Detective Aunty: A Novel

Kausar is no stranger to terrible news, but she never expected her daughter, Sana, to be taken into custody for murder. She quickly makes plans to spend a week helping Sana with her children, which means facing the life she left behind in Toronto twenty years ago. She has avoided the Golden suburb she once called home for years, but with evidence mounting and the police treating Sana as the only suspect, she fears she may be the only one who can find the truth.

The mystery is filled with heart and a gentle understanding used to explore themes of trauma, family, and loss. Jalaluddin employs a compassionate lens to highlight community and family dynamics, touching on real-life topics and situations, such as racism and immigration. Kausar Khan immediately feels like a longtime friend and a full-fledged character you’re eager to solve a mystery with. Her enthusiasm and Agatha Christie-worthy observational skills give an energy that drives the stories and keeps you turning the page. Her ability to use her perceptions of others against them is Jalaluddin’s secret weapon as Kausar raises the bar for what it means to be a sleuth. Your next mystery obsession, Detective Aunty, feels like just the beginning of Kausar’s adventures and will leave you wanting more.