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)

Murder Uncorked by Maddie Day

Raise a glass to Cece Barton, a widowed single mom and recent L.A. transplant to California wine country, who suddenly finds herself at the center of a murder investigation in this sparkling new mystery series from Agatha Award–winning and national bestselling author Maddie Day.

As the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar in Colinas, Cecelia “Cece” Barton’s first Alexander Valley harvest is a whirlwind of activity. Her twin sister, Allie Halstead, who owns a nearby Victorian bed & breakfast, is accustomed to the hustle and bustle of peak tourist season. But Cece barely has a moment to enjoy her new home in between worrying about her estranged college-age daughter, juggling her responsibilities at the bar, and navigating the sticky politics of the local wine association. Just when it seems things can’t grow any more intense, Colinas is rocked by a murder within the wine community . . . and Cece is identified as a possible suspect!

With her reputation and her livelihood on the line—and the Sonoma County deputy sheriff breathing down her neck—Cece has no choice but to open up her own murder investigation. Tensions are already high in the valley, as a massive wildfire creeps toward Colinas, threatening homes, vineyards, and the vital tourist trade. And now, with a murderer on the loose, and Cece’s sleuthing exposing the valley’s bitterest old rivalries and secret new alliances, Colinas feels ready to pop! But with Allie’s help, Cece is determined to catch the killer and clear her name before everything she’s worked so hard for goes up in flames . .

Paperback, 288 pages

Published October 24, 2023

 by ‎ Kensington Cozies

3.5/5 stars

This is my first time reading a Maddie Day book. While cozy mysteries are really not ones that I divulge into that often I was intrigued by the idea of a new series and a new to me author. Plus the MC  is the manager of wine bar, how could one go wrong with that.

CeCe Barton has moved to the wine country to be closer to her twin sister, and to start a new job as manager of a wine bar in Sonoma county. After witnessing an altercation in her bar, one of the men involved has been murdered, and CeCe is now one of the suspects

As she sets out to find out what happen her journey reveals some of the secrets in this town. This is a fun and quick read. Getting to know CeCe and her sister along with this town was a great setting. Also the start of a new series called Barton mystery.  Though this is the beginning there were times throughout this read that I felt I was missing something in terms of things that happened in her past, they made me feel I should know what was going on and that this was not book one

All in all a fun read that will appeal to those that love cozy mysteries. 

My thanks to Kensington Cozies for a print arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell

A killer is on the loose when someone turns up dead on the set of a hit TV baking competition in this darkly beguiling debut mystery that is perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Nita Prose, and Anthony Horowitz. Soon to be a limited series on Hulu.

Production for the tenth season of Bake Week is ready to begin at the gothic estate of host and celebrity chef Betsy Martin, and everything seems perfect. The tent is up, the top-tier ingredients are aligned, and the crew has their cameras at the ready.

The six contestants work to prove their culinary talents over the course of five days, while Betsy is less than thrilled to share the spotlight with a new cohost—the brash and unpredictable Archie Morris. But as the baking competition commences, things begin to go awry. At first, it’s merely sabotage—sugar replaced with salt, a burner turned to high—but when a body is discovered, everyone is a suspect.

A deliciously suspenseful thriller for murder mystery buffs and avid bakers alike, The Golden Spoon will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Kindle Edition, 288 pages

Expected publication March 7, 2023

by Atria Books

3/5 stars

Debut author Jessa Maxwell has written a story that will appeal to those who enjoy cooking/baking shows, offering a look behind the scenes.  

The Golden Spoon is a cozy mystery that follows a cast of flawed characters with inner issues, secrets and ambition. The prologue starts at the end of the story, leaving this reader to unravel the mystery searching for clues.  But ultimately this was an ok read for me.

There isn't really a huge cast of characters but at times I wish I'd taken notes of each as they were introduced.  They were unique with their quirks and backstory.

The Golden Spoon is a mystery that given more pages, time, depth and detail would have been a good, good sized story.  For me this was a slow burn with most of the action happening in the last few chapters/epilogue, coming a little too late to really connect and appreciate the plot.

The blurb doesn't mention this being made into a mini series, but it's in the works, I think will work nicely.

My thanks to Atria Books & Netgalley for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.