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.

When her daughter is accused of murder, Kausar steps in trying to find out the truth.

I don't read a lot of cozy mysteries but I have noticed that the ones I pick up tend to have old ladies doing the investigating - first Vera Wong and now Kausar Khan. This one was truly delightful. I laughed, I groaned and I cheered as I read this book. Not only does Kausar manage to solve the case but she also brings together family and community. I always enjoy Uzma Jalaluddin's books and this one was another winner.

I've always enoyed books by Uzma Jalaluddin, so I was thrilled to read her latest book. I loved Kausra and her investigatives skills. I can't wait for the second book in the series (and this book hasn't even officially been released!). The author does a good job of building out family and friends relationships. I really cared about all Kausra's friends and family. This was a quick read for me because it held my interest the entire time.

I definitely recommend reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

If I could, I would give this book a ten-star rating, but alas, I can not do that here. Just let it be known that I would have! LOL! I'm not going to bore you with a recap of this book; it is not necessary, nor could I give you one without accidentally giving something away. Let's just say that there is a murder which seems to be quickly solved, but really isn't, and since Kausar's daughter appears to be the prime suspect, Kausar comes back to Toronto to help her daughter and family.

This was an all-out thrilling read, twisty, turny, with a murderer that I never saw coming. I would be surprised if almost nobody could figure it out. Then again, maybe I'm just lacking in my detective skills!

What I loved most about this book is that it was so much more than just a murder mystery; it was also a family drama on several levels. I was able to learn a lot about Asian-Indian culture (food, clothing, death rites, etc.), and since this story takes place in Canada, I learned some things about my brothers in the North that I never knew.

There are actually several mysteries going on at the same time in this book, and I wonder if the author is going to use that loose end for her next book, and there darned well better be a next book ---or maybe a series! I love books about middle-aged women and how they deal with life. And did I mention that there might be a romance coming too?

I must tell you that, based on this one book, I just went and bought two more by this author. I hope I loved them as much as I did this one!

*ARC supplied by Harper Perennial/HarperCollins Publishers, the author, and NetGalley.

I have loved all of Jalaluddin's books previous, so I was excited to get to read this one. However, it didn't live up to her other books unfortunately. It was a little too slow in the beginning, and it just wasn't at the same level as her other books. Maybe that is on me for expecting the same thing, when this was clearly a cozy mystery series.

The writing was still clever, I just wanted more from it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for a copy of this ARC!

🦇 Detective Aunty Book Review 🦇

❓ What's the last mystery you read?

🦇 After her husband’s unexpected death, 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. Determined to help her child, Kausar heads to Toronto for the first time in nearly twenty years. 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 and 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.

💜 Congratulations to Uzma Jalaluddin for breaking into the mystery/thriller genre! Let's break down this amazing start to a new series:

✨ Characters (4/5): I loved that Kausar is savvy and headstrong. It's obvious, on every page, how important family is to her (and coming from a Muslim family, I felt that). I do wish we received more about who she is outside of her mystery-solving and investment mindset, though. There's plenty to learn about Kausar and her family in future books. As for everyone else, the supporting cast is WAY too big. That makes it easier to keep readers from prematurely guessing the murderer, but makes keeping track of everyone difficult.

✨ Plot and Pacing (3/5): I loved the plot of Kausar returning home, to her family, to HELP her family, and proving that she's more than a live-in maid in the process. However, the pacing lags a few times. Having a few irrelevant but shocking reveals thrown into the story would have helped (use that huge cast!).

✨ World-Building (3/5): The lack of setting descriptions bothered me a little, especially since the plaza plays a big part in the story.

✨ Romance (4/5): Romance isn't the story's main purpose, but what we got was heartwarming without feeling rushed.

✨ Mystery/Suspense (3/5): I really wanted to give this a five, but because the pacing lags, the tension lags as well. The big reveal is well-thought out (I figured out the first half, but not the second, which I'm glad for) and plenty puzzle pieces were laid out for readers to track, but the slow pace keeps it from feeling like a gut-punch surprise (in a good way).

✨ Tone/Prose (3/5): The story is well-written, the prose easy to follow, and I'm glad for the little snippets of Arabic (along with explanations), which infused the book with culture (so did all the food!). I definitely made more than one cup (teapot) of chai while reading this. There are some good one-liners, but I'm hoping to see stronger prose as the series continues. Unfortunately, there's a LOT of repetitive, as if there's a chance the reader wasn't paying attention as pieces were revealed, which makes it feel like we're being talked down to.

🦇 Recommended to fans of Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series, the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries, or Agatha Christie.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🔍 Murder Mystery
🫖 A Hint of Romance
☕ Older FMC
☕ Muslim FMC / Diverse / Desi Community
🫖 Cozy Detective Series

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #DetectiveAunty

💬 Quotes
“The pens have been lifted, and the pages have dried."

“A woman’s ambition is always limited by her circumstances."

“It would be a shame to dim a light you have only just discovered.”

"Never try to hide the things you do for love.”

This was a horrible book to try to read while doing my chores, because I ended up just reading and getting nothing done. I was instantly hooked by the prologue, which had one of the best concluding lines I think I have ever read. And while I was slower to fall in love with Kausar, I ended up loving her. She was very nuanced, with her love of her family and her struggles with her mental health. She also has amazing character development learning what it means to be on her own and pursue her passions. I am definitely looking forward to more books in this series and how she continues to grow. I also liked her friends and family, especially May, who was the Watson to Kausar’s Sherlock Holmes. I want to see Kausar’s relationships with her family grow more in future books, but this book had a really strong start. As for the plot, while it was a bit slow and seemed to meander at times, it had a good ending. I loved the big dinner party reveal. So overall this was an amazing book from one of my favorite authors and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for this honest review. This book unfortunately was too slow for me to enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for a review. I love this author and will read anything by her. Unfortunately this book did not do it for me. The storyline was very slow and i didn’t feel connected to any of the characters.