I wanted to love Detective Aunty as much as I did Jalaluddin's romance novels, but I could not. I found the declarative writing style grating and the pile-on of "facts" didn't allow Jalaluddin's to flesh out her story and especially her characters. I would read another Jalaluddin romance, but her veering to the cozy detective novel isn't for this reader.

I’ve been devouring Uzma Jalaluddin’s novels since her debut, Ayesha at Last, was published back in 2018. While I love her romances, I was still willing to give her a chance when I learned she’d be publishing Detective Aunty, the first in a new cozy mystery series. There was a lot in the novel that was familiar and wonderful, but overall, I was a little let down by this mystery.

Here’s the book’s description:

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 that have gone unsolved.

And the facts of the case are 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…

As always, the representation in Jalaluddin’s novel was amazing. It was the absolute best part of the book. I loved getting a peek into Kauser’s family and beliefs, and those of her friends and neighbours as well. And the fact that it was set in Canada? Fantastic.

Buuut…the mystery felt…convoluted? Poorly plotted? I admit that I don't really love amateur detective stories so that was a hard thing for me to get over. Others may feel differently and may enjoy the story more. Everyone dismissed Kauser’s observation skills (except her best friend) and that bothered me. But also, “observation skills” does not a detective make and she could have caused some serious damage to her daughter’s case (which the lawyer did point out). And the fact that a police officer knew she was poking around? And she felt like he owed her something because he grew up in the neighbourhood? It was weird. And the final revelation? I don’t think there were enough connections made for that to land the way it should have.

An aside - if you do read this one, make sure you have a cup of chai with you!

There was a coziness to Detective Aunty that I appreciated but all in all, I don’t think Uzma Jalaluddin’s latest novel did what it should have (which makes me so sad). Will I read the next book in Kauser Khan Investigates? I’m not sure. Time will tell!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Title: Detective Aunty
Author: Uzma Jalaluddin
Series: Kausar Khan Investigates #1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: May 6, 2025

I received a complimentary eARC from HarperCollins Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Witty • Layered • Relaxing

📖 S Y N O P S I S

After her husband’s unexpected death twelve months earlier, Kausar Khan never thought she’d receive another phone call as heartbreaking—until her thirty-something daughter, Sana, phones to say 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 remembers has changed. The murder of Sana’s landlord is only the latest in a wave of local crimes that 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 into his chest. But Kausar—a woman with a keen sense of observation and deep wisdom honed by life experience—senses there’s more to the story than her daughter is sharing.

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 could not have predicted the secrets, lies, and betrayals she finds along the way...

💭 T H O U G H T S

I have read, and enjoyed, Uzma Jalaluddin entire backlist, so of course, I was excited to hear she'd be releasing a new book in 2025 and stepping outside the contemporary romance genre and into the whodunit realm. The premise certainly gave me Dial A for Aunties vibes and I decided to pick this one up between two heavier reads as a palette cleanser.

Filled with mystery, secrets, and complex family dynamics, the plot has a consistent pace and flows like you'd expect a cozy mystery to. It is filled with rich cultural detail (so many food descriptions) and examines various relationships within the family. I enjoyed getting to know Kausar and her story the most, while the actual mystery took a bit of a back seat.

I would have to say the ending is anticlimactic after such build up and detail being revealed. I know it is likely setting the stage for a continuation of this new series, but it just felt unfinished in some way. I think if there had been a more conclusive ending, I'd have rated it slightly higher and been left feeling more satisfied.

Detective Aunty was a fun and entertaining read about redemption and family. Although I enjoyed it, it doesn't necessarily offer anything I haven't read before. If you're considering picking it up for the investigation aspect, you'll likely be left feeling disappointed. The characters are really at the centre of this one. I'll definitely continue to read Uzma's books and look forward to seeing what she writes next.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• amateur detective series
• Canadian content
• widow characters

⚠️ CW: murder, death, child death, death of parent, grief, infidelity, violence, racism, police brutality, sexism, misogyny, injury/injury detail, fire/fire injury, classism, sexual harassment, car accident, pandemic/epidemic

I'm not much of a mystery reader, but Uzma wrote it, so I must read it.

I will say I loved more about learning about the characters in the Golden Crescent more than the murder mystery bit.

I found the ending a bit...anticlimactic even when it is suppose to be, there is definitely something missing from the ending.

Overall, I still enjoyed it. And the characters were the best part of it.

Thank you to NG and the publisher for a free review copy. All opinions are my own.

This is a truly amazing new book from proven romance author Uzma Jalaluddin. She can obviously write whatever genre she wants because this is a mystery that reads like it's by a seasoned pro, not a first time mystery novelist. It is so evocative of the Toronto suburbs and brings the muslim community into the story in a complex and engaging way. Read if you like Agatha Christie, Richard Osman, etc.

I am a big Uzma Jalaluddin fan and have enjoyed all of her romance novels to date. I also enjoyed this mystery debut, and especially the way that it introduced the neighborhood of the Golden Crescent. One of my favorite parts of her novels is the way she depicts community and community plays a role in the plot, and "Detective Aunty" also shines in this regard. This book is a gentle, well-written mystery and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope that this is not Detective Aunty's last case!

If I was under suspicion of murder, I would also definitely go to a South Asian auntie to help clear my name. That's why her dupatta is so long - it's filled with secrets.

Uzma Jalaluddin has done it again! This time, there's no coming of age or romantic escapades happening on Goulden Crescent. Instead, there's been a murder and Kausar Khan aka Detective Aunty is on the case to clear her daughter from being suspect #1. I absolutely love Uzma's writing and I'm so glad she wrote a story from the POV of a middle aged Muslim, South Asian woman. How often do we get to see representation like that? It's incredible to walk into stores and see her books on the shelves.

