Date With a Sheesha: A Russell Quant Mystery

…a death in an exotic spice market…from the glitz of Dubai to the choking sand storms of Arabia…bitter endings threaten new beginnings…

Neil Gupta travelled to the Middle East to buy carpets. Instead, in a dim corner of an exotic spice market, his lifeless body is found wrapped up in one.

From the glitzy, flamboyant, mega-high rises of Dubai, to the frankincense fields of Oman and scorching sand dunes of Saudi Arabia, PI Russell Quant is on one heckuva magical carpet ride; one that skids to a deadly halt on the frozen surface of a Saskatchewan pond.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Russell prepares to face the killing heat, choking sand storms, and pungent, dead-black nights of Arabia. Attempting to find out why Neil Gupta was killed, Quant embarks upon a perilous journey that pits him against a deceitful Bedouin sheikh, shifty souk merchants, a snooty museum curator, quirky antique carpet enthusiasts, and an underground club for “fabulous men”.

As Russell’s spicy foreign adventure heats up, he learns valuable lessons about love, life, and learning to seize the moment…before it all disappears like smoke from a genie’s lamp. On the verge of solving his sizzling mystery, Russell finds himself making the biggest personal decision of his life, and discovering that sometimes, bitter endings pave the way for new beginnings.

Read Chapter One

Praise for Anthony Bidulka and Date With a Sheesha:

“…Bidulka has created a clever series that has loads of charm and wit.” – Globe & Mail (Toronto)

“…marvelously exotic characters in equally exotic places.” – Globe & Mail (Toronto)

“Bidulka pulls out all the stops in this book, and it’s a perfect joy.” – Globe & Mail (Toronto)

“…a series that continues to endear, and Bidulka is in top form.” – NOW Magazine (Toronto)

“Quant is as brave, funny and irreverent as ever.” – NOW Magazine (Toronto)

“Bidulka knows how to wine and dine his reader.” – NOW Magazine (Toronto)

“L’auteur dessine bien ses personnages et maintient un rythme de croisière haletant tout au long du récit. Un bon roman policier qui nous donne le goût de plonger dans ses précédents opus!” – Fugues (Quebec) {The author draws his characters well, and maintains a cruising narrative pace. A good detective story giving us a taste of previous opus!”}

“An engrossing mystery…the perfect way to ward off cabin fever on a rainy day.” – Movie Entertainment Magazine (Montreal)

“…all smoke and smoke and smoke and mirrors.” – Movie Entertainment Magazine (Montreal)

“…an exotic rendezvous with food, adventure, local lore, and danger…” – Lambda Literary Book Review

“The various threads of the mystery…are cleverly woven together.” – Lambda Literary Book Review

“…Bidulka has honed his formula to enticing perfection.” – Q Syndicate

“Half the pleasure of Bidulka’s novels comes from his atmospheric accounts of foreign lands.” – Q Syndicate

“What we have here is a good piece of workmanship that, more than anything, carries Russell’s own story along.” – reviewingtheevidence.com

“…goes beyond merely having recurring characters. These characters are rounded, fully developed in their own right…” – reviewingtheevidence.com

“The fact that the novel takes my mind into such wayward paths attests to the power of the writing.” – reviewingtheevidence.com

“…mixing the hilarious with the angst-ridden.” – Xtra Magazine (Toronto)

“…Bidulka’s novels run smoothly…often contrast(ing) creature comforts with the sleuths emotional discomfort.” – Xtra Magazine (Toronto)

“His overseas escapade is colourful and the mystery complex, featuring an array of suspects.” – Xtra Magazine (Toronto)

“…the lovable sleuth is surrounded by far more support than he perceives, including readers lucky enough to have followed him, and his tightly fitting “wonderpants”, since book one.” – Xtra Magazine (Toronto)

“Bidulka has written another gripping mystery…” – Mystery Maven Canada

“…takes the reader on an armchair journey to yet another exotic locale.” – Mystery Maven Canada

“…an intelligent mystery, and a thoroughly satisfying read.” – Mystery Maven Canada

“There are not many authors who have struck such a chord with me that I find myself anxiously waiting their next novel as I’m closing the back cover of their current piece of work.” – outinprint.net

“From the exotic location of Dubai to the desert of Saudi Arabia, Anthony takes his readers on a thrill ride of adventure with beautiful details from his own travels through the Middle East.” – outinprint.net

“There are moments of catching your breath, to moments of laughter and of course with the warm, and passionate Russell Quant there will be tears.” – outinprint.net

“If you haven’t read a Russell Quant mystery you are missing out.” – outinprint.net