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Russell Quant #9
QUANT: Russell Quant Mystery #9
15 years later, the groundbreaking Russell Quant mystery series is back. Dealing with grave family matters and personal challenges, PI Russell Quant returns to his hometown of Howell, Saskatchewan. On a perfect spring day the body of a beloved local resident is found at the bottom of a gorge. There's a suicide note. Russell begins to question the cause of death and wonders if the bucolic village he once knew is hiding a more sinister reality. Russell searches for the truth from Canadian prairie to Caribbean paradise. As a once peaceful farming community struggles to survive, deception and greed wage war against resilience, hope, and family legacy.
372 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2026
About the author
Anthony Bidulka
23 books267 followersAnthony 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).
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).
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 1, 2026
This fictional private detective is unlike any other, billed as the first and only wine-swilling, wise-cracking, world-travelling, winsomely gay, half Irish, half Ukrainian, ex-cop and former farm boy. I particularly liked Russell Quant’s sense of humour, with his lighthearted take on being gay in a pretty conservative community. Not only is the character of Quant appealing on his own, but the crime plot is excellent. This is a standalone novel, but happily it is also number nine in a series, that will make you want to go back and read the earlier books, as I did.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 Stars
I finally met Russell Quant, the “wine-swilling, wise-cracking, world-travelling, winsomely gay, half Irish, half Ukrainian, ex-cop, ex-farm boy, Canadian prairie PI,” and I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with him.
In Howell, Saskatchewan, Russell’s hometown, Clem Toth, the community’s go-to handyman, has died. Police believe his death was a suicide motivated by Clem’s guilt at deliberately destroying all the plants of a local nursery business. CeeCee, Clem’s widow and manager of Toth Greenhouse, doesn’t believe he committed the vandalism and is convinced he was actually murdered. Because CeeCee is a family friend, Russell decides to investigate. He interviews a number of people and even travels to the Turks and Caicos Islands to determine if a multi-national company interested in real estate development near Howell could be connected to the unusual events in the tiny hamlet with a population of less than 100.
Besides the mystery which highlights Russell’s professional life, there is some focus on his personal life. Russell’s mother Kay is showing signs of dementia and it is no longer safe for her to live in the farmhouse that has been her home for decades. And besides facing the harsh reality of his mother’s mental decline, he, in his mid-fifties, seems to be having a mid-life crisis. He must come to terms with aging, a process he sees as “agonizingly awash with loss and endings.” Fortunately, he has his husband, JP Taine, to support him.
It is impossible not to like Russell. Many people believe that how a man treats his mother indicates his emotional maturity. There is no doubt of the love he has for Kay. He speaks to and about her with kindness, respect, and empathy. There are some scenes that took my breath away. Kay’s addressing Russell by his father’s name is heart-breaking, and the mother and son eating cinnamon rolls together is such a touching scene. Russell’s love for JP is also obvious; he often mentions his husband’s positive qualities and acknowledges that he would be a lesser man without JP in his life.
Other of Russell’s traits also stand out. He is capable of self-reflection, often examining his thoughts, emotions, and choices. He admits, for instance, that he sometimes jumps to conclusions about people. He’s confident but not arrogant. His lack of arrogance is obvious in his self-deprecating comments. His wit also accentuates his intelligence.
I identified with so much in the novel. I love books which are unapologetically Canadian and celebrate our culture, even our quirks, and this book does that. The first chapter in which Russell describes his upbringing left me feeling very nostalgic since my background is very similar. The author captures the rhythms of small-town life so well. And the pop culture references resonated too.
The only aspect of the novel that I found problematic is Russell’s trip to Providenciales. He describes himself as a first timer to the island, but he knows so much about it. He knows its history and geography and is even familiar with its roads, beaches, restaurants, and resorts. I could assume that he did some research beforehand – or afterwards, since he does narrate in the past tense – but I think it’s more a case of the author’s familiarity with the Turks and Caicos archipelago bleeding into the narrative. I just wish I could get an invitation to a month-long stay at Phillip Painchaud’s rental villa!
I can attest that this is a standalone novel: I’ve not read the other eight Russell Quant novels, and though there are references to past events and relationships, none muddy the waters for a first-time reader of the series. (I did appreciate the allusions to other of the author’s books that I have read; the connection to the author’s trilogy made me want to cheer. I bet Lila and Doreen would get along well.)
