The Seminarian

by Hart Hanson Narrated by Evan Sibley

Overview

From the creator of the TV show Bones, The Seminarian is a twisty murder mystery perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich and Carl Hiaasen.

Xavier “Priest” Priestly is a snarky former seminarian turned private investigator. Dusty Queen is a hard-as-nails professional stuntwoman and freelance bodyguard. When Dusty's girlfriend suddenly disappears, a woman in a strange blue wig tries to assassinate Priest, and a twelve-year-old boy shows up claiming to be his son, the two friends are thrown into a maelstrom of intrigue and high-stakes violence that's as convoluted and dangerous as it is hilarious.

Thankfully, Priest and Dusty don't have to navigate these tangled mysteries alone. Aided by a lawyer who's underwhelmed by their extra-legal methods, a straight-laced detective who doesn't trust them as far as he can throw them, and Priest's father, a notorious bank robber, they are well equipped to deal with potential kidnapping and attempted murder. But whether Priest is up to the challenge of a son with a gun, a backpack full of weed, and a major attitude problem ... well, that's a different story.

With its unforgettable cast, parade of twists and turns, and breakneck pace, The Seminarian showcases Hart Hanson at his best. Packed with action and glistening with snappy dialogue, surprising tenderness, and (mostly) good people doing some exceptionally bad things, this distinctive thriller is as entertaining as it is insightful.

Editorial Reviews

Christopher Farnsworth

A goddamn delight…It’s been a long time since I’ve actually read a new PI novel this surprising and fun.”

author of the Temperance Brennan series Kathy Reichs

The Seminarian has unique and engaging characters, hilarious dialogue, and a twisty plot. I love this book!”

#1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg

The Seminarian is as wild, irreverent, dangerous, grimy, kinky, and purely Californian as its Venice Beach setting. The characters are so bright, colorful, and vivid that you’ll need sunglasses to read this delightfully wacky and wild crime novel. If you love Carl Hiaasen and Tim Dorsey, this sly, over-the-top romp is a must-read.”

#1 bestselling author of Safe House Chris Ewan

Cool and stylish, witty and urbane. The Seminarian is riotous fun—a winning combination of colorful characters engaged in knotty mysteries, all taking place against a Venice Beach backdrop so vividly described I could almost feel the sand under my toes and smell the weed on the air.”

Crime Fiction Lover

This fast and furious thriller is destined to keep you guessing.”

Stephen Fry

If you like your detectives hard-boiled but with a redeeming soft center then step forward Xavier Priest, your newest PI hero. In The Seminarian, Hart Hanson has sent his gloriously unforgettable characters into a wondrously twisty-turny mystery that the reader will never want to end. More please!”

#1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Gardiner

Fast-paced, witty, and ebullient, The Seminarian is a thoroughly satisfying mystery with a thoughtful heart. It’s a joy to spend time with Xavier Priestly and his crew.”

Booklist (starred review)

A study in contrasts, this book is by turns bloody, gritty, and violent, heartwarming, thought-provoking, and laugh-out-loud funny. An unusual, inventive, unforgettable read that will appeal to mystery aficionados looking for something different.”

#1 New York Times bestselling author of Run Away Harlan Coben

Masterfully crafted…Hanson returns with another wildly funny ride.”

Christopher Moore

The Seminarian is a fast-paced crime thriller with smart, snarky characters and a deep affection for Venice Beach culture. Hanson has hit his stride on this one, I hope we see more of Xavier Priestly and the gang. Highly recommended.”

Library Journal

03/01/2024

Xavier "Priest" Priestly is a former seminarian turned licensed legal investigator. His best friend Dusty Queen, a stuntwoman who moonlights as a bodyguard, has been mooning over an escort, Nikki Celeste, and Nikki's disappearance forces Dusty to hire Priest to find her. Priest is attacked with a stun gun and left in the trunk of his car after being injected with several drugs. When he comes to enough to talk with the police, he only remembers a woman in a blue wig. The searches for Priest's attacker and Nikki are sidetracked when Tarquin, a 12-year-old boy shows up, claiming Priest is his father; friends insist they can see the family resemblance. When Priest sends Tarquin back to his grandfather in Vegas, everyone in Priest's life disapproves, from Dusty to Priest's fishing buddy to his lawyer. It's going to take some lying and fast work to find Nikki, the attacker, and bring Tarquin home, but smart-alecky Priest is up to it. VERDICT The creator and writer of the TV show Bones introduces a wacky cast of characters in his second fast-paced, action-packed novel (after The Driver). For fans of Tim Dorsey's Serge A. Storms novels.—Lesa Holstine

JUNE 2024 - AudioFile

This audiobook is in the tradition of the hard-boiled detective story. It's told with contemporary twists by the highly effective Evan Sibley. Sibley introduces former seminarian Xavier "Priest" Priestly, who is now a private investigator, and his formidable sidekick, Dusty Queen. The action-packed plot involves the disappearance of a young woman, the murder of a pimp, the appearance of an unknown son, a near fatal attack by a woman in a blue wig, and more. Sibley demonstrates his skill at creating memorable character traits; examples include the smoker's voice of the missing girl's mother; the staccato voice of Priest's fishing pal; and the sullen voice of the profane Tarquin, Priest's newly acquired son. This audiobook is clever, suspenseful, and engaging. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2024-03-23
An eccentric Los Angeles detective rolls with all the zany punches.

Laidback private eye Xavier Priestly is hanging out with his fishing buddy Yorben Ybarra on Venice Pier, watching the sea lions play and listening to Mexican music, when an old friend, stuntwoman Dusty Queen, bursts his blissful bubble with a job offer: Find her missing girlfriend Nikki Celeste, a voluptuous escort Dusty first met while working as her bodyguard. Priest is clearly not in this investigation for the money; he requests $1 as his retainer, just to make it official. Priest and Dusty’s long and winding road begins with Nikki’s “manager,” Parris Ferrer, an encounter that abruptly jumps to Priest waking up in a hospital and getting questioned by the imposing Det. Garnet Diodato and squat defense attorney Baz Amberson. Hanson’s mystery has more quirky characters than a whole season of Twin Peaks, with Priest himself perhaps the quirkiest. He spent time in a seminary, regularly visits his incarcerated father in the penitentiary, and has never gotten over his long-lost love, Rachel Orange. This last wound is reopened when profane, violent 12-year-old Tarquin X. Orange shows up at Priest’s digs, claiming to be Rachel’s son, and further claiming that his mom is dead. When Priest finally locates Nikki, the relevant question is whether she’s a captive or a victim of Cupid’s arrow. By this time, the reader is likely distracted, albeit highly entertained, by the off-center, colorful world Hanson’s created, overflowing with rat-a-tat dialogue and deadpan humor.

An audacious and auspicious novel.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940160331164
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	05/21/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged

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