I love this book. It helps to have read the Original Sinners series first in order to get background information on the characters and their relationships. That being said, I think the story can stand on its own. I walked into this not knowing what to expect and was pleasantly surprised by the whodunnit quality of the story. Tiffany writes mysteries so well. Actually, she writes everything well, but this mystery was particularly compelling.

I love coming back to this great group of characters. It was good to have some issues discussed and resolved. I loved Nora in this book.

“They were more like a spiderweb, all of them, made of filaments so fragile and fine nothing could put them back together if one of them was torn away…”

… and Nora decides to help investigate a suicide that may well cause those filaments to shrivel up and die.

Oh my God, what a book. I’m not sure how I’m going to put my thoughts and feelings into words, especially since I want to avoid spoilers, but … WOW. Not that I’m surprised. Tiffany Reisz is yet to let me down. But I’m not sure I was ready for this story. Then again, maybe I was. Maybe I’d been waiting for this story ever since I first read the Siren.

I’m sorry, I’m reviewing in riddles, and I can’t promise that’s going to get a whole lot better as I go on. I want to say all the things, and I don’t want to risk spoiling even the tiniest of details.

As always with Tiffany Reisz, this is a story with many layers; quite possibly more than I managed to discover on a first read. There’s the mystery Nora gets pulled into after a priest commits suicide. The last number he called before pulling the trigger was Nora’s old number and when Cyrus, the private detective trying to find out why the priest took this drastic action, approaches her, he pulls her into the case. A case which will bring them into contact with fascinating characters, vampires, and witches (well, what would you expect in New Orleans?). A case that will show Cyrus a way of life he barely knew existed, and a case that will turn two people who, at first glance, have very little in common, into friends.

But there’s more…so much more. There’s Søren and Nora and their complicated, fascinating, scary, and stunningly beautiful, yet fragile relationship.

“Twenty-three years together, and he could still make her toes curl and give her goosebumps and scare her down to the bone.
It was a sacred thing to be loved by a sadist like Søren. Sacred like a sacrifice, like a vestal virgin offered to a god. What was a god, anyway, but one who held the power of life and death in his hands? By that measure, surely Søren qualified, if only when they made love.”

And there’s the thing I don’t want to mention except to say that it answered something I’d been wondering about for as long as I’ve been reading the Original Sinners’ books. I approve of the way that ‘issue’ was resolved. It made sense and I had been anticipating it. And it was a wonderful illustration of how we sometimes don’t allow ourselves to see the full picture of who we are and how we reached a certain point in our lives until something from the outside forces us to open our eyes.

Again, I’m sorry. I’m being horribly mysterious but, if you are still to read the book, you wouldn’t thank me for saying more.

There was so much to love in this book. Kingsley, Juliette (expecting her second baby), and Celeste are delightful secondary characters. I adored Nora’s dog, Gmork. But I think I loved the developing friendship between Nora and Cyrus best. These two have little to nothing in common and Cyrus is definitely not a part of Nora’s kinky world. But their differences allowed them to be exactly what the other needed at various points in the story and I can’t help hoping that we’ll see more of Cyrus and his fiancée Paulina in future books.

I’m going to leave it here. Nobody is going to get anything out me making more vague yet gushing statements. Just go and read the book. And if you’ve so far managed to miss the Original Sinners’ series (what stone have you been living under?), all I can say is, pick up The Siren and start on a journey that will mesmerize and captivate you. Nine books in, and all titles still feature at the top of my ‘extra-special list’.

“If anything in the world was truly a sin, it was letting one’s own mild discomfort interfere with someone else’s healing.”

I absolutely loved Tiffany Reisz’s most recent novels - The Red and The Rose - so I dipped a toe into The Original Sinners world by reading the past two Winter collections of novellas. But when the latest installment in the Original Sinners world became available, I had a healthy debate (with myself) over whether I should read it. Would reading the novellas be enough background to dive into a full length novel? Would the writing be good enough to keep me engaged for the full novel? Would I be excited to read the next one in the series? Would I be enticed to read the past eight (or more) novels in the series that I missed? In the end, I just decided to go for it.

