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Deadmonton: Crime Stories from Canada's Murder City
In 2011, the lives of 48 Edmontonians came to a sudden, violent end, leading to the city of Edmonton gaining the dubious moniker of the “Murder Capital of Canada.” It wasn’t the first time the city of champions had snagged the title nobody wants to claim.
In Deadmonton, former Edmonton Sun reporter Pamela Roth takes a look at some of Edmonton’s most notorious murders, both solved and unsolved. Told first-hand by the victims’ families, these stories serve as a disturbing reminder of the horror that humans are capable of inflicting upon each other, and highlight the immense sadness and pain left in the wake of these crimes. But Deadmonton also gives a glimpse into the lives of detectives working tirelessly to bring closure to the families and justice to the victims’ names.
In Deadmonton, former Edmonton Sun reporter Pamela Roth takes a look at some of Edmonton’s most notorious murders, both solved and unsolved. Told first-hand by the victims’ families, these stories serve as a disturbing reminder of the horror that humans are capable of inflicting upon each other, and highlight the immense sadness and pain left in the wake of these crimes. But Deadmonton also gives a glimpse into the lives of detectives working tirelessly to bring closure to the families and justice to the victims’ names.
263 pages, Paperback
Published September 23, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 24, 2019
This was a good read, collecting 45 murders that have taken place in and around Edmonton, Alberta from the 1980s or so until just a couple of years back. Although as a Detroiter I was a little puzzled that 47 murders in one year would seem that outrageous, I was disturbed at how many of them are languishing unsolved and even more disturbed at the reoccurring scenario of someone walking into, out of, or past a bar or nightclub, only to be set upon by a mob of angry drunks with knives or workboots or some other weapon. And the number of cases with a zillion witnesses and nobody who wants to talk...that was disturbing too. But none of that bothered me as much as a police unit called KARE, supposedly out there protecting prostitutes, but whose only function -- at least all this author cares to tell us -- is to collect DNA samples and so forth from the women in case they turn up dead. Cheesus grits.
March 20, 2017
Disappointed in this book. The writing is very bland and, although each murder case discussed in the book is unique, the author somehow manages to be very repetitive. I found that she didn't include nearly enough details about the murders themselves or the investigations, and used too many quotes from officers and family members of victims which, naturally, were all quite similar. Some of the chapters were only three pages long and read like brief newspaper articles. There were a few interesting cases discussed, but overall I wouldn't recommend this book. I also found it unnerving that the author included exact addresses of some of these crimes - i can't imagine the residents love having hat information broadcast, if they even knew about it in the first place.
Contrary to the back of the book, this book covers more than just the murders that occurred in 2011.
Contrary to the back of the book, this book covers more than just the murders that occurred in 2011.
April 26, 2023
I recently moved to Edmonton for work (as many have done before me). As I'm a fan of local history and true crime, my family got this book for me recently for a birthday gift. Edmonton has an exceptionally high murder rate for its population of a million, which has earned it the status of murder capital of Canada. Some of this is due to the boom and bust economy of Alberta, but the overall reasons are varied. Edmonton earned the nickname "Deadmonton" not because of its many murders, but rather due to its lack of a social and cultural life (which isn't true anymore).
This book is a collection of short, newspaper-type stories covering 50 murders in the last four decades here. I've read true crime before and this book is quite different. It doesn't focus on the sleuthing or forensics of murder cases. Instead, this author interviews victims' friends and families and the detectives to poignantly address the great human cost of crime in this city and its horrible lingering effects lasting decades for those affected.
I generally prefer more whodunit type mysteries, but this book made me realize how those stories often dehumanize the victims and ignore the dreadful impact on the victims (let alone the detectives). The author covers the murders and impacts with the same care whether the victims were sex workers, addicts, gang members, or wild partiers. I appreciate this as it is surprising how often our coverage of murder victims has an implicit (or even explicit!) moral judgement - those deemed less innocent are not given the same amount of coverage or basic human respect.
Many true-crime stories end with the conviction. However, this book also covers the often ridiculously easy sentences that murderers get in Canada and the impact of this lack of justice has on the victims.
Overall, this is an important book for locals, Albertans, and Canadians to read to gain a much better sense of the true cost of the murders that quickly gain a lot of media attention but then just as quickly fade from memory.
This book is a collection of short, newspaper-type stories covering 50 murders in the last four decades here. I've read true crime before and this book is quite different. It doesn't focus on the sleuthing or forensics of murder cases. Instead, this author interviews victims' friends and families and the detectives to poignantly address the great human cost of crime in this city and its horrible lingering effects lasting decades for those affected.