I so enjoyed my time with Russell that I want to read the other books in the series. (Quant takes place 15 years after the last book in the series.) I’d like to get to know some of the other characters mentioned; Kay, in particular, interests me, perhaps because she reminds me of my mother with her accent and her cooking “to excess” for fear someone might leave her home hungry. It’s time to see if my local bookstore has the newly re-issued 8-book original series. And I’m certain that others who meet Russell for the first time in this book will have the same reaction.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/).
I finally met Russell Quant, the “wine-swilling, wise-cracking, world-travelling, winsomely gay, half Irish, half Ukrainian, ex-cop, ex-farm boy, Canadian prairie PI,” and I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with him.
In Howell, Saskatchewan, Russell’s hometown, Clem Toth, the community’s go-to handyman, has died. Police believe his death was a suicide motivated by Clem’s guilt at deliberately destroying all the plants of a local nursery business. CeeCee, Clem’s widow and manager of Toth Greenhouse, doesn’t believe he committed the vandalism and is convinced he was actually murdered. Because CeeCee is a family friend, Russell decides to investigate. He interviews a number of people and even travels to the Turks and Caicos Islands to determine if a multi-national company interested in real estate development near Howell could be connected to the unusual events in the tiny hamlet with a population of less than 100.
Besides the mystery which highlights Russell’s professional life, there is some focus on his personal life. Russell’s mother Kay is showing signs of dementia and it is no longer safe for her to live in the farmhouse that has been her home for decades. And besides facing the harsh reality of his mother’s mental decline, he, in his mid-fifties, seems to be having a mid-life crisis. He must come to terms with aging, a process he sees as “agonizingly awash with loss and endings.” Fortunately, he has his husband, JP Taine, to support him.
It is impossible not to like Russell. Many people believe that how a man treats his mother indicates his emotional maturity. There is no doubt of the love he has for Kay. He speaks to and about her with kindness, respect, and empathy. There are some scenes that took my breath away. Kay’s addressing Russell by his father’s name is heart-breaking, and the mother and son eating cinnamon rolls together is such a touching scene. Russell’s love for JP is also obvious; he often mentions his husband’s positive qualities and acknowledges that he would be a lesser man without JP in his life.
Other of Russell’s traits also stand out. He is capable of self-reflection, often examining his thoughts, emotions, and choices. He admits, for instance, that he sometimes jumps to conclusions about people. He’s confident but not arrogant. His lack of arrogance is obvious in his self-deprecating comments. His wit also accentuates his intelligence.
I identified with so much in the novel. I love books which are unapologetically Canadian and celebrate our culture, even our quirks, and this book does that. The first chapter in which Russell describes his upbringing left me feeling very nostalgic since my background is very similar. The author captures the rhythms of small-town life so well. And the pop culture references resonated too.
The only aspect of the novel that I found problematic is Russell’s trip to Providenciales. He describes himself as a first timer to the island, but he knows so much about it. He knows its history and geography and is even familiar with its roads, beaches, restaurants, and resorts. I could assume that he did some research beforehand – or afterwards, since he does narrate in the past tense – but I think it’s more a case of the author’s familiarity with the Turks and Caicos archipelago bleeding into the narrative. I just wish I could get an invitation to a month-long stay at Phillip Painchaud’s rental villa!
I can attest that this is a standalone novel: I’ve not read the other eight Russell Quant novels, and though there are references to past events and relationships, none muddy the waters for a first-time reader of the series. (I did appreciate the allusions to other of the author’s books that I have read; the connection to the author’s trilogy made me want to cheer. I bet Lila and Doreen would get along well.)
I so enjoyed my time with Russell that I want to read the other books in the series. (Quant takes place 15 years after the last book in the series.) I’d like to get to know some of the other characters mentioned; Kay, in particular, interests me, perhaps because she reminds me of my mother with her accent and her cooking “to excess” for fear someone might leave her home hungry. It’s time to see if my local bookstore has the newly re-issued 8-book original series. And I’m certain that others who meet Russell for the first time in this book will have the same reaction.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/).
