Ralph M. McInerny (February 24, 1929-January 29, 2010) was an American Catholic religious scholar and fiction writer, including mysteries and science fiction. As a mystery writer he was best known as the creator of the Andrew Broome series and the popular Father Dowling mysteries, which were adapted for television. He was the author of numerous books, including Boethius and Aquinas and A History of Philosophy from Augustine to Ockam. McInerny served as a professor of Philosophy, director of the Jacques Maritain Center, and Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame until his retirement in June 2009.