Don’t miss this lively conversation between authors Genevieve Graham and Jinwoo Park, as they explore how the characters in each of their novels are pushed to confront what lies beneath the roles society assigns them. Graham’s The Chambermaid’s Key is a sweeping historical tale where a seemingly invisible chambermaid finds herself at the heart of secrets, unlocking truths hidden behind closed doors and polished façades. Park brings Oxford Soju Club, a witty, sharp story centred around the only Korean restaurant in Oxford, where clashing agendas expose a dangerous struggle over espionage, identity, and survival in the diaspora.
Moderated by Aparita Bhandari
Generously supported by The Michael B. Decter Foundation at Toronto Foundation.
From #1 bestselling author Genevieve Graham, “the reigning queen of Canadian historical fiction” (Kristen Harmel, #1 New York Times bestselling author) comes a dazzling novel set at an elegant hotel in Toronto in 1929 about a young chambermaid, a handsome waiter, and a murder that will reverberate for a century.
Welcome to the Dominion, where secrets lurk behind every locked door.
1929: Rosie Ryan wants nothing more than to escape the poverty of The Ward, Toronto’s roughest neighbourhood, and become a chambermaid at the brand-new Dominion Hotel. Until she meets Damien, that is—a charming and ambitious waiter who promises her a better life—and adds him to the top of her list.
The natural enemy of a Korean is another Korean.
When North Korean spymaster Doha Kim is mysteriously killed in Oxford, his protégé, Yohan Kim, chases the only breadcrumb given to him in Doha’s last breath: “Soju Club, Dr. Ryu.” In the meantime, a Korean American CIA agent , Yunah Choi, races to salvage her investigation of the North Korean spy cell in the aftermath of the assassination.
Genevieve Graham is the
USA TODAY and #1 bestselling author of thirteen novels, including
On Isabella Street,
The Secret Keeper,
The Forgotten Home Child,
Letters Across the Sea, and
Bluebird. She is passionate about breathing life back into history through tales of love and adventure.
Jinwoo Park is a Korean Canadian writer based in Montreal. He completed a master's degree in creative writing at the University of Oxford, and currently works as a marketer in the tech industry.
Sun, June 7, 2026
A book signing will follow this event
3-Day Pass
Early Bird
$70 + HST
(Available until April 30)
