Guess I must have been bored today. I came
across the following Wall Street Journal article from march 29,
2005:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111206500829391682-email,00.html
One
paragraph in particular caught my eye:
"But rest assured she can cut
the motor on her enthusiasm when necessary. 'I give Ralph McInerny, the author
of the 'Father Dowling' mysteries, a low rating and tell why I can't stand the
books,' says Ms. Klausner, who's contributed reviews to Amazon since 2000. 'It's
basically the same story over and over.'"
Really Harriet? Funny how that
isn't reflected on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Things-Father-Dowling-Mystery/dp/031230899X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370302463&sr=1-1&keywords=father+dowling+mysteries+books
5.0
out of 5 stars
A very entertaining amateur sleuth novel
July 2,
2003
By Harriet Klausner #1 HALL OF FAME
Format:Hardcover
Father Roger
Dowling, the priest of St. Hilary's church in Fox River, Illinois, is rather
shocked when Eleanor Wygnant who is not a member of his congregation, asks him
to stop Jessica Bernardo from writing a book about her family. Realizing that
Jessica's doings are not his concerns, he refuses to talk to the woman. The
Bernardos are going through a difficult time of it right now with the patriarch
of the family hospitalized and not expected to survive.
His son Raymond, who
he hasn't seen in a decade, returns home knowing that his father despises his
for leaving the priesthood and running away to California with a woman he later
marries. Eleanor is worried that once Raymond's father dies, the love letter she
wrote him during an affair will become public and hurt her sister-in-law.
Raymond's younger brother Andrew, a college teacher with tenure is being held in
jail on a homicide charge. Father Dowling doesn't think Andrew is guilty and
sets about to prove it.
LAST THINGS is a very entertaining amateur sleuth
novel starring a protagonist who is so likable readers will feel an immediate
bond with him. Much of this novel is a relationship drama starring the Bernardo
family and it is only the last quarter when the mystery really takes off. In
fact, this is one Father Dowling mystery in which the popular priest plays a
secondary albeit important role. Ralph McInerny has written another pleasing who
done it.
Harriet Klausner
http://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-Father-Dowling-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/0312291299/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370306645&sr=1-2&keywords=father+dowling+mysteries+books
4.0
out of 5 stars
Father Dowling flock will enjoy
July 8, 2002
By
Harriet Klausner #1 HALL OF FAME
Format:Hardcover
Father Roger Dowling
leaves St. Hilary's Parish for his annual retreat with the Athanasians, a
Catholic religious order that includes seven aging priests with no new blood in
years. Though the long-term outlook appears to be the same as what happened to
the Shakers, the small order owns the rights to Marygrove, a grand estate near
Chicago given to the Athanasians by a late business mogul.
However, the very
value of the property makes Marygrove in demand by avarice phonies including the
grandson of the order's late benefactor. All of these souls want to use the
estate for personal gain. Though each one of these outsiders will do almost
anything to obtain an advantage, one of them resorts to murder, killing two
people. Father Dowling investigates the homicides in an effort to determine who
broke the Commandment and to thwart any other slayings.
The insight into
a small dying religious order and their secular squabbles provide interesting
depth to the who-done-it story line. Though Father Dowling remains a charming
character he seems less sharp in PRODIGAL FATHER than usual perhaps because Mrs.
Murkin is not around much to murky the waters. Still the Father Dowling flock
will enjoy his latest amateur sleuth tale.
Harriet Klausner
http://www.amazon.com/Ash-Wednesday-Father-Dowling-Mysteries/dp/0312364563/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370306638&sr=1-3&keywords=father+dowling+mysteries+books
5.0
out of 5 stars
thought provoking Father Dowling mystery
August 9,
2008
By Harriet Klausner #1 HALL OF FAME
Format:Hardcover
On Ash
Wednesday, just out of prison Nathaniel Green, who killed his wife ten years ago
when he pulled the plug on the life support machine so she could go to heaven,
asks the pastor of St. Hilary's if he will put ashes on his forehead though he
is no longer a Catholic. He gave up on religion when his beloved Florence
suffered from terminal cancer and kept alive by so called caring people when she
just wanted to die.
Nathaniel and Florence belonged to St. Hilary before
he committed euthanasia. Some people especially Florence's sister do not want to
turn the other cheek and let him return to the flock. They condemn him for
murdering his spouse quoting the bible and the Ten Commandments. On the other
hand Father Dowling understands why a human would act mercifully to end the
suffering of a loved one although he feels deeply that it is still is a sin. As
the parish divides over the issue of mercy killing, Dowling begins to see some
incongruence in what he hears happened a decade ago; as he quietly investigates
he begins to wonder if Nathaniel actually pulled the plug or is covering for
someone.
This is a thought provoking Father Dowling mystery; perhaps the
best in years as everyday people struggle with the difficult and complex issue
of euthanasia; the St. Hilary congregation is divided over the subject and the
killer. The story line is fast-paced once the whisper campaign begins that Green
is out of prison and home and never slows down as he is shunned while he reads
Crime and Punishment seeking absolution, but for what asks Father
Dowling?
