The Lucky Elephant Restaurant
by Garry Ryan
Find at your local bookstore
978-1-896300-97-9 | 2006 April | 256 Pages
ABOUT THIS BOOK
When the young daughter of popular radio talk show host Bobbie Reddie disappears along with Bobbie’s ex-husband, Detectives Lane and Harper are on the case. Haunted by flashbacks from a previous missing child case, Lane once again takes to the streets of Calgary looking for answers. Meanwhile, university student Jay Krocker befriends the mysterious Lucky Elephant Restaurant owner Lam Tran, known to many as Uncle Tran. As Jay and Uncle Tran become mixed up in the missing child case, their intentions baffle the detectives—are they there to help or hinder? As the pressure mounts for Lane and Harper to swiftly close the case, Lane’s private life becomes threatened. The two detectives are running out of time and must untangle the many lies surrounding this bizarre investigation before another child disappears.
Winner of the 2007 LAMBDA Literary Award for Gay Mystery!
“A first-rate gem of a detective story.”
~ Rick Mofina, author of The Dying Hour
“Garry Ryan has produced a winner.... His narrative resonates with depth and realism, as he provides not just a compelling and unsettling mystery, but also a revealing exploration into psychological landscapes.”
~ Max Foran, author of The Madonna List
“ ... Ryan further develops a likeable hero who is at once real, relateable, humourous and ultimately very human, as he battles inner demons while working his grim case ...”
~ Anthony Bidulka, author of Tapas on the Ramblas
“You ever look for a missing kid before?” Harper sat up straight as a high-school principal in a grey sports jacket and matching pants. Their black Chevy crested a hill on John Laurie Boulevard. On their right, Nose Hill Park rose two hundred metres to a plateau of prairie where the city people walked their dogs and kept an eye out for coyotes. To the left, and below, houses were hidden behind a grass-covered sound barrier between the roadway and homes. The treetops were a collage of oranges, yellows, and greens. Over Harper’s left shoulder, the downtown high-rises were headstones along the Bow River.
On the western horizon, the Rocky Mountains were white-tipped. In a couple of hours, the sun would drop behind them leaving about thirty minutes of twilight.
“Lane, have you ever looked for a missing…?” Harper said.
“Once,” Lane said, finally. “This time, the mother says the child has been missing since yesterday afternoon.” He shifted his weight. Looking down the long slope of the road, he spotted a green pickup parked on the shoulder. “Better slow down. Wouldn’t want to get your picture taken.” There was a white Multi-Nova flash after a speeding Honda passed the truck.
“Should’ve known.” Harper braked. His bear-like hands made the steering wheel look tiny.
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