While I didn’t love this book as much as I loved The Rose and The Red, I still very much enjoyed it. At its core, the novel centered on a local New Orleans private investigator pulling Nora Sutherlin into an investigation of a local Catholic Priest’s suicide. The erotic elements of the story and the complex relationships of the primary series characters seemed to be side notes to this central plot line. It was definitely a plot-driven novel that could have been told with other characters as a stand alone novel. The writing was so engaging that I happily flew through the novel in one sitting (around twelve hours).

Because the complexity of the relationships between the primary series characters did not take center stage in this novel, having read the two collections of novellas was perhaps more than enough background on the characters to make sense of the novel. Any truly necessary background was provided in context, so as not to lose the reader who jumped into the series for the first time.

Despite how much I enjoyed this book, I’m not very motivated to read the eight books that preceded it. When I read The Rose, the happenings of the preceding book were just barely alluded to, so I picked up The Red as soon as I finished The Rose. With this novel, I surely did not have that sense of immediacy of wanting to go backward in the series to find out how the primary series characters got to where they were at they beginning of the novel. However, because the relationships between the primary series characters are left at critical decision points, I would definitely read the next in the series to find out how those decisions are made.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this novel to fans of the series. And for anyone who is curious about the phenomenon, this novel is an easy place to jump into it. Finally, it would be perfect for readers who know nothing about the series and are just looking for a good “murder” mystery with a healthy side of erotica.

Tiffany Reisz’s latest addition to her Original Sinners Series is a mystery. Although each of the books has an element of mystery with questions that need to be answered, The Priest is a real mystery with an authentic private investigator looking for the answers and guess who gets to be PI Cyrus Tremont’s assistant? Right the first time! None other than our favorite Sinner-in-Chief, Nora Sutherland!

"You're a dominatrix dating a priest and a French farmer. You got a dog that worships you on command. You got a witch stalking you. You have your own dungeon on the third floor of a bank building. Lady, I hate to tell you this . . . but you are one of the kooks."

"That would hurt," Nora said as she shook off her black leather jacket, "except it's true."

Our mystery begins with a question. What is a disgraced Søren going to do with the rest of his life?  Place him in the perfect location for a mystery, the mysterious city of New Orleans. Add the mysterious death of a beloved priest and a mysterious “witchy woman” — yes, I’m channeling The Eagles. Stir the cauldron carefully because the explosive brew is a worthy addition to a series that has captured the imaginations of readers of every genre. You don’t have to love kink and erotica, you don’t have to be a believer or a non-believer, you don’t even have to be good at solving mysteries to appreciate the author’s unique combination of witty banter and heart-pounding drama or her ability to put you in touch with feelings you didn’t know you had. How can you love a sadist? Or a dominatrix? Or a man who has committed acts that shock the Devil himself?

So back to the mysteries. . . . there is evidence to be gathered and what it reveals will be more shocking than the act that precipitated the investigation. There is a decision to be made that will affect the lives of each of the sinners, and there is a small, black cat to be named. No spoilers as to which item remains a mystery at the end of the book. As always with this ménage, there are questions raised that are answered and there are questions asked that are unanswered. Although The Priest isn’t really a standalone, there is enough detail given that you may certainly begin your love affair with these characters with this book, but you will be your own sadist and/or masochist if you don’t start with the first book in the series, The Siren. Welcome back, family, and 5 Stars to our reunion!!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
When I saw a new book was coming out from author Tiffany Reisz, I wanted it without knowing anything about it. Having read most of the Original Sinners series, this one was a must-read for me. Even though she says you don't have to read the others to read this one, I would recommend reading the others for the pure joy of them all.

This one started out like a suspense story when a priest is found dead and has Nora's card on him. This leads to a private investigator visiting Kingsley's house looking for Nora. But the investigator is not ready for the likes of Nora, Kingsley, and Søren.

Also in this story, we learn a little more about Nora and Søren and where they go from here, or do they have a future? Will they find out the truth about what happened with the priest? Was it murder or suicide?

If you are a Tiffany Reisz and an Original Sinners fan, then you need to read this one. It has the main trio and a few extras and a few new vanilla characters. So sit back and enjoy The Priest, I loved it and can't wait for more.


Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
The Priest is the ninth installment of The Original Sinners series. I advise against trying to read the novel as a standalone or out of series order. There is too much history and backstory, the entire foundation of the series, where readers would be confused if they tried to jump in at The Priest.

With all that being said, there is a different vibe to this novel, more a mystery to be solved than the angsty drama with a BDSM twist in previous installments (never fret, Reisz still brings the angst when it comes to Nora and Søren). Nora is focused on why an unknown priest called her minutes before he committed suicide, joining forces with a private detective to discover the whys and hows, leading her down a journey of self-reflection.

A who-done-it, let's collect and follow the clues to see where it takes us next, causing me to click the pages at a rapid rate because I too wanted to know what was going on. There was a slight humorous bent, much-needed banter between Nora and Cyrus during the investigation, especially with the darkness revealed.

I'm sure readers only care about Søren and Kingsley. Never fear, Reisz has your back, giving you exactly what you need.

Trying to avoid doing a rundown on the plot, as that would just ruin it for readers. Readers deserve all the twists and turns and revelations without knowing they're coming. Reisz does an excellent job of showing our beloved characters. Nora has done some major self-reflecting, and now sees past events in a new light with new eyes, sees Søren differently. Almost as if sensing that, Søren seems more open with his feelings, balancing out Nora's self-revelations, as he also has a major decision he has to make.

When can I have the next? Hmm? It was amazing to fall back into love with Nora, flaws and all, like a homecoming of beloved characters. I can't wait to see what Ms. Reisz graces us with next.


Shelby – ☆☆☆☆☆
Oh Nora, Søren, and Kingsley – how I've missed you!!

The Priest, the ninth book in The Original Sinners series, has all the characters you love. It has all the witty banter, the humorous quips, the sass, and introduces a new character: Cyrus. There isn't anything NOT to love about this.

When Cyrus is asked to look into the death of a Catholic priest, as a personal favor, his world is flipped upside down. The fun part is when Cyrus determines that the priest had placed a phone call to a well-known Dominatrix. You can imagine what happens when Nora is involved.

While we have a mystery to solve, and clues to find and follow up on, there are other layers to this story.

Overall, this is a strong five-star book!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
I adore this series so much, it is pretty much the case that I prostrate myself before Tiffany Reisz in awe and gratitude. Embarrassing but true – and each new book I war between reading it non-stop and rationing out chapters... I have no self-control, so always go all in. I possibly love each book more that the last, and this one is definitely my current favourite. We not only see Nora in a new light, we most definitely see Søren that way too.

You absolutely should not read this first – the #9 should clue you in on that fact anyway – but I promise that you should not start here for any reason at all.

I am not going to say anything about the story at all – the blurb does more than enough – instead, let me promise you that this will give you all the feels that you want and a lot of the emotion that can on occasion be hidden behind kink. It also has a fabulous mystery which has Nora teaming up with Cyrus – a most intriguing and beguiling man.

Enjoy! And thank you so much, Tiffany Reisz, for giving us another dose of heaven... Please keep them coming – I could read about them sat on the deck in their rocking chairs, reminiscing and be happy!

Loved this book . This is my first book by the author . The ending was interesting, not your typical romance book.

It thrilled me when TR announced a new book in the OS series. Her books and short stories continue to be the literary highlights of my year. This new tale is a little different from the rest; it’s a suspense story that weaves the darker aspects of Nora and Soren’s relationship. It opens with the scandal of a priest’s suicide, a priest whose last known phone call was Nora Sutherlin, and PI Cyrus Tremont’s investigation into the situation. Nora insinuates herself into the investigation and in doing so, she’s taken down an uncomfortable path that of self-reflection and questioning of herself and her relationships.

We’re introduced to a new character, Cyrus Tremont. An ex-cop with a love for justice, he’s known for his investigative skills and his desire to help women and children. Although he’s engaged to the sweet and pious Paulina, his sordid past still preys on his mind. His newfound friendship with Nora couldn’t have come sooner. Her upbeat and unpredictable personality encourages him to reflect not just on his past but who he is now and the man he wants to continue to be for Paulina.