September 28, 2026
I love a cozy murder mystery. And this one has all the Canadian nostalgia. What’s not to like?! I am interested in reading more of the series now since this is book nine. It can be read as a standalone. I just want to read more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love Anthony. I really do! I received this copy from him in exchange for an honest review. I don't think I've read a book I didn't like from Anthony. I'll have to do a re-read to see :)
Quant is the latest installment of Anthony's first book series. It picks up 15 years after the end of the last book, and we learn of all the changes that have gone on with Russell over the years. One of the most important ones is his mother. I messaged Anthony as I was starting Chapter 4 to tell him I just wanted to give him a hug. Russell is dealing with his mother's age and health and the book opens with Russell in his childhood home wondering what he's going to do with all of the stuff that his mother has collected over her life. Something that all of us have to deal with eventually. He gets a call from his lawyer that his mom wants to hire a private investigator. He goes over to his mom's friend's place where they are talking, and learns CeeCee's husband had died recently and it had been considered a suicide, but she didn't believe it. So Russell dips into small town politics and life.
This book is like Anthony telling his readers all that has been going on in his life over the past several years; it's a very personal story, with his great sense of humour. I think it was a very cathartic book to write for him. Although a one point I was going to shake him with his foreshadowing, going - don't you dare go down that road! I won't tell you whether he did or not.
Thank you, Anthony for bringing us back into the world of Russell Quant, he was missed - loved the Easter eggs as well.
Now, when's the NEXT book coming out?! :)
Quant is the latest installment of Anthony's first book series. It picks up 15 years after the end of the last book, and we learn of all the changes that have gone on with Russell over the years. One of the most important ones is his mother. I messaged Anthony as I was starting Chapter 4 to tell him I just wanted to give him a hug. Russell is dealing with his mother's age and health and the book opens with Russell in his childhood home wondering what he's going to do with all of the stuff that his mother has collected over her life. Something that all of us have to deal with eventually. He gets a call from his lawyer that his mom wants to hire a private investigator. He goes over to his mom's friend's place where they are talking, and learns CeeCee's husband had died recently and it had been considered a suicide, but she didn't believe it. So Russell dips into small town politics and life.
This book is like Anthony telling his readers all that has been going on in his life over the past several years; it's a very personal story, with his great sense of humour. I think it was a very cathartic book to write for him. Although a one point I was going to shake him with his foreshadowing, going - don't you dare go down that road! I won't tell you whether he did or not.
Thank you, Anthony for bringing us back into the world of Russell Quant, he was missed - loved the Easter eggs as well.
Now, when's the NEXT book coming out?! :)
October 7, 2026
I received an advance reading copy of Quant, the latest Russell Quant Mystery, in exchange for an fair, and unbiased review. I have read the previous eight Russell Quant novels, as well as Anthony Bidulka's other books. Much like how this book begins, Quant feels warm and familiar, like spending time in your childhood home. Despite years away from Russell Quant, Bidulka immediately recaptures the special light, fun tone of Russell Quant's life. However, don't let the light, fun tone fool you. Quant still packs an emotional punch, and some sit on the edge of your seat mystery. Quant maintains all the unique elements of a Russell Quant mystery, a love letter to prairie life, a glamourous international location, and a cast of characters and file of red herrings that will leave you changing whodunit every few chapters. For new readers, you can dive right in, without reading the previous books, Quant stands alone. However, for those who have read the previous books, Quant feels like a reward for years of patience. As we have all aged and gotten older, so too has Russell and the challenges he faces. For hard-care Bidulka fans who have read his other books, enjoy the easter eggs hidden throughout Quant. An enjoyable, satisfying read that may just make it harder to accept that this could be the last one.
September 29, 2026
I’ve just finished reading an advance copy of Quant: Russell Quant Mystery #9 and send a big thank-you to Anthony Bidulka for giving me hours of warm and fuzzy reading, with humour and suspense. Other reviewers have given a fuller outline of the story so I won’t repeat that. It’s all about private investigator, Russell Quant, solving a murder in rural Saskatchewan but the twists and turns of the plot were just 50% of what captured my imagination as I turned the pages. The characters created by Anthony were just like those I grew up with in a small country town and like Russell’s Ukrainian mother, Kay, my farm-wife mother also made sure no one ever went home hungry.
His investigation takes Russell to the Turks and Caicos Islands and that sparked thoughts of historical debates dating back to the early 1900s, with both Canada and the TCI wanting a political and economic union. Unfortunately the idea never got off the ground but I thought “wouldn’t it be nice to get on a plane next winter and fly to a “Canadian” destination in the sun.”
Quant is standalone but once you have read the book you will probably want to find the first Russell Quant novels published between 2003 and 2012. I have the hard copies and can’t wait to blow off the dust and re-read them. I’m glad that Anthony didn’t kill off Quant, so maybe we can convince him to think about a follow-up!
