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Beasts of Burdin #1

Demon Gotta Go: The Southern Demon Hunter Series

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When the demons are in your head, call an exorcist. When they are at your front door, call Ty Burdin. And when all else fails, decapitation kills everything.

There are some nightmares you can’t drink away. Determined to quit demon hunting, Ty Burdin left the Agency with a trail of bodies in his wake.

When local Agency Head Rancic is in over his head with a redneck war-demon that always seems to be one step ahead, Ty is thrown back into the crosshairs. After the devil’s bullets start flying, he is going to need more than his piss-poor attitude to make it out of Shiner’s Ridge alive. Only one thing is for sure, the DEMON GOTTA GO.

Beasts of Burdin is a double noir on the rocks with a Southern gothic twist. If you like the hard knock, unabashedly dark style of Richard Kadrey and Stephen Blackmore, you'll love the hilarious cynicism of Alexander Nader.

269 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2014

57 people are currently reading
393 people want to read

About the author

Alexander Nader

29 books108 followers
Writes novels about the dark things floating around in his head because the demons won’t let him sleep otherwise. Jokes are his weapon of choice, but will resort to deflection in times of emergency. Did you know Maine is closer to Africa than any other state?

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5 stars
48 (35%)
4 stars
54 (40%)
3 stars
22 (16%)
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6 (4%)
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4 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Cat.
1,481 reviews14 followers
February 3, 2014
What happens when a demon hunter from a long line of demon hunters wants to retire? Ty Burdin is finding that out, the hard way. This book is loaded with awesome characters and I really enjoyed all the humor. The plot moves quickly and Ty is all about rolling with the punches. His team - made up of his secretary Nora and his brother help carry the story and really show how big of a lovable guy Ty is, contrary to his demeanor.

Really liked the various demons mentioned in the book - not your usual demons!

Really hoping to see more from this author as his style was really enjoyable and entertaining.
Profile Image for Laney McMann.
Author 12 books143 followers
November 13, 2013
Still grinning.

I could say that the plot was tight, the story moved at the speed of light, and I liked the new approach on demons versus the world, and that would all be true, but even more than that— what kept me turning the pages was Ty. His voice is fresh and witty and sarcastic, and I found myself getting wrapped up in his words, the way he talked, the way he saw life. Really a great book that pulled me out of my own head and put me in someone else's. For me, that's the benchmark of a good story. Can't wait to see what Ty gets into in Burdin 2.
Profile Image for L.S. Murphy.
Author 12 books155 followers
November 11, 2013
Ty Burdin is a modern day Sam Spade fighting demons. his snark is almost as legendary as his bad attitude, both of which make him relatable. The plot rolls with ease, and the writing makes this a fairly quick read. Overall, an interesting novel that does exactly what a novel should: take the reader away for a few hours, especially since our lives have to be better than Ty's.
Profile Image for Danielle Shipley.
Author 29 books52 followers
November 26, 2013
I had a fun night with my ARC of this puppy. Ty’s narrative voice was snappy and amusingly jaded, just as one would hope for in a whisky-soaked private eye with demon decapitation at the top of his résumé. Talking of demons, the sheer variety sprinkled throughout the story was impressive – from soul barterers, to fortunetellers, to those who specialize in seduction and/or heatstroke. I never knew what turn the tale would take next, putting me in the same boat as the book’s good guys, minus any realistic fear that I could be shot with the devil’s bullet at any moment. (Yes. The devil’s bullet. It’s a thing, and take it from Ty, you don’t want it to hit you.)

I enjoyed watching Ty relate to the cast around him. His brother Hartnet (who, free confession, I thought was kinda hot), adopted into the big-name demon-hunting family and fearlessly facing down the beasties the best a non-Burdin can. His secretary Nora, who will doubtless elicit the empathy of every writer out there who’s trying to snag a publishing break while holding down a job where people keep getting shot and beheaded in their office space. (Inspiration can come at a heart-pounding price, eh, Nora?) And let us not forget the smug agency members with whom Ty probably couldn’t play nice if he tried – and he wasn’t trying. A wit like Ty’s ought not be kept in a vacuum, so I was pleased to see him so often surrounded by good friends and… less-than-good less-than-friends.

