From Sweetgrass Bridge

by Anthony Bidulka

A nation holds its breath. On a perfect prairie summer evening, Saskatchewan Roughrider football star Dustin Walker goes missing. As the team's first primary quarterback born in the province and first Indigenous quarterback, Walker is beloved and celebrated from coast to coast. Mistrusting the police investigation, the family hires Merry Bell P.I. to find the green and white hero. From the dark waters below Sweetgrass Bridge to the lands of Little Turtle Lake First Nation, Merry seeks answers while dealing with her continuing transition, swelling loneliness, a floundering career, well-meaning crossdressing assistant and having to decide whether the people in her life are friend or foe.

Genres: Canada

258 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2024

About the author

Anthony Bidulka is the author of the long-running Russell Quant mystery series, two thrillers featuring Disaster Recovery Agent Adam Saint, a stand-alone suspense novel, Set Free, and a stand alone mystery novel, Going to Beautiful (2023 Crime Writers of Canada Award for Best Crime Novel) and the Merry Bell trilogy mystery series. The third and final book in the Merry Bell trilogy, Home Fires Burn, will be released June 2025.

Praise for Anthony Bidulka's books:

“…promises to become one of those that we look forward to each year and put on our shopping lists without waiting for the reviews.”

Reviewing the Evidence:

...Anthony Bidulka has created a whole new genre: Saskatchewan Gothic, which will both chill and warm your heart. Simply wonderful!

Alan Bradley, author of the Flavia de Luce series including The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Going to Beautiful...is a testament not only to Bidulka’s skill in plotting and other novelistic stratagems, but even more to the unique setting and the wonderfully textured characters...

Felice Picano, author of Like People in History and Pursued: Lillian's Story, companion to Pursuit: A Victorian Entertainment

...poignant, often funny, always wise…the quiet joy and hopefulness of this novel are gifts readers will value for years to come.
Gail Bowen, author of the Joanne Kilbourn Shreve mystery series including An Image in the Lake

Anthony Bidulka has pulled off a literary coup in Going to Beautiful. Deftly balancing humour and heart...Bidulka hits it out of the park.
Terry Fallis, two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour


Anthony Bidulka has dedicated his career to writing traditional genre novels in an untraditional way, developing a body of work that often features his Saskatchewan roots and underrepresented, diverse main characters. He tells serious stories in accessible, entertaining, often humorous ways.

Bidulka’s novel Going to Beautiful is the 2023 winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Award for Best Crime Novel. His books have been shortlisted for numerous awards including the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence (three times), the Lambda Literary Award (three times), the Saskatchewan Book Award (five times). Flight of Aquavit was awarded the Lambda Literary Award for Best Men’s Mystery, making Bidulka the first Canadian to win in that category. Going to Beautiful, about a gay man rising from the depths of despair in search of joy on the Saskatchewan prairie, also won the Independent Publisher Book Award as the Canada West Best Fiction Gold Medalist.

In his free time Bidulka loves to travel the world, collect art, walk his dogs, obsess over decorating Christmas trees (it’s a thing) and throw a good party.


Anthony's Books:

The Merry Bell trilogy:
Livingsky (2023)
From Sweetgrass Bridge (2024)
Homefires Burn (2025)

Going to Beautiful (2022)

Set Free (2016)

The Adam Saint books:
When The Saints Go Marching In (2013)
The Women of Skawa Island (2014)

The Russell Quant books:
Amuse Bouche (2003)
Flight of Aquavit (2004)
Tapas on the Ramblas (2005)
Stain of the Berry (2006)
Sundowner Ubuntu (2007)
Aloha, Candy Hearts (2009)
Date With a Sheesha (2010)
Dos Equis (2012).

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merry has returned home to Livingsky after a having been working in Vancouver. Her caseload has been light, so she has been working as a security guard. She is happy when a new email hops in her inbox and she quickly has the cousin of quarterback, Dustin Thomson, as a new client.

Dustin has gone missing and Merry is hired to help find him. As she looks into the background of the Indigenous celebrity sportsman, looking for any answers to questions the police seem reluctant to share. On a secondary thread, we meet Roger whose wife has a design company located next to Merry’s PI office.

Roger is the host of a true crime podcast. Roger/Stella...would dearly love to become part of the team at LSI and ever anxious to impress and has started an independent investigation into some anonymous letters Merry received after she first arrived. We see aspects of Merry’s personal challenges with the emotional side of her transition and her feelings of isolation. We also explore Roger’s psyche as he struggles to rationalize his need to be both Stella the podcaster and Roger, the electrician who is also a husband and father.

