Good Knights [Hardcover]

Ralph McInerny, prof. emer. of philosophy, former director of the Maritain Center at Notre Dame, and author of over 100 books in philosophy, history, translation, and – what he’s most known for – mysteries, particularly the Fr. Dowling novels and the recent Notre Dame series. 
     His writing awards include:  Bouchercon Lifetime Achievement Award (1993), Agatha Award (1988), and Best Short Story for “Dutiful Son” (1988). He was the first recipient of the James Schall Award for Teaching and Humane Letters (2008), and received the most prestigious award in philosophy, the Gifford Lectures (1999–2000).

These stories represent an intermediate stage in the evolution of the Knight brothers in Ralph McInerny’s fiction. InThe Noonday Devil, Phil, in his capacity as private detective, was fairly close to the action, but by no means the major character. Roger, his blimp-sized brother, entered obliquely into the story but ended by starring in the finale.
     Readers liked them, in particular Roger. So McInerny brought them back inEaseful Death, where they are far more central and Roger occupies much space, physically and narratively. And so it might have remained. When McInerny was asked to do a Notre Dame series of mysteries, he decided to bring Roger to South Bend as the Huneker Professor of Catholic Studies, accompanied by the semi-retired Phil, who has the full menu of Notre Dame sports to keep him occupied. Prior to starting the series, McInerny wanted to reacquaint himself with the Knights and hit upon the idea of doing a series of Knight brothers stories in Crisis, a magazine he founded with Michael Novak. Before moving them to South Bend, he wanted to see them in action, working out of New York, always driving in the specially designed van, never flying, to the cities were their client lived. 
    Good KnighlSÑ