In 2003, Quill & Quire described Bidulka’s first book, 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, Canadian, gay, ex-farmboy, ex-cop, world-travelling, wine-swilling, wise-cracking, Saskatchewan, prairie private detective being written about today anywhere.
The Russell Quant series
has been nominated for Crime Writers of Canada Arthur Ellis Awards, Saskatchewan Book Awards, a ReLit award, Lambda Literary Awards, with Flight of Aquavit 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.”
In 2012, Bidulka began a second series, following the adventures of man of action Adam Saint, a tough-as-nails, luxury loving, Disaster Recovery Agent.
Like his protagonists, Anthony lives a big life in a small city on the Canadian prairie. He also loves to travel—meeting people, sampling food and wine, walking sun-drenched streets, making good use of swim-up bars, and being awed by the world.
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, Crime Writers of Canada, and he is co-founder of Camp fYrefly Saskatchewan (a lifeskills camp for GLBT youth). In 2011, Anthony was added to the College of Education Wall of Honour at the University of Saskatchewan.
He lives in Saskatoon where he is at work on his next novel.
Source: http://anthonybidulka.com/?page_id=195
With Flight of Aquavit by Anthony Bidulka, I learned a Canadian author could make it big. --P.A. BrownFurther Readings:
Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Insomniac Press (April 1, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1894663918
ISBN-13: 978-1894663915
Amazon: Amuse Bouche (Russell Quant Mysteries)
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.