Anthologies
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Mysterious North | 2002 | Buy |
Father Mark Townsend Mystery Reading Order
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Story Knife | 1996 | Buy |
| Ritual Death | 1997 | Buy |
| Cruel Sanctuary | 1999 | Buy |
| Deadly Harvest | 1999 | Buy |
Brad Reynolds brings a rare authenticity to the mystery genre. As an ordained Jesuit priest himself, Reynolds writes from direct experience when crafting the investigations of Father Mark Townsend. His four-book mystery series is set in the Pacific Northwest and often involves Native American communities, religious institutions, and the kinds of moral questions that come naturally to a writer with his background.
Reynolds published the Townsend novels between 1996 and 1999, and also contributed to The Mysterious North anthology in 2002. His work stands out in the clerical mystery subgenre because it avoids the stereotypes that often come with priest-detective stories, instead grounding the narratives in realistic settings and genuine cultural detail.