Bless Me Father

A man of God debates his next course of action when a penitents confession reveals startling information regarding a womans unsolved murder in this quiet mystery.Anthony Tony Calabreses plan to propose to Angela Santino in 1987 has a cruel denouement when she dies in a liquor store robbery. A shattered Tony joins the priesthood also having lost his father to cancer and his prospective baseball career to an injury. By 2000 hes a respected figure in his New York community while staying true to his vows even if hes a social drinker and a rather prolific gambler. But its on a cruise with his family that Tony finds himself fighting temptation. While mom Teresa gets cozy with widower Paul Bathgate Tony cant deny his attraction to Pauls daughter Donna Banks. His priestly pledges are once against tested when he volunteers to serve as a New York Police Department chaplain and Patrolman Andy Miller hints at pertinent information regarding a recent liquor store robbery. Andy elaborates in a later confession that he may have details about a similar crime the very one that killed Angela years ago. Tony wants his detective brother-in-law Johnny Sullivan and Donnas forensic specialist brother Jeremy to reexamine the cold case. The priest struggles with a way to tell the cops about a possibly incriminating gun without breaking the Seal of Confession by which hes bound. Theres so much nuance in the novel that the mystery which opens the story becomes a subplot. Saulino (Framily 2014) aptly develops Father Tonys family everyone getting together often to chew over the ongoing World Series or favorite episodes of Seinfeld. The forbidden romance between Tony and Donna is also forever on the priests mind all the more challenging once physical allure evolves into admissions of love. Tony learning of a probable suspect in Angelas murder and his resultant dilemma though certainly intriguing never fully overtake the plot from the protagonists other troubles. Saulino meanwhile packs his narrative with gleefully torrid drama: theres a reason Paul fails to mention he has a son while a husband implies something less than innocent between his parishioner wife and Tony.A solid crime story sharing the spotlight with a priests family and nagging doubts. Family families---intertwined by love and protection of each other right or wrong; sports sorrow and guilt. Bless me father entertains with a little sports history but also is thought provoking---what how do you honor faith a memory and vows to family.. a memory and vows to family.