The reader is lead through the layers of the investigation as well as Roger/Stella's anxieties. I had a bit of a problem with the shared thoughts of more than one character, but it didn't happen too often, nor did it distract from the overall impact of the story. I found this to be a well-written book with some repeat appearances from Merry’s adventures from the first book, although both the first and second book easily stands alone. I particularly liked the dynamic Merry is establishing with her new acquaintances and hopefully she will have more luck in attracting clients going forward.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This can easily become my new favorite series to read. I could not put this book down. The chapters end in cliffhangers. The characters are rich, yet realistic. They are imperfect and bring a human quality I look for in a novel.

The story continues on a good pace and includes action and emotion with depth.

I won this book in a give away so I had not read the previous book in the series or anything the author had written before but I am going to for sure now.

Thank you Anthony Bidulka for selecting me in the Goodreads giveaway. You have a new fan!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about Anthony Bidulka that I haven't already said? Love his work. And I loved this book from the very beautiful descriptive first page.

Merry Bell, struggling private investigator, gets a case that looks to be straightforward at the start...what happened to beloved Saskatchewan Roughrider quarterback Dustin Thomson? Was it murder, suicide or accidental death?

Merry's investigation into this case shows her a young man who was loved by all, who had drive and charisma and who wanted to give back to his community and fans. So who would want to kill him? The police are convinced that it was a suicide, but someone doesn't think that way.

As Merry looks into this case, Roger, husband to Brenda who works in the same building as Merry and who is very determined to be friends with Merry, starts looking into the notes that Merry received during her last case. This reveals more of Merry's background, and Brenda's.

I like the fact that Anthony delves more into Stella (Roger's alter-ego), and how she developed and thinks throughout this book, and how Merry is being pulled out of her self-imposed isolation. This book (and the previous, Livingsky), shows readers the conflict and need of the transgender community to be themselves and look the way they feel they should be, and I hope, if nothing else, reading these books will start a dialogue between people.

[Shaye Isaak Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first paragraph to the last, I love the way Tony writes. It is so descriptive I feel like I am there. Perhaps it is somewhat due to the fact that he is writing about my “hometown”, but his unique way of writing immediately involves one, regardless of where you live. His descriptions of characters and relationships are very intuitive - he makes one believe they are actually people he knows…

[Mirjam Dikken · Rating 5 out of 5]

The eagerly anticipated sequel to Livingsky doesn’t disappoint! By now, Merry Bell has started to settle in her old but new hometown. She’s even hired by a new client, who pays cash up front for an interesting investigation. Then things slowly unravel… The investigation pushes her to question allies she’s hesitantly developing, while she stumbles through her journey in learning how to rely on other people. Bidulka lovingly portrays imperfect characters with another great story. 

[Mary Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent mystery with suspense, intrigue, interesting characters and relationships, including perspectives and challenges of various groups – indigenous, LGBTQ, adolescent. It is interesting to see Merry Bell’s expertise and approach to detecting. Bidulka has a great understanding of human relationships, and also human/canine relationships!

[chris ouellet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What another wonderful book from Anthony Bidulka.
His books are such a page turner that you don’t want to put it down. His books always make you feel like you are right there when things are happening and feel so involved in book.
Very well written and can’t wait for the next book to come out.

[J. Nizinkevich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, Bidulka puts out a real page turner. You won't know the truth until the end and the end has you wanting more.

[Colleen Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Sweetgrass Bridge is a compelling and richly textured mystery novel that is captivating from the very first page.
Bidulka's portrayal of Merry Bell is both relatable and intriguing, as she grapples with the complexities of her own life while uncovering the mystery of the disappearance of a beloved Saskatchewan Roughrider.
The plot is well-paced, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.
From Sweetwater Bridge is a beautifully crafted mystery that showcases Anthony Bidulka's talent for storytelling.
I look forward to the next book in the trilogy.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saskatoon was somewhat less of a “character” in this one so the name change didn’t bug me as much. The mystery was well plotted. Enjoyed the diverse characters. On the con side, there were sudden POV changes which created some dissonance and too much unnecessary explaining.

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Livingsky, the first in the Merry Bell trilogy, so looked forward to reading the next book, From Sweetgrass Bridge. I very much enjoyed my second visit to Livingsky, Saskatchewan.

