MOTIVE 2026 Events

Step into a conversation on the evolution of Canadian crime fiction

June 5, 2026 • 3:30pm

Canada Bleeds: Steven Beattie, Margaret Cannon, & Shari Lapena

Steven W. Beattie and Shari Lapena

Learn from the best in a Creative Writing Masterclass

June 5, 2026 • 4:00pm

Bare Bones and Bloody Twists: The Skeleton of the Crime Novel with Lilja Sigurðardóttir

Lilja Sigurðardóttir

Two masters of atmospheric crime fiction come together for a compelling conversation

June 5, 2026 • 4:30pm

Rural Noir: Johana Gustawsson & Kevin Hardcastle

Johana Gustawsson and Kevin Hardcastle

Immerse yourself in powerful storytelling and historical intrigue

June 5, 2026 • 5:30pm

Conspiracy & Courage: Olivier Norek & Nicholas Shakespeare

Olivier Norek and Nicholas Shakespeare

It's the quiet ones you have to watch for...

June 5, 2026 • 6:30pm

Small Towns, Big Crimes: Stig Abell & Roz Nay

Stig Abell and Roz Nay

Join these two best-selling authors for a thrilling conversation

June 5, 2026 • 7:30pm

Twists & Truths: Clare Mackintosh & Nita Prose

Clare Mackintosh and Nita Prose

Start your day with tea, cake... and murder!

Saturday, June 6

June 6, 2026 • 11:00am

Tea, Cake, and Murder: Karsten Dusse & Catherine Mack

Karsten Dusse and Catherine Mack

Toronto's dead haven't always been able to rest in peace

June 6, 2026 • 11:00am

The Body Snatchers of Toronto with Adam Bunch

Adam Bunch

Free

Delve into the mechanics behind crafting suspenseful narratives and believable motives

June 6, 2026 • 11:00am

The Art of Unease: Eva Björg Ægisdóttir & Hannah Mary McKinnon

Eva Björg Ægisdóttir and Hannah Mary McKinnon

Learn from the best in a Creative Writing Masterclass

June 6, 2026 • 12:30pm

After the Beginning Comes the End with Maureen Jennings

Maureen Jennings

In association with Humber Polytechnic’s Professional Book Publishing program

June 6, 2026 • 1:00pm

Pitch Perfect: An Insider’s Guide to Publishing

Expect humor, delightfully eccentric detectives, and crime fiction full of heart

June 6, 2026 • 1:00pm

Amateur Sleuths: Lev A.C. Rosen, Tom Ryan & Leonie Swann

Lev A.C. Rosen, Tom Ryan, and Leonie Swann

Join us for a chilling conversation with two masters of suspense

June 6, 2026 • 1:30pm

Behind Closed Doors: Robyn Harding & Marcus Kliewer

Robyn Harding and Marcus Kliewer

Join us for a captivating conversation on building atmosphere in modern crime fiction

June 6, 2026 • 2:00pm

Uncovering Hidden Fractures: Don Gillmor & Lilja Sigurðardóttir

Don Gillmor and Lilja Sigurðardóttir

Learn to use Tarot cards to create the perfect characters

June 6, 2026 • 2:30pm

Murder by Archetype: Unlocking Crime Stories with Tarot

Forensic science workshop presented by University of Toronto Mississauga

June 6, 2026 • 2:30pm

University of Toronto Forensic Anthropology Workshop

Hear from international mystery authors

June 6, 2026 • 2:30pm

Crime Scene: France

Hannelore Cayre, Johana Gustawsson, Sophie Hénaff, and Olivier Norek

It's not all fun and games while travelling

June 6, 2026 • 3:00pm

Murder on the Move: Eva Jurczyk & Jonathan Whitelaw

Eva Jurczyk and Jonathan Whitelaw

Join us for a compelling conversation on crime non-fiction

June 6, 2026 • 3:30pm

Truth, Lies, and Legacy: Leslie Bradford-Scott & Edward Chisholm

Leslie Bradford-Scott and Edward Chisholm

Don’t miss this gripping exploration of crime fiction

June 6, 2026 • 4:00pm

Deadly Secrets: Hannelore Cayre & Doug Johnstone

Hannelore Cayre and Doug Johnstone

Hear from international mystery authors

June 6, 2026 • 4:00pm

Crime Scene: Korea

Kang Hwagil and Hye-young Pyun

Learn from the best in a Creative Writing Masterclass

June 6, 2026 • 4:30pm

Using Multiple Points of View in Your Story with Robyn Harding

Robyn Harding

Join us for a cozy conversation between authors

June 6, 2026 • 5:00pm

Everyday Detectives: Jane Doucet & Uzma Jalaluddin

Jane Doucet and Uzma Jalaluddin

Join us for a compelling conversation on the darker edges of the human experience

June 6, 2026 • 5:30pm

Secrets of the Past: Johana Gustawsson & Kang Hwagil

Johana Gustawsson and Kang Hwagil

Join us to hear the latest in Canadian crime fiction!

