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Missing from the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System that Failed Toronto's Queer Community
The tragic and resonant story of the disappearance of eight men -- the victims of serial killer Bruce McArthur -- from Toronto's queer community, and the failures of the social and political systems which allowed the cases to go unsolved for so long.
In 2013, the Toronto Police Service announced that the disappearances of three missing men -- Skandaraj Navaratnam, Abdulbasir Faizi, and Majeed Kayhan -- from Toronto's gay village were, perhaps, linked. On paper, an investigation continued for a year, but remained "open but suspended." By 2015, investigative journalist Justin Ling had begun to put in multiple requests to speak to the investigators on the case. Meanwhile, more men would go missing, and police would continue to deny that there might be a serial killer. On January 18, 2018, Bruce McArthur, a landscaper, would be charged with three counts of first-degree murder. In February 2019, he was convicted of eight counts of first-degree murder.
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 gay community failed its own, 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.
In 2013, the Toronto Police Service announced that the disappearances of three missing men -- Skandaraj Navaratnam, Abdulbasir Faizi, and Majeed Kayhan -- from Toronto's gay village were, perhaps, linked. On paper, an investigation continued for a year, but remained "open but suspended." By 2015, investigative journalist Justin Ling had begun to put in multiple requests to speak to the investigators on the case. Meanwhile, more men would go missing, and police would continue to deny that there might be a serial killer. On January 18, 2018, Bruce McArthur, a landscaper, would be charged with three counts of first-degree murder. In February 2019, he was convicted of eight counts of first-degree murder.
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 gay community failed its own, 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.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 2020
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May 2, 2022
Missing from the Village is a refreshingly empathetic work by Justin Ling. It was simultaneously a book I couldn’t put down, and one I found overwhelmingly difficult to read. Heartbreaking, tragic, frustrating, anger-inducing. It’s a fantastic piece of journalism about horrific crimes and injustices.
I lived in Toronto during some of the events depicted in the book, but it wasn’t until a couple of years later an arrest was made. The way in which Ling described the bitterly cold winters and certain parts of the city immediately transported me back.
The focus here is (rightfully) on the victims and their families, along with the heart-wrenching history of crimes and harassment of Toronto’s queer community. It’s this attention to detail and focus on victims that packed an emotional punch. They became more than just faces on a missing poster, and I was made to feel like I personally knew them and their individual stories and tragedies. It helps that Ling is part of the community he’s writing about, which adds an extra layer of authenticity and desperation to the writing.
Ling injects himself into events effectively, via his coverage of the stories for both VICE News and The Globe and Mail. Missing from the Village reminded me of the Oscar-winning Spotlight at times, such was the anxiety-inducing pace of the investigative journalism taking place alongside widespread terror and paranoia in the community.
The Crown Prosecutor summed up the case (and aspects of the book) best during his address to the court.
“It could impact your appetite and ability to sleep”
The sheer scope of the crimes and investigation is laid out too, which Ling does an exceptional job covering from multiple perspectives and angles.
“Police were already calling it the largest forensic investigation in their history.”
Ling rips into the police service for historical injustices and often a woeful neglect and mishandling of missing minorities today. While this is an important aspect of the subject, things perhaps descended a little too much down this path; pages which maybe could've been better utilized.
The victim impact statements were a powerful way to close out the book. The power of community for positive change was highlighted too, with Ling also sharing optimistic hopes for the future of journalism. After such a harrowing and heartbreaking read, these were good notes to end on. For someone who has dropped out of journalism school twice, Justin Ling has delivered an excellent piece of journalism in a book very worthy of the awards and short-listings it has received.
I lived in Toronto during some of the events depicted in the book, but it wasn’t until a couple of years later an arrest was made. The way in which Ling described the bitterly cold winters and certain parts of the city immediately transported me back.
The focus here is (rightfully) on the victims and their families, along with the heart-wrenching history of crimes and harassment of Toronto’s queer community. It’s this attention to detail and focus on victims that packed an emotional punch. They became more than just faces on a missing poster, and I was made to feel like I personally knew them and their individual stories and tragedies. It helps that Ling is part of the community he’s writing about, which adds an extra layer of authenticity and desperation to the writing.
Ling injects himself into events effectively, via his coverage of the stories for both VICE News and The Globe and Mail. Missing from the Village reminded me of the Oscar-winning Spotlight at times, such was the anxiety-inducing pace of the investigative journalism taking place alongside widespread terror and paranoia in the community.
The Crown Prosecutor summed up the case (and aspects of the book) best during his address to the court.
“It could impact your appetite and ability to sleep”
The sheer scope of the crimes and investigation is laid out too, which Ling does an exceptional job covering from multiple perspectives and angles.
“Police were already calling it the largest forensic investigation in their history.”
Ling rips into the police service for historical injustices and often a woeful neglect and mishandling of missing minorities today. While this is an important aspect of the subject, things perhaps descended a little too much down this path; pages which maybe could've been better utilized.
The victim impact statements were a powerful way to close out the book. The power of community for positive change was highlighted too, with Ling also sharing optimistic hopes for the future of journalism. After such a harrowing and heartbreaking read, these were good notes to end on. For someone who has dropped out of journalism school twice, Justin Ling has delivered an excellent piece of journalism in a book very worthy of the awards and short-listings it has received.
April 15, 2023
Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. I clearly remember watching news coverage in early 2018 about the arrest of Bruce McArthur, a serial killer from Toronto, and how police were removing the remains of eight men found in large flower planters as they wheeled them away as evidence - a disturbing sight!
2. I wanted to learn more about the victims, McArthur's history, and what possessed him to commit these atrocities;
3. it became available on Libby; and,
4. April 2023 is my designated "True Crime" Month.
Praises:
1. author and narrator Justin Ling explains in his Author's Note why he chose to use the term queer throughout his book;
2. the Prologue gives a brief background of the "Village", the historic home of Toronto's LGBTQ+ community and its ties to this horrific event;
3. Ling gives a detailed account of all the key players in this tragedy, the frustrations from the queer community, the eventual arrest and trial, and heartbreaking victim statements; and,
4. this book reminded me a lot about the murdered and missing women in Vancouver, B.C. (many were sex trade workers and/or Indigenous), six of whom serial killer, Robert Pickton was eventually charged with and sentenced to prison (for a comprehensive study, check out On the Farm by Stevie Cameron). Like those women, these men were marginalized "disposable" victims, who many people, including some family members and friends, journalists, and even police officers didn't initially take these disappearances seriously nor suspect foul play. At one point, Police Chief Mark Saunders had the audacity to blame the queer community for failing "to help investigation into alleged serial killer" (Globe and Mail). He has since resigned and is currently running for mayor of Toronto in a by-election on June 26, 2023!