Merry, a transgender woman who has returned to her hometown after gender-affirming surgery, has set up shop as a private investigator. Her business has had few clients however, so she is happy to take a new case: to find a missing man, Dustin Thomson. Dustin is a celebrated player for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the team’s first quarterback born in the province and first indigenous quarterback and a local hero. Merry begins by interviewing people connected to Dustin, including his roommate, teammates, and family. Though she has no employees, she does get assistance from Gerald Drover, her landlord; from Roger Brown, a cross-dressing true crime podcaster who is married to Brenda, a designer with an office next to Merry’s; and Veronica Greyeyes, a police detective who once arrested Merry.

Merry is as likeable as ever. What’s not to like about someone who recognizes the importance of having money for chocolate and wine? What is particularly admirable is her determination; even when she seems to hit dead ends and mistrusts her abilities, she falters only briefly before persevering. Though it’s summer and they probably don’t have bootstraps, I like to think of her pulling herself up by the bootstraps of her Louboutin designer boots! My admiration for her even increased when she chooses not to say something to Brenda in a conversation she has with her at the end of the book. What makes Merry authentic is that she has personal struggles with a floundering career and with emotions like isolation and loneliness. She also admits that she has not completed what she calls the four stages of the transition process.

It was fun to re-connect with other characters, all of whom remain faithful to their depictions in the first book: “a morally ambiguous, mullet-headed, flamingo-legged landlord; a prickly, serious-as-a-heart-attack cop; a true-crime obsessed crossdresser, and a sickly-sweet interior designer.” Of course there are new characters introduced as well. Admittedly, I have a personal bias, but my favourite new character is Doreen – besides the name, I can identify with some of her decrepitude (though I also like to think of myself as reliable and trustworthy)!

I love the writing style which is eminently readable. I like the pop culture references, like a coach delivering a “Ted-Lasso-worthy speech,” and the gentle humour sprinkled throughout. For instance, in a discussion with Greyeyes about a poem written by Dustin, Merry muses, “Getting information from Greyeyes was like pulling molars with needle nose pliers. Would it help if she asked her questions in iambic pentameter?”

The book draws some attention to issues affecting our First Nations peoples such as boil water advisories, lack of education and opportunities for youth, many cases of missing people, and high suicide rates. I understand the author’s wanting to explain these problems, but it’s awkward that Merry seems to know little or nothing about these problems, though she immediately understands the meaning of the word kôhkum?

My interest was maintained throughout such that I didn’t want to put down the book. Though I guessed the guilty early on, I certainly didn’t know the details. Though the resolution lacks some credibility, I did find that considerable effort was made to make it as convincing and believable as possible.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Though From Sweetgrass Bridge can be read as a standalone, I suggest readers begin with Livingsky first if they have not already done so. I certainly look forward to seeing more of Merry and company – especially Doreen of course – in the next installment.

Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/DCYakabuski).

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘From Sweetgrass Bridge’ is the second outing for private investigator, Merry Bell, from the pen of Canadian-based author, Anthony Bidulka. Merry has returned home to Livingsky after a stint working in Vancouver. Her caseload remains static and she has been supplementing her income by working as a security guard. She is naturally delighted when a new enquiry email pings into her inbox and she quickly enlists the cousin of quarterback, Dustin Thomson, as a new client. Dustin has gone missing and Merry is tasked with finding him. She gradually delves into the background of this Indigenous celebrity sportsman, seeking answers to questions the police seem reluctant to pursue.

As a secondary thread, we again meet Roger whose wife has a design company located next to Merry’s PI office. Roger hosts a true crime podcast as his alter ego, Stella. Roger/Stella would dearly love to become part of the team at LSI and ever keen to impress, has started an independent investigation into some anonymous letters Merry received after she first arrived.

The author remains faithful to the format of the first book in this series and we continue to see aspects of Merry’s personal challenges with the emotional side of her transition and her feelings of isolation. We also explore Roger’s psyche as he struggles to rationalise his need to be both Stella the podcaster and Roger, the electrician who is also a husband and father.

The descriptive passages and settings are evocative with the pace remaining even. Methodical processes lead the reader through the layers of the investigation to its conclusion. My only small gripe is a bit of head-hopping. Sharing the thoughts of more than one character in a segment can be confusing but, as it wasn’t repeated too often, it didn’t distract from the overall impact of the story.

This is an enjoyable and well-written book with some repeat appearances from Merry’s foils from the first story although each book stands alone. I particularly like the dynamic Merry is establishing with her new acquaintances and hopefully she will have more luck in attracting clients going forward. I award five stars.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve not read the first book in the Merry Bell series, Livingsky, what are you waiting for? This second book—From Sweetgrass Bridge—is better than the first, but is really better if you’ve already been introduced to the characters and situation in the first book.

The main character, Merry Bell, is a private investigator making a new start by returning to her hometown. In this story, we see her investigate the death of a popular athlete. She follows the clues, even when those clues seem to lead to very uncomfortable conclusions. She’s a good detective, and that’s part of what makes the story so good. Some authors have characters who “bumble into” the solution; Merry is smart, competent, and conscientious. She has her own problems to deal with, but she’s handling them. (I really appreciate this growth arc from the first book in the series.)

While Merry is a strong main character, I have to confess that I’m quickly becoming enthusiastic about the secondary characters. Detective Sergeant Veronica Greyeyes is the police officer Merry ends up working with again; she is a complex person who learns to trust Merry—yet still needs to maintain her professional distance. Brenda and Roger Roberts are delightful, in both their secrets and their personalities. There are still unanswered questions about all these people, and I hope that the author continues to reveal more in subsequent books.

I liked the plot of this book, also. The first book in the series had an investigation that veered into political turmoil; this book follows just the “simple” line of an unexplained death. The mystery rolls out in a way that is believable and entertaining.

The hidden star of the story—as is true of the first book—is the town of Livingsky. The prose describing the town is vivid and inviting. Even the “wrong side” of town—Alphabet City--sounds appealing. The author’s love for the area is evident, and now Saskatchewan is on the list of places I’d like to visit.

I hope there are many more Merry Bell books to come. I won a copy of From Sweetgrass Bridge in a Goodreads giveaway; my thanks to the author for sponsoring this giveaway.

[Ilonka · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second outing Merry Bell, the city of Livingsky’s trans private investigator, is hired to find missing elite quarterback, Dustin Thomson. Merry has hardly begun her investigation when Thomson’s body is found beneath Sweetgrass Bridge. Murder or suicide? Merry is determined to find out, even when her client suddenly insists she drop the investigation. Sometimes helped and sometimes hindered by people she met during her first case, Merry peels away the puzzling layers of the investigation to arrive at the truth. Along the way she is reminded of some of her own forgotten history. And the stage is set for the next Merry Bell novel.

Woven into the mystery of what happened to Dustin Thomson is the subject of loneliness. Merry is still learning how to navigate the world in her new body which makes her reluctant to let people into her life. Cross-dressing Roger Brown and his feminine side, Stella, struggle with their identity and the need to keep this essential part of themself secret from all but Roger’s wife, Brenda. And Brenda, an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, feels isolated and lonely in that world.

As always Bidulka gives the reader an engaging mystery infused with the kinds of challenges faced by so many in the real world every day. This novel leaves you thinking.

[Hannah Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

From Sweetgrass Bridge is an interesting mystery. I loved the inclusion of queer and indigenous characters in the novel. I was very interested in the mystery surrounding Dustin's disappearance, but felt that it took a back seat to Merry's life problems more often than it should've. I also felt that the events of the first novel were explained enough that I didn't need to read it to understand this novel and who the characters were. There were some formatting choices that sometimes made it hard to understand when the POV changed, but hopefully that's because I was given an ARC and those issues should be resolved in the final released edition.

Thanks to LibraryThing and Anthony Bidulka for the gifted copy!

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Sweetgrass Bridge is a very good “whodunit”and the interwoven plot lines are both unanticipated and plausibly resolved. Bidulka is a master at building suspense and frequently ends a chapter with a compelling phrase that makes the reader want to continue with the next chapter.

Transgender and cross dressing issues are explored sensitively.

Bidulka is a master of vivid descriptions……which start on Page 1 and continue throughout the book.

Merry Bell’s evolution as a private investigator is progressing and one can only hope there will be more to read about her chosen career path.

