealed until the death finally occurs near the novel’s end.”–Flint Journal“Kienzle uses his considerable skill as a writer to take us deeply into the lives of each of the principal characters, bringing them alive with all their flaws and virtues. Kienzle’s intimate knowledge of the Catholic Church gives a rare behind-the-scenes look at some of the church’s most heated issues.”–Knoxville News-Sentinel“Kienzle has a good eye for detail and a good ear for dialogue. . . . Till Death is one of his best recent novels.”–Star Press (Muncie, IN)