I think the marketing team is doing a serious disservice to the book. I started this book with expectations set by the title and cover: a funny cozy mystery! Bright colors and Nosy Detective Aunty hijinks! The marketing for this book might as well scream "for fans of Jesse Q Sutanto!"

Here's what the book actually is: a slow placed family drama, very emotionally heavy, takes death and morning very seriously, only a little bit of actual investigation. It was never at any point funny, cozy, or interested in providing hijinks.

The book is well written, but I don't know how it's going to find its ideal audience. In search of; people who like grief-mysteries?

Thanks to Harper Perennial and Netgalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Detective Aunty is a new cozy mystery set in the Golden Crescent of Toronto. The seasoned protagonist, Kausar Khan, is starting her second act after becoming a widow, with her knack for noticing small details. When her daughter is the main suspect in a murder, Kausar comes to help. There are messy family secrets, old and new friendships, and so much chai.

I'm a big Uzma Jalaluddin fan—I’ve adored her previous books, especially Ayesha At Last—so I was thrilled to get an early copy of her latest, Detective Aunty.

This novel marks a genre shift for Jalaluddin, moving from romance to mystery. I’ll be upfront: mystery isn’t my favorite genre, so my thoughts on this book are definitely influenced by that.

The standout of the novel is without question its main character, Kauser Khan. She’s middle-aged, smart, honest, and strong—and I absolutely loved seeing an older woman take center stage as the heroine. It’s refreshing and long overdue.

The plot kicks off when Kauser rushes from North Bay to Toronto after her estranged daughter is accused of murder. Returning to the city where her son died in a hit-and-run years earlier, Kauser is forced to confront old friends she left behind, family members who’ve grown without her, and a past she tried to escape. The character development and the relationships in this book are beautifully done—I was fully invested in these dynamics.

That said, the mystery aspect didn’t quite land for me. Part of that is personal taste—I’m not a huge fan of the genre, and the story pays homage to Agatha Christie, whose work I don’t often gravitate toward. Still, I imagine mystery fans will find a lot to enjoy here, especially with Jalaluddin’s signature touch: her thoughtful exploration of contemporary culture interwoven with the traditions and faith of the Muslim community in Toronto’s Golden Crescent. That cultural duality is a cornerstone of her storytelling—whether in romance or mystery—and it continues to shine.

It’s such a joy to see a proud, sharp, middle-aged South Asian Muslim woman take the lead in a genre where she’s rarely centered. Detective Aunty is an exciting new direction for Jalaluddin, and I’m eager to see where she goes next.

I've loved every book by Uzma Jalaluddin, and her latest venture into the mystery genre is no exception—it’s an absolute delight. In this story, we follow Kausar, a sharp-witted and determined mother who must confront a decade-old trauma when her daughter is accused of murder.
Leaving behind her quiet life, Kausar travels to Toronto and uses her keen observational skills—and signature “aunty” tenacity—to uncover the truth. With the help of old friends and her curious granddaughter, she dives headfirst into the investigation. Along the way, she reconnects with loved ones, rebuilds long-lost relationships, and proves she'll stop at nothing to protect her family.
While the novel touches on serious themes, it maintains the warmth and charm of a cozy mystery. Jalaluddin brings heart, humor, and cultural richness to every page. I highly recommend this book—and truly, anything she writes.
Thank you Harper Perennial for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A cozy mystery that takes place in Toronto Canada, where Kauser comes to her daughter's aid. Her daughter, Sana, has been accused of murder and Kauser, who considers herself a personal detective, is determined to bring Sana's innocence to light. The book is full of family drama, a few different mysteries are going on, and I loved all of the Asian and Indian culture information that was given. The food sounded absolutely delicious!!

The book also is full of fun yet murderous twists and turns. The culprit kept me guessing until the very end. Now I'm full of curiosity to see which unfinished mystery will be in the next book. There were loose ends to maybe give hints but it wasn't a cliff hanger ending.

Thank you to NetGalley, Uzma Jaladuddin, and Harper Perennial publishing for this ARC.

