Tapas on the Ramblas: A Russell Quant Mystery

…a would-be killer…from the delight of tapas and sweet sangria in Spain to the bitter taste of death in Sicily…come aboard a cruise replete with the luxury of death…

Charity Wiser, matriarch of the Wiser clan by virtue of her wealth and power, is an indomitable provocateur…and private detective Russell Quant’s newest employer. There is more than a single rotten apple on this family tree, and Quant has been hired to discover which one is intent on murdering his client. To help him sleuth out the evil culprit, Charity Wiser arranges a family reunion aboard the opulent Friends of Dorothy Cruiseliner as it tours the most exotic ports of the Mediterranean. But smooth sailing is short-lived as undercurrents of clashes—local and tourist, gay and straight, trendy and traditional—offer Russell insight into the Wisers and reveal a family simmering with rage and greed. He begins to wonder: Who doesn’t want Charity Wiser dead?

Shifting from his Prairie stomping ground to a sea undulating with murder, Quant’s smarts, senses, and sea legs are challenged. In this captivating yet captive environment, family tensions mount and suspicions build. And Russell must balance his detective duties with safeguarding his client and protecting his own life. From the delight of tapas and sweet sangria in Spain to the bitter taste of death in Sicily, Quant connects and clashes with friends and foes in a series of unforgettable locales. Come aboard a sensual journey of sun and sea brine, caviar and champagne on a cruise replete with the luxury of murder.

Praise for Anthony Bidulka and Tapas on the Ramblas:

“Bidulka weaves together a campy but briskly paced mystery with the requisite elements of detecting and menace…” – Quill & Quire (Toronto)

“The best thing about Bidulka’s mysteries is the cast of by now well-developed, endearing characters. Tapas on the Ramblas is a solid follow-up to his Lambda Literary Award-winning Flight of Aquavit.” – Quill & Quire (Toronto)

“There’s intrigue at every destination, and each is as richly detailed in the writing as Saskatoon is in books past.” –Xpress (Ottawa)

“…Tapas on the Ramblas is an enjoyable, fast-paced read with enough intrigue to keep the reader gripped and turning the pages.” –Outlooks (Calgary)

“…leaves us salivating for a taste of what is next to come in the world of Russell Quant.” –Outlooks (Calgary)

“As the playful title and premise suggest, Bidulka is getting frisky.” –Swerve (Winnipeg)

“Bidulka-brand cliff-hanging suspense is still a trademark of the Quant series, but now accompanied with more action, an almost dizzying array of plot twists, and an intriguing conclusion that’s a tempting promise for more.” –Swerve (Winnipeg)

“Tapas on the Ramblas is the third in the Russell Quant series, and the books seem to get better and better.” –BooksnBytes

“Bidulka gives Quant an exceptional voice in crime fiction, not only distinct but distinctly Canadian.” –BooksnBytes

“…a Russell Quant tale is highly entertaining, from strange beginning to amusing, twisted end.” – The Edmonton Journal (Edmonton)

“Bright, vibrant writing, witty dialogue and outrageous plot combine to make Tapas on the Ramblas a breezy, entertaining read.” – The Edmonton Journal (Edmonton)

“Tapas on the Ramblas…like its predecessors carries the reader along on an exuberant joy ride of action with sporadic pit stops for mayhem, menace and occasional romance.” – Wayves (Halifax)

“In Tapas on the Ramblas, Bidulka has really hit his stride. Bidulka…shows himself to be a writer firmly in control of his story and able to give full rein to his considerable wit and wry observations.” – Wayves (Halifax)

“A very modern story, yet with elements of the old Thin Man movie series, Tapas on the Ramblas is full of delicious humour.” – Wayves (Halifax)

“One of the book’s most enjoyable aspects is its lively descriptions of foreign places…it is clear that Bidulka has traveled there himself and his novel captures the flavor of those travels quite vividly.” – Altar Magazine (Brooklyn, NY)

“Tapas on the Ramblas…is not your mama’s mystery.” – OutTraveler (Los Angeles, CA)

Read Chapter One