After her daughter is convicted of murder, Kausar Khan rushes to her side and starts sleuthing. As a widowed South Asian woman, she’s learned (thanks to her desi upbringing) how to spot the smallest clues, and she never minds a bit of meddling.

In this engaging cozy mystery, Uzma Jalaluddin explores intergenerational conflict, gentrification, and the enduring bonds of female friendship. With a sharp, witty heroine stepping into her second act, DETECTIVE AUNTY is an absolute delight.

READ THIS IF YOU:
🔍 Love a modern nod to Agatha Christie
📚 Want to get in on the first book of a new mystery series
💚 Adored Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

RATING: 4.5/5 (rounded up to 5 stars)
PUB DAY: May 6, 2025

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Happy release day+1 to one of my favorite authors!!! One of the coolest things as a reader is to see someone you adore try something new and KILL IT. No pun intended 🕵️‍♀️

Kausar Khan leads a quiet life after heartache has worn her down over the years. But a phone call from her daughter, a mom of two and small business owner, changes everything. Not many things can convince her to travel back to her home, where her son passed away and every face and landmark reminds her of it, but her daughter in prison accused of murder? That will do it. What follows is not just a woman finding new purpose after losing her way, but an exploration of community, family, and friendship.

@uzmajalaluddin I’m not typically a romance or cozy mystery fan, but you’re 2 for 2. If you write it, I’ll love it. Friends, run to your nearest bookstore or library. This is the perfect summer read!

This was such a fun read overall. I loved all the bits. Do we benefit of having the mom's POV in this cause if it was in the daughter's POV it would be overbearing and maybe intrusive. She wanted to protect her daughter and her grandkids. So good.

I loved the mystery aspect and I was very intrigued and was not trying to guess before her.

Ooh this book. I knew from the first chapter that I was going to love this book and it absolutely captivated me. Kausar Aunty is my favorite new sleuth; she is complex and filled with love and compassion and fire and grief. I love how real she was; flaws and all; after everything that happened in her life. I love how she steps up to help her daughter, but also shares with the reader her real feelings about so many things even if they go against what is expected. She is ready to risk it all to save her family and the way she picks up on things is so savvy. I love the different layers to this story and how the past comes to play in subtle ways during the present mystery. I was shocked by the twists at the end. It definitely had cozy mystery vibes with some darker themes. I also loved learning more small bits about Kausar Aunty's culture.

I hope this series continues!

This book was a little bit of a let down for me.

2.5 ⭐️

Kausar, our FMC, is a woman struggling with a lot of grief. Her son, Ali, was killed as a teenager and she recently lost her husband. When her daughter Sana is accused of murdering her shopowner, Kausar runs home to figure out how to help her daughter.

For me, this book lack a wow factor, too many characters to keep up with, and I found some of them to be annoying.

This first book in a series is a cozy mystery one might not have expected from the previously romance genre author, Uzma Jalaluddin. The book has equal parts humor, mystery, and drama and is definitely recommended!

Synopsis:
“When her grown daughter is suspected of murder, a charming and tenacious widow digs into the case to unmask the real killer in this twisty, page-turning whodunnit—the first book in a cozy new detective series from the acclaimed author of Ayesha at Last.

After her husband’s unexpected death eighteen months ago, Kausar Khan never thought she’d receive another phone call as heartbreaking—until her thirty-something daughter, Sana, phones to say that she's been arrested for killing the unpopular landlord of her clothing boutique. Determined to help her child, Kausar heads to Toronto for the first time in nearly twenty years.

Returning to the Golden Crescent suburb where she raised her children and where her daughter still lives, Kausar finds that the thriving neighborhood she remembered has changed. The murder of Sana’s landlord is only the latest in a wave of local crimes which have gone unsolved.

And the facts of the case are troubling: Sana found the man dead in her shop at a suspiciously early hour, with a dagger from her windowfront display plunged in his chest. And Kausar—a woman with a keen sense of observation and deep wisdom honed by her years—senses there’s more to the story than her daughter is telling.

