A poignant virtual ride-along like no other.

Sometimes tragedy can be the most sincere teacher—something retired homicide detective Dave Sweet knows all too well. In this unorthodox police memoir, Sweet takes readers on a ride-along like no other, revealing poignant truths about life and death, and how we can work and live together. Danger and grit pair with humour and compassion in this gripping, fresh read.

Dave Sweet, a conservative, veteran homicide detective teamed up with Sarah Kades, a liberal, optimistic author to write this unconventional universal life-lessons book. Originally released in 2018, this revised and updated fifth anniversary second edition includes numerous updates and new segments. Insightful, painfully real, Skeletons in My Closet is an unexpected read.

Detective Dave Sweet's career spans 25 impactful years in Canadian policing, encompassing various roles within high-stakes investigations. Starting as a patrol officer, Dave later ventured into undercover work and took charge of task forces targeting gangs and organized crime in Calgary. However, it was his 14.5-year tenure in the homicide unit that truly defined his investigative prowess, focusing on cases involving homicide, missing persons, and suspicious deaths.

His expertise in solving some of Canada’s most heinous crimes earned him recognition, with several of his high-profile investigations gaining national attention through documentaries like CBC's "The Detectives," Global Television's "Crime Beat," and Investigative Discovery's "Murder Board." Dave's transition into authorship began in 2018 with Mischievous Books releasing his debut book, "Skeletons in My Closet – Life Lessons from a Homicide Detective," a collaboration with co-author Sarah Kades. In 2023, "Skeletons in My Closet" was re-released by Stark Publishing as a five year anniversary addition.

Throughout his career, Dave's contributions were acknowledged with prestigious awards, including the Distinguished Service Award (2010), the Chief's Award for Investigative Excellence (2017), the Governor General’s Exemplary Service Medal (2021), and the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022).

Dave's philosophy of "love people" serves as his guiding principle, shaping his inner strength and mindfulness—a perspective that influences his approach to investigations, writing, and life itself.

Dave Sweet's profile page

Sarah Kades writes eco-thrillers, and narrative non-fiction as Sarah Graham. Her writing is largely inspired by her previous career as an archaeologist where she routinely lived in tents, caught rides in helicopters and adored the awesomeness of the landscapes around her. Sarah is a two-time Energy Futures Lab Banff Summit storyteller, a recipient of the Calgary Arts Development individual artist grant, and has presented at the British Society of Criminology conference on the application of using arts-based approaches. When she’s not writing you can find her running, bumping into her next adventure, or trying to figure out where in the garden to put the makeshift wood-fired pizza oven.

Sarah Kades' profile page

A poignant virtual ride-along like no other.

Sometimes tragedy can be the most sincere teacher—something retired homicide detective Dave Sweet knows all too well. In this unorthodox police memoir, Sweet takes readers on a ride-along like no other, revealing poignant truths about life and death, and how we can work and live together. Danger and grit pair with humour and compassion in this gripping, fresh read.

Dave Sweet, a conservative, veteran homicide detective teamed up with Sarah Kades, a liberal, optimistic author to write this unconventional universal life-lessons book. Originally released in 2018, this revised and updated fifth anniversary second edition includes numerous updates and new segments. Insightful, painfully real, Skeletons in My Closet is an unexpected read.