Uzma Jalaluddin describes her newest protagonist Kausar Khan as “not a gossip – really, she’s more like a community intelligence officer.” It’s the perfect introduction to the quietly formidable amateur sleuth at the heart of Detective Aunty (May, 2025), the first delightful installment in Jalaluddin’s new mystery series, published by HarperCollins Canada. As the title suggests, this new novel marks a genre departure for the bestselling author, known for her romance-infused novels Ayesha at Last and Hana Khan Carries On, which is currently in development for film by Mindy Kaling and Amazon Studios. But don’t expect this pivot to mystery to abandon the hallmarks of Jalaluddin’s writing: rich cultural texture, intergenerational warmth, layered themes, and relatable characters who feel wholly lived in. What’s new is the element of suspense, handled with the same deft touch that has made Jalaluddin’s earlier work so beloved.
Detective Aunty introduces Kausar, a recently widowed woman in her fifties who returns to Toronto for the first time in nearly twenty years when her adult daughter, Sana, is arrested for murder. The victim? Sana’s boutique’s disfavoured landlord, stabbed with a dagger from her own window display. With her daughter pegged as the prime suspect, Kausar is determined to clear her name. Respected for her warmth, erudition and composure, Kausar begins an off-the-books investigation alongside old friends and her teenage granddaughter. As the case unfolds, so too do long-buried secrets and tensions within her family and their close-knit South Asian Muslim community. The novel is a classic whodunit – and whydunit – wrapped in modern themes: communal bonds, racism, misogyny, generational divides, and the redemptive power of second chances. Jalaluddin’s fans will rejoice that there is a dash of romance, too.
Kausar’s character was drawn from life. “Detective Aunty was inspired by my mother-in-law, who was widowed in her early fifties, and who married young and had her children in her early twenties just like Kausar,” Jalaluddin shares. “She loves to read mystery novels and that was something we bonded over when I first got married. We still recommend books to each other.” Jalaluddin was also inspired by her mother, who is a fan of the genre and who loves Columbo and Murder She Wrote. That familial resonance grounds Kausar’s voice with a kind of gentle realism that readers will recognize. Jalaluddin grew up reading Christie as well as teen mysteries and adult mystery authors, including. Anthony Horowitz, Ausma Zehanat Khan, Lucy Foley, Karen McManus, Holly Jackson, Richard Osman, and Tarquin Hall.
Jalaluddin’s decision to centre the story around a woman in the “second act” of her life gives Detective Aunty a refreshing thematic richness. “I always start with character, and Kausar led the way,” she explains. “I’m interested in this series in exploring an older woman who is rooted in community but who had faced tragedy in her own life and has tucked herself away as a result,” she explains. “I also wanted to explore the theme of return – she left the community nearly twenty years ago and only comes back now because she has no other choice, her daughter is in trouble and has begged for help. It’s not entirely a fish-out-of-water narrative, but has elements of it.”
That sense of belonging – of being inextricably tied to people and place – is everywhere in the novel. The fictional Golden Crescent neighbourhood, a richly imagined Toronto suburb, is as memorable as any character. “I try to do this in all of my books,” says Jalaluddin. “I’m a second generation immigrant, I’ve always lived in the very diverse suburbs of the GTA, so this is sort of my obsession. I’m really glad all of that came across, as I wanted to paint the fictional Golden Crescent as vividly as possible. Readers often try to guess where the real Golden Crescent is, and I enjoy hearing their points of view – the truth is, it’s familiar because so much of the city resembles this neighbourhood.”
While Detective Aunty may nod to genre staples, Jalaluddin is clear that Kausar goes against type. Although she pitched the book as a “South Asian Miss Marple who solves mysteries in the community,” she was excited to subvert the nosy “Aunty” stereotype: “Kausar is smart, observant, perceptive, but she’s not a gossip,” she explains. “Miss Marple relies a lot on gossip and speculation, and her knowledge of the people in her community, which is fun, but I wanted to make Kausar a deeply insightful person who is also very compassionate and empathetic. People are drawn to her and tell her things of their own accord.”
It is this cultural and emotional intelligence that distinguishes Detective Aunty in a bustling mystery market. Jalaluddin draws from within her own community not only to craft a believable setting, but to infuse the story with joy and nuance. “I grew up in Toronto, I identify with the Indian, Muslim, desi community very much, and so I’m writing from that perspective as authentically as I can,” she says. “Of course this is my portrayal, and Kausar is from an older generation, too.”
As for what’s next? “I know many readers will be surprised that I made the jump to mystery when I’m known as a romance author – my first four books are all romance-adjacent. I hope readers will take a chance on Detective Aunty, which is a sweet, charming and very binge-worthy cosy mystery. I love Kausar Khan, my amateur sleuth, and I think readers will too! Book two will be out next year.”
Quick Takes with Uzma Jalaluddin
1. If Detective Aunty were adapted for the screen, who would be your dream casting for Kausar – and would she approve of the choice?
UJ: Honestly, I have no idea. Someone fun I hope! Maybe an older Bollywood actor?
2. There’s such a comforting rhythm of chai, food, and hospitality throughout Detective Aunty—it really feels like a love letter to community and connection. If you could sit down for a cup of chai with any character from the book, who would it be, and what do you imagine that conversation might be like?
UJ: I feel like I’ve already had chai with Kausar so many times, but I can always drink more. I’d love to hear more about her childhood, and her early days of marriage and her immigration to Canada. I always love to hear those stories from my own parents.
3. If readers could walk through one of the doors in the book and step into a scene, which moment would you love for them to experience firsthand?
UJ: The janazah or funeral scene is pretty evocative, and I think Muslim funerals are very beautiful, even if in this case the funeral prayers are being performed for not a great guy, Imran, the murder victim.
4. Which part of writing Detective Aunty brought you the most unexpected joy or made you laugh out loud at your own keyboard?
UJ: Every book is both a joy and a slog, and this book was no different. I always enjoy revising my books, which is when I think the real magic happens. I loved coming up with the clues and red herrings that will keep readers guessing!
5. If Kausar Khan were to host a mystery-themed dinner party, what would be on the menu and which famous fictional detectives would she invite?
UJ: Her menu would be very Hyderabadi, with biryani and mirchi ka salan and tamati ki khat with boiled eggs, maybe some double ka mitha for dessert. She would invite Miss Marple and the two of them would have a great time chatting about their very different yet similar communities, and maybe complain about their wayward family members.
Fans eager to hear more from Jalaluddin can catch her at two events during this year’s Festival of Literary Diversity (The FOLD):
Talking Genre & Talking Genre After-Party on April 29, 7:30 PM ET (online)
Romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery and thrillers all rely on unique storytelling strengths that influence character, plot, setting, and more. Join romance author Ruby Barrett, science fiction author Suzan Palumbo, romance-turned-mystery author Uzma Jalaluddin, and moderator Kerry C. Byrne as they discuss how genre fiction can showcase marginalised stories in fresh and unexpected ways. Virtual passes can be purchased here.
The Literary High Tea on May 4, 10:30 AM ET (in person)
A delightful high tea with three writers. This special-tea event includes fun trivia with fabulous prizes. Held at the historic Alderlea Manor at 40 Elizabeth St South in downtown Brampton. Tickets are available here.
On June 11, 2025, readers can attend A Case of the Cozies, part of Toronto Public Library Salon Series at the North York Central Library. Jalaluddin, Bianca Marais and Elizabeth Renzetti will talk about writing immersive, intriguing and cozy mysteries, hosted by bestselling author Marissa Stapely. Reserve free tickets here.
© Arpita Ghosal, Sesaya Arts Magazine, 2025
