Explore great books by Canadian authors

49thShelf.com is the largest collection of Canadian books on the Internet—and an amazing way to discover your next great read.

Let us show you how!

join us!

Governor General's Literary Awards Shortlists for Young Readers Text and Illustrated read more

Governor General's Literary Awards Shortlists for Fiction and Nonfiction read more

Governor General's Literary Awards Shortlist for French-English Translation read more

Governor General's Literary Awards Shortlists for Poetry and Drama read more

Giveaways Galore! Enter for a Chance to Win! read more

Get Gripped True Crime

Murder on the Inside

The True Story of the Deadly Riot at Kingston Penitentiary

by Catherine Fogarty

Praise for Murder on the Inside

“The uprising is cast in part as a prisoners-rights movement, but it is complicated by internal struggles among inmat …

read about it

When She Was Bad

How and Why Women Get Away with Murder

by Patricia Pearson

WINNER OF THE ARTHUR ELLIS AWARD FOR BEST NON-FICTION

A GLOBE & MAIL BEST BOOK

"This important, necessary book highlights our urgent need to re-examine …

read about it

Cold Case North

The Search for James Brady and Absolom Halkett

by Michael Nest
with Deanna Reder & Eric Bell

read about it

Horseplay

My Time Undercover on the Granville Strip

by Norm Boucher

"True crime buffs will find much to admire in this eye-opening personal narrative."
~ Publishers Weekly

read about it

Watching the Devil Dance

How a Spree Killer Slipped Through the Cracks of the Criminal Justice System

by William Toffan

Praise for Watching the Devil Dance

"A vital addition to the Canadian true crime canon. Packed with agonizing moment after agonizing moment, Watching t …

read about it

Missing from the Village

The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System That Failed Toronto's Queer Community

by Justin Ling

“Part detective story, part journalist’s notebook, Missing from the Village is a wildly engaging read, taking us through agonizing missteps and he …

read about it

Wish You Were Here

A Murdered Girl, a Brother's Quest and the Hunt for a Serial Killer

by John Allore & Patricia Pearson

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

“Wish You Were Here is an investigation intimate and mournful in nature, yet heroic in its level of forensic detail. By bearing …

read about it

The Seventh Shot: On the Trail of Canada's .22-Calibre Killer

by Ann Burke

read about it

Murder in the Family

How the Search for My Mother's Killer Led to My Father

by Jeff Blackstock

One of The Globe and Mail’s “Five new thrillers to warm up your autumn weekends”
Shortlisted for the 2021 Crime Writers of Canada Brass Knuckles …

read about it

Highway of Tears

A True Story of Racism, Indifference and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

by Jessica McDiarmid

**Finalist for the 2020 RBC Taylor Prize**
**Shortlisted for the 2020 BC and Yukon Book Prizes**
**National Bestseller**
**A Hill Times' Best Book of …

read about it

Murdered Midas

A Millionaire, His Gold Mine, and a Strange Death on an Island Paradise

by Charlotte Gray

"An entertaining and satisfying read."

read about it

Daring, Devious and Deadly

True Tales of Crime and Justice from Nova Scotia's Past

by Dean Jobb

read about it

Blood in the Water

A True Story of Revenge in the Maritimes

by Silver Donald Cameron

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER
SHORTLISTED for the 2021 Crime Writers of Canada Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book

SHORTLISTED for the 2021 A …

read about it

Behind the Horror

True Stories That Inspired Horror Movies

by Lee Mellor

read about it

see all

On the Blog

New Picture Books for Spring

By Kerry Clare

A selection of gorgeous new picture books celebrating new life, hope, nature, and mindfulness.

My Drifter Reading List

By Jen Sookfong Lee

A poetry list by the author of new book The Shadow List.

Persian-Canadian Writers You've Got to Read

By Hollay Ghadery

So, where were all the Persian Canadian writers? It turns out, here all along, but not as represented as one might hope; as they deserve to be.

Tough Like Mum: An Essential Picture Book for Kids and Adults

By Geoffrey Ruggero

Picture books are often written with young children as their intended audience. In Tough Like Mum, Lana Button provides adults with important messaging that we need to be reminded of.

Aimee Wall on The Great Canadian Abortion Novel

By Kerry Clare

"I didn’t want the plot to turn on an abortion or the decision to have one. Any conflict or tension is rooted elsewhere."

Poetry That's Going to Grab You

By 49thShelf Staff

Great books to read before for National Poetry Month is out.

@49thshelf on Twitter

"I am the sunbather of poetry readers. A beach fan of poems. A poetry drifter, even.”—@JenSookfongLee gives us a li… https://t.co/U25lRfMqvgBy 49thShelf – 17 hour(s) ago
ICYMI: Our blog over the last little while! https://t.co/DPGkye6GjT https://t.co/KIaNIVvXS9By 49thShelf – at 10:05 on 05 May
Books for Mother’s Day! https://t.co/zhiLcxIrA1 @perditafelicien @doubledayca @HHPublishing @SusanJLundy… https://t.co/bwvHRKXxxcBy 49thShelf – at 09:43 on 05 May
Persian-Canadian writers you’ve got to read! https://t.co/lUBCqhyUOO @Hollay2 @guernica_ed @DearKestrel… https://t.co/NeutDXL2WaBy 49thShelf – at 09:40 on 05 May
Oooh, the finalists for the Amazon Canada First Novel Award are sooooo good! https://t.co/RhUWV3Ce8f @bookhugpress… https://t.co/DghaxUPCEmBy 49thShelf – at 15:32 on 04 May