Mystery and thriller fans can meet Shari Lapena, Linwood Barclay and others in Toronto this month

The fourth edition of the Motive Crime and Mystery Festival, hosted by the Toronto International Festival of Authors, is returning for three suspense-filled days from June 27 to 29. Hosted in the Gothic Revival halls of U of T’s Victoria campus, the event invites readers, writers, true-crime fans and internet sleuths to attend panel discussions, writing workshops and signings by some of the biggest authors in the nail-biter biz. This year, attendees can expect appearances by Shari Lapena, the Toronto-based bestselling author of The Couple Next Door; veteran detective novelist Linwood Barclay; and former first lady of Iceland and first-time novelist Eliza Reid.

“Crime is such an enduring genre,” says Lapena. “It just keeps growing, and there’s something for everyone now.” This year, the author is participating in three events, discussing her journey into fiction and her writing process as well as picking the mysterious minds of fellow writers. She’ll be interviewed by Roland Gulliver, hosting a session with Lisa Unger and joining a panel on Canadian crime fiction. “I wish they’d had workshops like this when I was starting out,” says Lapena. “It’s a real learning space.”

Recent Canada Reads judge Linwood Barclay will also chat with Janet Somerville about his supernatural chiller Whistle. Thriller authors Hannah Mary McKinnon and Eliza Reid will speak with moderator Lisa de Nikolits for one of the festival’s most popular events, Tea, Cake and Murder, where they’ll explore the making of their novels Only One Survives and Death on the Island while enjoying a sweet treat to soften the scaries.

Beyond author panels, Motive has also programmed a forensic science workshop in partnership with U of T, a 1930s-set immersive murder mystery called “A Murder Most Proper” and an author tent hosted by Crime Writers of Canada, where fans can catch some shade while getting their books signed. “Most writers are thrilled to meet their readers,” says Lapena. “People shouldn’t hesitate to bring all of their books.”

Festival passes to Motive can be purchased for single or multiple days, with special discounts for those 25 and under. Forensic workshops are free but require advanced registration.