I love that TR wrote a different book. It included all the witty clips and one-liners, that trademark a Reisz novel, but the dark and suspenseful nature made it such a page-turner. This book will honestly take you from highs to extreme lows and while reading this book my heart soared with happiness and dropped from sadness. TR truly knows how to write a great novel and at the heart of all of her stories is knowledge of self and love. I loved this book. The characters are more mature and their wilder days are behind them, but they are still the lovable people we’ve always loved to read about.

It is a shock to no one to say I loved this! I didn’t think we’d get more than a few novellas with our favorite sinners after The Queen but here we are the start of new adventures! First and foremost, I loved being back with Nora, Søren, and Kingsley—my main bae. I love their dry wit, their humorous banter, their snarky talk. All of it. They’re so beloved to me I can’t get enough of them. This book was different than the others in that we have some internal conflict with them but mostly it’s about Nora helping Cyrus, a PI, solve a crime about a priest who committed suicide...or did he? This case and story got dark. It was sad and emotional and gave me a lot of reflective thought about men in positions of religious power; and a little bit of thought I didn’t want to think too hard about but that’s kind of the point. On par with her other books I loved the brute honesty these books have. They deal with honest conversations about race, religion, relationships. I love the poignant and thought-provoking discussions these characters have. If what I read in the author’s note is correct, we won’t be seeing the end of some of my favorite characters, it looks like we’ll be getting more to this story. I absolutely cannot wait! I do think you could read this book on its own but you will miss out on all the character nuances and history but you definitely could read alone

I voluntarily read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is part of a series which I wasn't aware of but did not detract from my enjoyment of this but I shall certainly be searching out any others !!

I've put it under romance but it would also be justified to put it under a thriller / mystery - it had many facets to it and I really enjoyed all aspects

Would love to read the others

The mystery around the priest and his death was very intriguing and beautifully handled. We were given clues here and there, pointing us in multiple directions and when we were finally given the answers we'd been seeking, it was still a shock. The Priest is a bit of a sexy mystery suspense novel. We get lots of New Orleans, lots of interesting and mysterious moments and dangerous moments, very erotic moments. Funny moments. Sad and heartbreaking moments.

If you love the Sinners, you will love this book too and if you're new to the series - it's a really great story, but you might want to start with book #1 because if you are a new reader like me, it might be confusing at times.

I had no idea this book was a part of the series. The blurb was interesting and I was completely intrigued.

'Søren has been suspended from the Jesuits for a minimum of one year after confessing to fathering a child. To say he's struggling with his newfound freedom is an understatement.

Kingsley is about to be a father again and is convinced something very bad is about to happen. Nerves? Or is he right that the time has come for the Sinners to pay for their sins?

And if things couldn't get worse, a handsome private detective shows up and tells Mistress Nora that a priest has just committed suicide, and she was the last person he tried to call. He would like to know why...

She doesn't know, but Nora and her new detective friend will turn over the city to find out, meeting liars, vampires, and witches along the way. When she finds what she's looking for, she may wish she'd never stepped foot in New Orleans.'

Only after reading a part of it, I realised it was a part of the series and this was the 9th Book. So it did not really work that well for me in that context. I, however, did end up reading it and I was surprised that I really liked it. It was an interesting story with great characters and the author really had them so fleshed out and well thought out.

This was a story of heartache, passion, stretching boundaries, love and intrigue.
I was quite immersed in the story and now will definitely be reading the other books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Though I have not read the beginning of this series (yes yes I know I know I need to read it.) I had no problems reading this story. I won't say too much because I HATE giving the story line away but I will say this is a steamy, suspenseful story that will capture you from the very beginning. It is an absolute must read. I will hopefully get to the first part of this series soon and don't worry if you haven't read this series go ahead and read this. Like me it will have you wanting to read the others.

Tiffany Reisz did not disappoint with this one! I've been a fan since I was given an advance copy of The Siren and the entire Original Sinners series has long been my favorite of all the many books I've ever read.

This book was amazing. The mystery surrounding the death of a priest was blended beautifully with reuniting readers with the characters we know and love. It felt like coming home to hang out with longtime friends and getting caught up in a mystery as a result.