If you’re up for an entertaining adult urban fantasy, this is the book I’ll point you to. From the small sampling I’ve had of the genre, “Beasts of Burdin” sailed smoothly to the top, and I’m looking forward to the series’ continuation.
29 reviews
February 2, 2014
The first chapter made me think this was just a typical noir private detective story. But wow did it get going after that with 10 different kind of demons with all the damage those demons can impart and great main character development. Ty Burdin has the typical noir detective addictions: with addiction defined by the author as "the ardent enjoyer of all things that alleviate the drudgery of daily life" and he definitely enjoys his addictions. His sidekicks, Nora his receptionist and police detective Hartnet,round him out and keep him continuing to fight demons. The demon hunting Agency head, Rancic, is someone you love to hate. I look forward to more novels with all the main characters and hope Jason Diaz continues to excel in the Agency. Thanks to Mr. Nader I have some researching to see if his demons have all the attributes he has described.
Profile Image for Stephanie Embry.
Author 0 books5 followers
August 9, 2014
Loved this book so much. Another in a very satisfying recent run of indie books that is bringing my faith in books back to life.

Ty Burdin is a great anti-hero without being a cliche. His humor is exactly my style. His ultimate motivation for leaving the mysterious Agency blew me away--I was seriously not expecting that. It's so great to see an author embracing a more personal motivation, I've been growing weary of the bland "it's the right thing to do" motivations that are so prevalent lately.


The side character were just as great as Ty. Nora was a particular favorite, but Hartnet and the bartender were also great. Hell, even Diaz and The Agency's various members were well-written and interesting.


Putting aside the characterization, which I could seriously rave about all day, the action was PERFECT. Fast-paced without being whiplash-inducing. The twists and turns were unexpected but sensical, which really does speak volumes for Nader's ability.


One final note: my spouse is NOT a reader. Not even a little. He doesn't care for it, and he has dyslexia to struggle with. While I was reading Burdin, I laughed so often that he got curious, and took it from me. I had to wrestle it away to finish it, and I had to give it back the second I finished it.


We will have to buy two copies of the sequel, or else risk some major bruises in the fight over that one.
Profile Image for Chris.
653 reviews17 followers
February 5, 2014
Wow! This book truly surprised me. This book is about Ty an ex demon hunter turned private eye, who finds himself sucked back into the world of demon hunting. Ty is an overall ass! Sarcastic wit, dry humor, and a tiny bit of sleaze make this character not only fun to read but interesting as hell.

I actually loved Ty, and thought he was such a well rounded, well written character. Add in the family he has and his life style choices and it made him an amazing read.

This book has a fabulous cast of characters to go along with Ty. You will HATE Rancin, you'll love Nora and Hartnet. You will even come to love a demon or two. They kind of grow on you. This is a very fast read, has a fun plot, wonderful and smarmy dialogue, and with that dialogue that just right touch of humor.

If you like paranormals, angels/demons, fantasy, detective oh heck if you like books you will certainly not go wrong reading this beauty!

Profile Image for Ziggy Nixon.
1,137 reviews35 followers
September 23, 2022
…regular ol’ humans manifest demons with their mind. They think on an idea so hard, that the idea becomes a physical thing.

Well, thanks so VERY MUCH @dmguay because you've gotten me hooked on yet another series that I'm now going to have to read until there's no stories left … or even worse, leave me hanging while I wait on any pending chapters in the release pipeline (hint: not a euphemism for bowel movements of any kind)! Yes, I found Alexander Nader's "Beasts of Burdin #1" (or whatever name we're supposed to be using for same) to be right in my own personal, "gosh I love funny and weird and unique" urban fantasy wheelhouse! And though I'm usually loathe to use comparisons in my reviews, this pushed many of the same buttons that I enjoyed having, um, well-prodded in Jack Townsend's immortal "Tales from the Gas Station" series (ref. weirdness galore) as well as one of my absolute favorites, namely, Douglas Lumsden's amazing "Alex Southerland" collection (ref. tough Private Investigator doing tough PI thingies throughout and saying he doesn't take any shit off anyone or anything and then usually getting the crap beat out of him as a result…)!

