Prolific fantasy and romance author treads into the high-stakes arena of computer hacking and heists… there, opposites attract and infatuation blossoms. The poignancy, sharpness, and fun of the writing and premise is diminished somewhat by repetition, pacing, and characterization. —Sergio Espinosa reviews Love Among Thieves, by Katrina Kwan (Toronto: Random House Canada, 2026) 24.95 / 9781039014107
A follow-up to a 2023 novel features a story-within-a-story and settings in present day Canada and the Cold War. Reflecting one another, the tales balance humour and seriousness as they portray perilous times and the men and women in them trying to get by. —Ace Baker reviews The Book of Gronsky by Bill Engleson (Altona: Friesen Press, 2026) $26.95 / 9781038360816
“‘A lot of us get very devoted to our detectives,’ Juby says. ‘So there’s a little bit of a parasocial relationship with your detective. You sort of glom onto them and think, aaahhh, I’m in the hands of this particular person and I can see the world through their eyes.’ In this case the detective in question is ‘buddhist butler and reluctant investigator Helen Thorpe.'” Trevor Marc Hughes presents an interview with Nanaimo-based crime fiction writer Susan Juby.
“Who committed the murders and why and what to do about it and what happens later takes up the rest of this remarkable story, the seventh book in what has evolved as author Geoff Mynett’s stand-out series of deep dives into formerly obscure corners of British Columbia history. William Brown is the subject of the author’s previous book in the series, A Gentleman of Considerable Talent.” Steven Brown reviews The Fort George Murders of 1823: Crises and Coexistence in New Caledonia, by Geoff Mynett (Qualicum Beach: Caitlin Press, 2026) $28.00 / 9781773861791
An artist, an oligarch, an ex-resistance operative who’s 94, a family vineyard in Crete… In a thought-provoking, prettily descriptive novel, the heist elements grab and hold a reader’s attention (while that’s less true for the protagonist’s erotic awakening). —Valerie Green reviews The Angels’ Share, by Jane Bow (New York: Red Elixir, 2026) $37.00 / 9781966293309
An author of thrillers changes tack, with winning results: “Of course, hilarious mystery novels are not an invention of the post-Covid era, but, given the seemingly instant transition the world has made from a pandemic to geopolitical chaos, this round has come at an opportune time. And, as much as any other country, Canada needs more humour. Nay’s Kirby Crime Crackers are a promising addition to the roster of comedic detective female gumshoes.” —Ginny Ratsoy reviews All Rise for Murder, by Roz Nay (Toronto: Viking, 2026) $26.95/ 9781037801877
“A quick online search of Vancouver-based detective fiction turns up several other Vancouver-based private eye mysteries. Sam Wiebe, J.T. Seimens, A.J Devlin, Elizabeth Bowers, and others are prominent. Regrettably, the online lists I saw were missing the creative pen of Roy Innes. A correction is in order.” —Ron Verzuh reviews The False Creek Murder: An Inspector Coswell Mystery, by Roy Innes (Edmonton: NeWest Press, 2026) $23.95 / 9781774391389
The latest mystery for irrepressible West Kootenay amateur sleuth Lane Winslow begins with a bespoke hat. From there, a missing boy, a stolen boat, and a hoard of cash… It’s “the perfect compact source of entertainment to exercise the brain when it comes to solving a murder mystery while at the same time rooting for each characters’ journeys and desires,” our reviewer writes. —Sergio Espinosa reviews A False and Fatal Claim, by Iona Whishaw (Victoria: TouchWood Editions, 2026) $21.95 / 9781771514668
“When I finished the last page and closed the book, I came away satisfied. And the ending? That, I really liked.” With that said, an author’s follow-up to a phenomenally successful debut is not quite as stellar. —Trish Bowering reviews The Caretaker, by Marcus Kliewer (Toronto: Atria/Emily Bestler Books/12:01 Books, 2026) $26.99 / 9781668228944
