Malachy Madden, disbarred criminal defense lawyer and manager of the Shamrock bar, is well known throughout Chicago for successfully undertaking unusual projects. When John Bari, a handsome, charismatic, and immensely popular Italian-American priest, is accused of years of sexual abuse of a young boy, he is suspended from his role as pastor-rector of the Saint Shrine located in the heart of an old Italian neighborhood.

A committee of parishioners dedicated to finding justice for the well-liked priest hires Malachy to prove Fr. Bari innocent in a manner that will allow for his full reinstatement at the Shrine. Is the abuse victim telling the truth? Is Fr. Bari innocent? Can the criminal abuser be identified and stopped? How is Chicago’s Cardinal O’Grady involved?

Malachy’s Gloriam is the story of Malachy’s quest to answer these questions. With the assistance of his two long-time colleagues—Kevin, fellow Vietnam vet, and Count Leon, retired professional thief and former client—Malachy uncovers the truth about what happened years ago in the church basement.

Read excerpt as paperback PDF or Kindle eBook.

SRP: $16.95 paperback, $23.95 hardcover

Page Count: 416

Publication Date: 22 April 2016

ISBN-10: 1937484424 paperback, 1956872140 hardcover

ISBN-13: 978-1937484422 paperback, 978-1956872149 hardcover

About the Author

C.M. Martello was born into a family of Irish-German heritage whose Chicago history on both sides goes back more than one hundred years. He was educated in Catholic schools and then went on to a career in finance and advertising. The author chose the pen name Martello as a tribute to his favorite author, James Joyce.…

Reviews

“Martello treats the harrowing subject of clerical child abuse head-on, but seasons the story with the salt of Irish humor—some of it the kind that burns the wound before the laugh lifts the darkness.… Martello navigates the seamy corners of Chicago and humankind with an informed confidence.” —Mary Ellen Prindiville, Irish American News

“This is the delight of the book: the interplay of solid detective work, quid pro quo favors, and a bit of con when needed…The action moves fast, there are great side characters, and justice triumphs in the end. I recommend the book as a very enjoyable detective book.” —Ralph Peterson, Manhattan Book Review

“Martello hooks the reader from the beginning with his skillfully crafted characters.… believable dialogue helps to define the characters as well. The accents are spot on, and the witty back and forth keeps the reader engaged.… These are characters we would happily spend time with.… Martello creates a setting that is as detailed and vibrant as his characters. Chicago comes alive in the novel, and it would not surprise this reader to turn a corner and see the Shamrock in all its slightly dingy glory. New author C.M. Martello knocks one out of the proverbial ballpark with his debut novel.” —Tamara Benson, San Francisco Book Review

“Malachy’s Gloriam is a long book…but [it] is also long on brilliant writing i.e. not once in those 417 pages does the author or the reader get lost or become overwhelmed. What an amazing first novel…What makes Malachy’s Gloriam such a good read is the super colourful cast of characters.… C.M. Martello does what writers are always being told to do: he doesn’t tell us about his characters; he lets them show themselves to us and we delight in discovering them. This is truly excellent writing.” —Viga Boland, Readers’ Favorite

Malachy’s Gloriam

About the Author

Reviews

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