I’m allowed to cut heads off demons. Asshole humans, I have to tolerate.

Heck, if you feel like it, go ahead and sprinkle some "Constantine" goodness in there while you're at it (yes, I mean, "The Keanu" version, may His presence - and apparently a pending sequel - be praised)! I certainly recognized a name or two from the appearances throughout that glorious film and appreciated them each and every time! In fact, while we're on the topic of films (and music and other schtuff) there are a number of really well-placed and relevant cultural references sprinkled throughout this introductory tale. And yes, I did take into account that they were indeed much more relevant when the book was originally released in early 2014, but let's not dither over things the young folk don't care about anyway. I think that's right (the 2014 bit), but if anyone here on either goodreads or Amazon knows differently (or perhaps you're a very very uniquely qualified Oracle for same), don't hesitate to speak up!

Addict is such a strong word. I prefer ardent enthusiast of all things that alleviate the drudgery of daily life.

In terms of all the little cogs and gears that make a book run smoothly, I was certainly very pleased with the pacing and character development throughout. It not only works in terms of "no time to waste, here are the players for this act" but also in a way that I assume will let us be equally pleased with the survivors in coming chapters (no spoilers, I promise!). Plus, you've got to give a good solid nod to the author for placing this in of all places Knoxville, Tennessee - noting even though I don't know that city per se, it's not a million miles away from the NC mountains from whence most of my kinfolk hail. So we'll call that part even and certainly relatable. Sure in hindsight, I could ask for a bit more of X or a lot more of Y, but hey, can you blame a guy or gal for being greedy?

“Why (did) you really quit the Agency?”
“I told you already. They wanted me to club baby seals, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it. They’re just so damn cute.”


And yeah, sure, I wish some bits had even slowed down a bit - I mean, wham! we're in the bar/church/hospital/strange tourist setting and now we're done and gone - but there's usually a trade-off between, again, how fast things are happening and how long we have to sit around and gab. Or have a drink. Or a smoke. Or several of each. But man, did some of those meals sound good! Still, let's be honest: it wasn't necessary to check the "use by" dates of most of the demon folk because they were manifested one minute and then they were dispatched with extreme prejudice the next. Say what you will about our protagonist: he don' wastes no time gettin' the job done!

As a demon hunter I’ve seen the inside of more churches than Pope Gon’Fishin’ the Seventeenth.

In terms of minor negatives, well, there were a few more editing hiccups than I usually like to see. Nothing that threw us off the plot trail or anything, but still enough to burn the retinas like cheap smoke from a menthol cigarette (ooo, how very topical of me!). Sure, it was disappointing to see Mephisto spelled wrong the very first time (and the one case of Hartnets) because I would have expected THAT would have summoned a demon faster than anything! Gosh, if they don't like humans' manners or their (um, our?) smarmy but well-timed snark, then I can just imagine how they (the demons and probably angels, too) would hate it to have their own monikers mishandled! But again, teensy tiny bits here and there, we'll get Digger to clean it up in post copy when HULU or someone else buys the streaming or straight to DVD rights (is that still a thing?)!

I’m way cooler in fiction than I am real life.

All kidding aside, um, kids: check out these books! I'm heading off to KU the FU out of Book 2 (oh that rhymes, too! And that as well!). Ciao.
Profile Image for Markus Matthews.
Author 21 books40 followers
September 25, 2021
A solid first book to a promising series.

Retired demon hunter turned private eye, Ty Burdin gets pulled back into the demon-hunting game against his will. A powerful demon is building a demon army to take over the world and Ty is the only one who can stop him.

There was a lot to like about this book. The pacing is fast and keeps you turning the page to read more. The supporting characters are interesting and distinct. The prose and dialogue are solid. The author does a great job of setting the scene in each chapter. I also really enjoyed how demons were manifested in the book.

The issue I had with the book was the main character, Ty. I found myself disliking him more often than liking him. I also found him to be a bit cliched; a hard-drinking, chain-smoking PI with a troubled past… not the most original of main characters.

