In this entertaining and fun new mystery novel, readers follow recently widowed Kausar Khan as she quickly relocates to visit her daughter’s family after her daughter reveals that she has been arrested for killing the unpopular landlord of her boutique store. Returning to the suburb where she raised her children and where her daughter lives, Kausar discovers that the area has changed and crime, including this murder, is on the rise. Despite being told to stay out of the way, Kausar, joined by some old friends and her teenage granddaughter, dig into the police’s flawed investigation to discover the truth about the landlord’s murder. Entertaining, intense, and emotional, readers will love the mystery and the dramatic intensity of this book. The setting is detailed and complex and a great backdrop to the murder, while the added dynamics of the community add some drama to the book. The characters are well-written and detailed, while their relationships with other characters add some great depth to the story. A great start to a new mystery series from Uzma Jalaluddin, readers will really enjoy Kausar’s investigative work and her relationships with her family, friends, and community in this intriguing, detailed, and high-stakes new novel.

Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin was my first read by this author, and it’s a delightful blend of cozy mystery and emotional depth. The story follows Kausar Khan, a recently widowed woman in her late 50s who’s pulled back into the bustle of Toronto when her daughter, Sana, becomes the prime suspect in the murder of her landlord, Imran Thakur. What begins as a mother’s instinct to protect her child quickly evolves into a full-fledged amateur investigation, as Kausar refuses to sit quietly while her daughter’s future hangs in the balance. The backdrop of the Golden Crescent Plaza a community hub filled with secrets, tensions, and economic uncertainty adds texture to the unfolding mystery.

The heart of the novel lies in its character interactions. Kausar’s relationship with her daughter is strained but deeply loving, and her bond with her teenage granddaughter Maleeha becomes one of the most compelling dynamics in the book. Their intergenerational alliance Kausar’s wisdom and Maleeha’s street smarts creates a charming and effective detective duo. Jalaluddin also introduces a cast of supporting characters, from old friends to suspicious tenants, each with their own motives and histories. These relationships aren’t just plot devices; they’re windows into Kausar’s past and reflections of the cultural and familial complexities she’s navigating.

As Kausar digs deeper, she uncovers layers of betrayal, financial desperation, and long-buried grief. The twist isn’t just in who committed the murder it’s in how the truth forces Kausar to confront uncomfortable realities about her family and herself. Jalaluddin balances humor, heartache, and suspense with grace, making Detective Aunty more than just a whodunnit. It’s a story about resilience, reinvention, and the quiet power of women who refuse to be underestimated. If this is the beginning of a series, I’ll be eagerly awaiting Kausar’s next case.

I can totally picture an older auntie run around, snooping and discovering secrets. In this case, it was for solving crimes and not gossip or being purely annoying. I love it that she ended up with a love interest herself. Win win I say! Can't wait for the next installment!


Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial for giving me the opportunity to read this!

"When her grown daughter is suspected of murder, a charming and tenacious widow digs into the case to unmask the real killer." - from Goodreads summary.

This book caught my attention based off of the above premise. I am loving the trend lately of authors writing books featuring older protagonists - or those who aren't still in their twenties and just starting out in life like so many other books. Kausar Khan was such an interesting main character. She's had a lot of difficult times in her life which she is still working on dealing with, but drops everything to come to her daughter's aid when she is accused of murder. I liked her as a main character so much. The struggle to deal with the losses of her son and husband, figuring out what she wants this next stage of her life to look like, and just everything that goes along with all of that had me lost in the pages of this book. Then there was the added bonus of the mystery that had me guessing the entire time. It all combine into one really solid read for me that left me excited to continue on with this series. I have to say that the way that this book ended left me really looking forward to picking up book two whenever it releases.

Mystery lovers and even cozy mystery readers should give this book a try. There is just something about losing myself in the pages of a mystery like this that I just can't get enough of. Four stars overall.

Disclosure - I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher. Honest thoughts are my own.

This delightful mystery kicks off when the main character’s daughter is accused of murder. The mystery is engaging and well thought out, but what made this super enjoyable for me was the friendships between the main characters and her close friends, and her journey to discover what she wants for her next phase of life. I had not read other books from this author but I look forward to more. I had some feels like the Vera Wong cozy mysteries that I love so I am looking forward to this and would recommend it to those who love that style of mystery. Thanks NetGalley for the ebook to preview.

