Bishop as Pawn

The Father Koesler Mysteries: Book 16

Now, for the first time, the complete Father Koesler mystery series is available as e-books. William X. Kienzle’s series of best-selling mysteries feature Father Robert Koesler as a Roman Catholic priest whose intuitiveness and caring nature lead him to an unusual calling: solving mysteries, mostly of the murderous kind.

"Bishop as Pawn provides a splendid showcase for Kienzle’s skill at contriving a whodunit and for his insider’s view of archdiocesan politics."—Chicago Sun-Times

From the author of the mystery classic, The Rosary Murders.

The murder couldn’t have been more ill-timed. Father Ernie Bell, slightly in his cups, staggers into the priests’ quarterly gripe session, angry at the new bishop. Recently arrived Father Don Carleson also takes a jab or two at the bishop, who treats the sixty-something Carleson like a servant. The conspiratorial conversation continues around the table, as many of the Detroit clergymen agree that Bishop Ramon Diego uses others as pawns in a chess game.

By the next morning, several of the detractors are prime suspects in the murder of Bishop Diego. A team of detectives and a particularly ambitious assistant prosecuting attorney descend upon the relative calm of Ste. Anne’s Parish, where the murder occurred, and quickly build their case.

In Bishop as Pawn, William X. Kienzle’s sixteenth novel in the best-selling Father Koesler mystery series, the venerable priest-sleuth is faced with a sticky dilemma: The evidence points to one of his colleagues as the guilty party, yet Koesler has an innate sense of the integrity of the accused. Should Koesler trust his instincts, or has his allegiance to the priestly brotherhood skewed his objectivity?

About the Author

William X. Kienzle died in December 2001. He was a Detroit parish priest for twenty years before leaving the priesthood. He began writing his popular mystery series after serving as an editor and director at the Center for Contemplative Studies at the University of Dallas.

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