Harriet Klausner
http://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Father-Dowling-Mystery-ebook/dp/B003RWSB9U/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370307687&sr=1-6&keywords=father+dowling+mysteries
4.0
out of 5 stars
fine compilation
January 29, 2009
By Harriet Klausner
#1 HALL OF FAME
Format:Hardcover
This anthology contains fourteen stories
published between 1995 and 1998, and one entry in 2000. The usual players
besides the title lead character show up as does his housekeeper Marie, and
police captain Phil Keegan. All take place in Fox River, Illinois in or near St.
Hilary's church. Each tale is well written and fun to read with Father Dowling's
usual amusing asides and witty intelligent commentaries on life enhance the
collection. The short story format is a terrific method for the Father Dowling
mysteries as he provides his compassionate solace to the flock and others while
also solving cases that prove to the reader to kill or steal is human, but to
catch the felon is divine. Fans of the series will fully appreciate this fine
compilation of the short cases of Father Dowling as the format is
heavenly.
Harriet Klausner
http://www.amazon.com/Prudence-Flesh-Father-Dowling-Mysteries/dp/0312351445/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1370307687&sr=1-11
4.0
out of 5 stars
fine whodunit
August 24, 2006
By Harriet Klausner #1
HALL OF FAME
Format:Hardcover
NPR host of End Notes Gregory Barrett visits
his former seminary classmate Father Dowling for the first time in years seeking
his help. Apparently, a woman he swears he never met Madeline Murphy has just
been led to remember that he sexually abused her when he still was a priest and
claims he is the father of her child. Dowling thinks that is quite a memory gap
as Gregory left the priesthood twenty-five years ago. Madeline is suing Gregory
and the archdiocese.
Dowling has doubts that Barrett sired Murphy's
child, but agrees to look into the matter as he knows that most people today
prefer to believe the priest is guilty of being a sexual predator. Also looking
into the accusations is wannabe author Ned Bunting, who is working on a tell-all
exposure book about the church sexual scandals. Not long after meeting with
Barrett, Father Dowling learns that Bunting was murdered and fears his friend
might be the culprit; but if not Barrett, most likely another priest fearing
exposure.
Although the topic is interesting and clearly current, twisting
the story line from the relevancy to a murder mystery adds suspense but leaves
the key players (besides Dowling), Barrett, Murphy, and Bunting, underdeveloped.
Thus Father Dowling works his magic, but concentrates more so on the homicide
than on whether a priest acted as a sexual predator. Well written as always, THE
PRUDENCE OF FLESH is one of those could have been great, but instead is a fine
whodunit for series fans only.
Harriet Klausner
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8 comments:
Haha. Good find, CP! Can't say I'm surprised -- Harriet isn't known for her honesty.
Thanks Sneaky.
I love this quote from the article: "Friends encourage her to get a hobby, to develop some new interests. One pal recently gave her a combination VCR-DVD player with the directive to "go to a new venue." "It was a great present," says Ms. Klausner. "It's still in the box."
Yuh Huh...not as easy to resell a VCR-DVD player on Half.com.
I'm also curious about the reference to her papa working for McGraw-Hill. This is the only time I think this "fact" has been referenced, as far as I can tell. It certainly was not mentioned in then infamous Time article. Odd, to say the least. Maybe he delivered mail to McGraw-Hill. My dad and grandpa were pharmacists. Does that mean I'm allowed to claim they worked for Pfizer?
The Wikipedia "talk" page is quite interesting with respect to what's been verified and what hasn't:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Harriet_Klausner
Harriet does too use the DVD player. She makes movie references all the time. Sure, they're not quite right, and she may have been "speed reading" while she watched the movies, but it's likely she's at least seen a lot of movies. (Though we all know she puts the book down when Harry Reems shows up on screen.)
There's a picture of my dad's Boy Scout Troop (my grandpa was a scout leader) with Harry Truman. Later, my dad had a truck route where he picked up laundry from Bess Truman. Surely that means my dad can claim to have been in the President's inner circle, no?
Oh yeah, well, all these media stories about HK are probably just shilling for the shill by the publishing industry. She's so obviously a fraud, I can't allow that someone would praise her innocently. It's impossible, she's too in your face.
I love this part of the article:
"On more than one occasion, she says, publishers have approached her to push the envelope -- to write a novel of her own. "I think it's sweet as can be that they ask. It's just not something I could do.""
Well, whaddaya know? HK and I actually agree on something!
I guess HK's *capable* of telling the truth, just chooses not to most of the time...
Sneaky,
Do you pronounce your home state Missouri (as in wheeeee!) or Missouruh (as in duh...I live in Missouruh). My lovely elderly neighbor (born and raised in MO) always pronounced it the second way and I find myself pronouncing it that way also. Kinda' like east coasters pronouncing my neighbor state Oregone (as in I've gone to Oregone).
Nope, I say it the first way. This is sometimes the subject of debate back home.
My mom says it the second way but I figure it's because her father grew up in a little town in the Ozarks. There were a couple of other odd things he'd say ("warsh" instead of "wash" and "cain't" and "purtneer").
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