With the help of some old friends and her plucky teenage granddaughter, Kausar digs into the investigation to uncover the truth. Because who better to pry answers from unwilling suspects than a meddlesome aunty? But even Kausar can’t predict the secrets, lies, and betrayals she finds along the way…”
What’s to like:
Kausar’s character is not a typical South Asian protagonist, and I love her! She is smart, witty, confident, full of life, and at fifty-seven years, she is ready for her ‘next act’. All other characters in the story are well-developed too, and it made reading their interactions all the more fun.
The author has also skillfully built in many themes and woven the stories of the characters well, so that they tie together beautifully. For instance, the back story about Ali and his traumatic death was used as a thread to tie together the story in this book while also setting the stage for the sequel to this book.
Perhaps the most important aspect of a mystery book is what makes this a stellar novel. The whodunnit part of the book was superbly written, with multiple suspects, but the final reveal is not what you might have anticipated. For a previously romance genre author, it is a great feat.
What’s not to like:
Some parts of the book felt dragged, and the story seemed to be going around in circles, e.g, when Kausar kept returning to the plaza to separately interview people. Some parts felt unrealistic for the storyline. Kausar just randomly showing up at an investor’s meeting in her shalwar kameez might be too much of a stretch for a desi aunty. The dinner party at the end, where the killer is revealed, was probably the most absurd. Why Imran’s family accepts Kausar’s invitation and bears through the entire dinner to learn something she might know was beyond reasonable. After all, her daughter was the prime suspect in the investigation.
Lastly, the biggest issue I have with this book is the problematic portrayal of women who are homemakers or stay at home instead of having another profession. It seemed to me that the value of domestic labor was portrayed as being worthless. I think it is important to acknowledge that doing the round-the-clock job of parenting and housework is the most difficult and valuable work that can be done and should not be looked down upon.

Book Review Rating: 4.5/5 (rounded up to 5)
Content Warnings: Death and extra-marital affair. Age advisory 14+

If I had to describe this book’s vibe in one sentence it would be …

Desi aunty doing what aunties do best - sleuthing.

If you are a fan of mystery and thriller read this! Loved the if Sherlock Holmes was a Desi aunty vibe.

I adore Uzma Jalaluddin's books! I was so excited to hear that Detective Aunty is the first book in a new series!

Kausar Khan is still mourning her husband's death when she receives a call from her adult daughter. Sana has been arrested for murder and she needs her mother to take care of her daughters. Kausar leaves as speedy as she can. And this is the introduction to our new amateur detective. She's very clever - watching all and asking the right questions.

And of course, her focus is her daughter - but she's also doesn't really know her granddaughters. I loved the interactions of the women in the neighborhood, the niceties, the traditions and more. And on a side note - I need to try some real chi teas.

The plot is excellent. There's a twist that surprised me - which is a good thing!

This was such a satisfying read. An excellent blending of the mystery and the personal. I will be watching for the next entry. There are a few questions that will be answered in the next book I'm sure.

Oh, I loved this! After reading Ayesha at Last a while back, I was excited to pick up Detective Aunty. This was a great mystery, but also a layered and complex story covering so much more.

To set the stage: Sana is accused of murder and calls her mother, Kausar, to help. What follows is a deep dive into uncovering how everything came to be. We also get to explore mother-daughter relationships & the complexities of being human. It’s hard to recap this without spoilers, but I’d definitely recommend it!
—
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Canadian author Uzma Jalaluddin is known for her successful romance fiction novels such as Ayesha at Last and Much Ado About Nada. Detective Aunty is her first foray into the crime fiction genre. It is best described as a cozy mystery.

Kausar Khan is the lead character in Detective Aunty. She is a 57-year-old Muslim widow living in North Bay, Ontario. She and her husband Hassan had moved there to make a fresh start after a family tragedy in Toronto left Kausar in a deep depression.