I’ve been a fan of Jalaluddin’s writing ever since her debut novel, Ayesha At Last. Her stories, which highlight South Asian and Muslim communities, consistently feature well-rounded, witty characters you can’t help but fall in love with. That said, I found this title just okay. The pacing felt uneven, with not much happening plot-wise in the first half of the book. While Detective Aunty didn’t quite blow me away, I’ll likely pick up the next installment in the series when it’s released.

This book was a salve to a sad heart. It felt like a warm mug of chai at the kitchen island. Jalaluddin never misses when it comes to loveable characters.

This is how you launch a cozy mystery series—with heart, humor, and just enough homicide to keep the neighborhood gossip spicy. Uzma Jalaluddin delivers an absolutely delightful whodunnit starring Kausar Khan: widow, mother, grandmother, and your new favorite nosy auntie-turned-accidental detective.

When Kausar’s daughter Sana is accused of murder (casual), Kausar leaves her peaceful retirement life behind and dives headfirst back into her old Toronto neighborhood, where crime is up, trust is down, and the local aunties are still excellent sources of intel. With her steel will, sparkling sarcasm, and a deeply honed mom-radar for half-truths, Kausar starts piecing together a puzzle no one else can—or wants to.

The mystery is tight, the writing is clever, and the family dynamics are rich and complicated, just like the perfect biryani. Kausar isn’t your average amateur sleuth—she’s wiser, warmer, and wonderfully relentless. Plus, the intergenerational team-up with her teenage granddaughter? Iconic. Equal parts bonding and bickering, with a side of clues.

If you love your crime-solving served with cozy chaos, complicated moms, generational drama, and cultural specificity that feels so lived-in, this book is for you. Jalaluddin’s debut mystery is a triumph—and Kausar Khan is officially the most dangerous aunty on the block.

It wasn’t bad but I didn’t think it was anything particularly special either. The themes were a bit heavy handed but I didn’t hate reading it. It was just fine.

3.5 stars. Enjoyed how Kausar grew into her own here, finally letting go of the grief that had held her for so long, rising to the task of helping her child who is being accused of murder. Her intelligence and her power of observation finally shone thru here, no longer hidden in the shadow of her husband.

The book also shows some insight into the Muslim culture, which I appreciated as it explained some behaviors of the characters, including Kausar.

While the story wrapped up the whodunit, there’s more to the community and the dynamics of the people there now that Kausar is back. Looking forward to the next installment.

I will read anything Uzma writes, but especially if it’s a new cozy series. This one was so fun. I can't wait to see what happens with this series.

Sadly, I was not a fan of this book. I did not enjoy the writing style of the author and the story was not that engaging to me. Read at your own risk.

“A woman’s ambition is always limited by her circumstances.” ☕️🤍

a special thank you to Net Galley, Harper Collins & Harper Perennial for allowing me access to an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin!! it’s an absolute privilege to receive an ARC & i’m so honored to be able to share a honest review in exchange.

🔍 publication date: may 6th, 2025

review: ★ ★ ★ ★ (05/24/25)
it’s a good mystery book when you’re fighting sleep because you MUST know more.

COOLEST AUNTIE EVER. from the financial expertise to the vulnerable admission of having depression, kausar is an amazing women with so much wisdom. which is in addition to being someone who pays a great deal of attention to detail. and i live for an underestimated FMC, very much pip from AGGGTM.

while i’m familiar with islamic & desi culture, i loved the translation & cultural explanations! i was also very happy to read some critiques on generational & cultural differences, i found myself agreeing more to kausar than expected!

while i found keeping with all the characters difficult to fully follow at times, it’s a thrilling read with a rather unexpected ending! to be honest, i didn’t see the truth until it came out in the end.

i can’t wait for the second book and to read more of the author’s works! ☺️

Several months after her husband has passed, Kaiser Khan is now heading back to her old home of Toronto after a surprising call from her daughter telling her she has been accused of murder! Knowing this has to be a mistake, Kaiser knows she can help solve who really did it although her daughter begs her not to get involved. Instead her daughter wants her to just help out at home with her grandchildren and making meals for them. Yeah, that sounds good but not to this mom! She will do everything she can to clear her families name along with figuring out what is going on at their home because nothing feels quite right as well. Can she do it or is her daughter doomed to pay for a crime she may or may not have done?

I absolutely adored the main character, Kausar Khan aka Detective Aunty! This book was a delightful read which had me second guessing all of the characters on who did it! Those are the good books when you it has you second, third and even fourth guessing who the guilty party is! I love how the author, Uzma Jalaluddin explains more about their culture especially about why everyone calls her Aunty for the reader who doesn't know about it. This was much appreciated and helped me follow the storyline better.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperback for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you Uzma Jalaluddin for this book. I absolutely loved it and can't wait for the next book of the series!