Niggle:
What? No photos in the hardcopy? Even though sketches of each victim precedes each chapter, I was very disappointed that not one photo was provided. At least I can find photos online.
Overall Thoughts:
In February 2019, 67-year-old Canadian serial killer, Bruce McArthur pled guilty to 8 counts of first-degree murder. He is serving a life sentence of 25 years.
Ling's extensive research and overall frustration as to why McArthur got away with murder for at least 7 years has clearly answered any questions I had (and more) about this tragic time in Canada's recent history. It's an eye-opening account as to why we must treat ALL people with dignity and respect and not ignore them or debase them due to who they are.
1. I clearly remember watching news coverage in early 2018 about the arrest of Bruce McArthur, a serial killer from Toronto, and how police were removing the remains of eight men found in large flower planters as they wheeled them away as evidence - a disturbing sight!
2. I wanted to learn more about the victims, McArthur's history, and what possessed him to commit these atrocities;
3. it became available on Libby; and,
4. April 2023 is my designated "True Crime" Month.
Praises:
1. author and narrator Justin Ling explains in his Author's Note why he chose to use the term queer throughout his book;
2. the Prologue gives a brief background of the "Village", the historic home of Toronto's LGBTQ+ community and its ties to this horrific event;
3. Ling gives a detailed account of all the key players in this tragedy, the frustrations from the queer community, the eventual arrest and trial, and heartbreaking victim statements; and,
4. this book reminded me a lot about the murdered and missing women in Vancouver, B.C. (many were sex trade workers and/or Indigenous), six of whom serial killer, Robert Pickton was eventually charged with and sentenced to prison (for a comprehensive study, check out On the Farm by Stevie Cameron). Like those women, these men were marginalized "disposable" victims, who many people, including some family members and friends, journalists, and even police officers didn't initially take these disappearances seriously nor suspect foul play. At one point, Police Chief Mark Saunders had the audacity to blame the queer community for failing "to help investigation into alleged serial killer" (Globe and Mail). He has since resigned and is currently running for mayor of Toronto in a by-election on June 26, 2023!
Niggle:
What? No photos in the hardcopy? Even though sketches of each victim precedes each chapter, I was very disappointed that not one photo was provided. At least I can find photos online.
Overall Thoughts:
In February 2019, 67-year-old Canadian serial killer, Bruce McArthur pled guilty to 8 counts of first-degree murder. He is serving a life sentence of 25 years.
Ling's extensive research and overall frustration as to why McArthur got away with murder for at least 7 years has clearly answered any questions I had (and more) about this tragic time in Canada's recent history. It's an eye-opening account as to why we must treat ALL people with dignity and respect and not ignore them or debase them due to who they are.
June 2, 2021
3.5 stars.
This is a well-researched and disturbing book that chronicles the history of Toronto's gay village and the horrific serial killings of queer men mostly of South Asian or Middle Eastern appearance. The author prefers the term 'queer' for people of the gay community and explains this is not a derogatory term. This is a powerful indictment of the police force and society's systematic marginalization of minorities: gay people, Indigenous women, black and brown people, sex workers, trans women, homeless, and drug addicts.
The author, investigative reporter. Justin Ling was an appropriate person to write about the crimes of Bruce McArthur because he identifies with the gay community and is familiar with Toronto's Village. He writes with empathy and compassion for the victims and gives a searing account of the omissions and failures of the police force. He also praises individual officers for diligently carrying out their duties during a difficult, lengthy investigation.
Unlike some true crime books, this does not read like a novel. it tends to be disjointed, meandering, and sometimes repetitive, but so was the investigation. It is a profound statement of the failure of society to ignore such crimes and he makes suggestions for a better, more caring and inclusive future.
Foremost, was the difficulty and ignorance of the police department to take seriously the reports by devastated family and friends. They had difficulty convincing police that the men were actually missing. It was suggested that the person probably moved away and simply did not want to be found. Often the missing person's name was not even entered in a database. It was left up to friends to endlessly search and to post Missing Persons posters all over the Village.
When the posters of the first three missing men were distributed, Justin Ling was struck by their similarity in appearance and was obsessed with the idea that a serial killer might be attacking men of Mid Eastern appearance. He began reporting on these cases and discovering connections. He criticizes some reporters for the intrusive way they questioned family and friends, adding to their grief. Later, more men of South Asian and Middle Eastern appearance were missing from gay bars and nightclubs in the Village. Computer searches informed Ling that these were not the first disappearances, and he also discovered that trans women were being murdered. The gay community felt fearful and targeted by a serial killer. The police were still denying that these cases were connected and there was no evidence of a serial killer.
Ling remarks that the profiling of serial killers is not an accurate science because their number is so small. He describes the large number,( possibly 49), Indigenous women who became victims of pig farmer, Robert Picton, in BC. When they went missing police ignored worried friends and families until it was much too late. He also gives accounts of brutality by police against Blacks and other marginalized people in Canada and elsewhere. Investigations for the Village killings lead to a cannibal website in Europe and to a loose connection of one of the missing men to Luka Magnotta who posted a gruesome video on the internet. This went nowhere.
In 2019, Bruce McArthur was finally arrested and plead guilty to the murder of 8 men. He owned a landscape business and had dismembered the bodies and placed them in planters on a client's property. Ling believes some other people who disappeared may be among his victims but the case is now closed.
This is a well-researched and disturbing book that chronicles the history of Toronto's gay village and the horrific serial killings of queer men mostly of South Asian or Middle Eastern appearance. The author prefers the term 'queer' for people of the gay community and explains this is not a derogatory term. This is a powerful indictment of the police force and society's systematic marginalization of minorities: gay people, Indigenous women, black and brown people, sex workers, trans women, homeless, and drug addicts.
The author, investigative reporter. Justin Ling was an appropriate person to write about the crimes of Bruce McArthur because he identifies with the gay community and is familiar with Toronto's Village. He writes with empathy and compassion for the victims and gives a searing account of the omissions and failures of the police force. He also praises individual officers for diligently carrying out their duties during a difficult, lengthy investigation.
Unlike some true crime books, this does not read like a novel. it tends to be disjointed, meandering, and sometimes repetitive, but so was the investigation. It is a profound statement of the failure of society to ignore such crimes and he makes suggestions for a better, more caring and inclusive future.
Foremost, was the difficulty and ignorance of the police department to take seriously the reports by devastated family and friends. They had difficulty convincing police that the men were actually missing. It was suggested that the person probably moved away and simply did not want to be found. Often the missing person's name was not even entered in a database. It was left up to friends to endlessly search and to post Missing Persons posters all over the Village.
