From small-town secrets to icy psychological thrillers, Canadian crime fiction has carved out a distinctive identity—one that is both globally resonant and unmistakably homegrown. In this wide-ranging conversation, join our panel, including international bestseller Shari Lapena and veteran Globe and Mail crime critic Margaret Cannon in conversation with Steven Beattie as they dig into what […]
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Fresh from contesting Canada Reads 2025, MOTIVE festival favourite Linwood Barclay invites you to journey off familiar tracks and into uncharted territory with his chilling supernatural thriller, Whistle. This haunting tale centres on a mother and son whose fresh start in a small town derails into terror when they discover a mysterious train set with […]
At once deeply rooted in Korean society and universally resonant, Korean crime fiction is capturing the imagination of readers around the world. In this compelling panel, bestselling authors Mi-Ae Seo (The Only Child) and You-jeoung Jeong (Seven Years of Darkness and The Good Son) join literary influencer and #BookTok champion Jinwoo Park to explore the […]
Join two authors who prove that murder can be a laughing matter and that true crime and true love don’t always mix. All served with tea, coffee and a slice of cake! In No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding, Catherine Mack returns with her bestselling author-turned-amateur-sleuth Eleanor Dash to a glamorous island […]
Could you keep a deadly secret for twenty years? Would you know the truth if it stared you in the face? We are delighted to welcome acclaimed British author Jane Corry as she deconstructs her riveting psychological thriller, I Died on A Tuesday, where three different stories collide around one shocking crime two decades after […]
Delve into two bold, atmospheric, and quietly haunting thrillers that explore the slippery line between performance and identity, where trust is a luxury and evil wears many faces. In The Hype Beast, Adnan Khan brings us into the gritty life of Hamid Shaikh, a low-level scammer who stumbles into the orbit of a charismatic former […]
True crime has long fascinated readers and audiences—not just for the who and the how, but for what these stories reveal about power, prejudice, and the societies that produce them. In this gripping opening night event, three remarkable storytellers dissect the scandals, injustices, and dark psychology at the heart of their work, and explore why […]
Two compelling narratives, one fact, one fiction, explore deception, ambition, and the fragile boundaries between authenticity and illusion in the rarefied worlds of art and fashion. In The Devil Wears Rothko, acclaimed filmmaker and author Barry Avrich tells the true story of the stunning $80 million forgery scandal that brought down one of New York’s […]
Join us for an unforgettable evening with R.F. Kuang, the New York Times #1 bestselling author of The Poppy War, Babel and Yellowface. Kuang returns with her highly anticipated novel, Katabasis, a dark academia fantasy where two rival graduate students must journey to Hell to rescue their professor’s soul— perhaps at the cost of their […]
Join Giller Prize-winning author of Fifteen Dogs, André Alexis, as he presents his dazzling new story collection, Other Worlds. Alexis masterfully connects worlds — real, invented, and uncanny — in these captivating tales that span from 19th century Trinidad to contemporary Toronto. Blending philosophical inquiry with wry humour and drawing on multiple literary genres, these […]
Join internationally acclaimed historian, co-host of the Empire podcast and bestselling author William Dalrymple in Toronto as he presents The Golden Road, a sweeping history of South Asia’s profound influence on the world. From astronomy to architecture, mathematics to mythology, Dalrymple reveals how India’s civilization shaped ancient Eurasia — its ideas traveling from Angkor Wat […]
Join us for one of the biggest publishing events of 2025 and the Canadian launch of Dream Count, the highly anticipated new novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, marking her return to full-length fiction after more than a decade. The internationally celebrated author of Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah – an Oprah Book Club […]
“The inheritance we carry from those who came before us is a knot of roots that can be complicated to unravel.” – Angie Thomas Join YA author Angie Thomas as she discusses her new novel Concrete Rose, a poignant exploration of Black boyhood and manhood, with spoken word poet Britta B. Ideas of democracy and […]
As a special re-release, our #FestofAuthors20 event with illustrator Jillian Tamaki will be available to watch until April 30 at 11:59pm ET. The event features Tamaki reading from her lively food and community picture book, Our Little Kitchen. Ages 4-8. Interviewer: Ardo Omer Watch Here! Jillian Tamaki is a cartoonist and illustrator from Calgary, Alberta, who […]
Who are we? What do we owe to our friends? And what does it mean to love another person amidst tragedy? Andrew O’Hagan’s latest novel, Mayflies, offers the unforgettable coming-of-age story of lifelong friends James and Tully. A profound meditation on the ephemeral nature of life, the story uncovers a moving examination of the responsibilities […]
The sista talk of all sista talks! Trey Anthony and Jemeni G. together, one night. Uncensored … two queens sit down and spill the tea! What’s it like to be a Black girl in love (with herself)? How do we get there? How do we remind ourselves? What does friendship look like for Black women? […]
Trey Anthony is excited to interview the amazing Author and podcaster Elayne Fluker, who is author of Get Over “I Got it!”: How to Stop Playing Superwoman, Get Support, and Remember that Having It All Doesn’t Mean Doing It All Alone. Today’s women are ambitious and excelling in every way. But many still believe that […]
In Can You Hear Me Now? Celina Caesar-Chavannes digs deep into her childhood and her life as a young Black woman entrepreneur and politician, and she shows us that effective and humane leaders grow as much from their mistakes and vulnerabilities as from their strengths. Celina Caesar-Chavannes, already a breaker of boundaries as a Black […]
For over a decade, millions of Canadians started their day with Marci Ien. As a Black female news anchor and, later, the first Black woman in Canada to co-host a national morning show, Marci felt the pressure to stay “on script” – with little room for error. She had to be great. She had to […]
Norwegian author and journalist Agnes Ravatn explores her latest psychological thriller, The Seven Doors, in conversation with Canadian author Elisabeth de Mariaffi. Six years after the success of The Bird Tribunal, Ravatn’s eagerly awaited new book follows the story of Nina, a university professor, and her disturbing investigation into the disappearance of her tenant. Seven […]
International bestselling journalist-turned-author Thomas Enger presents Smoke Screen, the second instalment in the award-winning Blix and Ramm series, co-written with Jørn Lier Horst, in conversation with Canadian novelist Giles Blunt. When the mother of a missing two-year-old girl is seriously injured in a suspected terrorist attack in Oslo, crime-fighting duo Blix and Ramm join forces […]
This event has passed! You can check out what’s on here. Delve into the work and ideas of internationally celebrated authors and cultural thinkers. Renew your New Year’s reading goals and join us for our next iteration of The Elements of Story, this time curated by the legendary Indigenous singer-songwriter, musician, Oscar-winning composer, visual artist, […]
Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series and its proprietor, Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective. In this charming series, Mma Ramotswe – with help from her loyal associate, Grace Makutsi – navigates her cases and her personal life with wisdom, good humor, and the occasional cup of tea. […]
THIS EVENT HAS NOW PASSED. CHECK OUT WHAT’S ON NOW HERE. Pull up a chair and settle in for a casual conversation between accomplished creatives—and good friends—writer Lawrence Hill (The Book of Negroes) and producer Damon D’Oliveira (Conquering Lion Pictures). The collaborators will discuss the moment they first connected during the CBC Radio recording of Hill’s […]