I’m a big fan of Uzma’s writing and I was so excited to get my hands on this latest. When her grown daughter is suspected of murder, Kausar Khan heads to Toronto for the first time in nearly twenty years, determined to help her daughter in any way she can. Despite several warnings (some of which are very threatening), Kausar does not stop her own investigation.

I loved this so much! Kausar is quietly tough as nails, determined and fighting through her own emotions to help her daughter. I was entertained from the very first part of the story until the page-turning end. The characters are wonderful and the mystery solid. But it’s more than just a mystery – the story also explores bigger themes of mother daughter relationships, societal expectations, and cultural norms. Five glowing stars. I can’t wait to read more.

I'm very glad to hear that this is the first in a series. I loved the main character. I also enjoyed the Toronto setting, a city I knew very little about.

It seems like I read this book in the wrong mood. Or maybe I was misled by the "cozy" marketing/packaging. It felt like it lacked a sense of humor or playfulness that I expect in cozy mysteries, and instead was quite serious without having a mystery plot that really hooked me. I will still recommend to readers, but it was not what I expected.

Detective Aunty is the start to a promising new cosy mystery series. At its core is a mystery that kept me hooked until the final page, but it's also full of heartfelt moments and insight into grief, depression, complex family dynamics, and community. I particularly loved Kausar, our main character,,who's been through a lot in life and is kind and clever in equal measure.

I've read two of the author's romcoms and enjoyed them enough to be curious about her new series, a cozy murder mystery series featuring an almost 60 year old Canadian-Muslim protagonist who's a recent widow. When her daughter (and oldest child) is arrested as the prime suspect in the murder of her landlord, Kausar Khan returns to Toronto from North Bay where she and her husband moved to escape the sudden, traumatic loss of their youngest then 15 year old son. Sana, Kausar's daughter, is married with two daughters, an early teen and a ten year old, and a fairly absent husband. Even as the grandmother helps with the cooking and looking after of her granddaughters, she makes enough time to observe and chat with the neighbours and others in the local community. Kausar's always been very observant, with a keen mind and intellect. Now, for the first time, she's getting a chance to throw off her old identity as housewife, and see all that she can be. This is a slow burn until the halfway point, sometimes too much so, and there are too many subplots and characters to keep straight at times, but Kausar makes for a sympathetic protagonist and one you root for as she starts to come into her own. The author has also added depth and a smattering of heavier topics--surprising given the genre--which elevates this into a better story. I wasn't a huge fan of the final chapters or the reveal, and there are loose ends left as they are (including one important one that's left unsolved for no other reason that the author seems to need it for the next book). But I'll definitely be checking out book 2, and would recommend this to readers who enjoy mysteries with a healthy dose of community and connection.

DETECTIVE AUNTY by Uzma Jalaluddin (Ayesha at Last) is the first book in a new series featuring Kauser Khan, recently widowed older woman who returns to Toronto to help her daughter and the family. Called "Jack Reacher in a dupatta," Khan's heritage is South Asian and Muslim and there are frequent references to desi culture, including the numerous proverbial cups of chai as Kauser interviews suspects and attempts to solve a murder. Kauser is an appealing, sympathetic character although others (Kauser's children, her friends, the dead real estate owner, his family, various business competitors) could have been more fully developed. No doubt that will occur (especially with the potential romance with a handsome solicitor) in future mysteries in this series. Jalaluddin writes that "Kauser Khan is my homage to community and second chances. May we all be involved by the former and gifted with the latter." DETECTIVE AUNTY, although a bit repetitive in spots, received starred reviews from both Booklist and Kirkus and is a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for May. Library Journal says, "Recommended for fans of Sujata Massey's Perveen Mistry books and Robert Thorogood's 'Marlow Murder Club' series."

Kausar gets a life changing call from her adult daughter Sana. Sana has been arrested for murder and she needs her mom to help take care of her and her own two daughters. Sana owns and runs a clothing store in a small suburb shopping center and her landlord was found killed in her store. Kausar is determined to prove her daughter's innocence and uncover the true murderer. This is a cozy mystery but with serious elements. There's humor as well as heart break and sadness. It was a fun read with a satisfying ending.

