Amuse Bouche

Steven Greenhalgh is the research librarian in the Department of Public
Health Sciences at the University of Alberta.

Amuse Bouche is Anthony Bidulka’s first detective novel featuring
Russell Quant, a former Saskatoon police officer turned private
investigator.

Robert Chavell, a well-known Saskatoon entrepreneur, hires Quant
following the disappearance of Tom Osborn, Chavell’s gay lover. The
disappearance occurred the day of the couple’s intended wedding. Quant
accepts the case, his latest job in a less-than-remarkable career as a
private eye.

The hunt for Osborn begins in Paris and leads Quant across the French
countryside in a vain attempt to find the elusive bridegroom, who always
seems to be one step ahead of the detective. A dead body and a jailbird
client further complicate Quant’s investigation as he tries to
determine Chavell’s innocence or guilt.

Amuse Bouche has all the right ingredients of a good detective novel
and is sure to hold the reader’s attention from beginning to end.
Quant is an interesting protagonist—suave and handsome, witty and
insightful. His dining experiences in France, along with his descriptive
narrative of a quiet French country village, add richness to the novel
and will charm readers.

A riveting plot, plenty of suspects, and a humorous yet clever hero
make for an enjoyable read. Amuse Bouche is an excellent start for
Anthony Bidulka.