After years away from Toronto, Kausar is returning. Her trip has been triggered by a phone call from her daughter Sana saying that she is the prime suspect of a murder and she needs her mom in Toronto. Without hesitation or details about the case, Kausar flies to Toronto.

She learns that the murder victim is the landlord of her daughter’s clothing store. He was found dead inside Sana’s store. Kausar feels like Sana is withholding information from her and the police so she begins her own informal investigation.

Although Kausar is bright, very observant and a lover of Christie and Penny books, the acceptance of her initiating her investigation requires a suspension of disbelief. As someone who has been grieving and depressed for years, Kausar gets her confidence back very quickly.

Once I suspended my disbelief, I became engaged with the investigation. I thoroughly enjoyed the connections between Kausar and her friends and family, especially her two granddaughters and her bestie May. Family, community and loss are themes that run throughout this book.

There is an authenticity to the characters in this book. It will appeal to readers of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Series by Mia Manansala who will love the focus on food and Kausar's friends and family. How can you not love a character who is described Jack Reacher in a dupatta?

This was a great read - I went into this one blind and absolutely loved it!!! If you love cozy mysteries and interesting characters, and twists and turns with a side of family drama, I think you will really love this book!

Kausar gets a call that her daughter has been arrested for unaliving her landlord. She drops everything and heads to Toronto…a city she never expected to return to. As she helps her daughter with her family and the case she realizes: who better to pry answers from unwilling suspects than a meddlesome aunty?

The mystery was really good and I definitely did not see the ending coming. There are some great twists and it was really fun to follow Kausar as she tries to uncover whodunnit. This story also dives into family relationships and secrets and how complicated and tricky that can be.

I think everyone needs an aunty in their corner!! I am really excited for the next book in this series!

✨What To Expect:
🔪Murder Mystery
🫖Cozy Read
🇨🇦Toronto Setting
🧡Family Secrets
🔍Whodunnit
🌪️Twists

Detective Aunty is an absolute gem! Half way through the book, I thought this would make a great series and I was excited by the open ending that hinted at such. Culture, family, humor, and a delightful character in Kausar, she will endear herself to any reader. Love, love, love Jalaluddin's work.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the ARC.

Great for fans of "Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers". This cozy mystery focuses on Kausar, a Muslim desi woman in her late 50's with grown children. When one of them calls from the police station, she comes running back to Toronto - even though the city holds tragic memories she hasn't been willing to face for decades. Kausar is independent and badass, but she loves her family and has a lot of heart. The cast was diverse and, for the most part, really likeable. As always, I had no idea who the bad guy was until the big reveal - I felt like the pacing was really good. All the talk of food made me so hungry. I would definitely read a second book in this series and look forward to reading more of Jalaluddin's backlog (I loved "Three Holidays and a Wedding").

I received an advanced digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

CWs - Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Murder, Child death, Racism, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Sexual harassment, Pandemic/Epidemic

3 stars – A charming start with potential, but not quite a knockout

First off, thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of Detective Aunty! I was thrilled to dive into this one—the concept of a meddling mother-turned-amateur sleuth? Say less. I’m in.

Uzma Jalaluddin gives us Kausar Khan, a recently widowed, force of nature who swoops into Toronto like a one-woman justice league after her daughter is arrested for murder. What follows is part cozy mystery, part intergenerational drama, part neighborhood gossip-fest, all wrapped in a distinctly South Asian flavor that makes the premise sparkle with originality.

Kausar is a delight—wise, witty, and wonderfully nosy. I enjoyed her sharp observations, her clever insights, and the warm (and occasionally exasperating) relationships with her daughter and granddaughter. The “aunty energy” was strong with this one, and I mean that as a compliment of the highest order.

