pros:
-I've actually been reading Agatha Christie lately and loved the idea of a modern day, Muslim Miss Marple.
-it is well written (I guessed nothing) and I liked the slightly far-fetched dinner party reveal.
cons
-As for representation I found it odd the Kausar attends a janazah and describes the body as if it's not supposed to be completely shrouded, and quite possibly in a casket at this point? Muslims, by and large, do not have viewings of the deceased.
-the nonstop drama just exhausted me, probably my anti-Tolstoy belief that happy families are the best and most interesting.
-this is petty, but I dislike the use of the word "piously" especially because within this book it's always used to imply hypocrisy.

3.5 rounded up to 4 on NetGalley.

This was a pretty standard cozy mystery set in a small town. Aunty Kausar Khan comes into town when her adult daughter Sana is accused of murder after her landlord is found her in her desi clothing store. "Detective Aunty" is on the case - getting to know everyone in the town, asking the right questions, noticing the right details, and piecing it all together in a Poirot style - leaning on her friend May to talk theories with.

Kausar is 57 and grieving the loss of her husband (and also gradually coming to terms with their arranged marriage and understanding her love for him) and the long ago loss of one of her children, which is the reason she moved away from this small town in the first place. Kausar is smart, determined, and ready for a second chance at life. She's an enjoyable character and her investigation is fun to follow. I liked the reveal and a few things caught me by surprise. This story ends a bit abruptly and leaves a few things open ended, I suppose to lead into the next mystery. I'm not sure if I'll be picking it up since I wasn't fully attached to this story, but it was good time, and it's was nice diversity to follow a 57 year old Indian, Muslim woman as you don't see many mysteries like this.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions remain my own.

This is a charming mystery with an unforgettable character. It isn't clear to me if Jalaluddin is setting up for a series here, but I hope that she is, because I would love to read more!

I loved this mystery debut from Uzma Jalaluddin, one of my all time favorite romance writers! Like her previous novels, this mystery is set in the South Asian community of Toronto, featuring tight-knit community, strong but underestimated Desi women, and excellent writing.

Detective Aunty stars Kausar Khan, a middle-aged widow who left Toronto decades ago after the tragic death of her youngest child. A year after her husband’s death, she is called back to Toronto when her daughter, Sana, calls her from the police station as a suspect in a murder investigation. Kausar faces her own trauma to show up for her daughter and granddaughters—and to put her excellent “noticing” skills to work to solve the crime and clear her daughter’s name.

While I’m not a big mystery reader, I loved this novel from start to finish and was surprised with each new twist in the story. The characters, from Kausar’s granddaughters to her best friend May, were all great elements of the story, and I can’t wait to read what comes next in this new series! I think Detective Aunty will be a hit with lovers of the genre and novices like me alike.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The author may have returned to her fictional Golden Crescent neighborhood, but with her best writing yet, the focus is not romance like in her earlier books, it is a murder mystery.  If you think of it, who better to solve a mystery than an unassuming Desi Aunty with a knack for observations, getting people to talk, and prying into other people's business? I say it with love, this book was such a fun read, I'm sure I should have paid more attention to craft and arcs and writing style, but honestly I devoured the 336 pages in two settings, and genuinely hope that Kausar is just getting started. The adult read isn't salacious, it does feature a murder, some marital dramas, crime, fraud and the like, I think mature teens that aren't bothered by a grandmother protagonist will enjoy the read. The first chapter is a bit dry and feels like an info dump, luckily it isn't a long chapter and I ultimately, appreciated it getting the stage set and then slipping out of the way so the story could get good. The telling and not showing takes a while to flesh out, the author does a good job of threading it through, and by the mid point you really get a feel for the characters and appreciate the early statements that set the tone, and the book's ability to tie up nearly every thread it presents.  There isn't a ton of Islam, many of the characters are Muslim; the traditions and cultural expectations are plot beats in the story, even if the action and expectations are not overtly seen through an Islamic lens or with Islamic boundaries.  