“The action never flags, and as Wakeland put the pieces together, it’s almost impossible not to keep turning the pages”: with the return of Dave Wakeland, Vancouver’s mean streets feel a bit safer… for at least a minute. —Ryan Frawley reviews Guns Across the River, by Sam Wiebe (Madeira Park: Harbour Publishing, 2026) $24.95 / 9781998526550
A writer’s first mystery novel garners the ultimate praise: “The twists and turns along the way will hold readers’ attention to the last page.” Plus, appealing characters, exotic settings, and snappy repartee don’t hurt either. —Valerie Green reviews Thirty Feet Under, by William Wodhams (Toronto: ECW Press, 2026) $24.95 / 9781770418547
Despite an author with a clear affection for the mystery genre and a globe-trotting plot, a debut work of fiction underwhelms our reviewer. Brevity might be the soul of wit, but in the case of a novel, that’s not always true. —Zoe McKenna reviews The Mosaic Key, by Archer Campbell (Victoria: Tellwell Talent, 2026) $17.99 / 9781834381039
“As the discussion heats up, one begins to feel like a dinner party guest privileged to listen in on a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation between two expert criminologists.” Richard Fyfe reviews Troubling Criminology, by Michael C. K. Ma and Mike Larsen (Toronto: Between the Lines, 2025) $34.95 / 9781771136853
A Vancouver author’s debut novel, a kind of ‘cozy spy thriller comedy’ set in the England of the ’60s, is a paradoxical offering—at once too much and not enough. —Brett Josef Grubisic reviews The Queens of Kaboom, by Martin Butler (Cambridge: Pegasus Publishers, 2025) $26.99 / 9781836710257
Maternal angst, filial contempt: a Freudian field day. (And recommended for the comforts of home: “I made the mistake of reading it on an empty stomach on an unpleasant bus ride while I was already in an overly pensive mood. What Boys Learn is best read with a heating blanket, on a full stomach, ideally with the reassurance of a warm dog curled up near you.) —Jessica Poon reviews What Boys Learn, by Andromeda Romano-Lax (New York: Soho Crime, 2026) $39.95 / 9781641296915
Darkly clairvoyant, a novel envisions Vancouver in the upcoming midcentury: “It is a thought-provoking, frightening picture of the world along the Corridor, where AI assistants are the norm, where wealth is everywhere, where the Canadian health system is broken and in great jeopardy, and where a social divide between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ is apparent everywhere.” —Valerie Green reviews Broadway Corridor: The Great Social Divide, by John D’Eathe (Vancouver: Adagio Media, 2025) $21.99 / 9780991993079
Set in assorted time periods and on land (Australia, Italy) and water (Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea), a historical murder mystery is marked by the return of a coolly stylish PI and a cast of striking characters. —Valerie Green reviews The Italian Secret, by Tara Moss (Toronto: HarperCollins Canada, 2025) $25.99 / 9781443461290
YA horror set at a spiritual retreat that isn’t: “Structurally impressive, mythologically rich, and recurrently dark, Cheng has carefully infused just enough humour and hope in a novel where it’s easy to root for the good guys.” —Jessica Poon reviews Beautiful Brutal Bodies, by Linda Cheng (Toronto: Listening Library, 2025) $20.99 / 9781250865816
Set in a Colorado town in the early 1990s, a sophomore novel opens with an act that leaves townies reeling. Compelling and twist-filled, this “mystery wrapped in layers of small-town politics and interpersonal grudges” is a “novel that entertains while providing ample room for contemplation.” —Trish Bowering reviews We Bring You an Hour of Darkness, by Michael Bourne (Los Angeles: DoppelHouse Press, 2025) $26.95 / 9781954600263
“Regular’s Rough & Messy Justice is an exciting read, well-written and, above all, factual…But most importantly the cautionary tale ‘raises unsettling questions … about fairness, truth, and how easily justice bends to fear and bias.'” Kenneth Favrholdt reviews Rough & Messy Justice: A Train Heist, Murder & Misdeeds, by W. Keith Regular (Calgary: Durvile & Uproute, 2025) $35 / 9781990735660