His investigation takes Russell to the Turks and Caicos Islands and that sparked thoughts of historical debates dating back to the early 1900s, with both Canada and the TCI wanting a political and economic union. Unfortunately the idea never got off the ground but I thought “wouldn’t it be nice to get on a plane next winter and fly to a “Canadian” destination in the sun.”
Quant is standalone but once you have read the book you will probably want to find the first Russell Quant novels published between 2003 and 2012. I have the hard copies and can’t wait to blow off the dust and re-read them. I’m glad that Anthony didn’t kill off Quant, so maybe we can convince him to think about a follow-up!
October 1, 2026
Reading Quant felt like sitting down with familiar friends in familiar places — the characters are easy to connect to and in many ways full of prairie heart. What I loved most was how Anthony blended the themes of love, loss, and family into the mystery without ever losing the charm of the mystery. It’s a story that has real emotional undercurrents and genuine warmth, written by someone who understands how to make readers care. A wonderful book from a wonderful writer.
October 7, 2026
I've been waiting for Anthony to return to the familiar Russell Quant territory for many years. While I've enjoyed most of his other adventures, this book felt somewhat like a visit to my hometown. Hopefully, he'll bring us more mysteries involving Russell Quant.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This book is ideal for readers who enjoy cozy mystery, private investigator fiction, LGBTQ+ fiction, and character-driven crime novels with humor and heart. Fans of community-rich mysteries may enjoy the way this novel blends murder with emotional weather. Beneath its humor and homicide, this novel understands that family secrets don't stay buried.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed this cozy mystery. Quant was someone you’d like to have a glass of wine with and hear his stories. I liked his writing style and I would read more by him.
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 6, 2026
I was intrigued by the description of the main character, Russell Quant, as a wine-swilling, wise-cracking, world traveling, winsomely gay, half Irish, half Ukrainian, ex-cop, ex-farm boy, Canadian prairie PI. I needed to read this book. I was not disappointed. Loved the writing and the characters. Now I need to read the other books in the series.
November 2, 2026
Not only does he give us a mystery, but he deals wonderfully with the process of aging and changing relationships with parents.
October 23, 2026
Having not read the previous Russell Quant novels by Anthony Bidulka, I was wondering whether or not I would feel a disconnect with the main character as if, somehow, I was arriving at the party late. Not so. Bidulka draws us into this rich tapestry of people, geography and culture, enriched by his own life's experiences; the protagonist humble, yet filled with curiosity, love and integrity. The intertwining cables draw in readers; the nuances, the mystery and the humanity. I so enjoyed the complexity of the main character, while also relating so well with the challenges of loss, yet loving more fiercely living life. This is a beautiful book that shares with the reader the depth of Bidulka as a writer. His increasing sophistication of intrigue, mystery, romance, is laced with humour and enduring love, bringing a richness to his characters. Definitely, a worthy read.
October 23, 2026
While this book can be read as a standalone it has been such a pleasure to read after reading the first eight books. I found myself looking for what happened to Quant and the other interesting characters in the last 15 years. I think I’m going back to reread some of those earlier RQ books!
Quant was every bit as engaging and entertaining as all the rest! This book beautifully illustrated that time passes for all, with wisdoms gained and losses realized. Great mystery, great lessons, and delightful humour we have grown to love! This book was dedicated to Bidulka’s mother and I am certain it has made her proud.
Quant was every bit as engaging and entertaining as all the rest! This book beautifully illustrated that time passes for all, with wisdoms gained and losses realized. Great mystery, great lessons, and delightful humour we have grown to love! This book was dedicated to Bidulka’s mother and I am certain it has made her proud.
Review of advance copy received from Author
In this Russell Quant mystery, a grieving son returns to his mother’s Saskatchewan farmhouse while trying to face the painful realities of her dementia, only to be pulled into a case involving a suspicious death, a poisoned greenhouse, and a small town whose secrets travel faster than dust on a prairie road. What begins as CeeCee Toth’s desperate insistence that her husband Clem did not die by suicide grows into a sharp, winding investigation that reaches from Howell to Turks and Caicos and back again, tying land development, greed, loyalty, and family grief into one satisfyingly tangled knot.
I was immediately taken by the novel’s voice. Russell is funny without feeling polished to a synthetic shine; his wit has elbows. The narration can swing from a joke about lawn tractors or old Ukrainian food habits into an ache about aging parents, and that tonal dexterity gives the book its best texture. The mystery is engaging, but the emotional ballast comes from Kay Quant, her cooking, her stubbornness, her slipping memory, and the fierce maternal spark that still flashes when it matters most.
