Missing from the Village
The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System That Failed Toronto's Queer Community
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Missing from the Village
Buy Now for $29.08
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Justin Ling
-
Written by:
-
Justin Ling
About this listen
The tragic and resonant story of the disappearance of eight men—the victims of serial killer Bruce McArthur—from Toronto's queer community.
Shortlisted for the 2021 Toronto Book Awards
In 2013, the Toronto Police Service announced that the disappearances of three men—Skandaraj Navaratnam, Abdulbasir Faizi, and Majeed Kayhan—from Toronto's gay village were, perhaps, linked. When the leads ran dry, the investigation was shut down, on paper classified as "open but suspended." By 2015, investigative journalist Justin Ling had begun to retrace investigators' steps, convinced there was evidence of a serial killer. Meanwhile, more men would go missing, and police would continue to deny that there was a threat to the community. On January 18, 2018, Bruce McArthur, a landscaper, would be arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. In February 2019, he was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of eight men.
This extraordinary book tells the complete story of the McArthur murders. Based on more than five years of in-depth reporting, this is also a story of police failure, of how the queer community responded, and the story of the eight men who went missing and the lives they left behind. In telling that story, Justin Ling uncovers the latent homophobia and racism that kept this case unsolved and unseen. This gripping book reveals how police agencies across the country fail to treat missing persons cases seriously, and how policies and laws, written at every level of government, pushed McArthur's victims out of the light and into the shadows.
©2020 Justin Ling (P)2020 Penguin Random House CanadaWhat the critics say
Named a Top 100 Best Book by The Globe and Mail
Winner of the Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book (Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence)
“Missing from the Village bears respectful witness to this terrible story, from the sights and sounds of the night the first man disappeared to the plaintive and heart-wrenching victim-impact statements following McArthur’s guilty plea in court. Ling provides a worthy record of an unfathomable tragedy.” —Quill & Quire, starred review
“Part detective story, part journalist’s notebook, Missing from the Village is a wildly engaging read, taking us through agonizing missteps and heart-wrenching losses.” —Mathew Hays, Cult MTL
“Justin Ling’s Missing from the Village is a careful, infuriating book documenting the murder of eight men in Toronto and the police inaction that failed to protect the community.” —Xtra
What listeners say about Missing from the Village
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pamazon
- 2023-03-21
Exceptional
A story that demands this telling. Well done Justin. An important Canadian literary work.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alicia
- 2023-06-13
Excellent!
An engaging and well written true crime book. The story very well investigated. I very much enjoyed it!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Roberta W
- 2022-06-26
An excellent account
Very well researched and written. Lots of emphasis on the people who went missing and who they were. Just enough information on the killer to understand him (if that’s possible) without glorifying in any way. These were grizzly murres and the police were negligent in how long it took them to clue in. It’s an account worth listening to.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2022-10-29
Great listen...sometimes biased
It was a really great telling of events and some of the links that allowed something to happen for some time. My only gripe is that there several occasions where personal opinion are rattled off as a matter of fact which is just simply not accurate or fair to all circumstances. Otherwise a great listen. 4.5/5
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lindsay Fetterman
- 2023-12-07
Great writing
This was really well written. Such a horrible story but it needs to be told. The victims needed a voice and you helped bring them that.
My only negative is that the audio was broken up and when he would start a new sentence sometimes the beginning would cut off.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rick Kemp
- 2021-09-15
History lesson
Deep dive into the issues & history between Toronto’s police & the queer community that lead to a serial killer being able to operate undetected.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paige Riviere
- 2021-03-11
Incredible
Sheds light on the many injustices that took place in the disappearance of the men from Toronto’s Gay Village, and points a direct spotlight at areas where our justice system as well as social systems allow for minorities to fall to the way side.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kelly C
- 2020-12-14
Captivating
Really enjoyed this! Excellent writing style, captivating. Great narration. I followed this story but didn’t have all the details about the victims, it was good to hear more about the people behind the horrific acts. Also interesting to hear some of the history attached to the community.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2025-01-19
Phenomenal
A deeply emotional and informative read. Provides plenty of important context to the case
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Darryl Keeping
- 2021-06-09
So Much More Than True Crime
Justin Ling does an excellent job as the narrator of his book. Really, no one else could have done it. Ling's research and passion for this book are evident. He forgoes the sensationalism and instead provides a history of the persecution of queer people living in Toronto over the years and how that very persecution allowed a serial killer to prey on his victims. An important and affecting listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful