“I really just think Uzma Jalaluddin needs to write every book ever,” was the message I sent to my sister while reading “Detective Aunty,” Uzma Jalaluddin’s upcoming cozy mystery novel.
Everyone who knows me knows I’m a fan of Jalaluddin — I recommend her work to everyone and eagerly await her book announcements. But given that it fits more comfortably in the mystery genre than her previous romance books, “Detective Aunty” is a departure for her.
There’s a reason that I read everything that Jalaluddin writes. It’s not because she represents my community so well. It’s not because she honors classics that I love. It’s not because her romances make me happy. Or rather, it’s not just those reasons. It’s really because she’s just so good at what she does. Writing charming stories featuring realistic, loving families and strong female leads seems to be a natural, almost effortless undertaking for her. Switching genres and changing gears can be hard, but you would never have guessed that when reading “Detective Aunty” — Jalaluddin wrote a cozy mystery like she’s been writing them her whole life.
Though “Detective Aunty” is a mystery through-and-through, we certainly still see echoes of her prior work in the story. We get to enjoy little splashes of romance, tragedy, comedy and reflection, and the blend of genres is enthralling. The book refuses to limit itself to any one thing, which is what makes it a particularly special and page-turning read.
“Detective Aunty” follows Kausar Khan, an older woman who finds herself at the heart of a murder investigation when her daughter Sana becomes the prime suspect. Watching both her daughter being sent to jail her granddaughters struggle with the scandal the investigation uncovers, Kausar realizes it’s time to step up, save the day, and solve the mystery — like any mother would.
The mark of the best mystery novels is when the book is able to both take you by surprise and have you triumphantly shouting “I knew it!” by the final reveal, and “Detective Aunty” walks that line perfectly. You should always be able to piece some things together, or the mystery isn’t fun to read. You should be able to put yourself in the detective’s shoes and observe things that seem off or that strike you as suspicious, but you also want there to be a twist, something that has you gasping and quickly flipping those pages. You want your eyes to dart over the words, reeling as you realize there was a clue right in front of your face the whole time that you completely overlooked. Jalaluddin’s novel gives us just that. We put the pieces of the case together as Kausar does, but are also still surprised by the twists and turns that are revealed in the novel’s final showdown and unmasking.
Jalaluddin hit every beat that the mystery genre requires: a dead body, a quirky cast of characters and a protagonist with tricks up her sleeves. Older ladies solving crimes is a staple of the mystery genre, but I’ve never read a protagonist quite like Kausar Khan before. She’s got a keen eye, a sharp mind and the biggest heart; she observes, draws conclusions and proves naysayers wrong at every turn. Kausar Khan stands as a perfect example of why one should never underestimate a woman, especially because of her looks or age. As she says on more than one occasion, despite being older, all that really means is that her kids are grown and her life looks different than it did before — this is the beginning of her second act.
Needless to say, now that Jalaluddin has had a taste of mystery writing, we’ll be wanting to see more from her. And in particular, readers are going to be desperate to see Kausar “Detective Aunty” Khan in the midst of yet another investigation. After all, if you had a mystery to solve, who better to call than an aunty? Who knows better than them?
Daily Arts Writer Sabriya Imami can be reached at simami@umich.edu.
