Amuse Bouche: A Russell Quant Mystery

…a missing groom…a suspicious client…from the smudgy streets of Paris to the Saskatchewan shores of Pike Lake…

A gay wedding gone bad. A missing groom. An unsullied reputation at risk. Enter Russell Quant, cute, gay and a rookie private detective. With a nose for good wine and bad lies, Quant is off to France on his first big case. From the smudgy streets of Paris, he cajoles and sleuths his way to the pastel-coloured promenade of Sanary-sur-Mer.

Back in Saskatoon, Quant comes face to face with a client who may be the bad guy, a quarry who turns up in the most unexpected place and a cast of colourful suspects: the vile sister, the best friend, the colleague, the ex-lover, the lawyer, the priest, the snoopy neighbour—are they involved? Or is someone else lurking in the shadows? As he works through his case, Quant juggles his detective gig with the responsibilities of a personal life brimful of captivating personalities.

Praise for Anthony Bidulka and Amuse Bouche:

“Off to Paris goes the ever debonair Quant on what turns out to be a first rate goose chase.” Quill & Quire (Toronto)

“Bidulka’s Amuse Bouche is an effervescent first novel that is much like the tasty French hors d’oeuvres from which it takes its name.” Quill & Quire (Toronto)

“It’s an amusing, entertaining, and sometimes titillating story with a lively supporting cast of characters.” Quill & Quire (Toronto)

“What really stands out here is the subtle way that Bidulka comments on the ordinary lives of the gays and lesbians in Russell’s world. Bidulka touches on a variety of serious issues…while neatly weaving these strands into an engaging mystery.” Quill & Quire (Toronto)

“Along the way we meet some colourful characters, and are drawn into a fascinating milieu.” The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon)

“First-rate mystery…by any standards.” The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon)

“Bidulka unravels his tale with skill and gentle humour but his real strength lies in his characters and his evocation of…community in a smaller city.” The Voice (Ottawa)

“Amuse Bouche…is an aptly named auspicious debut.” The Voice (Ottawa)

“Amuse Bouche is a novel that entertains and broadens horizons; something…all literature should do.” NewWinnipeg (Winnpeg)

“Bidulka’s Quant is a wonderfully “comfortable” raconteur.” Outlooks (Calgary)

“The ease with which [Bidulka] tells his tale makes the pages slide by almost imperceptively as the story unfolds.” Outlooks (Calgary)

“Amuse Bouche is a fun, quick (and best of all), Canadian-friendly read—great for lazy summer days.” Outlooks (Calgary)

“Anthony Bidulka’s doing his bit to support and promote Canadian culture.” Outlooks (Calgary)

“Suspense, humour, and ambiguity surround the colourful characters that meander throughout the pages of [Amuse Bouche], taunting and teasing you to dare to guess “who did it?” Swerve (Winnipeg)

“If Bidulka’s take on detective work is anything but glamourous, the settings make up for it. Amuse Bouche is…packed with many colourful characters.” Prairie Dog (Regina)

“The real charm of this debut comes…from its savory good cheer.” GMax

“Novice author Anthony Bidulka scores a hit.” FFWD (Calgary)

“[Amuse Bouche] is populated with a broad variety of interesting and very human characters, written with warmth and a genuine sense of humour.” FFWD (Calgary

“Prairie noir—author Anthony Bidulka defies cliches with Amuse Bouche, his stylish new murder mystery set in Saskatchewan.” FFWD (Calgary)

“Bidulka could have a winning series.” Calgary Herald (Calgary)

‘Choice of the Week’ – “Anthony Bidulka paints the Prairies a lighter shade of noir with Amuse Bouche.” The Georgia Straight (Vancouver)

“In Amuse Bouche Bidulka exhibits that intangible quality of the great mystery writer to offer his audience enough to keep them interested without giving the entire package away.” The Ultimate Hallucination

“Bidulka has written a first-class mystery.” The Ultimate Hallucination

“Bidulka has talent and this Amuse Bouche promises lots of tasty things to come.” The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

“Bidulka serves up strong characters and an intriguing plot…one hopes this book itself is only an amuse bouche…for those that are to follow.” Lavender Magazine (Minneapolis/St. Paul)

“Bidulka is so entertaining that he makes you consider a visit to that prairie province once famed for wheat.” The Blade (Laguna Beach, California)

“With first novel ‘Amuse Bouche’, Anthony Bidulka shows a certain je ne sais quoi.” in newsweekly (Boston)

“This entertaining, witty tale introduces a most engaging sleuth in Russell Quant…Anthony Bidulka is a welcome new voice in mystery fiction.” Katherine V. Forrest, author of the Kate Delafield mysteries

Read Chapter One