When the posters of the first three missing men were distributed, Justin Ling was struck by their similarity in appearance and was obsessed with the idea that a serial killer might be attacking men of Mid Eastern appearance. He began reporting on these cases and discovering connections. He criticizes some reporters for the intrusive way they questioned family and friends, adding to their grief. Later, more men of South Asian and Middle Eastern appearance were missing from gay bars and nightclubs in the Village. Computer searches informed Ling that these were not the first disappearances, and he also discovered that trans women were being murdered. The gay community felt fearful and targeted by a serial killer. The police were still denying that these cases were connected and there was no evidence of a serial killer.
Ling remarks that the profiling of serial killers is not an accurate science because their number is so small. He describes the large number,( possibly 49), Indigenous women who became victims of pig farmer, Robert Picton, in BC. When they went missing police ignored worried friends and families until it was much too late. He also gives accounts of brutality by police against Blacks and other marginalized people in Canada and elsewhere. Investigations for the Village killings lead to a cannibal website in Europe and to a loose connection of one of the missing men to Luka Magnotta who posted a gruesome video on the internet. This went nowhere.
In 2019, Bruce McArthur was finally arrested and plead guilty to the murder of 8 men. He owned a landscape business and had dismembered the bodies and placed them in planters on a client's property. Ling believes some other people who disappeared may be among his victims but the case is now closed.
January 27, 2021
This book is about the disappearance of eight men from the gay village of downtown Toronto. I live about one hundred miles southwest of Toronto and have been there several times. Over the decades Toronto has emerged as Canada’s largest and most dynamic city – compared to what it used to be when I first started going there in the 1960s and 70s. It is also seen as being peaceful, civil, and safe.
But the last few years have altered the “safe” aspect.
The book tells us about the eight men who simply vanished. It begins in 2010-2011 when three men disappeared. They had been frequenting coffee houses and bars in Toronto’s gay village and were known to the community. One was a Tamil from Sri Lanka, and the other two were from Afghanistan. They were in their 40’s and 50’s. Missing posters went up in the village, and then other areas of Toronto and spread across Ontario asking for help to locate the missing men. The police did some searching and investigating, but it all seemed desultory. The police also did not want to admit there might be a possible serial killer on the loose.
As the author points out, the reaction would have been decidedly different if three middle-aged, middle-class white women had vanished in thin air.
There was obviously a predator roaming about. This started to become more evident in the following years – starting in 2015 similar disappearances were reported – mostly of middle-aged men of colour.
The author gives us a history of gay and LGBT bashing over the long years – how bars were raided and members of the LGBT community were arrested for “immoral” behaviour. Homosexuality was decriminalized in Canada in 1969 – but this did not stop police harassment and the jailing of LGBT people. Getting the police onside to investigate criminal behavior towards LGBT people continues to be an ongoing struggle. There was not even a unified missing persons database in the Toronto area for missing persons. Most missing persons were seen as marginalized – homeless people, indigenous, LGBT… all having little influence in government power structures.
Eventually the killer, Bruce McArthur was found, arrested and he pleaded guilty for the murder of eight men. He was sixty-six years old at the time of his arrest and will serve 25 years without the possibility of parole. It is suspected that he killed more. Like many serial killers he presented himself as calm and personable when interviewed by the police.
This author gives us some background on Bruce McArthur but doesn’t provide much on the psychological reasons why he committed these vicious crimes. There is no analysis of the forensic evidence. McArthur was a landscaper, and he even hired some of the people he killed. He would dismember the body parts of his victims and bury the remains among the landscaping properties he was working on. This would involve a lot of evil work, but the author does not write this up.
We do get a very sad and profound view of the loneliness and anguish of the families and friends of the victims. One of the victims, from Sri Lanka, left that country because his brother was murdered during the civil uprisings – so he escaped and found refuge in Canada only to be himself murdered by a demented human being.
Like many newly published books today there is irritatingly no index!
But the last few years have altered the “safe” aspect.
The book tells us about the eight men who simply vanished. It begins in 2010-2011 when three men disappeared. They had been frequenting coffee houses and bars in Toronto’s gay village and were known to the community. One was a Tamil from Sri Lanka, and the other two were from Afghanistan. They were in their 40’s and 50’s. Missing posters went up in the village, and then other areas of Toronto and spread across Ontario asking for help to locate the missing men. The police did some searching and investigating, but it all seemed desultory. The police also did not want to admit there might be a possible serial killer on the loose.
As the author points out, the reaction would have been decidedly different if three middle-aged, middle-class white women had vanished in thin air.
There was obviously a predator roaming about. This started to become more evident in the following years – starting in 2015 similar disappearances were reported – mostly of middle-aged men of colour.
The author gives us a history of gay and LGBT bashing over the long years – how bars were raided and members of the LGBT community were arrested for “immoral” behaviour. Homosexuality was decriminalized in Canada in 1969 – but this did not stop police harassment and the jailing of LGBT people. Getting the police onside to investigate criminal behavior towards LGBT people continues to be an ongoing struggle. There was not even a unified missing persons database in the Toronto area for missing persons. Most missing persons were seen as marginalized – homeless people, indigenous, LGBT… all having little influence in government power structures.
Eventually the killer, Bruce McArthur was found, arrested and he pleaded guilty for the murder of eight men. He was sixty-six years old at the time of his arrest and will serve 25 years without the possibility of parole. It is suspected that he killed more. Like many serial killers he presented himself as calm and personable when interviewed by the police.
This author gives us some background on Bruce McArthur but doesn’t provide much on the psychological reasons why he committed these vicious crimes. There is no analysis of the forensic evidence. McArthur was a landscaper, and he even hired some of the people he killed. He would dismember the body parts of his victims and bury the remains among the landscaping properties he was working on. This would involve a lot of evil work, but the author does not write this up.
We do get a very sad and profound view of the loneliness and anguish of the families and friends of the victims. One of the victims, from Sri Lanka, left that country because his brother was murdered during the civil uprisings – so he escaped and found refuge in Canada only to be himself murdered by a demented human being.
Like many newly published books today there is irritatingly no index!
April 22, 2023
3.75 stars
I rarely read non-fiction, but I wanted to read this book because I lived and worked in that community for 19.5 years and during these cases.
Although I have not met any of the victims, I did frequent some of the same locations and walked on the same streets, so everything was very familiar and too close to home.
I thought that the author did a good job of journalism but I really wished that he had left his personal opinions and judgments out of the story and had focused in the main investigation. Sometimes he was preachy.
Regardless, I was hooked and completely enthralled, hence my 4 stars. I didn’t find a moment of boredom.
I did listen to the audiobook, which is narrated by the author and I enjoyed even more, as I could feel how much heart he put into this work.
Paperback: 304 pages
E-book (Kobo): 307 pages (default), 83k words
Audiobook: 8.9 hours (normal speed)
I rarely read non-fiction, but I wanted to read this book because I lived and worked in that community for 19.5 years and during these cases.