Thankfully, the good far outweighed the bad and the book was an enjoyable read.

I look forward to reading more of this series.
Profile Image for Jill Jones.
54 reviews4 followers
January 2, 2023
Loved it!!

I loved this book. Got it cause the write up sounded interesting but I quickly got into the story and the characters. The only gripe I have and my reason for not giving 5 stars were all the damn typos. Gee whiz there were a shit ton and they would pull me out of the story. Regardless I loved this book and highly recommend it. I'm headed to the second in this series directly.
Profile Image for Joan.
1,753 reviews20 followers
February 8, 2024
Engaging and fast paced.
Enjoyed the story about a demon hunter trying to stay retired. One pesky demon is causing a lot of problems and the Agency needs him for one more job.
I like the snappy, snarky dialogue but could do with a bit less swearing, seems like it was overkill in a lot of the dialogue and just didn't flow or give that punch.

Will be checking out the next book in the series.
Profile Image for E.R..
Author 1 book7 followers
May 7, 2022
Different and fun

This is a bit different then most urban fantasy books these days. No vamps or wolves. All demons all day. It’s and interesting take. I only wish the author went a bit darker in tone but it was plenty good enough to keep reading the series.
Profile Image for Melissa Stiles.
53 reviews2 followers
July 13, 2022
Look out Winchesters, there is a new hunter in town.

Really great book. Feel in love with the main characters. The story line grabs you and you just can't stop reading. If you like the Supernatural series you will fall in love with this one as well.
2 reviews
December 18, 2020
Y

Was actually really surprised with this book
I was recommended this book and thought I'd give it a shot
I'm glad I did can't wait for the next installment
25 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2022
What a fun read! Some of the writing felt clunky, but I didn't really care, because I was having a good time.
Profile Image for Bambi Goggio.
198 reviews2 followers
July 26, 2022
Sam Spade meets Supernatural. I love this throwback to hardcore noir detective/demon hunter.
Profile Image for Cheryl .
2,369 reviews80 followers
September 23, 2024
This is a 4.5 🌟 read rounded ⬆️ to 5 🌟.
Profile Image for Elyssa Marie.
76 reviews4 followers
February 9, 2014
My Thoughts

I had a lot of expectations for this book and I must say that I was extremely pleased! I was instantaneously interested in this book after reading the summary because I am a HUGE Supernatural fan! I mean, the Supernatural CW TV show. And this book really reminded me of the show and man, this book did not disappoint! This was such a fun read, I honestly could not put it down. If I didn't have other things to attend to I honestly would have just stuck myself in my reading corner and read this book in one sitting. The plot was so intriguing. I absolutely enjoyed reading about the supernatural world created by Alexander Nader. It's- WOW!!!

And Ty Burdin! As I read this book, I could not stop myself from picturing Ty Burdin looking like this handsome guy...

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Dean Winchester. Yes, the dude from Supernatural.


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O.O oh.my....


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I think I may have a problem...


Yes! Dean Winchester is my Ty Burdin. Ty Burdin is a very interesting character. I love how complex he is with a very complicated past that greatly affects his present. And I love his personality!!! I enjoyed the sarcastic remarks and snarks.He's such a well- rounded character and in addition to his lifestyle, makes him such a well written and interesting character!


Overall, the book is an awesome supernatural read with very interesting and well- written characters! I would love to read more of Alexander Nader's work!!!


My rating: 


BIC Rating System5


Would you recommend this book?: YES!





