Ottawa’s quiet streets and storied past are about to get a thrilling twist. A Capital Mystery, a new anthology from Ottawa Press and Publishing, hits shelves on October 15, 2025, bringing together 21 gripping tales from local mystery writers—all set in Canada’s National Capital.
Co-edited by Mike Martin and Bernadette Cox, the collection features contributions from acclaimed authors like Brenda Chapman, Barbara Fradkin, and Katie Tallo, alongside fresh voices making their publishing debut. The result is a rich mosaic of suspense, intrigue, and local flavour.
From the elegant aisles of Ogilvy’s department store in 1955 to the eerie calm of Riverside South, each story explores a different facet of Ottawa’s landscape—both physical and emotional. One tale follows a young boy confronting a neighbourhood menace. Another plunges readers into the high-stakes world of a downtown restaurant under siege by anonymous threats. And in a historical twist, a Bytown-era artist finds herself entangled in a murder mystery when her sketch may hold the key to a killer’s identity.
The anthology spans centuries, neighbourhoods, and moods, but what unites them is a shared reverence for Ottawa’s complexity—and its capacity for secrets.
The official book launch will take place October 16 at the Ottawa Public Library, where readers can meet the authors and celebrate the city’s vibrant literary scene. Sponsored by Crime Writers of Canada and Capital Crime Writers, A Capital Mystery promises to be a must-read for fans of crime fiction and lovers of Ottawa alike.
For more details, visit Ottawa Press and Publishing.