Detective Aunty hits all the fun and dramatic beats of a typical murder mystery. I loved it even more than the average murder mystery because it's so infused with Asian / immigrant culture and really livens up this little east end town in Toronto. I found myself stressed out, laughing and relating to so many of the characters. I can't wait to see what comes up next in what I'm hoping becomes a Detective Aunty series!

Thank you so much HarperCollins Canada for the opportunity to read and review!

In Detective Aunty we follow Kausar Kaur, who must return to Toronto to help her daughter when she is accused of a murder. It's up to Kausar to get to the bottom of this mystery and clear her daughters name. The mystery kept me hooked from start to finish, with just the right balance of tension and playfulness. Every character felt fully realized from the clever and determined lead to the richly drawn supporting cast. What really made this book special to me was how relatable and authentic the family dynamics felt. As a South Asian reader, I saw so many cultural nuances and moments that mirrored my own experiences. There are just some things that we don't talk about in South Asian families, but I liked that Kausar had to dig deep into these issues in order to solve the mystery. I also really like that she used the cover of being a nosy aunty in order to find things out and get away with things other people couldn't. I absolutely loved this book and flew through it in one sitting.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Canada for this e-ARC that I chose to read and review

@uzmajalaluddin did it again! I love everything I read by this fantastic Canadian author!

Detective Aunty is a fun, cozy mystery with just the right amount of suspense to keep you on your toes! Kausar, a recently widowed mother and grandmother, gets the call that she needs to come stay with her daughter in the Golden Crescent, Scarborough neighbourhood in Toronto. Her daughter has been accused of and may soon be arrested for murder and she needs her mother to come watch her 15 and 10 year old daughters. Kausar is reluctant to head back to the city but is willing to do whatever it takes to support her daughter and granddaughters, including perhaps solving the case? Kausar is well known for her sleuthing abilities and as she integrates herself into the community, she is surprised to see how willing people are to talk to a sweet "old" Aunty. The murder investigation quickly reveals itself to be much more complicated than the police have been making it seem, but Kausar has plans and she will do what it takes to help clear her daughter's name!

As with all of Jalaluddin's books, this one tackles discrimination and racism, has a bit of love and romance, focuses on great characters and has a well-paced plot that keeps you wanting to read more. I love that it is set in Toronto, features a variety of diverse characters, and represents South Asian culture in a way that is interesting and enjoyable for readers of any background. Community is a huge feature in this book, and so Jalaluddin's skill in creating memorable characters and building strong relationships between them is so important for this story. I'm not a huge mystery reader, but I loved this book and also loved that unlike some of her other books, romance wasn't the main storyline. This is an excellent women's fiction, great for adult readers of any age! If you haven't read any of her books yet, definitely check this one out. Detective Aunty is out now!

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher, @harpercollinsca for giving me the chance to read and review this fabulous book!

Uzma is such a wonderful writer. I absoIutely love the local setting (Toronto) and was absolutely riveted. This is a book you can devour! I can't wait for the second instalment.

Absolutely loved #DetectiveAunty thank you #netgalley for this arc! My favourite book of 2025 so far, an absolute masterpiece of cozy mystery whodunnit. It left me guessing until the end and eagerly reading this book until late into the night to find out the ending. I love that this book is set in Ontario and gives a new prescriptive to go ur cultural mosaic of Canada!! When is Uzma Jalaluddin's next book out? I have read all of her wonderful books!!

Detective Aunty is book one in the Kausar Khan Investigates series. It is the first book in a new cozy mystery series featuring Muslim characters.

Fifty-seven year old Kausar (pronounced Caw-sir according to the author) is a mother and grandmother. After her daughter Sana finds herself involved in a murder mystery, Kausar is determined to help her. She immediately gets on a plane to Toronto to try to solve her daughter's case. Kausar isn't a detective. But she is very observant and she gets people to talk to her.

I loved this book so much. This book focuses so much on Muslim culture and the Muslim community in Toronto. It is not as light and funny as some cozy mysteries. But it is full of heart. I adored Kausar. I loved her granddaughters. And I was obsessed with so many of the supporting characters in this story, especially Kausar's friends Nasir and May.

The amateur sleuthing is so good. The mystery is complex. And the amount of Muslim culture that is featured in this book is impressive. All of these aspects add so much to this murder mystery.

Also mental health is discussed, including depression and grief. This made the book so much more special IMO.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. So many Muslim terms and customs are included that I felt like I learned so much. Plus I was completely entranced by Kausar and her detective skills. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series.

This is a really good start to a new cozy mystery series by Canadian author Uzma Jalaluddin.

4.5 stars.

Set largely in Toronto, I love that the main character is a middle-aged Canadian Muslim woman (Kausar) who has recently been widowed.

Kausar is so likeable even if she likes to ask a lot of questions! But it is that skill that she is determined to use when she rushes to the aid of her daughter when she is accused of murder. The story is about Kausar’s amateur sleuthing efforts to solve the murder but it is also about community, family, second chances, grief, and female friendships. I also found it very interesting to learn about Muslim culture.

The author has an easy to read writing style and the story flows very smoothly, all the way to a satisfying ending, which hints at the next in the series.

I highly recommend this lovely cozy mystery series!

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

If its a murder mystery - I'm already in!

I love fun and upbeat murder mysteries and I absolutely love the fact that I can recognize and relate to the locations mentioned throughout the book. There's something about being able to relate to the book you're reading (in a good way) and I found myself laughing at certain moments on multiple occasions.

The book was definitely a page turner and I yearned for more. More of the characters, and the story itself.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the genre. Its fun, lighthearted, and relatable.