Aloha,Candy Hearts: A Russell Quant Mystery
by Anthony Bidulka
Summary
From Pacific to Prairie, a teasing treasure hunt turns into a frightening game of cat and mouse. PI Russell Quant is plunged into the vagaries of a shocking hometown murder and the blasphemous blackmail of one of the literary world’s most esteemed writers. Attempting to keep pace with his latest mystery, Russell balances his professional life with the demands of a wedding, a memorial, and at least one home-cooked meal at Mom’s. With the Hawaiian sand barely shook from his hair, Russell is confronted, professionally and personally, with the harsh consequences of indecision. Saying hello and good-bye is never easy.
Excerpt
“Russell Quant, will you marry me?”
I gulped.
The old vine fortified aperitif I’d been blissfully sipping, along with our shared Grand Marnier and Lilikoi soufflé, suddenly turned sticky in my throat. I wished for a draft to cool my rapidly crimsoning cheeks. Although only seconds passed before I responded to the unexpected question, it seemed as if the world around me had slowed to half pace. Visions of my life passed before my eyes. Or at least the last seventy-two hours of it.
The telephone call had been unexpected. There are no sweeter six words than: come to Hawaii for the weekend. With the possible exception of: Your ticket is paid for, Russell. That’s when the cyclone first hit. After that, it was such a whirlwind, I hadn’t even been aware that I was being swept off my feet—until those final six words: Russell Quant, will you marry me?
We were staying on Waikiki beach in Oahu, at the plush Halekulani Hotel. Halekulani means House Befitting Heaven. And from what I’d seen so far, I was so becoming an angel. Our days began with boogey boarding or kayaking in the mornings. Afterwards we’d grab a bite at House Without a Key, the hotel’s outdoor gathering place immortalized by the Charlie Chan novel of the same name. Then it was time for lazing on the beach or around the pool with its stunning orchid mosaic. In the early evening, after cleaning up, we’d return to House Without a Key, wearing our tropical whites and shirts that billowed in the perfect breeze and find a spot under the kiawe shade tree. From that glorious place, we’d sip on surprisingly strong maitais (regular ice, not crushed), watch the sunset, and enjoy a former Miss Hawaii perform the hula. And this wasn’t the hip-rattle-roll stuff you get at the tourist luaus either. This was graceful hula, accompanied by ukulele, steel guitar, slack key, and lilting falsetto vocals unique to traditional Hawaiian music. Later we’d have dinner at popular eating spots like Keo’s or Alan Wong’s. But tonight, the eating experience had been ratcheted up a notch or two.
We were dining at La Mer, on the second floor of the hotel. The menu featured neo-classic French cuisine. I didn’t know what that meant, but I liked it all the same. I liked it a lot. It might have been the champagne they served us before our butts were in our chairs. Or the unimpeded view of Waikiki beach, the Pacific Ocean, and Diamond Head. Or the fact that they brought a little stool just to set my camera on. Or maybe it was the fillet of opakapaka baked in rosemary salt crust. And still, despite it all, I was completely oblivious to the portentousness of all this luxury and excess. I thought he was just really happy to see me.
Then came THE QUESTION.
Author's Biography
Anthony Bidulka’s mystery series tells the story of a half-Ukrainian, half-Irish, gay, ex-farm boy, ex-cop, Canadian, prairie, world-travelling, private detective living a big life in a small city.
The Russell Quant series is a multi award nominee and was awarded the Lambda Literary Award for Best Men’s Mystery.