The mystery around the priest and his death was very intriguing and beautifully handled. We were given clues here and there, pointing us in multiple directions and when we were finally given the answers we'd been seeking, it was still a shock.

We got to dive right back in to the lives of Nora, King, and the others, plus a couple of new (and entirely loveable!) characters that I hope we'll see again in future books - so, you know, I'm also hoping for more books in this series.

Reisz is a hugely talented author, bringing the world of BDSM to life in a way that makes you understand the draw, even if it's not what you'd personally want to do. She blends love and the forbidden in seamless ways, creating wonderful romances and love stories for each of her characters and yet never becoming repetitive or boring.

She is, and may forever be, my favorite author. And this book only proved that she deserves that honor.

A new favorite! I’ll admit the other books in the series were interesting but a tad heavy on kink, it’s there but not as much. This was such a wonderful exciting change for Nora and the series. New readers can fit right in as we get an abbreviated version of the “family” that consists of Nora, Soren, King and Juliette. It’s an odd group but works for them. There’s been a death of a priest, self inflicted, but the situation seems unusual enough to warrant an inquiry. Cyrus is a detective with a fabulous sense of humor, which of course brings out Nora’s wit and sass (not something I remember experiencing before). Nora’s name came up in the investigation and feels an obligation to help the case. I found I really enjoyed Nora’s interaction with people other than Soren, he even seemed more personable. All around I like the direction she took the series with this standalone mystery. I received my copy from Netgalley.

Tiffany Reisz NEVER disappoints. I have been a dedicated fan of the Original Sinners Series since I read “The Siren”. Unlike the other books in the series, “The Priest” feels like a crime/thriller. I think many authors would struggle with this transition, but not Reisz. In fact, she seamlessly blends elements of many genres: mystery, thriller, psychological, erotica - just to name a few. “The Priest” is a true testament to the depth and limitless abilities of Reisz’ craft. Can’t recommend this book or series enough!

Wow! This was a stunning and mesmerizing adventure that left my heart in my throat so many times. I was totally thrown by everything that went down through this story. Although it is the ninth in this series, you can read this one without the rest. It is definitely one of my favorites. The bad news is that I don’t want to give anything away to hamper your enjoyment. Just know that you won’t want to put this down and you won’t be able to forget it for a long time after you are finished.

Exciting, exhilarating, moving, chilling, suspenseful and a fantastic read from beginning to end.

I haven't read Tiffany Reisz or any of the Original Sinners books before so I was really intrigued by the premise and high ratings given to this book and many of Reisz's others.

The story begins with a detective hired to investigate the suicide of a local priest. Just before the priest died, he called the old number of a erotic writer moonlighting as a dominatrix. There are so many answers to be found and the two decide to team up to uncover the truth.

As previously mentioned, I haven't read the Original Sinners series before so I went into this story with fresh eyes. This book was described as "the perfect jumping point for new readers" and "the beginning of a new era" for the series and I definitely found it easy enough to follow along without any idea about previous characters. That being said though, I think knowing a bit more about each of the previous characters would've made it stand out even further. For example; Edge, Juliette and their family. When they were introduced I didn't really know how I felt about them. Is Edge as bad a man as the detective believes? Is Juliette really being snooty about paint colours? Are Edge and Juliette actually in love or is she a prisoner in his house? Or maybe a she's a snobby gold digger? Honestly, that's how they came across to me at the beginning before more was explained. I really had a moment where I wondered if Juliette was in an abusive relationship because Edge didn't want to paint the baby room blue or if Juliette was just a gold digger because Nora commented that since Edge was paying and didn't want a blue room, that was what goes. It took me a while to warm up to their characters and understand their roles and relationship dynamics within the book. Had I read about them in the other books, I think I would've clicked more with this story.

Speaking of characters, I laughed several times when Cyrus first started to view the type of stories that Nora wrote. Quite frankly, I thought the snippets were quite tame but Cyrus was shocked and questioning whether the online book retailer knew the types of ebooks they were selling. This was a serious laugh-out-loud moment for me. With all the religious themes in this story, I almost felt like the metaphorical devil on his shoulder telling him "You've barely even gotten to the kink yet, Cyrus. Go on, read more!" As for Nora, she was quite refreshing as a heroine. Not the usual type of heroine I like to read about or would be friends with in real life but she's definitely someone I could respect.

