We're Getting Ready for the 2026 Perth County Reads!
PC Reads aims to build community through the shared experience of reading the same book and participating in programs and events inspired by its themes.
Our 2026 Title: Liberty Street by Heather Marshall
A riveting novel about one journalist's harrowing journey into an infamous real-life 1960s women's prison - and the detective who uncovers her story decades later.
1961: Emily Radcliffe works as an editorial assistant at Chatelaine magazine, surrounded by the best women journalists in the country, whose articles tackle the controversial topics no other women’s publication dares to touch. When a bombshell letter from an inmate at the notorious Mercer Women’s Prison lands on Emily’s desk, she sees the scoop of a lifetime—one that could launch her career as a journalist. But after going undercover to investigate the inmate’s shocking claims, Emily discovers that getting into the prison is the easy part; the real challenge will be getting back out.
1996: Unidentified female remains are discovered in an unmarked grave in a small-town Ontario cemetery, and Detective Rachel Mackenzie is tasked with unraveling the mystery. But when the investigation leads her to the now-shuttered Mercer Women’s Prison, the trauma she’s kept buried for years threatens to surface.
Inspired by true events and the real-life women’s prison that was the first of its kind in Canada, Liberty Street is at once poignant and dazzling; an unforgettable story about resilience, mental health, and female connection that weaves back and forth through time to a stunning and powerful conclusion.
Heather Marshall is the bestselling author of Looking for Jane, The Secret History of Audrey James, and Liberty Street. She lives near Toronto with her family and their giant golden retriever. Heather worked in politics and communications before finally turning her attention to her true passion: storytelling. Visit Heather's website
Take Part in Perth County Reads
Place a hold on a physical copy or on the ebook or audiobook
Watch for upcoming programs and events surrounding Liberty Street.
Feature Book Discussion
Tuesday September 29, 6:30pm
West Perth Public Library
Join us to chat about Liberty Street by Heather Marshall! Share your thoughts, hear different perspectives, and enjoy a great conversation with fellow readers. Everyone is welcome.
REGISTER (link coming soon)
Tell Me A Story
Thursday October 15, 6pm
North Perth Public Library
Details to Come
Chatelaine in the 50s and 60s
Thursday October 22, 7pm
Dr. Valerie Korinek will present on the feminist history of Chatelaine, particularly in the 50s and 60s years under Doris Anderson, which are covered in Liberty Street. Korinek is the author of "Roughing it in the Suburbs", a history of Chatelaine in the 50s and 60s.
REGISTER (link coming soon)
Huron County Jail Tour
Details to Come
One Book. One County. One Community
Perth County Reads brings our community together through the joy of reading. This annual program celebrates books, highlights Canadian authors, and inspires meaningful conversations. Everyone in Perth County is invited to read the same book, share their thoughts, join engaging events, and connect with the author in person.
Past PC Reads Selections
2025 - Finding Larkspur by Dan Needles
2024 - Cold by Drew Hayden Taylor