Although I have not met any of the victims, I did frequent some of the same locations and walked on the same streets, so everything was very familiar and too close to home.
I thought that the author did a good job of journalism but I really wished that he had left his personal opinions and judgments out of the story and had focused in the main investigation. Sometimes he was preachy.
Regardless, I was hooked and completely enthralled, hence my 4 stars. I didn’t find a moment of boredom.
I did listen to the audiobook, which is narrated by the author and I enjoyed even more, as I could feel how much heart he put into this work.
Paperback: 304 pages
E-book (Kobo): 307 pages (default), 83k words
Audiobook: 8.9 hours (normal speed)
March 30, 2021
Missing from the Village tells the story of serial killer Bruce McArthur who terrorized Toronto's Queer community for nearly a decade, claiming the lives of at least eight men.
In all honestly, I started reading Missing from the Village with tempered expectations. As a Canadian and follower of true crime, I had heard the story of Bruce McArthur so many times that I doubted that Ling would be able to bring anything new to the conversation. I could not have been more wrong. Ling didn't just write about this tragedy after the fact (which would have, in itself, been a huge feat). Instead, as an investigative journalist, he actually played a role in uncovering McArthur's pattern and advancing the case.
Unlike most crime reporters, Ling doesn't focus on Bruce McArthur. In fact, the serial killer is the least interesting thing about the book. Ling lovingly introduces readers to the dynamic and colourful lives lived by each of McArthur's victims, ensuring that Missing from the Village celebrates and honours the memories of the victims instead of spotlighting the killer. Further, McArthur does a fantastic job at connecting each individual incident to larger societal and global issues of marginalization faced by gay folk across intersections.
Missing from the Village is thoughtful, compelling and important. This book is more than the story of a single serial killer, it is a book about the deadly consequences of stigmatization, discrimination and a fractured relationship between police and queer communities.
In all honestly, I started reading Missing from the Village with tempered expectations. As a Canadian and follower of true crime, I had heard the story of Bruce McArthur so many times that I doubted that Ling would be able to bring anything new to the conversation. I could not have been more wrong. Ling didn't just write about this tragedy after the fact (which would have, in itself, been a huge feat). Instead, as an investigative journalist, he actually played a role in uncovering McArthur's pattern and advancing the case.
Unlike most crime reporters, Ling doesn't focus on Bruce McArthur. In fact, the serial killer is the least interesting thing about the book. Ling lovingly introduces readers to the dynamic and colourful lives lived by each of McArthur's victims, ensuring that Missing from the Village celebrates and honours the memories of the victims instead of spotlighting the killer. Further, McArthur does a fantastic job at connecting each individual incident to larger societal and global issues of marginalization faced by gay folk across intersections.
Missing from the Village is thoughtful, compelling and important. This book is more than the story of a single serial killer, it is a book about the deadly consequences of stigmatization, discrimination and a fractured relationship between police and queer communities.
October 31, 2020
This is the tragic story of the disappearance of 8 men from Toronto's queer community, discovered to be the victim's of serial killer Bruce McArthur.
Author Justin Ling gives us a horrific story that was extremely well-researched and told with an abundance of compassion. Focusing on the 8 victims and their stories is what sets this true crime novel apart from others that dwell on the murderer and his methods.
We are told about the systematic failures regarding the police, government, etc... because of who the victims were, and how the community came together insisting this investigation move forward.
This is a chapter in Toronto's history that must not be repeated!
Superb investigative journalism!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada / McClelland & Stewart for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Author Justin Ling gives us a horrific story that was extremely well-researched and told with an abundance of compassion. Focusing on the 8 victims and their stories is what sets this true crime novel apart from others that dwell on the murderer and his methods.
We are told about the systematic failures regarding the police, government, etc... because of who the victims were, and how the community came together insisting this investigation move forward.
This is a chapter in Toronto's history that must not be repeated!
Superb investigative journalism!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada / McClelland & Stewart for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
March 17, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and PRH Canada for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Whether you were in the heart of Toronto when Andrew Kinsman first went missing, or somewhere not even close - if you know the name Bruce McArthur, you’ll remember him as Toronto’s most recent serial killer (that we know of).
Missing from the Village by Justin Ling is a phenomenal investigative book that gives us not only a close look at the tragic ends of the victims, but sprinkled in-between is Canada’s history with LGBTQ+ rights, past events, and specific situations that have ramifications on what lead to the victims to where they were at the time.
As Justin says in his intro, this is not a true crime book, and take his word for it. This book is much more than that.
I really appreciated his care and attention, and how he explains his involvement and queries for literally years before a serial killer was even hinted at, let alone charged. He gives a great outlook on timelines that are well-detailed.
This book is an emotional one, especially as we get to know who each of the 8 victims are.
If you’re interested in journalism, investigative journalism, or simply interested in this story, this book is for you.
Whether you were in the heart of Toronto when Andrew Kinsman first went missing, or somewhere not even close - if you know the name Bruce McArthur, you’ll remember him as Toronto’s most recent serial killer (that we know of).
Missing from the Village by Justin Ling is a phenomenal investigative book that gives us not only a close look at the tragic ends of the victims, but sprinkled in-between is Canada’s history with LGBTQ+ rights, past events, and specific situations that have ramifications on what lead to the victims to where they were at the time.
As Justin says in his intro, this is not a true crime book, and take his word for it. This book is much more than that.
I really appreciated his care and attention, and how he explains his involvement and queries for literally years before a serial killer was even hinted at, let alone charged. He gives a great outlook on timelines that are well-detailed.
This book is an emotional one, especially as we get to know who each of the 8 victims are.
If you’re interested in journalism, investigative journalism, or simply interested in this story, this book is for you.
October 3, 2020
This is the single best book I think I’ve read all year. Justin Ling has crafted an empathetic true crime narrative that pays tribute to the individuals and community affected by Bruce McArthur, one that I couldn’t put down. Put it up on the shelf with I’LL BE GONE IN THE DARK and THE STRANGER BESIDE ME as classics of the genre. Highly recommended.
May 5, 2021
Thoroughly written with lots of interesting information surrounding the tragic story of these killings, Queer history, and the community's tumultuous relationship with the police. Difficult to read, but an important one to add to your TBR.
December 2, 2020
I went in expecting true crime, but was blown away by the the nuance, depth and sensitivity of Justin Ling's reporting. A powerful and heartbreaking read.
June 29, 2023
Journalism that is as ethical as it is meticulous and well-written.
This book gave me a greater respect and love for Toronto and its queer lifeforce; I was shamefully ignorant of so many pivotal moments from the Canadian queer liberation movements in the latter 20th Century, shamefully ignorant. This book gave me so much context for the societal forces us queers contend with in our day-to-day lives, forces I always knew were there but could never articulate.
This is not your typical true crime; it’s history, societal critique, memoir all in one. A fabulous book.