[Rosemary McCracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment in the Merry Bell mystery series is a welcome return to a cast of well-drawn quirky characters. Merry is hired to investigate the disappearance of a popular Saskatchewan quarterback. When the athlete's body is found in the South Saskatchewan River beneath Sweetgrass Bridge, Merry's gut tells her he didn't commit suicide. She uses her considerable smarts and dogged determination to track down the killer, all the while coping with the aftermath of her recent gender transition. Bidulka is a master at telling an engaging story that turns a spotlight on serious social issues.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Goodreads giveaway win* First, so grateful for the opportunity to receive this book! I really enjoyed Merry Bell and hope to read more books about her in the future! Merry Bell is a transgender woman that recently moved back to her hometown and started a private investigation firm of her own. She really struggles to connect on a personal level because she's still trying to find confidence in life in general. She takes on a case of a local missing man, Dustin, who just happens to be a well known football player on their reservation. The determination to find out the truth takes the reader on an interesting journey! I enjoyed this book!

[S. Portico Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense for me, in any Anthony Bidulka book is not finding about the crime - because we all commit them in one way or another - small murders everyday of our beliefs, and hopes and dreams, so I read Bidulka's books to find out how he brings life back to life through clear and creative insights into the melodrama of human experience. Here at the close of From Sweetgrass Bride Bidulka reminds me that what I remember is not always true, and mixing up the facts can steal away a life. This is indeed a crime. Bidulka reveals the resolution to this injustice every time.

[Glen Rutland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reading copy of From Sweetgrass Bridge. Much like the title character of Merry Bell, this book shows development and growth as the series moves forward. A solid mystery with the backdrop of Merry growing into her new self mirrored in the growth and development of those around her. The mystery forms a strong backdrop for Merry's character development and the returning supporting cost of character. But even as a stand alone, the mystery itself is compelling and kept me reading to the end.

[Alice Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous read! In this second Merry Bell mystery, Merry finds herself thrown into the world of professional sports as she investigates the death of an Indigenous Saskatchewan Rough Riders’ quarterback. With a fabulous cast of new and returning characters, we are the edge of our seats until Merry finally puts the pieces together to reveal the killer. Please don't feel you have to be a sports enthusiast (I'm not) to enjoy this book. Like all of Anthony's books, this one digs deep into human relationships and how they affect our choices.

[Barbara Brydges · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read for the Saskatchewan setting, for the plot involving the disappearance and death of an Indigenous Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback, and for having a female PA trying to solve the case. I enjoyed the setting - although it’s bizarre that he invented the city of “Livingsky,” and then so clearly described Saskatoon, but perhaps he thought it necessary because the Roughriders are a Regina team. It’s the setting I enjoyed the most, although it’s a decent plot, but he failed to bring PA Merry Bell to life in any believable way so I won’t be bothering with any more of the series.

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not often that I like the second book better than the first one (I also gave Livingsky a five-star review) but this was a real page-turner. I loved the way Merry Bell's character developed, along with those of her quirky landlord and her new wannabe friends. And this was a classic murder mystery, with clues, false leads, fake identities, and the whole shebang. Not only that, but it had a totally unpredictable ending. What more could you ask?

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saskatchewan Roughrider football star Dustin Walker goes AWOL and an entire nation holds its collective breath as the family hires a private detective to uncover the truth, not trusting the police to do their job. Merry, the private detective, is also addressing her transition, while dealing with a cross-dressing assistant. lots of layers to uncover!

[Cindy.Sherban · Rating 5 out of 5]

devoured this book and now have to wait a short bit for the release of the third in the series. Loved this book. Great characters. Raises contemporary and historic issues in a nice narrative (not pedantic) way. I very much enjoy reading books set in a city I am familiar with and love. It is fun to guess at some of the places Merry frequents in her day to day business and pleasure.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this novel. I couldn't put it down. Bidulka has a diverse and interesting group of characters in this novel. Merry is just perfect. The plot is absolutely interesting and I just couldn't figure out who did the deed. A very realistic ending. I am so glad I discovered this author. I love Canadian authors.

[David Van Horne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthony's second book in the Merry Bell trilogy is even better than the first book. This is a delightfully crafted mystery that kept me captivated until the end. Merry's character development left me wanting more books since I felt so invested in her life and what would become of her.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed the book -- a story with many twists and turns that keep you wondering how the mystery will finally be solved. The author does a great job of bringing the characters to full life through the story telling. Such a great read.

[Elizabeth Tysdal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the second in Mr. Biduka’s Merry Bell series. Especially love the characters of Merry and Stella/Stan. Lots of twists and turns in the solving of the Saskatchewan Roughrider quarterback who was a Saskatchewan born of aboriginal heritage. 🤞for a #3 😊

[Cherylin Loney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book’s unconventional but very relatable characters. It was an easy, accessible, engaging mystery/true crime novel - and not gory or frightening if you don’t care for that kind of thing.