I generally prefer more whodunit type mysteries, but this book made me realize how those stories often dehumanize the victims and ignore the dreadful impact on the victims (let alone the detectives). The author covers the murders and impacts with the same care whether the victims were sex workers, addicts, gang members, or wild partiers. I appreciate this as it is surprising how often our coverage of murder victims has an implicit (or even explicit!) moral judgement - those deemed less innocent are not given the same amount of coverage or basic human respect.
Many true-crime stories end with the conviction. However, this book also covers the often ridiculously easy sentences that murderers get in Canada and the impact of this lack of justice has on the victims.
Overall, this is an important book for locals, Albertans, and Canadians to read to gain a much better sense of the true cost of the murders that quickly gain a lot of media attention but then just as quickly fade from memory.
October 1, 2016
I read a lot of true crime but as an Edmontonian, this was hard. The book is a good mix of crimes both cold and solved. The author includes interviews with police and families, making the stories deeply touching and giving good insight into the people who spend their lives working so hard to solve these crimes.
October 28, 2022
2.5 … ish? Somewhere right in the middle.
With the number of cases covered in this book, they were covered fairly briefly, allowing this to read quickly. However, the writing style generally didn’t work for me. Overall, they read like detached newspaper articles, many of which felt lacking in details. Obviously not all cases have been solved at this time or the time of writing, but I find it unlikely the publicly available details were so few that some cases required filler to reach 3 pages. Some details and descriptors of people also felt added in awkward, clunky ways at times. What was most frustrating was one chapter really worked for me - I was very engaged, feeling a strong emotional reaction to the details without it feeling excessively sensationalized like some true crime books can be, so I know the author has the skill to approach this type of content.
With the number of cases covered in this book, they were covered fairly briefly, allowing this to read quickly. However, the writing style generally didn’t work for me. Overall, they read like detached newspaper articles, many of which felt lacking in details. Obviously not all cases have been solved at this time or the time of writing, but I find it unlikely the publicly available details were so few that some cases required filler to reach 3 pages. Some details and descriptors of people also felt added in awkward, clunky ways at times. What was most frustrating was one chapter really worked for me - I was very engaged, feeling a strong emotional reaction to the details without it feeling excessively sensationalized like some true crime books can be, so I know the author has the skill to approach this type of content.
April 30, 2025
I’m moving to area in 2014 but I’m moving to Alberta in 2011. I’m remember always heared about Edmonton on the news and the crime that would happend. It’s very strange and crazy. Some this case in the book I’m heared and dove deep in them and watch them on documentary shows .. another ones I’ve never heard of and I’m still completely shocked that they’re still unsolved to this day. I highly recommend reading this book if you’re are yeg person.. it’s will stocked and suprise how bad it was bad in the day.. the author did a really good job of getting all the information about the cases and members of the family and police officers.. I’m would definitely would read it again in the future.
July 24, 2017
I read this book because my daughter and her husband live in Edmonton. Unsurprisingly, I suppose, I found it depressing. Some of the cases have been solved, others remain open. Something which I have not previously fully appreciated is that those most vulnerable members of society - mentally ill or compromised, poor, addicts, etc - are also the most frequent targets of murder. It seems unfair that people born into poverty and/or dysfunctional families pay the price throughout their lives for a poor beginning, something over which they had no choice.
May 30, 2018
Each chapter focuses on a specific murder or groups together similar murders that occurred in Edmonton, AB. Some of the stories are interesting but far too much focus is placed on the emotions of friends and families of the victims because of course people are sad and angry. More facts to each event would have been of more interest. Of cases that are not solved more information of what police know about suspects would also be helpful.
January 6, 2018
As an Edmontonian, I have an intense urge to train and maintain a very large, protective attack dog after reading this book! It scared me. Just...wow. The book itself was ok, a quick read. The stories read like newspaper articles-The author was a reporter after all-so if that's your jam, you're in luck!
August 28, 2019
Good bathroom book, the histories are brief and good for short reading moments.
May 30, 2018
A solid collection of reporting by former Edmonton Sun reporter, Pamela Roth.
December 9, 2016
Interesting enough, and updated some cases I hadn't caught the resolution on. I do take exception to the title, though. "Deadmonton" doesn't bother me, but the reference to Canada's Murder City is just plain sensationalistic. I'm fairly certain there are a few other cities that have earned that distinction more consistently than Edmonton's two separate years.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews