Order of William X. Kienzle Books
William X. Kienzle (1928-2001) was an American author of crime fiction/mystery novels. He wrote the Father Koesler series. From Detroit, Kienzle was ordained as a priest in 1954, and spent 20 years in the priesthood. He left due to the Catholic church’s refusal to allow divorcees to re-marry. After leaving the church, he worked as a magazine editor in Minneapolis, and as the director of the Center for Contemplative Studies at the University of Dallas.
William X. Kienzle made his debut as a published author in 1978 with the novel The Rosary Murders. His final novel was The Gathering in 2002. All 24 of his books were part of the Father Koesler series. Below is a list of William X. Kienzle’s books in order of when they were originally released:
Publication Order of Father Koesler Books
If You Like William X. Kienzle Books, You’ll Love…
William X. Kienzle Synopses: The Rosary Murders by William X. Kienzle is the first book in the Father Koesler series. He targets priests and nuns. He has a calling card – a plain black rosary entwined between the fingers of each victim. The police don’t know where to start, but Father Koesler sees a pattern – a consuming religious obsession that can bring one to committing multiple murders. And to an unexpected and terrifying encounter inside the Father’s own confessional.
Death Wears a Red Hat is the second book in William X. Kienzle’s Father Koesler series. Father Bob Koesler is called upon when the bloodless, decapitated heads of Detroit’s underworld leaders are found on the shoulders of headless statues in Detroit churches.