The Dearly Departed

by Kelsey Kingsley

Welcome to Seint Manor.
Where villains are created and devils are born …

My name is Abraham Crowley.
My friends call me Bram.
And I never wanted to be a bad guy.

From the moment I was born on the streets, the cards were stacked against me. And ever since, I’ve been forced to do things I never wanted in order to survive and protect those smaller and weaker than me.

Now, as a man, that need to save the people I care for has led to a deal with the devil. And with my identity hidden behind a plague doctor mask, I know my mountain of sins greatly outweighs any good I've managed to give to this world.

But there’s a yearning in my blackened heart for the woman I spent decades searching for-—a woman I can never have-—and with that longing, there’s hope that if I can hold tight to what I feel for her …

Then, maybe it'll be enough to keep me from becoming the devil hanging over my shoulder …

The Dearly Departed is the first book in The Patron Seints series, a dark and romantic saga that should be read in order.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 28, 2026

About the author

When I was a wee lassie, I was told by my preschool teachers that I was a natural at storytelling. When I was just a little older than that, an old friend's mother said to me, "Kelsey, one day your books are going to be on the shelves at the library."

Well, Diane, I don't know if my books are ever going to be on the shelves of libraries, but I'm sure as hell going to try.

When I'm not writing stories destined to be bestsellers, I enjoy devouring TV shows, listening to every type of music there is and going to concerts, reading pretty much anything (with a soft spot for romance and certain books located in 18th century Scotland), obsessing over makeup, and pretending to workout.

I also have a fondness for cats, my family, tattoos, and a really good French fry.

Reviews

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰]

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[Amber Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

We first met Abraham Crowley in Finding Noah, and I was definitely curious to know more about the mysterious man behind the plague doctor mask. The Dearly Departed by Kelsey Kingsley gives us exactly that, taking us all the way back to Bram’s childhood and showing us how he became the man we met in Noah’s story.
And let me tell you, Bram never really stood a chance.

From the beginning, life dealt him one shitty hand after another. He was forced to grow up way too quickly, and so many of the choices he made weren’t because he wanted to be the bad guy, but because he was trying to survive or protect someone who couldn’t protect themselves. Seeing his story from childhood into adulthood added so much context to his character and made me look at everything he did in Finding Noah differently.

Bram is absolutely a morally gray character, but he’s the kind where you understand how he got there. He does terrible things. He knows he does terrible things. But underneath all of it is someone who has spent his entire life wanting to protect the people he loves, even when doing so costs him pieces of himself.

And then there’s the woman he spent decades searching for.

I’m not going to say much about that because this is definitely one of those books where you need to discover things as they happen. But the longing this man carries? DECADES?! Sir. The relationship and history between them added another layer to Bram that I wasn’t expecting after meeting him in Finding Noah.

Kelsey Kingsley has a way of writing incredibly damaged people without making their trauma their entire personality. Her characters are messy. They make questionable choices. They love fiercely. And sometimes the line between the villain and the person trying to do the right thing gets very, very blurry.

[Jenn the Readaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that you just KNOW is going to tear you to shreds, but you do it anyway? I have. And if you haven’t before this one, welcome. Get comfortable. And join me in the cries of “we need more NOW!” Because you will. Just like I so desperately do.

I knew these brothers would get to me. I knew that the plague doctor of another mans story would hit hard. And it does. I didn’t expect it to hit even harder, yet it did and I should’ve been watching for it. I’m not saying that it would’ve hurt less or shocked me less, but I possibly might have braced a little better for it. I still wouldn’t have stopped reading for anything though, no matter what pain came our way. You see, this is dark. There’s shadowy, dark, then dark enough that the shadows hide. This? This is the third type of darkness, but I still can’t help loving it and demanding that I get the rest soon. The twists and interweaving of lives in ways we didn’t understand before, the truth behind the brothers running that somewhat creepy funeral home, the honesty that is trying to be shared but knows it has to bide its time. All of it. These brothers have been through it. Bram has been through even more now. And I just know the vengeance tour is coming soon. I’m 100% here for it.

[Emma Neer (NeerReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
One thing I will always love about Kelsey Kingsley is the way she writes trauma and character development, especially from the male POV.

The Dearly Departed felt really different from her other books. Bram is such an interesting character because you KNOW he’s done terrible things, but as you learn what he’s experienced and what made him who he is, you can’t help but feel for him.

I honestly wouldn’t even consider this a romance though, at least not yet. There is a romantic subplot, but this book is really about Bram. His life, his trauma, his choices, and everything that shaped him. I actually loved that, but I’m definitely hoping we get a lot more of Bram and his love interest in the next book!

The dedication, “for when you feel empathy for the villain,” really says it all. 🖤

And I was NOT prepared for that cliffhanger. 😭 It ended right when I felt like we were getting to the good part. I need the next one ASAP!

Bram is a 5 star character, but I’m going 4.5 for my rating 🖤

Thank you for the ARC! 🖤

[Em • Men Written by Women Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5 ⭐️
Good lord, this was a difficult read 😅 but I could not put it down and was on the edge of my seat. If you’re expecting a romance from this, pause, we’re not there yet! This is really the story of Bram and his brothers and the immense trauma and suffering they have endured.

There is a romance sub plot with some tension and yearn but I’m hoping the romance is to come, because I need a happy ending for these poor people.

Bram is a morally grey MMC and does some very bad things, but the character development and the empathy you feel for him is 😩 you can completely understand how he ends up where he does but at the same time feel so frustrated and gutted for him wanting it to be different!

This was a great start to the series, my heart was in my mouth for most of it, and can’t wait for the next one. Make sure you check trigger warnings.

Also Leonard, the man that you are 🥺❤️ angel on earth

[catb.x0x0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story hits so differently than any Kelsey Kingsley book that I have read and I am utterly obsessed with how dark she went with The Dearly Departed. Readers have already gotten glimpses of our main character, Abraham and his brothers in Finding Noah, but those mere glimpses only left us with so many more questions at the end of Noah’s book. I would love to say they are all answered in this book, but alas, the answers we do get only lead to more questions that unfold around the crazy plot twists. The author is a genius when it comes to inter-connecting her storylines, but what she does in this book is truly spectacular and I cannot wait for what is to come in the next book.

[Michelle Odland · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.

I devoured this ARC - holy guacamole. This book definitely had a darker feel than Kelsey’s previous novels, but it still had her beautiful characterization and solid writing. There just wasn’t as much actual romance (though there was desire) There is, however, a lot of terrible violent acts done. Take caution if that’s not your thing, but if you can handle it Bram is a character that will make you question whether he’s good or bad or just…gray.

[Charli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Early Beta Review- you arent prepared for Bram's story at all.

[bryanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT WAS THAT ENDING