This book gave me a greater respect and love for Toronto and its queer lifeforce; I was shamefully ignorant of so many pivotal moments from the Canadian queer liberation movements in the latter 20th Century, shamefully ignorant. This book gave me so much context for the societal forces us queers contend with in our day-to-day lives, forces I always knew were there but could never articulate.
This is not your typical true crime; it’s history, societal critique, memoir all in one. A fabulous book.
October 15, 2020
Written by investigative journalist, Justin Ling, Missing from the Village is a well-researched and thoughtful book about the horrific Bruce McArthur case that shocked Canadians in 2018. In addition to a detailed overview of how the case progressed, Ling provides information about the lives of each of the victims and the impact of their deaths on those they left behind. The book also delves into the complicated relationship between the Toronto Police Service and the city’s LGBTQ+ community and explores how the police and other agencies failed McArthur’s victims, in part due to the homophobia and racism that remain in these systems.
This is so much more than a true crime book and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a well-written and comprehensive account of the Bruce McArthur case. Although I followed this case in the news, I learned so much more from this book.
This is so much more than a true crime book and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a well-written and comprehensive account of the Bruce McArthur case. Although I followed this case in the news, I learned so much more from this book.
January 23, 2021
4.5 stars!
The gay village in Tonrotn was seeing a lot of disappearances in the early 2010s. The case turns cold after a lack of leads and the friends and family of the missing men become increasingly frustrated. As the number of missing men continues to grow, the Toronto police continued to deny that there was a problem and pattern. When Bruce McArthur is arrested for the murder of eight men from the village, the community realizes that their suspicions were right all along. They were being targeted by a serial killer and no one made it a priority.
I devoured this in 2 sittings! Justin Ling has done an amazing job of thoroughly investigating this case from the start. He put together really comprehensive profiles of the victims that made you really feel for their friends and family when their disappearances weren’t prioritized. His passion about this topic is clear and he depicted the events without any bias. Ling’s novel makes the negligence of the police apparent and I truly hope they learned from their mistakes. The marginalization of the gay community is a problem that needs to be rectified. If you are a true crime fanatic (especially if you are a Canadian true crime fan), pick this one up.
The gay village in Tonrotn was seeing a lot of disappearances in the early 2010s. The case turns cold after a lack of leads and the friends and family of the missing men become increasingly frustrated. As the number of missing men continues to grow, the Toronto police continued to deny that there was a problem and pattern. When Bruce McArthur is arrested for the murder of eight men from the village, the community realizes that their suspicions were right all along. They were being targeted by a serial killer and no one made it a priority.
I devoured this in 2 sittings! Justin Ling has done an amazing job of thoroughly investigating this case from the start. He put together really comprehensive profiles of the victims that made you really feel for their friends and family when their disappearances weren’t prioritized. His passion about this topic is clear and he depicted the events without any bias. Ling’s novel makes the negligence of the police apparent and I truly hope they learned from their mistakes. The marginalization of the gay community is a problem that needs to be rectified. If you are a true crime fanatic (especially if you are a Canadian true crime fan), pick this one up.
November 6, 2021
I’ve been a fan of Justin’s writing for quite a while now, so I was very excited to read this book — not only as a queer man, but also as a fan of his journalistic work. After reading the first few pages, I worried it would fall in line with so many true crime media that I find problematically dramatized and voyeuristic. But it was far from that, and Justin did not disappoint. His voice was as strong and present as ever, as he masterfully intertwined facts, personal feelings, commentary and historical contextualization. As a queer person, I was angered and hurt by the facts presented within the pages but moved by Justin’s eloquent reminders on the importance of community, solidarity and empathy.
A truly fantastic read.
A truly fantastic read.
June 19, 2021
Missing from the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System that Failed Toronto's Queer Community is a biography of Bruce McArthur – a landscaper turned serial killer. Justin Ling, an award-winning investigative journalist who specializes in stories that are under-reported or misunderstood wrote this biography.
Thomas Donald Bruce McArthur was a landscaper, who was arrested and convicted for killing eight gay men around the Church and Wellesley area of Toronto – the gay enclave of the city. McArthur is the most prolific known serial killer to have been active in Toronto and the oldest known serial killer in Canada.
Bruce McArthur was a regular feature in the city’s gay village as he regularly met other local men for purposes of intimacy. When circumstances permitted, he also strangled them to death. The circuitous manhunt that ultimately led to McArthur is ably recounted in account written by journalist Justin Ling.
From the vantage point of deeply invested observer, Ling documents the paranoia, anger, and fear pervading that community as gay and bisexual men in the neighborhood vanished without a trace. Toronto Police Service repeatedly asserted no known connection between them. However, early in the case, Ling latched onto a theory held by many, ultimately proven to be true – the community had a serial killer in its midst.
Surprisingly, the account focuses on McArthur’s victims as much as their killer. Ling shines in his ability to profile each murdered man better than the mainstream media, engaging in expert detective work to uncover the daily realities of the more marginalized victims, like refugee Kirushnakumar Kanagaratnam and street sex worker Dean Lisowick. Ling also takes great pains to set his book in a broader cultural context: a history of brutality against the queer community by the police and society at large that reflects a cultural notion that queer lives are less worthy than others, and therefore expendable.
Missing from the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System that Failed Toronto's Queer Community is written rather well. Ling's style is accessible and while it's natural to want to understand why someone would commit such heinous acts, Ling doesn't broach the issue. He sets aside the question of motive. Ling's account of his own travails is interesting but could have been condensed. Similarly, a tangential subplot about how investigators erroneously feared some of the missing men had been cannibalized should have been reduced significantly.
On the question of police accountability, Ling is even-handed. He supports calls to defund the cops, noting that social services may be better positioned to support missing-persons investigations. However, he sings the praises of the determined investigators without whom McArthur would probably be free.
All in all, Missing from the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System that Failed Toronto's Queer Community 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.
Thomas Donald Bruce McArthur was a landscaper, who was arrested and convicted for killing eight gay men around the Church and Wellesley area of Toronto – the gay enclave of the city. McArthur is the most prolific known serial killer to have been active in Toronto and the oldest known serial killer in Canada.
Bruce McArthur was a regular feature in the city’s gay village as he regularly met other local men for purposes of intimacy. When circumstances permitted, he also strangled them to death. The circuitous manhunt that ultimately led to McArthur is ably recounted in account written by journalist Justin Ling.
From the vantage point of deeply invested observer, Ling documents the paranoia, anger, and fear pervading that community as gay and bisexual men in the neighborhood vanished without a trace. Toronto Police Service repeatedly asserted no known connection between them. However, early in the case, Ling latched onto a theory held by many, ultimately proven to be true – the community had a serial killer in its midst.