DNF @ 43%

I was really excited about this book as I used to live "next door" to Scarborough [I lived in Don Mills for 7+ years], and knew so many of the landmarks she talks about, but in the end, the story, for me, was boring, I found that I just did not care about anything that was going on *OR* any of the characters [and there certainly wasn't any real mystery here; just a lot of angst, anger and sadness], and I found that I was doing everything but actually reading this book, so I must unfortunately, not finish this one. As I was truly excited about this one, I am very disappointed.


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks/Harper Perennial for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. .

I requested this book from NetGalley once I read what it was about. A murder, family, loyalty, as well as differing cultural views were the gist of what I read in the synopsis but HOLY CROW. I was not prepared for the intricate storylines, the multiple characters, and the moments that continuously popped up that pulled on my heartstrings. While the story itself was beautiful and gripping, I found myself getting confused with all of the side characters (both big and small). That and one other instance in the last 20 pages really dropped this one from a 4 star to a 3.5 star read.

This book would be good for anyone who enjoys heartfelt “whodunnit” storylines and witty main characters that make you question your own intelligence.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for granting me early access to this. I'm flogging myself for not reading it sooner. What a read. Just want the doctor recommended to get me out of a reading slump!

Expect the unthinkable, secrets, lies, mystery, investigation and betrayal. Loved that the author didn’t solely focus on the murder mystery but brought light on mother and daughter bond too as well there is a family drama too. Books feel warm when the authors share bond between characters too. The investigation was spot on. Author’s writing is flawless. The characters were really interesting. This was a twisty book packed with murder mystery and family drama.

Thanks to the Publisher

I know author Uzma Jalaluddin for her wonderful romances featuring Muslim characters, so I was intrigued when she turned her talents towards a mystery series. After the death of her husband, Kausar Khan has drifted into her elder years in the small community of North Bay, Ontario. She's only shaken out of her grief by a sudden phone call from her daughter in Toronto. Kausar's daughter, Sana, is the prime suspect in the murder of a local landlord. Knowing her daughter could not have killed the man, Kausar immediately boards a plane to go to her daughter's aid. Once in Toronto, Kausar is sees that there are problems in both her family and the greater community. There is palpable tension between Sana and her husband and one of Kausar's granddaughters is downright leery. As the investigation intensifies, Kausar decides to use her extraordinary ability to notice details to ensure the safety of her loved ones. Like so many sleuths before her, Kausar Khan cleverly uses the near invisibility bestowed on her as an older Muslim woman to ferret out information. Kausar is self-effacing and wrestling with the aftereffects of two great losses - her husband prior to the story and her only son many years before. This makes the plot of Kausar regaining her confidence almost equally important to the mystery. This is a really solid cozy and a promising start to a new series, especially with the added dimension of being immersed into South Asian-Canadian Muslim culture. Folks who enjoyed Vera Wong who don't mind a gentler protagonist might think about checking out Kausar.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this advanced reader's copy of Detective Aunty.

I am not a mystery reader after all. It felt too slow paced and I couldn't connect with the characters even though I typically love stories about South-Asian cultures. Lately they are hit or miss and this was a miss.

Uzma Jalaluddin makes a smooth and seamless transition from romance to cozy mystery. Kausar Khan, a recent widow, receives a call from her grown daughter Sana, begging her to return to Toronto. Sana is suspected of murdering the landlord of the shopping plaza where she operates a clothing boutique. Kausar leaves her small town and returns to the suburb where she raised her children and where Sana still lives. The neighborhood has changed, and the killing is only the latest in a series of local unsolved crimes. With evidence mounting against Sana, Kausar turns to sleuthing to clear her daughters name. Using her keen observational skills and ability to get people to confide in her, she searches for the truth. Kausar is a tenancious aunty who must come to terms with her past as well as her future. Recommended for fans of Robert Thorogood's "Marlow Murder Club" series,

I can't wait for more Kausar adventures in the future. Many thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of the book.

Detective Aunty was a charming and entertaining cozy mystery.

I really appreciate when an author manages to weave culture organically and beautifully into a story. I felt so immersed in this fictional world that I could almost smell the chai. 🫖

This is book 1 in a series and I will definitely be reading the rest. I can’t wait to see what Kausar Khan investigates next!