#FIRSTLOOK: 2025 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS ANNOUNCE “MOTIVE CRIME & MYSTERY FESTIVAL”

Something wicked this way comes to Toronto’s literary scene. The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) today announced that MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival will return for its fourth spine-tingling year from June 27 to 29, 2025 at University of Toronto (U of T). In a new partnership with Victoria University at U of T, the festival will transform these gothic halls into an epicentre of literary suspense.

MOTIVE will bring together an unprecedented mix of voices this year including: Iceland’s former First Lady Eliza Reid who recently made her fiction debut, international bestseller Shari Lapena returning as a festival favourite, romance star Uzma Jalaluddin crossing into the wildly popular cozy crime category, and thriller master Linwood Barclay continuing to define the genre. This year’s festival will unfold in a new location at University of Toronto – within the fitting gothic revival halls of Victoria University. This new atmospheric backdrop will allow attendees to immerse themselves in the festival’s celebration of crime and mystery storytelling.

“We’re thrilled to be presenting MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival in partnership with Victoria University this year,” says Roland Gulliver, Director of TIFA, “With our new venue, the festival brings together crime and mystery fans for a weekend where analyzing clues, discussing murder weapons, and debating red herrings over coffee is perfectly normal, and everyone appreciates a good plot twist. We’re incredibly proud that our roster of authors is filled with bestsellers from Canada and across the globe, while also featuring veteran talent and new voices.”

This year’s program offers a compelling mix of true crime, interactive events, and literary exploration, appealing to both dedicated readers and aspiring writers. Highlights include the return of forensic science workshops, an immersive Gin & Sin mystery performance, and in-depth panels on Canadian and international crime writing – spanning cozy mysteries to psychological thrillers. The lineup also features masterclasses, Toronto Crime Tours, and timely true crime discussions led by journalists, former FBI agents, and subject-matter experts.

Passes for MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival start at $20 CAD and are on sale now. Canadian booklovers can purchase them at festivalofauthors.ca/motive-2025/. To request complimentary press tickets, please email akasha@thetarogroup.com for more information. Full programming details can be found here – the event will feature appearances by notable authors from Canada, Argentina, France, Korea, Norway, UK and the USA, including but not limited to:

*alphabetical by last name

Linwood Barclay

Toronto-based New York Times bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than two dozen languages and sold millions of copies. Many of Barclay’s books have been optioned for film and television.

Jane Corry

Sunday Times and Washington Post bestseller who has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide and is a former writer-in-residence at high security male prison.

Sue Hincenbergs

Toronto-based debut novelist (The Retirement Plan), Sue, is a former television producer that spent her career working on award-winning programming ranging from sitcoms, sports, game shows, music specials, award shows and morning television.

Gregg Hurwitz

New York Times #1 internationally bestselling author of 26 thrillers including the Orphan X series. His novels have won numerous literary awards and Hurwitz has written screenplays and television scripts for many of the major studios and networks, and comics for AWA, DC, and Marvel.

Uzma Jalaluddin

Wildly popular romance writer who has made her first transition to cozy crime with her latest novel (Detective Aunty). Previous work includes Much Ado About Nada (2023) and Three Holidays and a Wedding (2023) which was a Good Morning America Buzz Pick.
Denise Mina

Scottish writer specializing in detective fiction including recently rebooting Raymond Chandler’s iconic detective series featuring Philip Marlowe. Mina was inducted into the Crime Writers’ Association Hall of Fame in 2014.

Shari Lapena

1 internationally bestselling author and former lawyer and English teacher, Lapena has written eight suspense novels from her Ontario farm, including The Couple Next Door, which was a runaway global bestseller, selling 4 million copies worldwide.

Eliza Reid

Eliza Reid is a bestselling writer, public speaker, gender equality advocate, cofounder of the acclaimed Iceland Writers Retreat and former First Lady of Iceland. Reid was born and raised in Canada but has lived in Iceland for over twenty years. Her first novel, an Iceland-set mystery called Death of a Diplomat was published earlier this year.

Lisa Unger

New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty-two novels, including Close Your Eyes and Count to 10. With books published in thirty-three languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, she is regarded as a master of suspense.

Liann Zhang

Liann Zhang is a first-time novelist and second-generation Chinese Canadian who splits her time between Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto. Zhang graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in psychology and criminology.

About TIFA:

Where Every Story Finds A Stage

For five decades, the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) has been bringing writers to readers, authors to audiences as Canada’s longest running literary festival.

We believe stories have the power to transform lives, connect cultures, and build communities. Through innovative programming, exceptional author experiences, and inclusive celebrations of literary diversity, TIFA creates spaces where every reader can discover their next great story and every story finds its perfect audience. TIFA reflects Toronto’s position as one of the world’s most diverse literary communities. From intimate author conversations to innovative events and programmes, every TIFA experience is crafted to remind you why stories matter.

In 2025, TIFA evolves into a year-round celebration of storytelling through three distinct festivals and a year-round programme of events and projects, maintaining our commitment to exceptional programming and unforgettable experiences.

Whether you’re a lifelong literary devotee or just beginning your reading journey, TIFA offers experiences designed to deepen your connection to the stories that shape our world.

TIFA’s Festivals:

MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival June 27-29 transforms summer into a season of suspense, presenting master storytellers of crime and mystery from Canada and around the world. It’s where literary sophistication meets pulse-pounding entertainment. Presented in partnership with Victoria University at University of Toronto.

Toronto International Festival of Authors October 29 – November 2 our flagship fall celebration, a reimagined five-day format will heighten the festival’s impact, with exclusive opportunities to see Canadian and international literary voices, and fostering cross-genre collaborations from the grassroots to the global, with music, film, poetry slams, performances and free activities. Presented in partnership with Victoria University at University of Toronto.

TIFA Romance November 21-23 presented by Rakuten Kobo. Love stories for those who love stories. Recognizing romance as both the world’s most popular genre and one of literature’s most powerful forces. From Rom-com to Romantasy, sweeping historical romances to whirlwind fantasies, romance fans can discover the books and authors that will write their way into their hearts.

TIFA’s programmes:

TIFA Presents a programme of year-round events bringing world-class authors to Toronto.

Toronto Lit Up (supported by the Toronto Arts Council) presenting book launches of Toronto authors across the city, all year;

International Visitor (IV) Programme, (supported by Ontario Creates and the Canada Book Fund) offering Canadian publishers and agents an unprecedented opportunity to secure international rights and distribution deals.

TIFA gratefully acknowledges support from the Government of Canada – Department of Canadian Heritage; Canada Council for the Arts; Ontario Arts Council; Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund; Toronto Arts Council; Work in Culture Catalyst and Transformation Fund; and Victoria University at University of Toronto Centre for Creativity, plus generous patrons and supporters who understand that great literature is worth investing in.