June 6, 2026 • 5:30pm

Fresh Blood: Crime Writers of Canada’s 2026 Debuts & Hot Reads

Join authors as they discuss the writers who inspired them

June 6, 2026 • 6:30pm

The Re-Read: Nicholas Shakespeare on Graham Greene

Nicholas Shakespeare

Bring your sleuthing caps!

The Re-Read

June 6, 2026 • 7:30pm

The Codfather: A Murder Mystery Dinner

Performance

Interactive

Sunday, June 7

June 7, 2026 • 11:00am

Tea, Cake, and Murder: Ron Base & Sujata Massey

Ron Base and Sujata Massey

Start your day with tea, cake... and murder!

June 7, 2026 • 11:00am

Chill Before the Thrills: Meditative Morning Yoga for Crime Lovers

Start the day with yoga!

From riots to bank robberies to corruption...

June 7, 2026 • 11:00am

Toronto’s Infamous Victorian Police Chief with Adam Bunch

Adam Bunch

Presentation

Forensic science workshop presented by University of Toronto Mississauga

June 7, 2026 • 11:30am

Invisible Evidence: Wastewater Drug Surveillance

Learn from the best in a Creative Writing Masterclass

Interactive

June 7, 2026 • 11:30am

How To Eat An Elephant… & Other Plotting Advice with Hannah Mary McKinnon

Hannah Mary McKinnon

Great escapes and behind the scenes stories

June 7, 2026 • 11:30am

Out From Behind Bars: Hank Idsinga & Lorna Poplak

Hank Idsinga and Lorna Poplak

Hear from authors on adapting books for TV and film

June 7, 2026 • 12:00pm

Page to Screen: Mystery Edition

Hannelore Cayre, Karsten Dusse, and Leonie Swann

Learn the art of the detective novel from these two masters

June 7, 2026 • 12:00pm

Detective On Duty: Maureen Jennings & Desmond P. Ryan

Maureen Jennings and Desmond P. Ryan

Sometimes characters aren't who they seem

June 7, 2026 • 1:00pm

Hidden Identities: Genevieve Graham & Jinwoo Park

Genevieve Graham and Jinwoo Park

Join us to hear the latest in Canadian crime fiction!

June 7, 2026 • 1:30pm

Before the Book Deal: Crime Writers of Canada’s Rising Voices Read Raw

Some traps are built from the best intentions.

June 7, 2026 • 1:30pm

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Sharon Bala & Karma Brown

Sharon Bala and Karma Brown

Learn to use Tarot cards to create the perfect characters

June 7, 2026 • 1:30pm

Murder by Archetype: Unlocking Crime Stories with Tarot

Explore the art of historical mysteries

June 7, 2026 • 2:00pm

American Dreams & Mysteries: Naomi Hirahara & Kevin Jagernauth

Naomi Hirahara and Kevin Jagernauth

Forensic science workshop presented by University of Toronto Mississauga

June 7, 2026 • 2:30pm

University of Toronto Forensic Anthropology Workshop

Learn from the best in a Creative Writing Masterclass

June 7, 2026 • 3:00pm

Deadly Editing with Doug Johnstone

Doug Johnstone

Hear from the pros what it takes to write a historical mystery

June 7, 2026 • 3:00pm

History Making Fiction

Genevieve Graham and Olivier Norek

Dive into two thought-provoking stories of psychological suspense

June 7, 2026 • 3:00pm

Psychological Faultlines: Nicole Lundrigan & Hye-young Pyun

Nicole Lundrigan and Hye-young Pyun

Join these two authors for some a-list mysteries

June 7, 2026 • 3:30pm

A-List Crime: Sophie Hénaff & Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Sophie Hénaff

Celebrate 10 years of the book that had a huge impact on the psychological thriller genre

June 7, 2026 • 4:30pm

Shari Lapena: The Couple Next Door 10 Year Anniversary

Shari Lapena