The Sacrifice - by William X Kienzle (Paperback)

About the Book

At a ceremony receiving renegade Episcopal priest Father George Wheatley into the Roman Catholic priesthood, a bomb explodes under the altar. Father Wheatley arrived late for the ceremony, but Father Farmer dies in the explosion. Father Wheatley's switch to the Catholic church has stirred up murderous passions in the parish, yet somebody placed a phone call that made Father Wheatley late for his own murder. Father Koesler intends to find out.

Book Synopsis

EXPLOSIVE OFFERINGS

Precisely when the solemn ceremony receiving renegade Episcopal priest Father George Wheatley into the Roman Catholic priesthood is set to begin, a bomb explodes under the altar. Fortunately Father Wheatley arrives late, but poor old Father Farmer dies in the tragedy.

Father Wheatley's switch to the Roman church has certainly stirred up murderous passions in the parish. His son and daughter-one already an Episcopal priest, the other studying to become one-are seething. Conservative Catholics are enraged by the very idea of a married priest. As blind prejudice, jealousy, and thwarted ambition swirl around St. Joseph's, that shrewd sleuth Father Koesler meditates on one question: Who placed the phone call that made Father Wheatley late for his own murder?

Review Quotes

"William Kienzle is the Harry Kemelman of Catholicism. . . . Robert Koesler is the Detroit response to Rabbi Small."
-Los Angeles Times

"As Kienzle addresses serious modern issues, he stops to digress and tell his wonderful stories . . . providing a neat solution with a twist."
-The Philadelphia Inquirer

About the Author

William X. Kienzle, author of twenty-two previous Father Koesler mysteries, spent twenty years as a parish priest. After leaving the priesthood, he became editor of MPLS magazine in Minneapolis and later moved to Texas, where he was director of the Center for Contemplative Studies at the University of Dallas. Kienzle and his wife, Javan, live in Detroit, where he enjoys playing piano as a diversion from writing.