Ralph Matthew McInerny (February 24, 1929 – January 29, 2010) was an American author and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. McInerny was a Roman Catholic and the creator of the popular Father Dowling Mysteries books. He sometimes wrote under the pseudonyms of Harry Austin, Matthew FitzRalph, Ernan Mackey, Edward Mackin and Monica Quill. He died of esophageal cancer on January 29, 2010.