That said, the mystery itself stumbled a bit for me. I wanted the twisty-turny sleuthing to keep me guessing, but I found myself ahead of Kausar a little too often. And while the themes of community change and generational tension were meaningful, they occasionally took center stage in ways that slowed the momentum.

Still, this is a promising series starter. If you’re here for a cozy mystery with heart and humor, Detective Aunty delivers enough charm to make it worth your time—even if the mystery doesn’t quite stick the landing. I’ll be curious to see what case Kausar takes on next… and whether she brings snacks.

Final verdict: A fun, culturally rich mystery with a lovable lead!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

Such a fun detective story with a lot of great cultural influences that really set it apart from some similar books.

A fantastic start to a new Canadian cozy mystery series featuring Kausar Khan, a feisty South Asian widow with a knack for solving mysteries, who rushes from her North Bay home when her daughter gets arrested for murder in Toronto.

I really enjoyed this amateur detective story featuring an older female lead. Kausar loves her family and has missed spending time with her daughter and granddaughters. She digs into what's really happening with her son-in-law, her daughter's store and finds herself in a bit of romance with an actual police detective.

Great on audio and recommended for fans of the Vera Wong series. I can't wait to read more of Kausar's second act adventures! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Kausar Kahn is still having trouble dealing with the emotions of her husband's death. A call from her daughter who is suspected of murder throws her life upside down. Knowing she has no choice Kausar heads back to Toronto for the first time in twenty years. Sana has been arrested for killing the landlord of her clothing boutique. Kausar sets out to investigate knowing that her daughter could not have committed this crime. The landlord has many enemies that may have wanted him dead. But it soon becomes clear that Sana and her husband have been hiding secrets. Could they actually be involved or is there another culprit?

This book was a true delight. I love a good cozy mystery and this is one of the best I have read this year. Kausar is so smart, tenacious, and leads with her heart. This is a mystery first but also a family drama. I really appreciated the way we slowly learned about her complicated feelings related to her recently deceased husband. We also deal a lot with the grief Kausar has experienced due to the death of her son, Ali. Her relationship with her daughter is complicated but you can really feel the amount of love that exists between the two of them. The mystery itself was very interesting and had some great twists. I also loved the community aspects of the book. I have read a few books by Uzma but this is my favorite. She has a real talent with mystery writing and I can't wait to see what comes next in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Aunty - Uzma Jalaluddin
Pub Date - 5/6/25
Rating - 3.5/5
Thoughts - Thank you Netgalley, Harper Perennial, and Uzma Jalaluddin for this gifted advanced ereader copy in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book! This is my first book by this author, and as for cozy mysteries, she nailed it. Identifying as south asian myself, this book was an treat to see the culture represented in a whodunit novel. The only reason this wasn't a higher rating for me would be that it dragged a little in the middle. Well written, will definitely be reading more of her work in the future!

Kausar is a woman of keen observation and seems to be able to figure out anything. Imagine her surprise when her daughter, Sana, calls because she's been arrested for the murder of her landlord. Kausar returns to Toronto to find out whodunnit because she's convinced it can't be her daughter. Within the span of a wee(although it seemed she was their longer), Kausar learns a lot about what's been going on in Santa's life; her marriage is in trouble, her oldest daughter Maleeha, has some secrets too.

What I like about this book is Kausar's observant and methodical approach in piecing things together. She knows Sana is hiding something because she's being evasive and it seems like all the evidence points to her in the murder. Like any good mystery, the prime suspect is typically not the killer. She also does a nice job of playing up to peoples biases when it comes to older people. Kausar is kind and has a real sense of justice even when it triggers memories, feelings and emotions that caused her to retreat to North Bay years ago.

Did I figure out the killer? No.
Did I see some of the plot twists. No.
Did I enjoy this book? YES.

The beverage of choice in this book was chai so definitely my thing. I'm excited for the next book in the installment. I'll be reading the author's backlist in the meantime.

Did not finish. Did not appeal to me. Can see that there is a base for this type of mystery novel but I am not it.