From June Lorraine Roberts at Murder in Common, #21 on the Feedspot Top 80 Crime Novel Website
Merry Bell is a trans Private Investigator tentatively reconnecting with her estranged family, she’s grappling with a mother slipping into dementia, unresolved feelings for Evan, and the lasting damage of being cast out when she first tried to live authentically.
The investigation and Bell’s personal life run in parallel, each illuminating the other, and Bidulka mostly maintains a graceful balance between puzzle and character study
As a whodunnit, Home Fires Burn is satisfying: the truth behind Whatley’s death isn’t obvious, and the final reveal feels earned even if the pacing occasionally lingers on relationships over plot. But that imbalance is also what makes the novel special.
This is a mystery less about the mechanics of murder than about forgiveness, identity, and the fragile, stubborn bonds of family and first love.
For readers seeking a fresh, queer-infused take on the classic PI novel—rooted in the Canadian prairies and rich with heart—this is a deeply rewarding read.
See more at Murder in Common