The opening of 2010 has already seen the death of several big name authors and now Ralph M. McInerny can be added to the list. The University of Notre Dame professor and author, perhaps best known for the Father Dowling series of mystery novels, died Friday at age 80.
McInerny was the Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies and professor of philosophy at Notre Dame.
He wrote more than two dozen scholarly books and more than 80 novels, but was probably best known to the general public as the author of the Father Dowling series about the parish priest who solved mysteries.
The "Father Dowling Mysteries" series on ABC television, which aired from January 1989 through May 1991, was based on the books.