I was excited by this book because I love this author. I was intrigued by it being a mystery. And I always know with this author that there will be depth to the story. But with a mystery, I feel like the murder should surprise you but still make sense. I think it was a pretty long and wandering path to get to the murderer. I will say that I was absolutely frazzled this week and I never want my frame of mind to impact my reading.

I landed on a 3.5 rating.

Kauser thought she’d already been through the worst moments of her life: she lost a teenage son many years ago and lost her husband last year. She’s been living a quiet life. Then she gets a call from her daughter. Her daughter has been accused of murder.

Kauser rushes to her daughter’s side despite never returning to the town after losing her son.

Her daughter seems to be pushing her into the role of cook and caregiver for the children but Kauser wants to help with the investigation. She’s always had a knack for getting to the bottom of things and she’s never had a bigger incentive to solve a mystery. She’s believes her daughter to be innocent and she is determined to figure out who is actually guilty.

There were a lot of people who had reasons to kill the victim. There were a lot of twists and turns getting to the bottom of things. And I think it took longer to uncover the true story than I’d have preferred.

I wouldn’t call this a cozy but there isn’t much blood, gore, or violence. It’s not scary. But it’s not overly light either.

There’s an interesting cast of characters too. I see this is book one of a series and I’ll probably read book two.

I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley, thanks!

This was a fun mystery!

I loved this novel from the very beginning! The characters are so relatable, Kausar is funny and strong and entertaining to be seeing the story through. Not only are we solving a mystery but learning about her family and past, this gives up an extra layer of generations and family dynamics.

I appreciated all that I was able to learn from the experience of these characters, I was googling traditions and words to get to know the characters even more.

This stories structure is that of a classic who done it!!

This is one of those novels that would make a great tv show!

I really thoroughly enjoyed this multicultural mystery, set in a community in Toronto, Canada. Kausar gets a call from her daughter, Sana, asking her mother to come help her as she was arrested. Kausar left Toronto years earlier, after her son, Ali, died, but returns to help her daughter. The relationship between Sana and Kausar is a strained one, but Kausar is willing to do anything for her daughter. Kausar has insights into people which help her to solve a lot of small mysteries in her past, but this challenge is on a different level. There are cultural norms that also describe the choices or lack of choices that can face women, particularly in traditional households. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

While this has some of the traits of a tradition cozy – amateur sleuth, focus on family, no gore or profanities – it doesn’t really fit the category in the sense that this is not a light, fun mystery. Yes, there are some light moments but the subject matter has more heft – grief, loss, messy family relationships, infidelity. That’s not to say I didn’t like it; I did. It just wasn’t what I was expecting. I loved getting to know Kausar, her family, and her friends and following along as she proved her daughter’s innocence. She’s smart, savvy, and loyal. She is exactly who you want in your corner. The mystery itself was complex and it was wonderful to follow along as Kausar slowly unraveled the threads and figure it all out. I can’t wait to see what she gets up to next.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.75/5 I really liked our main; she was great! It was a really nicely paced book, but I felt a little conflicted about the ending -- it felt a little bit needlessly cruel even though I think it was meant to have general murder-mystery charm. I'd be interested in reading more books from this series though, so I'm excited to see more!

I've been meaning to check out this author's work for a long time. But it literally too THAT title for me to finally get to it. What a fantastic premise, a second act for immigrant South Asian housewife, too brilliant to fade into quiet widowhood. Such a fantastic ode to South Asian Aunties and their fierce potential to combat the forces of bigotry in North American suburbia. Their sacrifices, their resilience, and their journeys of growth and adaptability for themselves and their families. The author did such a fantastic job of integrating immigrant stories with the love of the old school detective fiction like Holmes and Poirot, a particular favorite among the South Asian readership of a generation. Kosaur's friendship with May, rooted in the love of detective fiction is honestly my favorite thing about this book. I also adore how this blows apart the picture perfect veneer of South Asian families and makes every character in the community deeply human and flawed. Kosaur makes for the perfect vessel to connect all of the above elements as she navigates through grief, reconciliation with her family and old friends, and trying to carve a new identity in the lives of her loved ones, one where she lives up to her full potential, and her journey is moving, inteospective, and riveting all the way up to the big reveal dinner party. If you're into underestimated and invisible older women quietly kicking ass and showing up entitled men, enjoy this ride. I ripped through this so fast!