THE BISHOP AND THE BEGGAR GIRL OF ST. GERMAIN

Why would a young French priest conducting a tour in the crypt of Notre Dame de Paris suddenly round a corner and disappear? Greeley's popular part-time detective, Bishop Blackie Ryan, is on the case in this closed-room enigma. With the help of a penniless but promising musician he finds panhandling on the steps of the church of St-Germain-des-Prés, he learns that many folks are glad the cleric's gone. George Guidall takes the author's sketchy character outlines and fills them in with authentic accents, dry undertones, and lively pacing. In fact, he quickens the mystery's snail pace enough to keep the listener eagerly attentive, despite the author's frequent theological asides. E.V. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]