Hunter and Tate Books

Nobody’s safe when a killer has you in their sights. True crime podcaster Ella Tate is shaken to her core by the horrific assault and murder of Josie Wheatly, a teacher she has never met … because not only had Josie moved into Ella’s vacated apartment three months earlier, but her Facebook photos reveal a striking resemblance between the two women. Within days, two people close to Ella are harmed, and she fears that she’s become the target of twisted revenge from her crime-reporting days. Reluctantly teaming up with her neighbour Tony, a hairdresser who loves the finer things in life, and Liam Hunter, the persistent detective assigned to the cases, Ella struggles to stay one step ahead before she becomes the target of the final kill. Reviews "Lively pacing, a plausible plot, and crisp, forward-moving prose will attract a wide variety of thriller lovers. Mystery fans will be engrossed in trying to work out the identity of the bad guy (or is there more than one?) from a well-developed cast of likely characters, but Chapman’s skillful plotting— complete with numerous tantalizing red herrings—power the narrative, keeping readers guessing until the final page is turned. Ella and Hunter make a memorable pair, and readers will look forward to future installments of their adventures.This taut and well-written mystery/thriller will keep even the savviest amateur sleuths guessing up until the tale’s end." - Publishers Weekly "When I settled back with Blind Date by acclaimed author Brenda Chapman, I only meant to read the opening chapters, but I ended up reading late into the night. It was that good. Blind Date ’s the introduction to a promising new series. Get yourself invested in this well-paced and well-told mystery as true-crime podcaster Ella Tate gathers clues and attempts to solve a teacher’s murder.” -- Dietrich Kalteis, Under an Outlaw Moon "Blind Date is an absolute page turner and a promising debut for Ella Tate: blogger, crime reporter and scrappy fighter with a heart as big as a punching bag. This is Brenda Chapman at her best." -- Tim Wynne-Jones, Edgar and two-time Arthur Ellis winner "This riveting read offers edge-of-your-seat tension as you fear for the complex characters. Prepare to be up all night." – Mary Jane Maffini, author of the Camilla MacPhee, Fiona Silk and Charlotte Adams mysteries "When I settled back with Blind Date by acclaimed author Brenda Chapman, I only meant to read the opening chapters, but I ended up reading late into the night. It was that good. Blind Date’s the introduction to a promising new series. Get yourself invested in this well-paced and well-told mystery as true-crime podcaster Ella Tate gathers clues and attempts to solve a teacher’s murder." – Dietrich Kalteis, author of Under an Outlaw Moon "Blind Date is a captivating thriller, well-paced, and full of unique characters and twists and turns." - Karen Grose, The Dime Box

The hardest part is not knowing… Ottawa is baking under a July heatwave when the Homicide and Major Crimes Unit is called to help track down missing three-year-old Charlie McGowan. This is the second missing person case in nine months — a university exchange student never made it back to her Carleton University residence from a downtown party in November. At first, the two disappearances appear unrelated, but as true crime podcaster Ella Tate and Detective Liam Hunter dig deeper into both files, unsettling relationships begin to emerge. Evidence, however, remains frustratingly out of reach as the clock keeps ticking and concern for both missing victims takes on a heightened urgency. And then Liam Hunter gets a call that a body’s been found on the Ottawa River Parkway …

Small Towns can be Murder Eleven-year-old Matt Clark is staying in the outlying village of Ashton for the summer while his parents work out their separation. He’s been told to keep his head down and to stay off social media. Labour Day has come and gone, and Matt believes he’ll be home soon, completely unaware that someone has been posting his photo and location on one of the sites, and trouble is on its way. Detective Liam Hunter gets the call — a double murder and a missing boy. While he spearheads the investigation, true crime podcaster Ella Tate undertakes her own search for the killer with mixed results. Meanwhile Homicide and Major Crimes is undergoing a major upheaval and the top position is up for grabs as Hunter’s partner struggles to keep her job. The rainiest September in recent history proves a fitting backdrop for this haunting story of lies, betrayal, and deadly repercussions. Reviews: Editor's Pick! "Chapman’s gripping, emotionally resonant third Hunter and Tate mystery quickly grabs readers’ attention … Standout procedural of a cop and podcaster chasing a killer and a missing boy." – BookLife "If you’re looking for a mystery with intrigue, heart, a finely drawn setting and relatable characters finding their way through tragic circumstances, Fatal Harvest is for you. Brenda Chapman knows how to tell a story and is, quite frankly, one of the most readable Canadian mystery writers of our time." – Anthony Bidulka , author of Going to Beautiful , Crime Writers of Canada 2023 Best Crime Novel "This was hugely readable and compelling. And there are enough dangling threads regarding the principal characters to make Book 4 a must!" - Susan Rothery , Editor