Merry Bell needed to get out of Vancouver. Fast. Returning to her home town of Livingsky, Saskatchewan was a desperate step. Living with plenty of secrets, but no money, friends, or place to live during a prairie winter, all while trying to start her own PI business proves to be more of a challenge than she imagined. With a first case that quickly turns more dangerous than it first appeared, Merry must deal with a dodgy client, the murder of the surgeon who performed her gender affirming surgery, and more than one mysterious stranger. As Merry struggles to start over in her hometown, she not only has to unwind a mystery which imperils Livingsky's most powerful people, but must face a past she'd rather leave behind. For the first time since his award-winning Russell Quant novels, Bidulka begins a new mystery series, continuing in his tradition of presenting under-represented characters and settings that immediately feel familiar and beloved, while tugging at heart strings and tickling your funny bone. Livingsky easily matches the beauty and tenderness of Going to Beautiful while delivering a page-turning mystery.
Author
Bidulka’s most recent book was described as "...poignant, ingeniously plotted, and exquisitely told" (The Ottawa Review of Books). His books have 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. In 1999 Anthony Bidulka, BA, BEd, BComm, CPA left a decade long professional accounting career to pursue writing and never looked back. 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. In addition to the beloved Russell Quant mystery series, Bidulka has written two books following the adventures of Adam Saint, a tough-as-nails, luxury loving, Disaster Recovery Agent. In 2016 Bidulka published his first stand-alone suspense novel, Set Free, with Kirkus Reviews saying: “The countless plot twists are exhilarating, with gasp-inducing drama and flatly startling story turns.” He returns in 2022 with his Adult Fiction/Mystery novel, Going to Beautiful. Anthony has toured extensively in both Canada and the United States. A great believer in community involvement, he has been on the boards of local, national, and international organizations. He was recently inducted to the University of Saskatchewan College of Education Wall of Honour, received the University of Saskatchewan College of Arts and Science Alumni of Influence Award, the Nation Builders Award, and named Citizen of the Year for his home city of Saskatoon, SK. When he isn’t writing, Bidulka loves to travel the world, collect art, walk his dogs and throw a good party. Anthony's Books: 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).
