A bungled kidnapping by two inept psychiatrists sets the tone for The Ablative Case, a lighthearted stand-alone from Anthony winner Ralph McInerny, creator of Father Dowling and author of Emerald Aisle and other titles in his Notre Dame mystery series. Can the staff of Lyndon Johnson Community College, where the intended victim works in financial aid, cope with the spiraling mayhem?
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
McInerny is best known for his Father Dowling series, and his latest stand-alone features characters with ties to organized religion--only this time they're the bad guys. Calvin Harris, whose pastor father led him straight to atheism, has set up shop in Manhattan as an astral counselor. Ambrose Ruffle, a former priest now listening to confessions as a psychiatrist, works down the hall. When Jennifer Bailey, one of Harris' patients, tells him she is seeing a married man, Harris suggests counseling for her boyfriend, Dwayne Navarone. A full-service counselor, Harris eventually agrees to kidnap and murder Dwayne's wife, Mavis. With the help of Ruffle, Harris snatches a woman he thinks is Mavis. In fact, it is Gloria Sheahan, Mavis' coworker at Lyndon Johnson Community College. A series of misadventures ensues, with dead bodies appearing in Dwayne's car, and Harris shooting at Ruffle. McInerny deftly weaves together several subplots and creates a memorable character in the loopy sociopath Harris. This tale will appeal to fans of Carl Hiassen's quirky characters and black humor. Jenny McLarin
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