KILLER LINE-UP AT MOTIVE CRIME AND MYSTERY FESTIVAL

Motive Crime & Mystery Festival returns for its thrilling fifth edition from June 5 to 7 in the mysterious halls of Victoria University, Toronto.

Cosy crime, police procedural, psychological thriller and true crime takes centre stage over a weekend of suspense, twists and turns as you uncover the secrets behind some of the world’s most gripping stories.

Meet your favourite crime writers through good conversations, readings, book signings, workshops and more.

Celebrate the genre’s most gripping stories from Canada and beyond – discover new page-turners, dive into true crime workshops, and sharpen your own killer instincts in creative writing masterclasses. This year’s line-up features Sujata Massey, Naomi Hirahara, Karsten Dusse, Johana Gustawson, Uzma Jalaluddin, Shari Lapena, Clare Mackintosh, Jinwoo Park, Nita Prose, Nicholas Shakespeare, and others.

Highlights include:

Tea, Cake, and Murder: Ron Base and Sujata Massey. Sunday, June 7, 11 am, Alumni Hall. Fancy a cup of tea and a conversation full of historical intrigue and mystery? Join authors Ron Base and Sujata Massey as they each present their latest thrilling novels. Base offers up Midnight at the Savoy, the richly atmospheric fifth instalment in the Priscilla Tempest series, set against the shadows of a legendary world of 1960s London, where ambition, secrets, and danger unfold behind the curtain of performance and fame. Massey presents The Star from Calcutta, a vivid historical mystery that moves between cultures and continents as the beginnings of Bollywood come to life. Explore place, history, and the hidden stories beneath public lives – all served with tea, coffee, and a slice of cake!

Twists and Truths: Clare Mackintosh and Nita Prose. Friday, June 5, 7:30 pm, Isabel Bader Theatre. Join bestselling authors Clare Mackintosh (It’s Not What You Think) and Nita Prose (The Maid’s Secret) for a lively chat about crafting suspense, unforgettable characters, and twists that keep readers guessing. This conversation is full of intrigue, insight, and a few delightful surprises along the way.

Codfather: A Murder Mystery Dinner. Saturday, June 6 at 7:30 pm, Alumni Hall, Tickets: $49 + HST. Grab your friends for a night of mystery as you help solve the murder of “The Codfather”. Meet suspicious “Family” members and uncover whodunnit. Dress to impress – prizes await. Dinner included with dietary options. Not included with Festival Passes; tickets can be purchased separately or as an add-on to your Motive Pass.

Canada Bleeds, Fri, June 5, 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Step into a wide-ranging conversation with Steven Beattie, Margaret Cannon, and Shari Lapena, on the evolution of Canadian crime fiction from classic mysteries to contemporary psychological thrillers. Explore the genre’s rapid growth, shifting reader expectations, and the powerful rise of women crime writers shaping the field. With Lapena’s gripping domestic suspense, Cannon’s decades of literary criticism, and Beattie’s insights into genre and culture, the panel offers a thoughtful look at how Canadian crime storytelling has transformed – and where it’s headed next.

Small Towns, Big Crimes: Stig Abell and Roz Nay, Friday, June 5, 6:30 pm. Join authors Stig Abell and Roz Nay as they visit once serene small towns and the countryside, only to be disturbed by murder. In Abell’s A Twist in the River, former detective Jake Jackson goes to the country to find peace only to end up on the case when a young woman goes missing. Nay’s cozy mystery, All Rise for Murder, follows a court clerk in a quirky small town in BC where a young man is being framed for murder. Together, they’ll explore how quiet communities can conceal dark secrets – and why these unsettling mysteries continue to captivate readers.

Toronto Crime Tours, Saturday, June 6, 12:00 pm, outdoors at Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Free. Learn about the dark history of Toronto! Join Phil Hibbeln and Robert Monaghan, retired Toronto detectives, for a wild ride through the city’s crime history! With 30-plus years of police experience, they’ll dish out jaw-dropping tales from Toronto’s underbelly. From shocking scandals to downright bizarre incidents, discover how crime shaped the city over 300 years. This event showcases stories handpicked from their walking tours, giving you a taste of the excitement. Don’t miss out on this chance to hear firsthand accounts and quirky anecdotes from the streets of Muddy York!

Shari Lapena: The Couple Next Door 10 Year Anniversary, Sunday, June 7, 4:30 pm. Celebrate 10 years of the book that had a huge impact on the psychological thriller genre! New York Times Bestselling author Shari Lapena will be taking the stage to discuss the book that started it all, The Couple Next Door. Following a young couple who seem to have it all, things take a turn when their baby is kidnapped from their home while they are next door at a dinner party and their lives begin to unravel, revealing lies and a shocking twist. Join the author as she talks about writing since the book, how the genre has changed, and what is to come.

Visit festivalofauthors.ca to view the full programme and discover more thrilling events.

SPOTLIGHT

KILLER LINE-UP AT MOTIVE CRIME AND MYSTERY FESTIVAL