About the Program
Join us for a lively discussion with award-winning writer Terry Fallis. Terry will talk about and read from his most recent novel, The Marionette, which introduces readers to a new hero: James Norval, a world-famous thriller writer whose life takes an unexpected turn from the pages of his novels into the perilous world of espionage.
Presented in partnership with Words Worth Books.
About The Marionette
James Norval has built a successful career crafting the thrilling adventures of his fictional hero, Hunter Chase, a character admired by readers and movie-goers worldwide. But despite his fame and fortune, Norval has always harboured a secret dream of living the life he only writes about a life as a field operative for CSIS, Canada's Security Intelligence Service. In fact, nearly thirty years earlier, he washed out of the CSIS recruitment program, and it's haunted him ever since.
But that long-held dream becomes a reality when a series of unfortunate events lands Norval in a foreign prison. Rescued by CSIS, he is given an unexpected opportunity: to use his unique position as the favourite writer of Mali's newly install
ed president to assist in a delicate and dangerous mission. With the help of agent Lauren Cooper, Norval must infiltrate the Malian government and execute a daring plan to exfiltrate fifteen Canadian nationals before the corrupt powers that control the country uncover their true intentions.
The Marionette is a comic thriller by a master of the craft. Full of Terry Fallis' signature wit and combined with an exhilarating high-stakes plot, this is a must-read for fans of espionage and intrigue.
About Terry Fallis
A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the author of nine novels, all of them national bestsellers—including six #1 bestsellers—and all published by McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House. The Best Laid Plans was the winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour in 2008, and CBC’s Canada Reads in 2011. It was adapted as a six-part CBC-Television miniseries in 2014, and a stage musical in 2015. The High Road was a Leacock Medal finalist in 2011. His third novel, Up and Down (2012) was the winner of the Ontario Library Association Evergreen Award and a Leacock Medal finalist in 2013. His fourth novel, No Relation (2014) won the 2015 Leacock Medal. His fifth, Poles Apart (2015) was a finalist for the 2016 Leacock Medal. Upon their release, his next four novels, One Brother Shy (2017), Albatross (2019), Operation Angus (2021), and A New Season (2023) were all instant national bestsellers. His tenth novel, The Marionette, hits bookstores in October 2025.
In 2013, The Canadian Booksellers Association named Terry Fallis the winner of the Libris Award as Author of the Year.
Terry has also written for many publications including Maclean’s, Canadian Geographic, Reader’s Digest, Toronto Life, The Globe and Mail, the National Post, and the Toronto Star. He also teaches in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies. He lives in Toronto.
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Programmer: Nancy
