Capture the Saint

Simon Templar, the legendary adventurer known as "The Saint," returns in this 1997 novel by Burl Barer. Set in Seattle during a film premiere of Templar's own novel, the story places the iconic character in the midst of contemporary urban crime and intrigue. The plot follows two main threads: Templar's investigation of police corruption involving crimes against homeless youth, and his pursuit of the mysterious Treasure of Dolores Costello. The narrative connects to earlier Saint adventures, particularly "The Saint in New York," as past characters resurface with new challenges for the protagonist. This 52nd and final entry in the Saint series stays true to the character's roots while bringing him into the modern era. The book explores themes of justice, redemption, and the timeless appeal of a hero who operates outside conventional boundaries.

Reviews indicate most readers see this 1997 entry in The Saint series as falling short of Leslie Charteris's original works. Readers credit Barer for maintaining Simon Templar's core personality and style of speech. Several note the book captures the light, adventurous tone of classic Saint stories. Common criticisms focus on a convoluted plot and lack of the sharp wit found in Charteris's writing. Multiple reviews mention forced dialogue and a slower pace than the original novels. One reader on Goodreads states "it reads like fan fiction rather than an authentic Saint adventure." Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.1/5 (14 ratings) Amazon: 3.3/5 (6 ratings) The limited number of online reviews and ratings suggests this book reached a smaller audience compared to other Saint novels. Several readers note they sought it out specifically as Saint completists rather than through general recommendation.

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler A private detective navigates 1930s Los Angeles through murder, blackmail, and corruption with sharp wit and complex moral choices.

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming British secret agent James Bond matches wits with a Soviet operative over a high-stakes card game with national security in the balance.

The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett A retired private investigator gets pulled into solving a murder while maintaining his sophisticated lifestyle and witty repartee.

The Complete Adventures of Raffles by E.W. Hornung A gentleman thief carries out elaborate heists in Victorian London while maintaining his status in high society.

The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth A professional assassin methodically plans the assassination of Charles de Gaulle while French police race to uncover his identity.

🔹 Published in 1997, this novel marked the first literary appearance of Simon Templar not tied to a TV adaptation since 1983's "Salvage for the Saint." 🔹 Simon Templar, known as "The Saint," began his literary life in 1928 in Leslie Charteris's "Meet the Tiger" and went on to appear in over 100 adventures across various media. 🔹 The Seattle setting was a significant departure from the character's usual haunts of London, New York, and continental Europe, reflecting the city's emerging prominence in 1990s culture. 🔹 The book's meta-narrative approach - featuring The Saint attending a premiere of a film based on his own novel - was unprecedented in the series' nearly 70-year history. 🔹 Author Burl Barer was already a recognized Saint scholar before writing this novel, having penned the Edgar Award-winning biography "The Saint: A Complete History in Print, Radio, Film and Television" in 1993.