William X. Kienzle facts for kids

William Xavier Kienzle (born September 11, 1928 – died December 28, 2000) was an American writer. He was also a Catholic priest for many years before he became a full-time author. Kienzle is best known for his popular series of mystery novels featuring a detective priest named Father Robert Koesler.

Early Life and Priesthood

William X. Kienzle was born in Detroit, Michigan. In 1954, he became a Catholic priest. He served as a parish priest for twenty years, helping people in his church community.

From 1962 to 1974, Kienzle was the main editor for the Michigan Catholic newspaper. This was a newspaper for the Catholic Church in his area. He won awards for his excellent writing and journalism during this time.

Becoming a Writer

In 1974, William X. Kienzle decided to leave the priesthood. After this, he became the editor-in-chief of MPLS Magazine in Minneapolis. Later, he moved to Texas and worked at the University of Dallas.

It was during this period that Kienzle started writing his famous mystery novels. He wrote 24 books in a series about Father Robert Koesler, a Catholic priest who solves crimes.

The Rosary Murders

In 1978, Kienzle published his first and most famous book, The Rosary Murders. This book was so popular that it was made into a movie in 1987. The movie starred Donald Sutherland as Father Koesler.

Kienzle helped write the movie's script with Elmore Leonard and Fred Walton. Fred Walton also directed the film. Like most of Kienzle's mysteries, The Rosary Murders takes place in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan.

The movie received awards at the Cognac Festival du Film Policier in 1988. Director Fred Walton won the Audience Award. Elmore Leonard and Fred Walton also received a special award for their screenplay and dialogue. In 1980, William X. Kienzle was a finalist for a National Award for Fiction because of The Rosary Murders.

Personal Life

After leaving the priesthood, William Kienzle married Javan Herman Andrews. She was a journalist who worked for the Detroit Free Press newspaper.

William X. Kienzle passed away suddenly from a heart attack on December 28, 2000. He was 73 years old and was at his home in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Javan Kienzle passed away later, on September 30, 2015.

Books in the Father Robert Koesler Series

• The Rosary Murders (1978)
• Death Wears a Red Hat (1980)
• Mind Over Murder (1981)
• Assault with Intent (1982)
• Shadow of Death (1983)
• Kill and Tell (1984)
• Sudden Death (1985)
• Deathbed (1986)
• Deadline for a Critic (1987)
• Marked for Murder (1988)
• Eminence (1989)
• Masquerade (1990)
• Chameleon (1991)
• Body Count (1992)
• Dead Wrong (1993)
• Bishop As Pawn (1994)
• Call No Man Father (1995)
• Requiem for Moses (1996)
• The Man Who Loved God (1997)
• The Greatest Evil (1998)
• No Greater Love (1999)
• The Sacrifice (1999)
• Till Death (2000)
• The Gathering (2002)

Other Books

After William X. Kienzle's death, his wife, Javan Herman Andrews Kienzle, wrote a biography about him. It was called Judged by Love.