Disgraced – A Toronto Thriller is a 2025 release by Jayne Green, the pen name of academic-turned-fiction author Laury Silvers. Silvers is best known for her series of immersive historical detective mysteries set in 10th-century Baghdad. While still very much a thriller, Disgraced is set in modern-day Toronto and features topics ranging from cults to techno-terrorism to familial abuse. It is one wild ride.
The story opens with a university professor, Martin Monaghan, being dismissed from his post for plagiarizing the work of one of his graduate students, Parisa Soltani, an Iranian immigrant. Soltani is on the run. Turns out she’d given Monaghan permission to publish her work under his name because it contained incriminating data on one of Canada’s largest and most influential payday lending companies. Having been imprisoned and tortured in Iran, Soltani wants as little attention on her and her young son as possible. She flees to the home of a man she’d made a connection with a year prior at an academic conference.
What unfolds is one of the most intricate plots I’ve ever read. In fact, it was a bit challenging at first, trying to keep track of all the moving parts. The cast of characters is large, and each of them plays an integral role in the story. This is not the kind of novel you can skim or skip pages and stay on top of. But the payoff for sticking with it is enormous. I’m astounded by how Green was able to fold all these pieces together without leaving plot holes and deliver a satisfying ending that truly was a surprise.
Topically, Green covers a lot of ground, but she does so without the novel feeling superficial on any point. Her understanding of technology, surveillance, religion, journalism, and the dynamics of abuse and control is expressed expertly and accessibly, making them easy for anyone to comprehend. Which is to say, even if you’re not familiar with these topics, you’ll be able to enjoy reading this novel. Her explanations of complex or technical ideas feel like a natural part of the story rather than a lecture.
I’m so impressed by this novel! The writing is exceptional, and Silvers does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing until the end. Her characters are real, and she avoids the cartoonish bad-guy/good-guy dichotomy. All of her main characters are at least a little bit morally ambiguous, just as people are in real life.
If you’re looking to sink your teeth into a story filled with intrigue and betrayal, get yourself a copy of Disgraced.
What I loved:
- The use of religion and religious themes (primarily Christian) to explore ideas of justice, service, sacrifice, and betrayal.
- The combination of religion and psychedelia.
- An incredibly diverse cast of characters – ethnic, social, religious, political, and otherwise. In fact, this might be the most diverse novel I’ve ever read.
- The suspense that comes from not knowing who the reader can trust until the end.
- The human flaws in all the characters make them and their problems seem real and relatable.
- Outstanding use of modern technology (particularly surveillance tech) as a plot device.
- A powerful perspective switch at the story’s climax put all the pieces in place.
What I found challenging:
- There was a lot going on in this book. A large cast of characters and a winding plot. It took me a few chapters to really get into the story’s flow, and I had to go back a couple of times after I’d set the book down for a few days to remind myself who everyone was and what was happening.
Find Laury Silvers online:
Find Laury Silvers on social media:
- Instagram: @laurylsilvers
- Facebook: /laurlysilvers
The Q Review is a passion project to elevate stories written by indie authors & presses. I review indie fiction across all genres. If you’re interested in having me read and review your book, contact me here.
