ABSTRACT
This chapter uses Anthony Bidulka’s Russell Quant series (2003–2013) as a representative example in the fairly rare Canadian subgenre of the private detective. Russell, an out gay man, is a liminal character who meets some of the genre conventions of the hardboiled detective: he is tough, physically fit, and has a complicated relationship with the police. At the same time, he brings a seemingly contradictory cozy sensibility to the genre with his focus on luxury travel, close-knit queer community, and pedagogy. Like much Canadian crime fiction, Bidulka’s series explores many dark deeds, but with a hopeful belief in a positive future in which a gay detective would routinely be sought out for their relevant expertise and insight.
