Something wicked this way comes to Toronto’s literary scene. MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival (hosted by Toronto Festival of Authors) 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.

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/.