Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin

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 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…

Paperback, 336 pages

Published May 6, 2025 

by HarperCollins Publishers

4/5 stars

Detective Aunty was a fun and engaging read, and as someone who already enjoys Uzma Jalaluddin’s books I was excited to dive into this one. The fact that it’s set in Toronto was a big bonus for me - I love a good Canadian setting, and she really brings the city to life in all the best ways.

The premise is a great mix of heart and mystery. After living in North Bay for the past seventeen years following the heartbreaking loss of her son, Kausar Khan returns to Toronto after a frantic phone call from her daughter. There has been a murder and she is the prime suspect. What starts as a worried mom trying to get answers turns into a full-on amateur sleuth adventure, complete with community gossip, unexpected clues and plenty of determination on her part.

There’s a nice balance of humor, heart, and mystery here. Kausar is a great character - warm, stubborn, sharp, and just chaotic enough to make the whole thing feel lively and real. The mystery moves at a good pace and I loved how Jalaluddin weaves in family, culture, and neighbourhood dynamics without ever making it feel heavy.

Overall, this was a enjoyable read - a little twisty, a little heartfelt, very Canadian and completely entertaining. This is the first in new series, I can't wait to see what happens next.

This book was part of my 2025 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge (#44)