My book project looks at mystery, suspense, and police procedural novels from L.R. Wright’s The Suspect to the present. I consider how authors ranging from Margaret Atwood and Alice Munro to Gail Bowen, Ausma Zehanat Khan, and Louise Penny use crime fiction to explore issues of gender, power, sexuality, and place.

History and Context

Canada has been a sovereign nation since 1867’s Confederation of the four original provinces. It is made up of ten provinces and three territories. We share the world’s longest undefended border with the United States, our long-time and valued ally. This relationship is under threat.

What is now Canada was established first as French and British colonies on the territories of Indigenous nations who, from coast to coast to coast, have lived on and used these lands since time immemorial. As many of the treaties of mutual respect and reciprocity promise, “as long as the grass grows green and the rivers run” the treaties will be upheld and the lands will be shared. We are all treaty people. The treaties have frequently been betrayed, but contemporary reconciliation processes and the legislative adoption of UNDRIP help offer a way forward.