reviews_and_ramblings | In the Spotlight: Anthony Bidulka

The Book: 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-colored promenade of Sanary-sur-Mer.

"...Bidulka touches on a variety of serious issues...while neatly weaving these strands into an engaging mystery." --Quill & Quire (Toronto)

"First-rate mystery...by any standards." --The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon)

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

"[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)

"With first novel 'Amuse Bouche', Anthony Bidulka shows a certain je ne sais quoi." --in newsweekly (Boston)

Bidulka manages to spin a compelling detective story with colourful characters, hilarious situations, and touching relationships. — Midwest Book Review"Bidulka touches on a variety of serious issues ... while neatly weaving these strands into an engaging mystery." — Quill & Quire"... carries the reader along on an exuberant joy ride of action with sporadic pit stops for mayhem, menace, and occasional romance." — Halifax Wayves"... there is sincerity and just a hint of sage world-weariness about the self-questioning lifestyle and relationships the author draws from his charming, vulnerable detective." — Canadian Book Review Annual

Amazon: Amuse Bouche (A Russell Quant Mystery)

Other Books in the List:

Amazon: Flight of Aquavit (A Russell Quant Mystery)

Amazon: Tapas on the Ramblas (A Russell Quant Mystery)

Amazon: Stain of the Berry (A Russell Quant Mystery)

Amazon: Sundowner Ubuntu (A Russell Quant Mystery)

Amazon: Aloha, Candy Hearts (A Russell Quant Mystery)

Amazon: Date with a Sheesha (A Russell Quant Mystery)

The Author: Anthony Bidulka has enjoyed time well-spent and misspent in the worlds of academia, accounting, footwear, food services and farming. In 1999 Anthony Bidulka, BA, BEd, BComm, CA left a decade long career as a Chartered Accountant to pursue writing.

In 2003, Quill & Quire described Amuse Bouche: A Russell Quant Mystery, as “…an effervescent first novel that is much like the tasty French hors d’oeuvres from which it takes its name”, earning Bidulka a nomination for the Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award.

With sharp writing, descriptive flair and wry humour, Bidulka’s mystery series tells the story of the first, and perhaps only, half-Ukrainian, half-Irish, gay, ex-farmboy, ex-cop, Canadian, Saskatchewan, prairie, world-travelling private detective being written about today anywhere.

The Russell Quant series has been nominated for a Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Award, Saskatchewan Book Awards, a ReLit award and Flight of Aquavit was awarded the Lambda Literary Award for Best Men’s Mystery, making Bidulka the first Canadian to win in that category.

New York’s Mystery Scene Magazine proclaimed: “Quant makes for a riveting hero…the kind of friend you want to have—unless you’re a killer.” From the StarPhoenix: "Truly amazing is Bidulka’s sense of sights, sounds and smells. Like a good journalist, he gives exquisitely detailed descriptions of the settings and provides history lessons...” And Sherbrooke Record said: “...Bidulka brings a fresh voice to Canadian crime fiction, with a sense of humour that is often outrageous and always original; he provides his readers with a cleverly-crafted tale full of twists and turns, and challenges readers to broaden their perspectives.”

Like his protagonist, Anthony lives a big life in a small city on the Canadian prairie. He also loves to travel the world—meeting people, sampling food and wine, walking sun-drenched streets, making good use of swim-up bars, and being awed.

Anthony has toured extensively in both Canada and the United States. A great believer in community involvement, he has sat on many boards and committees including those of Persephone Theatre, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, AIDS Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan Writers Guild, the International Association of Crime Writers, Ubuntu Purse, Camp fYrefly Saskatchewan, and Crime Writers of Canada.

He lives in Saskatoon where he is at work on his next novel.

http://www.anthonybidulka.com/

Top 100 Gay Novels List (*)

External Link to the Top100 Gay Novels List (simple - without photos)

External Link to the Top 100 Gay Novels List (wanted - with photos)

*only one title per author, only print books released after January 1, 2000.

Note: I remember to my friends that guest reviews of the above listed books (the top 100 Gay Novels) are welcome, just send them to me and I will post with full credits to the reviewer.

Other titles not in the top 100 list:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/top50MM