SYNOPSIS:


Kausar Khan has always noticed things around her, and when needed, used those observations to position certain outcomes.  When she gets a call from her daughter in Toronto that she needs her mom to come help with the kids as he is wanted for murder, Kausar Khan leaves North Bay and returns to a city filled with memories of tragedy to try and help.  Sana asks her mom not to get involved and to just help with the cooking, cleaning, and childcare, but old friends, new secrets, and the high stakes of a murder are not going to keep this Aunty from unraveling the truth.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love the concept, the execution, and that it didn't unravel at the end.  I read the last few pages with the same intensity as the climax, trying to figure out whodunit.  The play on traditions and stereotypes to lure suspects in, and the wit and charm of using the religion and culture to advance the plot were flawless.  Sure, I wish the characters threw in some commentary on men and women being alone together not being ok, or some Islamic insight into marriages and rights.  It seemed intentionally lacking, and that is unfortunate. I also felt the thread with the son coming from the UK was painfully underdeveloped, the heart of the book though was strong.  And I loved the side commentary on marriage and women's roles.  It was insightful and added depth, it didn't come across as angry or like the author had an axe to grind, which was refreshing.  

FLAGS: 
Murder, affairs, fraud, pyramid schemes, theft, racism, gentrification.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
The book won't work for a school book club, but is a perfect summer read to giggle about and chat about with friends.

Uzma Jalaluddin is a household name for me and an autoread author. I’ve loved her books since Ayesha and was thrilled to see she’s turned her pen toward mysteries. A Desi Jessica Fletcher? Sign me up! And of course, this book was much more than that. What made this book was the relationships between family and community. I may have not 100% enjoyed the reveal but ultimately this was a great book and I would absolutely read another in the series.

Kausar Khan has experienced huge losses in her life. Her son Ali, and eighteen months ago, her husband, have both passed away and she is in a sort of limbo existence - until she gets a phone call from her daughter Sana, who is the prime suspect in the murder of her horrible landlord.

Kausar immediately goes to Toronto to help her daughter, not just with moral support but with the keen eye she has for noticing the smallest detail. Whereas the people around her may be annoyed that Kausar can glean information so easily, this is precisely the kind of situation that calls for this ability.

But it is not just Sana that needs help here, and the string of crimes that have recently plagued the neighborhood may be due to something - or someone - close to Kausar, and she needs to figure it all out soon before she loses more of her family members.

I enjoyed this book so much, and especially as someone of a similar age to Kausar, I very much liked seeing an older heroine who is the key to figuring out whodunit. This is the first in the Kausar Khan Investigates series, and I can't wait for more of our Detective Aunty's adventures.

For the fans of The Marlow Murder Club and other cozy murder mysteries, I have a book for you.

A mystery that will keep you on the edge of guessing “who did it?” until the end. Jalaluddin crafted a mystery honoring Agatha Christie but making sure it is rooted in cultural identity and the importance of community and family through all immigrant families. I love that it is focused on a middle aged female lead who is trying to understand who she is besides a mother and a wife. (Nasir sounds like a silver fox!)

There was definitely times where the pacing occasionally meander into unnecessary for me or some parts were belabored but the mystery kept me enthralled until the end.

At its core, “Detective Aunty” is a celebration of the aunties in all of our communities and challenges the limiting assumptions about who gets to be a hero.

For me, this a 3.5-star ⭐️ read that offers both entertainment , cultural authenticity, and mystery that will satisfy.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the earc.. My opinions are my own.

Detective Aunty is a cozy mystery set in Toronto and follows Kauser who tries to solve the muder charges brought on her daughter.

The story explores neighborhood drama, depression and familial conflict.
Kauser had always noticed details and starts to help her daughter by trying to solve the crime. The closeted nature of South Asian women is brought to the forefront when we find Kauser's husband never supported her working outside or how clever she is.

The story is written very authentically and shows how closed South Asian communities, especially older ones can be.
The twist itself was something I saw a mile away since the story wastes time towards the end in trying make to be sympathetic to some of the characters. I enjoyed the process of aunty's sleuthing more than the eventual reveal.

Definitely looking forward to the next installment.

'Detective Aunty' is a fantastic cozy mystery set in a storied Toronto neighborhood, featuring an intriguing cast of characters. The friendship between Kausar and May truly shines, and Uzma Jalaluddin does an excellent job incorporating Desi culture, immigrant experiences in Canada, and complex family dynamics into the story.

If you enjoy culturally rich amateur detective mysteries, this book is a must-read! I’m already looking forward to a sequel.

Special thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. As always, my opinions are entirely my own.

I liked this turn for Uzma Jalaluddin! While a murder to solve was on the forefront, there were several other threads to pull at and reveal layer after layer. The story definitely sets up a scenario for a possible follow-up.

