Kienzle, William X., (Requiem for Moses [hc, Andrews McMeel Publishers, 1996]) 978-0836210422 [pb, Ballantine Books, 1997] 978-0345402912
United States · Fiction author
William X. Kienzle
William X. Kienzle (1928–2001 in Detroit, MI) – former Catholic priest, author of the 24-volume Father Robert Koesler series. In Requiem for Moses (18th in the series), Father Koesler agrees to host an unofficial wake for the Jewish Dr. Moses Green, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. This sparks significant media attention and a “devil of a mystery” when the deceased appears to stir in his casket. Critics often compare the Father Koesler series to Harry Kemelman’s Rabbi Small series.
- Detroit Backdrop: Like his creator, Father Koesler is based in Detroit, a city where the Catholic and Jewish communities historically coexist, providing a realistic setting for interfaith storylines.
- Interfaith Exploration: Kienzle frequently uses his mysteries to explore the friction between traditional religious laws and contemporary human nature, occasionally involving non-Catholic characters to highlight these themes. [Google/AI]