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

Narrated by: Justin Ling

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.

Critic reviews

Named a Best Book of the Year by The Globe and Mail and Indigo
Finalist for the Toronto Book Awards
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.” —Matthew 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

"Well-researched and thoughtful portrait of a tragedy." —JP Larocque, Spacing

“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, Ling uncovers the latent homophobia and racism that kept these cases unsolved and unseen. This gripping book . . . also reveals how police agencies across the country fail to treat missing person 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.” —Ruth Sutherland, The Daily Mail

Moving and Eyr-opening

This book was difficult to listen to because of the subject matter but the writing and narration were superb.

looking for justice in the gay community .

I disliked how the police didn't become serious when so many gay men went missing.
I am glad the author Justin Ling wrote this book to help all people understand how hard it was and still is for people who have been harshly judged for their sexual orientation.
This is a Great listen in my opinion.

More than half is activist ranting

Be prepared to empathize with lots of that mhmm and I need 15 words to post my own rant

Great storytelling!

The author did an incredible job narrating this book. He also did a terrific job of writing it. It’s so sad that this killer didn’t get caught sooner and equally sad that the queer community gets treated with such disdain. There were about 5 skips in the editing (I assume) that some words were lost. I still highly recommend this book.

Mediocre at best

Often, story strays from its core, so much having nothing to do with the main story really gets in the way and and it becomes truly boring. The modern day activism, for me, doesn’t mesh well with the story that took place all those years ago. That was the gay community. Practically every other word in this book is “queer.” Not everybody loves being forced to assume that identity.