I loved this mystery set in the South Asian Muslim community in Toronto! I know something of that community and this book felt very authentic to the struggles between generations in a family and the tension between cultures that is almost inevitable for immigrant communities. I thought that all the characters were well drawn and the mystery itself was very satisfying. I would love to read more in this series, if it becomes one!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Detective Aunty (publication day May 6, 2025) by Uzma Jalaluddin is a satisfying cozy mystery featuring the widowed Kausar Khan, who is called back to Toronto, from her home in North Bay, Ontario, by her adult daughter who is a suspect in a murder.

Kausar and her late husband, Hassan, had fled Toronto fifteen years before, when Kausar was grieving the death of her youngest child, Ali, and couldn't bear being there without him. Over time, Kausar emerged from her depression, but never really visited Toronto; her daughter Sana brought her granddaughters to visit occasionally to North Bay. One day. Sana calls her unexpectedly to come to Toronto, because the landlord of the shopping mall where Sana runs a clothing shop has been found murdered in her shop with a dagger taken from one of her displays, and Sana needs help with running the household for her two daughters.

We find out quickly that Kausar has always noticed things and put things together that others don't see, helping solve mysteries large and small. And now, at her age, no one notices a nosy aunty asking questions. Though Sana doesn't want that kind of help, Kausar knows that she can figure this murder out; her daughter can't have done it.

Though being back in Toronto brings up memories she'd rather not revisit, she realizes that things are seriously wrong in her daughter's house; Sana and her husband are barely speaking and her teenage granddaughter is hiding something.

With her best friend from North Bay, May, egging her on, and her former best friend, Fatima, helping, and the handsome divorced lawyer who has been a long-respected friend, Nasir, supporting and admiring her, Kausar begins her investigation and re-entry into the community she left behind years ago.

While the author has filled the book with South Asian and Muslim culture and descriptions, along with contemporary Canadian life, Kausar begins to find out that many people hated the murdered man and had reason to want him dead, including some in his own family. So why was her daughter the primary suspect?

It's twisty and satisfying--I'm looking forward to more from Uzma Jalaluddin! And it was weight-neutral, if a bit fat-positive--when describing the handsome Nasir, he's described as having been a slim man who has put on some weight, which "suits him."

Detective Aunty follows the story of Kausar, but I believe I need to say Kausar Aunty, out of respect. She receives a call from her daughter, Sana, who has been arrested and a suspect of a murder. Kausar Aunty being the mom and detective that she is goes back to Toronto to save her daughter. I loved this book a lot. It may be my favorite Uzma book. I’ve read all of her books but she can write a good mystery book. I was hooked from the beginning wondering who killed Imran. The drama, suspense, secrets, and even romance was thrilling. The ending was a shocker, and honestly, worth the wait. I loved reading a book that followed an older woman who was still grieving the loss of her younger son and husband. Kausar Aunty is a beautiful and talented character. A very well written book.

I really enjoy Uzma Jalauddin's books. She offers me a look into a world that is not familiar to me (I was not very aware of the Muslim culture and traditions as well as city of Toronto). This is her first mystery and I was interested from start to finish. There are actually several mysteries occurring throughout this novel - the main mystery centers around a murder in the Golden Crescent Plaza and how that crime affects Kausar Khan's family. However, we are also exploring the lives of Kausar, Sana, and Maleeha. Kausar was a very fun character - she is smart and logical. She uses her status as Aunty in the neighborhood to learn valuable information about the case. Her friends also enrich the story - Fatima, the long lost friend, May the encourager from afar, and Nasir, the old family friend and possibly something more. The pacing for this is very steady and there were some twists that I did not see coming. Fans of cozy mysteries and The Thursday Murder Club will definitely enjoy this story.

My only thoughts in addition to this - I felt like the author made too much of a point about Kausar's ability to listen and figure out clues. Once or twice is understandable, but it occurred several times within this book.

Thank you for this advanced copy!

When her daughter is arrested for murder, Kausar travels to Toronto to investigate. Uncovering a web of secrets and lies in her daughter’s seemingly idyllic neighborhood, Kausar uses her sharp wit and observational skills to find the truth.

This is a fascinating mystery with a strong women’s fiction subplot. It explores themes of grief, marriage, and mother/daughter relationships. The entertaining plot is complex and full of twists.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

5/5 stars: This is the first entry in Jalaluddin's Kausar Khan Investigates series, which is a BIPOC Cozy Mystery that takes place in Toronto, Canada and features a charming and tenacious widow, some old friends and her plucky teenage granddaughter as she turns sleuth after her daughter's arrested for killing the unpopular landlord of her clothing boutique. With plenty of twists and turns, Jalaluddin has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Jalaluddin's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Kausar's a great lady, still dealing with the grief from losing her son year before and her husband's more recent death, but determined to face it and everything she left behind to help her daughter. I also really like getting to know Kausar's her family and new and old friends, especially her granddaughters. Additionally, I really appreciate how Jalaluddin presented Kausar's culture, religion and mental heath struggles. With tact and sensitivity, Jalaluddin touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and CWs. A great start to a new series; highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

This is the first mystery for writer Uzma Jalaluddin, though she’s already had a successful writing career creating women’s fiction. Her detective, a recent widow named Kausar Khan, lives in North Bay, Canada. One morning she gets a call from her daughter Sana, back in Toronto, telling her there’s been a murder and she’s the prime suspect. Then she hangs up. Kausar, who hasn’t been back to Toronto since the death of her son many years ago, nevertheless hurriedly packs a bag and jumps on a plane.

She arrives at Sana’s to find Sana uncommunicative. She’s delighted to see her granddaughters who are 10 and 15, but her son in law is missing. When he does return it’s obvious something is wrong. Sana isn’t sharing too many details with her mother but it does emerge that the murdered man was her landlord at the plaza where she had recently opened a clothing store. It doesn’t take much time for Kausar to discover that the man was soundly detested by all his tenants, but beyond that, Sana asks her just to be her mom, to be there to take care of the kids and do the cooking.

Kausar was a traditional Pakistani wife. She had an arranged marriage with a very traditional man – a man who she loved – but who expected the same of her: cooking, taking care of the house, child minding. Kausar, however, is something of a natural detective and simply cooking and babysitting are not going to cut it, especially when her daughter’s life is on the line. Of course she begins to ask questions, despite Sana’s pleas that she keep her nose out of it. So far, so cozy.

The strength of this book are the characters, especially Kausar, who is finally coming to terms with the hit and run death of her son at age 15. Being back in Toronto in her old neighborhood she begins to run into old friends and to feel out the community where she had lived for so many years. This has a strong Vera Wong vibe – older detective who sticks her nose in where it doesn’t belong, bolstered by great cooking and in Kausar’s case, kindness. As with Vera Wong, the author is new to mysteries, and that part shows a little bit in the slightly meandering middle.

What kept my attention was Kausar and her unexpected, blossoming relationship with her sometimes sullen teenage granddaughter, Maleeha. Maleeha, however, has the same goal as Kausar: clearing her mother’s name. The two of them make an excellent duo as Maleeha knows things about Sana and life in Toronto that Kausar simply does not. It’s the relationships in the novel that maintain interest for the reader and make the story a more compelling one. Each connection to Kausar’s past is not only another way she begins to feel more at home, but it’s a connection to be explored in the hopes of clearing Sana’s name.

The author paints an in-depth picture of the depression that followed the death of Kausar’s son – depression that took her and her husband to remote North Bay, depression that cut her off from her other children and from life and friends back in Toronto. As the depression lifts, Kausar begins to feel more sure of herself, that she is a woman who can solve problems and right wrongs.

The little community at the shopping plaza where Sana has her store is also deftly portrayed – the plaza is aging and not doing too well. After the owner’s death it looks like it will be sold and converted to something else. Jalaluddin proves to be expert at drawing the threads of the story together into a solution, and the book is structured in an extremely traditional manner, with Kauser concluding the novel by bringing all the suspects together as she explains what actually happened. As a reader I never thought Sana was guilty, but things do look dire for her. I had faith that the capable Kausar would discover the truth.

This is a charming mystery stuffed with memorable and interesting characters. If you lose a little heart about half way through stick with it – have faith in Detective Aunty. She’s going to discover the truth.

This was a cute book and I loved all the characters, If you are looking for a fast paced, whodunnit with complex family and community dynamics then this would be a great book for you. I understand that this is the first book of a series and can see how the author set the plot up to go to the next book, but the conflicts in this first book felt a bit unresolved.

Detective Aunty starts out strong with an intriguing prologue. Unfortunately, the rest of the book is less intriguing. The mystery unfolds in a pretty standard way. The pace was sometimes slow. The ending was pretty cliched, but in hindsight, there weren’t enough clues sprinkled throughout the plot to suggest who the killer was. The focus on a desi family and that comes with it, though, was really well done. If you want a pretty standard fair mystery with a bit of South Asian twist, you’ll enjoy this one. If you want something a bit different, I’m not sure this will fit the bill.