What I liked most was how the book lets comedy and sorrow occupy the same room without either one apologizing. The prairie setting feels lived-in rather than decorative, full of small-town rhythms, grudges, gossip, and that peculiar intimacy where everyone knows your truck before they know your sins. The middle section’s travel detour adds a breezy, caper-like expansion, but the heart of the story remains at home: a son learning that love sometimes means making decisions no one wants, and a detective realizing that the past is never as neatly boxed up as old photographs in a farmhouse cupboard.
This book is ideal for readers who enjoy cozy mystery, private investigator fiction, LGBTQ+ fiction, and character-driven crime novels with humor and heart. Fans of Louise Penny’s community-rich mysteries may enjoy the way this novel blends murder with emotional weather, though Russell Quant brings a saucier, more irreverent sensibility than Armand Gamache. Beneath its humor and homicide, this novel understands that family secrets don't stay buried, they grow.
I was immediately taken by the novel’s voice. Russell is funny without feeling polished to a synthetic shine; his wit has elbows. The narration can swing from a joke about lawn tractors or old Ukrainian food habits into an ache about aging parents, and that tonal dexterity gives the book its best texture. The mystery is engaging, but the emotional ballast comes from Kay Quant, her cooking, her stubbornness, her slipping memory, and the fierce maternal spark that still flashes when it matters most.
What I liked most was how the book lets comedy and sorrow occupy the same room without either one apologizing. The prairie setting feels lived-in rather than decorative, full of small-town rhythms, grudges, gossip, and that peculiar intimacy where everyone knows your truck before they know your sins. The middle section’s travel detour adds a breezy, caper-like expansion, but the heart of the story remains at home: a son learning that love sometimes means making decisions no one wants, and a detective realizing that the past is never as neatly boxed up as old photographs in a farmhouse cupboard.
This book is ideal for readers who enjoy cozy mystery, private investigator fiction, LGBTQ+ fiction, and character-driven crime novels with humor and heart. Fans of Louise Penny’s community-rich mysteries may enjoy the way this novel blends murder with emotional weather, though Russell Quant brings a saucier, more irreverent sensibility than Armand Gamache. Beneath its humor and homicide, this novel understands that family secrets don't stay buried, they grow.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Russell Quant is my favorite private investigator by far. In this episode, Quant travels back to his childhood hometown where he is driven to investigate for his mothers friend whose spouse has been murdered. This is also a poignant view at the changing of roles between a mother and her son, as he realizes that his aging mother needs more care and may be struggling with the onset of dementia.
Bidulka's writing captivates! You will be smelling the grass, tasting the fresh buns, then realizing the past no longer exists. It will get caught in the back of your throat and it will validate the axiom, 'You can never go home again'.
Bidulka's writing captivates! You will be smelling the grass, tasting the fresh buns, then realizing the past no longer exists. It will get caught in the back of your throat and it will validate the axiom, 'You can never go home again'.
Review of advance copy
The cover of this book doesn't do it justice! This is a hidden treasure full of experiences
"fully flavored" by his Ukrainian plus others heredity. His mother, Kay, was almost as much a of a gem as him, and to a lesser part his loving spouse. The stories he tells while on a mission to find how the greenhouse plants died and a man was killed . The people and characters are just as colorful as the stories told. The characters are rich and full of life, like they could step off the page. Thanks for a great reading experience, and a new to me author found!!
I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.
"fully flavored" by his Ukrainian plus others heredity. His mother, Kay, was almost as much a of a gem as him, and to a lesser part his loving spouse. The stories he tells while on a mission to find how the greenhouse plants died and a man was killed . The people and characters are just as colorful as the stories told. The characters are rich and full of life, like they could step off the page. Thanks for a great reading experience, and a new to me author found!!
I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.
November 11, 2026
Wow. Not only was it nice visitng a cast of familiar characters, but to bump up against many of Bidulka's other characters was a surprise and a joy. Broguht in elements from his other series. A good nod to his sometimes neight SOS, and some travel. Most of all, it was nice to have Saskatoon profiled and perhaps introduced to the world. What a lovely tribute. It is nice to read a story set in a place you have some familiarity with. Despite the story being about a murder, at it's core it is about people, their complexity, and much of their goodness.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews