Irene Fantopoulos
Author, Artist, Educator
Luck of the Draw September 2024
Imagine the best and worst day of your life: winning the lottery as the world around you seems to be collapsing. Marnie Adams and Jake Waldron had it all, but poor communication and pride got in the way of their relationship. Marnie is a successful executive at a Manhattan bank; Jake is a struggling writer who believes that winning the lottery is the answer to his problems. When he does win the lottery, he is shocked to discover that Marnie ran away with the ticket. In a race against time, amid the events of the morning of September 11, 2001, Jake’s quest to find her begins with thrilling twists and turns. His journey, both physical and psychological, is Herculean as he searches for Marnie. Will Jake find Marnie or will he lose her forever?
Burden of Proof September 2024
Widow and lawyer, Cassie Wilding, who lives in Montreal with her young son, receives a mysterious call from a woman named, Elena Savas who requests a meeting concerning her late husband, Brady. His signature was on documents pertaining to Roland Shipping. Cassie has no recollection of her husband’s involvement. She discovers that as Brady's executor, Elena needs her signature to sell the company. Alarmed by the company’s suspect financials, she cannot sign off on the documents without more information. She travels to Greece to confront Elena’s brother, Ari Savas. When Cassie and Ari meet, sparks fly and their attraction is palpable. As things heat up between them, often finding themselves together in compromising situations, Cassie cannot fully commit to him because she believes he is using sex to manipulate her into signing the documents. Her mistrust is confounded by Ari’s dark past and his playboy lifestyle. Unable to hide her feelings for Ari, she decides to return to Montreal and forget she ever heard the name Ari Savas. But her actions may cost Cassie her life.
About Irene Fantopoulos
For me, the allure of a mystery has never just been about the "who"—it has always been about the "why." My fascination with the genre began with a simple, haunting question: How does life suddenly pivot for everyday people? Growing up on a steady diet of suspense—from the historical shadows of Victorian London to the psychological chill of modern thrillers like The Silence of the Lambs—I eventually traded curiosity for professional expertise.
Before becoming a full-time writer, I navigated the intricate realities of the human condition through a career in the Ontario Civil Service. With a Master’s in Social Work and a background in Criminology, I spent years shaping policing policy for the Ministry of the Solicitor General, focusing on critical issues like mental health, domestic violence advocacy, and systemic reform. This "insider" perspective allowed me to peel back the layers of polite society with a steady hand, revealing the grit and vulnerability beneath. It is this unique intersection of academic research and visceral, front-line experience that grounds my crime fiction in a sharp, haunting reality.
My work—including the novels All the Evil Scatters, Luck of the Draw, and Burden of Proof—is defined by atmospheric tension and a deep-seated connection to Toronto. To me, the city is more than just a setting; it is a living, breathing character with its own secrets. Whether exploring the historical echoes of the 80s and 90s or the modern pulse of the Annex, my prose captures a specific sense of place. My latest mystery, Murders in Deer Park, launched in April 2026, continues this tradition of exploring local intrigue with a psychological edge.
A graduate of the Humber School for Writers and George Brown College, my shorter works and memoirs have appeared in The Globe and Mail and the Canadian Museum of Immigration. My writing has been recognized by the Winston Collins Prize in Poetry and shortlisted for CBC Canada Writes. I am also a proud member of the Writers’ Union of Canada.
When I am not weaving tales of mystery or contemplating a new plot, I can be found leading workshops at the ArtBarn School or working on an acrylic painting. My Greek heritage often influences the texture of my stories, adding layers of cultural motif and family complexity to my narratives. I live in Toronto, where I frequently explore the city’s trails and neighborhoods with my dog, Neo. Every walk is a potential scene, and every shadow is a story waiting to be told.
Why I Write Crime
My professional background gave me a unique lens into the "why" behind heinous acts. The intersection of government policy and a lifelong interest in notorious cases—from Jack the Ripper to the complex crimes of the 80s and 90s — sparked a surge in my creative writing. I am currently developing a cozy mystery infused with humor, marking a stylistic departure from the darkness of my earlier work.