Surprisingly, the account focuses on McArthur’s victims as much as their killer. Ling shines in his ability to profile each murdered man better than the mainstream media, engaging in expert detective work to uncover the daily realities of the more marginalized victims, like refugee Kirushnakumar Kanagaratnam and street sex worker Dean Lisowick. Ling also takes great pains to set his book in a broader cultural context: a history of brutality against the queer community by the police and society at large that reflects a cultural notion that queer lives are less worthy than others, and therefore expendable.
Missing from the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System that Failed Toronto's Queer Community is written rather well. Ling's style is accessible and while it's natural to want to understand why someone would commit such heinous acts, Ling doesn't broach the issue. He sets aside the question of motive. Ling's account of his own travails is interesting but could have been condensed. Similarly, a tangential subplot about how investigators erroneously feared some of the missing men had been cannibalized should have been reduced significantly.
On the question of police accountability, Ling is even-handed. He supports calls to defund the cops, noting that social services may be better positioned to support missing-persons investigations. However, he sings the praises of the determined investigators without whom McArthur would probably be free.
All in all, Missing from the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System that Failed Toronto's Queer Community 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.
January 19, 2021
In his book MISSING FROM THE VILLAGE, author Justin Ling explores the deaths in Toronto’s queer community of eight men by the hands of convicted serial killer Bruce McArthur. Ling had spent years researching several unexplained disappearances in the Village believing there to be a serial killer on the loose. Over time, he would occasionally butt heads with authorities as they would refuse (publicly) to acknowledge the theory of a mass-murderer.
And that’s the heart of the story, really. The murders and the actions of McArthur are horrific in and of themselves but it’s the apathy on the part of those sworn to protect the community that make this story truly tragic. It’s the long and painful relationship between both the police and those in the LGBTQ community that had allowed McArthur to operate freely within the Village for years. Ling explains the disconnect in spotlighting the raids, beatings and arrests throughout history that had left a neighborhood with a seemingly overwhelming level of distrust of the law.
How the failings of the Toronto Police Department to catch and convict McArthur sooner did not lead to some sort of system overhaul, I’ll never know. In fact, how Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders did not immediately resign following his statement in which he more or less blamed the LGBTQ community for the delay in catching McArthur (“We knew that people were missing and we knew we didn’t have the right answers. But nobody was coming to us with anything.”) is maddening. However, I only read about this – I cannot imagine how it felt for those who lived through the fear of a madman lurking in the shadows.
However, what this book should be championed for is the work that went into highlighting the lives of those who were brutally murdered by McArthur, rather than spending the entire book exploring the life and character of the killer. It’s easy to look at the tally and reduce each victim to just a number – but they were men who were sons, brothers, partners and people who left behind loved ones. There is a particularly moving moment late in the book where Ling transcribes a victim impact statement on the loss of Andrew Kinsman – a beacon of kindness and love within the community.
This is someone who had been ripped from a community that both needed and cared for him.
MISSING FROM THE VILLAGE was an excellent read that both educated me on the terrible events of the past and angered me beyond words at the failings of the present. I hope that something can be taken from these events so that something like this does not happen again. We can only hope.
And that’s the heart of the story, really. The murders and the actions of McArthur are horrific in and of themselves but it’s the apathy on the part of those sworn to protect the community that make this story truly tragic. It’s the long and painful relationship between both the police and those in the LGBTQ community that had allowed McArthur to operate freely within the Village for years. Ling explains the disconnect in spotlighting the raids, beatings and arrests throughout history that had left a neighborhood with a seemingly overwhelming level of distrust of the law.
How the failings of the Toronto Police Department to catch and convict McArthur sooner did not lead to some sort of system overhaul, I’ll never know. In fact, how Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders did not immediately resign following his statement in which he more or less blamed the LGBTQ community for the delay in catching McArthur (“We knew that people were missing and we knew we didn’t have the right answers. But nobody was coming to us with anything.”) is maddening. However, I only read about this – I cannot imagine how it felt for those who lived through the fear of a madman lurking in the shadows.
However, what this book should be championed for is the work that went into highlighting the lives of those who were brutally murdered by McArthur, rather than spending the entire book exploring the life and character of the killer. It’s easy to look at the tally and reduce each victim to just a number – but they were men who were sons, brothers, partners and people who left behind loved ones. There is a particularly moving moment late in the book where Ling transcribes a victim impact statement on the loss of Andrew Kinsman – a beacon of kindness and love within the community.
If Andrew were alive today, he would have baked 340 loaves of bread, perhaps 30 birthday cakes, 450 healthy dinners, and 30 or so contributions to potlucks for friends. He would have done 110 shifts as a volunteer at the food bank, and contributed to perhaps 500 hours of organizing skill to public health events. He would have exchanged 80,000 pithy, hilarious texts with friends.
This is someone who had been ripped from a community that both needed and cared for him.
MISSING FROM THE VILLAGE was an excellent read that both educated me on the terrible events of the past and angered me beyond words at the failings of the present. I hope that something can be taken from these events so that something like this does not happen again. We can only hope.
November 24, 2020
This book is justice. The justice that Bruce MacArthur's victims were denied for years. The police and investigators who should have protected them instead failed them. Not for the first time was Toronto's gay village let down by the TPS. The community that they had targeted with homophobic surveillance, raids, and arrests for decades. Toronto's queer community deserved better. This book is about Bruce Macarthur indirectly; thankfully it's focused on his victims and the history of policing in Toronto's gay village where he committed his crimes.
These men who were murdered were mostly BIPOC queer men, some Muslim, some struggled with addiction, some were refugees, one a sex worker experiencing chronic homelessness. MacArthur targeted them (like the TPS in their anti-LGBTQIA+ campaigns over the years) because he knew that the wider public didn't care about them. He knew their disappearances wouldn't be thoroughly investigated by detectives because they were older brown queer men. He preyed on the marginalised because he knew they would be neglected.
By the police, not by their loved ones. They were missing, they were missed. Their loved ones grieved for months, often years for their missing, missed loved ones. The police victim blamed, said that they were not helped by the community. But friends and family put up posters, tried their best to impress upon the investigators how out-of-character these disappearances were. Justin Ling serves justice and refutes the TPS' victim blaming claims in this fantastic true crime book. It is true crime, of course, but it looks at BIPOC discrimination, queer erasure, sex work prejudice, trans rights, and xenophobia through a true crime lens. Blown away by this thorough, respectful, emotional, engrossing read. Complete with illustrations of each of Macarthur's victims, this is a beautiful tribute to them.
Skandaraj "Skanda" Navaratnam. Abdulbasir "Basir" Faizi. Majeed "Hamid" Kayhan. Soroush Mahmudi. Andrew Kinsman. Selim Esen. Dean Lisowick. Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam.
For fans of true crime and for those looking for a history of queer culture in Toronto.
These men who were murdered were mostly BIPOC queer men, some Muslim, some struggled with addiction, some were refugees, one a sex worker experiencing chronic homelessness. MacArthur targeted them (like the TPS in their anti-LGBTQIA+ campaigns over the years) because he knew that the wider public didn't care about them. He knew their disappearances wouldn't be thoroughly investigated by detectives because they were older brown queer men. He preyed on the marginalised because he knew they would be neglected.
By the police, not by their loved ones. They were missing, they were missed. Their loved ones grieved for months, often years for their missing, missed loved ones. The police victim blamed, said that they were not helped by the community. But friends and family put up posters, tried their best to impress upon the investigators how out-of-character these disappearances were. Justin Ling serves justice and refutes the TPS' victim blaming claims in this fantastic true crime book. It is true crime, of course, but it looks at BIPOC discrimination, queer erasure, sex work prejudice, trans rights, and xenophobia through a true crime lens. Blown away by this thorough, respectful, emotional, engrossing read. Complete with illustrations of each of Macarthur's victims, this is a beautiful tribute to them.
Skandaraj "Skanda" Navaratnam. Abdulbasir "Basir" Faizi. Majeed "Hamid" Kayhan. Soroush Mahmudi. Andrew Kinsman. Selim Esen. Dean Lisowick. Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam.
For fans of true crime and for those looking for a history of queer culture in Toronto.
January 17, 2021
The title reads "and the System That Failed Toronto's Queer Community", but as Justin Ling articulately and empathetically points out, the system's shortcomings are many. I expected a suspenseful narrative about a murderous criminal, a story full of cliff hangers and mystery. I expected to be afraid. I was, but it's not the fear of a serial killer targeting gay immigrant men that will linger, it's the ongoing fear for those marginalized members of our community. That they will continue to be disproportionately on the receiving end of violence. That murders of Queer people will continue to be less likely to be solved. That new immigrants to Canada will be prayed on as easy targets due to their lack of social capital.
I want to be hopeful. I hope that books like this shine a light in the dark corners of our society so that they cannot be ignored.
I appreciated Justin Ling's unbiased and deeply personal approach to this story. He did not write with the detachment of some journalists, nor the over dramatics and emotional volatility of others. He writes with respect for the victims and their loved ones, reporting the facts while challenging the institutions responsible for solving the crimes. He is critical in all the right places, even turning the mirror on the reader. Did you buy this book because you wanted to be entertained by real humans being murdered by a sociopath? It's a bit ironic that this book sold so many copies this year, assuming most went into it expecting a thriller, not a political critique.
I highly recommend Missing From the Village, especially to Canadians. Especially to Canadians who think homophobia is a thing of the past.
I want to be hopeful. I hope that books like this shine a light in the dark corners of our society so that they cannot be ignored.
I appreciated Justin Ling's unbiased and deeply personal approach to this story. He did not write with the detachment of some journalists, nor the over dramatics and emotional volatility of others. He writes with respect for the victims and their loved ones, reporting the facts while challenging the institutions responsible for solving the crimes. He is critical in all the right places, even turning the mirror on the reader. Did you buy this book because you wanted to be entertained by real humans being murdered by a sociopath? It's a bit ironic that this book sold so many copies this year, assuming most went into it expecting a thriller, not a political critique.
I highly recommend Missing From the Village, especially to Canadians. Especially to Canadians who think homophobia is a thing of the past.
November 14, 2020
According to the RCMP approximately 30,000 people go missing a year. That number is scary and way too high.
This was a thought-provoking look at the disappearance of men in the gay-village neighbourhood within Toronto. Sadly, these men were overlooked by the Toronto police force and were marginalized. The village had thought there was a serial killer within their midst and sadly they were right. Years had past before Bruce McArthur was caught and eight men were murdered in the wait for his arrest.
I followed this story on the news and was intrigued by how McArthur was not caught early on. Now, I clearly see how this was allowed to happen.
I thought the author, Justin Ling, was phenomenal and showed great kindness towards the community and the victims. Indigenous, immigrants, drug abusers, the mentally unstable and the gay/trans community are people who are made to feel less..... are often made targets. We need to do better.
“I think the future is in empathy...”
This was a thought-provoking look at the disappearance of men in the gay-village neighbourhood within Toronto. Sadly, these men were overlooked by the Toronto police force and were marginalized. The village had thought there was a serial killer within their midst and sadly they were right. Years had past before Bruce McArthur was caught and eight men were murdered in the wait for his arrest.
I followed this story on the news and was intrigued by how McArthur was not caught early on. Now, I clearly see how this was allowed to happen.
I thought the author, Justin Ling, was phenomenal and showed great kindness towards the community and the victims. Indigenous, immigrants, drug abusers, the mentally unstable and the gay/trans community are people who are made to feel less..... are often made targets. We need to do better.
“I think the future is in empathy...”
September 27, 2021
A friend lent me this book knowing I like to read true crime, and this one was sort of local to me. I live 40 minutes from Toronto, so when this happened it was all over the news. I was definitely curious to learn more about this case and the killer.
Wow!
I thought I knew about the cases against Bruce McArthur, but after reading this book and learning the gruesome details I am floored and shocked. I will never understand how someone can do such indignities to another human.
Let's discuss the writing though.... Easy to read because the author knows how to put the story out there for the reader. However, I felt like the ending had stuff in it that not only wasn't relevant to the story but highly unneccesary to be included. If it has nothing to do with the crime at hand or connected in any way, why include it in the book?
Other than that it was a good read. True Crime fans will devour this book.
3.5/5
Wow!
I thought I knew about the cases against Bruce McArthur, but after reading this book and learning the gruesome details I am floored and shocked. I will never understand how someone can do such indignities to another human.
Let's discuss the writing though.... Easy to read because the author knows how to put the story out there for the reader. However, I felt like the ending had stuff in it that not only wasn't relevant to the story but highly unneccesary to be included. If it has nothing to do with the crime at hand or connected in any way, why include it in the book?
Other than that it was a good read. True Crime fans will devour this book.
3.5/5
May 5, 2022
I appreciated how, in this exploration of serial killer Bruce McArthur’s crimes in Toronto’s Gay Village, journalist Justin Ling focused on his victims, and on what the way events unfolded revealed about problematic policing. He pays relatively scant attention to the whys and hows of McArthur’s crimes and avoids the kind of true-crime-style sensationalism that leaves readers (and the writer) morally compromised. I thought it could have been a bit better organized - for example, some late in the book musing on journalistic ethics could have been integrated more seamlessly throughout - but I was glad to have read it. 3.5.
November 7, 2023
I find it very ironic how many true crime fans are singing this book's praises when Ling is very clear about his thoughts on the effects of the crime-entertainment industry on the lives of victims. Nonetheless, this is a well-put together account filled with unexpected sympathy and some interesting insights into journalism in Canada amidst the investigation into McArthur's crimes.
November 18, 2020
Amazing book, a must read!
Not only is this a thrilling true-crime novel, it's also an honest and informative indictment on our system of law enforcement into why the queer community continues to die at much higher rates than other portions of society, and into why the police continually ignore this issue.
I learned a lot about the horrendous crimes in this novel - things that I didn't know from the bits and pieces I caught on television. But this book is more than just a rehashing of the details of the crimes committed; it's also a dive into the historical injustices against the gay community, and a look at why these injustices continue to this day. It's an examination of the lives taken, and of how it became possible for one man to take advantage of so many people before taking their lives.
A book like this deserves accolade and attention. I'd go so far as to say it should be required reading for any person in politics, and certainly any person in policing.
And though the central focus in this book revolves around Toronto's policing, it's equally relevant to residents of any city in the world. Because all over the world, the gay community is still largely ignored, their concerns brushed aside, their lives considered less valuable.
Making change takes a village. But it can start with individuals educating themselves. This book would be a good place to start.
Onward.
Not only is this a thrilling true-crime novel, it's also an honest and informative indictment on our system of law enforcement into why the queer community continues to die at much higher rates than other portions of society, and into why the police continually ignore this issue.
I learned a lot about the horrendous crimes in this novel - things that I didn't know from the bits and pieces I caught on television. But this book is more than just a rehashing of the details of the crimes committed; it's also a dive into the historical injustices against the gay community, and a look at why these injustices continue to this day. It's an examination of the lives taken, and of how it became possible for one man to take advantage of so many people before taking their lives.
A book like this deserves accolade and attention. I'd go so far as to say it should be required reading for any person in politics, and certainly any person in policing.
And though the central focus in this book revolves around Toronto's policing, it's equally relevant to residents of any city in the world. Because all over the world, the gay community is still largely ignored, their concerns brushed aside, their lives considered less valuable.
Making change takes a village. But it can start with individuals educating themselves. This book would be a good place to start.
Onward.
November 26, 2020
Justin Ling's "Missing from the Village" recounts Bruce MacArthur's reign of terror on the Toronto queer community, what it meant, and what it tells us about marginalized communities and justice.
From 2013 until 2018 eight queer men - most of South Asian and Middle Eastern decent - disappeared without a trace. Though some had the political capital to make the Toronto police of their disappearance, most went completely ignored by the police. The tale Ling tells is of a community haunted by a serial killer who preyed on the fact that the police didn't care about them - because they were queer and non-white - and of the deaths that could have been prevented had the police listened.
For this reason, Ling's account is important and necessary; his discussion is a reminder of how policing has been and continues to be a threat to queer liberation. But his voice gets in his way too often - he tells us too much about his own inner thoughts and ideas and that clouds the important discussion he is trying to get at. He's a journalist but this book became a little too memoir-y for my taste.
Either way, grab this book and read it because the subject matter is just that important.
From 2013 until 2018 eight queer men - most of South Asian and Middle Eastern decent - disappeared without a trace. Though some had the political capital to make the Toronto police of their disappearance, most went completely ignored by the police. The tale Ling tells is of a community haunted by a serial killer who preyed on the fact that the police didn't care about them - because they were queer and non-white - and of the deaths that could have been prevented had the police listened.
For this reason, Ling's account is important and necessary; his discussion is a reminder of how policing has been and continues to be a threat to queer liberation. But his voice gets in his way too often - he tells us too much about his own inner thoughts and ideas and that clouds the important discussion he is trying to get at. He's a journalist but this book became a little too memoir-y for my taste.
Either way, grab this book and read it because the subject matter is just that important.
November 10, 2021
I need a documentary about this case! This book was heart-breaking in the sense that the case was just kind of abandoned and left unsolved. It felt like the Canadian police failed the LGBT community. Also Bruce McArthur is a garbage human being and deserves the worst. Considering he was left to continue his spree for so long is disgusting. If you love true crime novels, this is an exceptional book and a fine example of more crimes that should’ve had more light shed on them guan they got.
October 28, 2020
This is a well researched and written account of the horrific murders of gay men that took place in Toronto's gay village. The writer clearly ends up being emotionally involved in the story as would any human who was trying to find the truth about what happened.
This means that instead of a gruesome and seedy account of the murders what we have is a moving piece that puts the victims first. It also highlights larger issues in the lgbtqa+ community that were part of this story (racism, a lack of police interest as well as missteps by the police which may have resulted in murders that could have been prevented).
The writer lays out the history of the community and policing of it which really helps highlight all the frustration queer people felt with the investigation. The writer worked on this case over many years and it's clear that he developed ties with many of the victim's families. He gives voice to their grief.
An important account of the brutal murders of these men. Thank you to Justin Long for giving sharing their stories.
This means that instead of a gruesome and seedy account of the murders what we have is a moving piece that puts the victims first. It also highlights larger issues in the lgbtqa+ community that were part of this story (racism, a lack of police interest as well as missteps by the police which may have resulted in murders that could have been prevented).
The writer lays out the history of the community and policing of it which really helps highlight all the frustration queer people felt with the investigation. The writer worked on this case over many years and it's clear that he developed ties with many of the victim's families. He gives voice to their grief.
An important account of the brutal murders of these men. Thank you to Justin Long for giving sharing their stories.
December 26, 2020
I had serious interest in this book, because the serial killer Bruce McArthur was living just a floor below our Thorncliffe apartment building. We probably rode the elevator together. The places mentioned in the books were around my then workplace. However, the book didnt do a very good job in profiling the killer or give a clear picture on what happened. It tried to prove there was a lot of discrimination in the Queer community which is very true, but in this book it was presented haphazardly. Was slightly disappointed with the end result.
February 26, 2021
3.5 stars
This was a thoroughly researched and well narrated audiobook about the disappearance of eight men from Toronto’s gay village. It described in detail the botched investigation by police, and the history and politics involved that allowed Bruce McArthur to continue murdering men for so long. At times it was disturbing yet riveting. While at other times the story dragged.
This was a thoroughly researched and well narrated audiobook about the disappearance of eight men from Toronto’s gay village. It described in detail the botched investigation by police, and the history and politics involved that allowed Bruce McArthur to continue murdering men for so long. At times it was disturbing yet riveting. While at other times the story dragged.
June 13, 2021
This was a hard book to read, I often was fighting tears and struggling to finish sentences. I kept thinking about the eight confirmed men that were murdered, and the many other missing people who might never be found.
Ling did a good job of presenting this story in an emphatic way, and I don't think I would've liked this book if it hadn't.
Ling did a good job of presenting this story in an emphatic way, and I don't think I would've liked this book if it hadn't.
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