The Priest was also a great way to get a feel for Reisz's writing style. The story was easy to follow along, the plot was intriguing and the characters were complex. I would definitely consider picking up another of Reisz's books again in future. I can definitely understand why this book and series is so highly rated! The reason for my rating of 3 stars though is merely based on my own personal enjoyment. I liked the book, the writing style and the overall plot. Unfortunately, I just didn't love it so much that I'd want to reread it. Yet anyway. I think that feeling could definitely change if I go back and start the series from the beginning which I'm tempted to do with all the high ratings and the fact that I did like this book.

In The Priest (The Original Sinners #9) by Tiffany Reisz, The move to New Orleans a short while ago has been working out well for erotic romance writer and dominatrix Nora Sutherlin and her eccentric group of friends, who are more like family. But there are changes on the horizon for them all. She tries to keep notorious Kingsley Edge calm as he awaits the birth of his child and drives them all insane with his nervous energy. And then there is Nora's beloved master, Søren. The Jesuit priest is contemplating whether to go back to his role with the church after his suspension is over or whether it is time to basically retire and spend time with his son.

It's when Nora is contacted by local NOLA private investigator Cyrus Tremont that things really get tricky. Somehow a priest called her just minutes before he committed the ultimate sin and killed himself. And it's a man Nora has never met or spoken to before. Unable to give Cyrus answers, she instead insists on helping him with his investigation. The PI didn't realize that the dominatrix has a tendency to attract trouble--and weird people--wherever she goes, but he realizes quickly that it could put them both in danger. With his wedding to Paulina mere months away, Cyrus would like to remain upright and breathing. But as he and Nora run down clues, they uncover even more than they bargained for.

The Priest is just what Tiffany Reisz fans need right now, with its dash of mystery and a heaping dose of our favorite sexy trio: Søren, Nora and King. Set in sultry New Orleans, you can only imagine what outlandish escapades this holy trinity had together.

I can't tell you how happy I was to see a brand spanking (pun intended) new Original Sinners novel! And it was everything you could want. Seriously. We of course got up to date with Nora, Søren and Kingsley--and there was a whole lot happening in their lives since the end of The Queen. There were some play scenes between Søren and Nora that took a turn I wasn't expecting, but that was unbelievably perfect for the kinky pair. Nora also got embroiled in a case that local PI Cyrus Tremont was investigating involving a priest committing suicide. Plus, as you would expect, there was a whole host of kooky people who popped up in Nora's life along the way, which kept things interesting to say the least.

I should mention that The Priest can be read as a standalone if you are new to this series. Reisz included some of the more important aspects of Søren, King and Nora's background so their dynamic will mostly make sense. As well, if you are new to The Original Sinners, there is some fairly hardcore BDSM that takes place. Not as much in this novel as in others. But it's definitely part of the story, along with how Søren being a priest brings religion into his relationships and greatly complicates everything.

New guy to the Sinners world was Cyrus, who I adored. He had a rough past and did some things he wasn't proud of. But finding the love of his life, Paulina, changed it all and had him atoning for his sins--in his own way. I think fans will get a kick out of the (platonic) chemistry between Cyrus and Nora as they worked on the suicide investigation. They had awesome bantering and were just enough alike in personality and previous experiences that they understood each other on a fairly deep level. And when Søren and Kingsley were introduced to Nora's new bestie? So. Much. Fun.

The Priest will take readers on a decadent journey filled with hard truths, fragile bonds, the meaning of love and sacrifice, and even a bit of the mystical--it was set in NOLA after all. Highly recommended.

Loved reading the suspenseful and engaging story. When Cyrus, a private investigator, is asked to research the mysterious suicide of a priest, he discovers the priest was, Father Ike, and his fiance, Paulina, used to work with Father Ike. Cyrus's investigation leads him to a dominatrix, Nora, who ends up helping Cyrus with the case. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a riveting story line full of twists and turns.
I reviewed a copy of the book through NetGalley.