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Profile Image for Maghon Thomas.
1,541 reviews1 follower
March 16, 2014
I love when I am surprised by a book that I like ALOT! I almost passed on this one, ALMOST, but I am SO GLAD, that I not only had a little inspiration, but that I took the chance to read something new. It’s FANTASTIC! I think my favorite part is the most awesome sarcasm I’ve read in forever! The main character is full of shit, pardon that, but he even tells you, and though he is seriously crutching on his cigarettes and scotch, and he kills demons, and sometimes humans, he’s a good guy, and sometimes, there is no black and white, but 50 shades of grey, and no, I don’t mean that stupid novel of trashy sex scenes! LOL UhOh, now now, don’t get mad, I’m talking about Ty and his demons here :)

So Ty is a retired demon hunter, turned PI. His family name is all people and demons need to hear, he and his family are legendary in the demon hunting community. And he’s bad ass, and sometimes bad. LOL He has a serious issue with feeling, and has the best sarcastic humor I’ve read in a while. And though he will never ever admit it, he’s a good guy, hiding behind the hard core look. If you took away the magical part, Ty reminds me of Harry Dresden, and let me explain that sentence. He has that calm about him. He knows he could die, he even says he’s scared, but he’s going to do it anyway, he’s gunna go down fighting. He’s not magical like Harry, but he has some serious weapons, and some very awesome sidekicks! And he has a past that’s still haunting him :)

The writing is well done. I mean, who wouldn’t snort and giggle at all of Ty’s horribly sarcastic, dry, humorous comments. And you know that comes from somewhere, or someone :) And the world building is excellent, mostly because it’s based on reality. There’s not this big elaborate new deal, except that there are some demons and they are becoming more frequent, and they are killing more people. The plot line is excellent. You think retired demon hunter, and I kept thinking older guy, BUT Ty is in his very early 30′s! He even talks like he’s old sometimes. LOL I loved this. AND he has a very determined narration. He’s very captivating.

There are some excellent side characters, like Ty’s brother, and his secretary. Hart, his brother, and Nora his secretary, have completed Ty. The things that I would say lacked in Ty’s character are made up for with them, and they are the perfect addition to the story, and I love them! And I loved that this is well into the gritty, haunting Urban Fantasy Genre. It has so much to offer, and though this author is new with this book, I have so much to expect, because this one was great, which means it can still get better! I am definitely looking forward to book two. A well written, excellent beginning to a new series that I am so going to stalk for more! 5 FIERY DEMON HUNTING PAWS!
Profile Image for Jen.
289 reviews34 followers
September 3, 2016
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


Here’s a story about a man named Ty

Ex demon hunter, now private eye.
He barely escaped the hunting life
Grotesque demons and a hell of a lot of strife.

One year later he’s being dragged back in
Back to killing demons and his own demon within.
Only something is different this time around
More demons than ever are here above ground.

Can this tortured man do what no one else can?
Can he stop the demons and their master plan?
Trust me, you will not regret reading Beasts of Burdin
Because sarcastic wit, action, & mystery you’ll find within.

Still not convinced? Perhaps Nora can persuade you
Her confident style won me over and I’m sure it will you too.
An undiscovered author who doesn’t take any of Ty’s crap
She’s a force to be reckoned with and well that’s a wrap.

If you’re still not convinced then I don’t know what to say
Other than it's great and I hope you pick up Beasts of Burdin today.
Profile Image for Laurie.
616 reviews132 followers
February 17, 2014
I just ate this book up! Totally enjoyable from the first page; Ty is a retired demon hunter. He is burned out, done in, just wants to be left alone. Unfortunately, for him, his brother needs his help, and Ty reluctantly accepts a job that promises big rewards. In so doing, he brings down a heap of trouble and a mess of a mystery.

I like Ty. He does not play well with others, and he marches to his own drum beat. Finding out his history during the course of the story was a lot of the fun of this book, for me. Ty is honest and straight-forward. He also has a rather jaded, but humorous world outlook. The story is well-told, flows smoothly, and continually held my interest. I cannot wait for the next book!

This book was given to me by the author or publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Reviewed by Laurie-J
Profile Image for Jessica West.
Author 88 books262 followers
July 15, 2014
Alexander Nader delivers a swift, round-house kick to the head right from the start. The action just does not stop. I have no fingernails left. Though this book is a complete knockout on its own, I definitely see more misadventures in Ty Burdin’s future. I can’t help but look for a bit of romance in everything I read, and Nader teases with the possibility. It’s just enough to satisfy the girly part of me, but this book isn’t a mushy, sappy romance. Beasts of Burdin is the very definition of action packed adventure, with a dark soul and teasing, rough-edged wit.
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