Twenty-three years after introducing readers to his iconic queer private eye, Anthony Bidulka returns to his fan-favorite series with Quant. Readers first met Russell Quant in the series debut, Amuse Bouche, in 2003—a time when queer crime fiction was flourishing despite being relegated to “gay fiction” shelves in bookstores and only minimal mainstream acceptance. Russell Quant would continue to solve mysteries through seven additional novels with Dos Equis releasing in 2012. Anthony Bidulka then transitioned to some other series and standalone books seemingly marking the end of Russell Quant’s journey. Until Bidulka began to wonder what Quant would be up to in the present day, and decided to release a new entry in the series this October.
Which brings us to Quant itself. As the novel opens, Russell Quant is older and perhaps a bit wiser, but he’s still the sarcastic and worldly character fans have come to love. When the husband of a family friend falls into a gorge to his death—in what is quickly ruled as a suicide—Russell’s mom asks to hire him to investigate. With his husband, JP, working another case for their PI firm, Quant agrees to look into the mysterious death. (And before you ask, no, he doesn’t charge his mother for the services.)
Speaking of Mrs. Quant, Russell and his siblings are dealing with her declining health—especially her failing memory. This side storyline is surely one of the main reasons to return to the Russell Quant series. As Bidulka’s fanbase ages (along with him and his characters), these are issues that so many will have to tackle and it’s refreshing to see it appear in a mystery novel in such a realistic and compassionate manner. Some of the most touching scenes in Quant document this bittersweet journey. Bidulka is an author skilled at wringing every emotion out of any scene, allowing the reader to join in that journey as the characters navigate life’s challenges.
Eventually, Quant’s newest case begins to look less and less like a suicide and may have ties to the Saskatchewan farmland owned by the victim. It wouldn’t be a Russell Quant novel without two things: Travel and food. The travel aspect comes from an investigative lead that sees Quant jetting off to the Turks & Caicos (a trip that also brings back a beloved friend). And in Anthony Bidulka’s inimitable style, almost every chapter of the novel manages to contain descriptions of delicious food that will leave the reader salivating.
Queer crime fiction has come a long way, but it’s still far from ubiquitous and going one step further, aged queer characters are virtually non-existent. Witnessing Quant at this stage of his life is refreshing and frankly, ground-breaking. As much of an homage to the character himself, Quant is a celebration of Anthony Bidulka’s entire literary career. Bidulka cleverly manages to highlight links between his various other series to the Russell Quant universe, making the reading experience feel a bit like a highlights reel as the author accepts some lifetime achievement award.
That said, the quality of Quant and the writing on display prove that Anthony Bidulka has more miles in the gas tank. Wherever his writerly journey takes him next, his fans are sure to follow—knowing there’s likely to be a few dead bodies along the way.
BUY LINKS: Quant by Anthony Bidulka
Disclaimer: An e-galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the author. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
