Description:
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
Kausar Khan returns to dispense more vigil-aunty justice in the second installment of the critically acclaimed Detective Aunty series--and this time, the crime Kausar is investigating is dredging up memories she buried long ago . . .
When Kausar Khan moved back to Toronto to be closer to her family, she didn't expect to have another murder investigation on her hands so soon--or really ever. But when a young man named Qasim is found dead in their Golden Crescent neighborhood, and when she learns he was close to her granddaughter, Maleeha, what's a grandmother to do but try and solve the case?
And it's not just her heartbroken granddaughter spurring Kausar to find answers; it's also how the circumstances of Qasim's death remind her of her own teenage son, Ali, and his mysterious death nearly twenty years before. Kausar knows firsthand what a difference closure can make to a grieving parent--and the more she seeks to find that for Qasim's parents, the more she begins to realize that perhaps it's time she finds closure for herself as well.
As Kausar digs into both Qasim's and Ali's cases and her "aunty" skills continue to bring more information to light, she can't help but wonder if the similarities between the two cases are more than just mere coincidence. But how could two deaths, twenty years apart, possibly be related?
Detective Aunty is determined to find out.
Brief description:
Uzma Jalaluddin is a critically acclaimed and bestselling novelist, playwright, and teacher. She writes nuanced and entertaining stories about Muslims, South Asians, and Canadians and is the author of Much Ado About Nada, Three Holidays and a Wedding, Hana Khan Carries On, and Ayesha at Last. as well as her first play, The Rishta. Her novels have been optioned for film and television, including by Amazon Studios and Mindy Kaling. A high school English teacher, Jalaluddin is also a former contributor to the Toronto Star and the Atlantic. She lives near Toronto with her family.
Review Quotes:
"This second installment [in the Detective Aunty series] is deeply layered, rich in culture, and paves the way for this detective to become a favorite." - Kirkus Reviews
"Jalaluddin returns with the second stellar addition to her Detective Aunty series, gifting readers with another meticulously plotted cozy that also thoughtfully explores the ties that bind us together." - Booklist
"Fans of Agatha Christie's sharp-eyed detective Miss Jane Marple will recognize a similarly gifted sleuth in South Asian-Canadian detective Aunty Kausar Khan." - National Post
"Jalaluddin imbues her cozy mysteries with an authentic blending of Muslim traditions and culture infused into the milieu of the big city, making them savory treats not to be missed." - BookTrib
"Some read[ers look] for plot, some for characters, others for the way it is all woven together with stylish writing; here there's something for all kinds of readers, a well-balanced mix of all the ingredients that make for a good mystery. Readers will be left eager for Kausar's next adventure." - Crime Fiction Review
"Jalaluddin's eloquent sequel to Detective Aunty is a bona fide cozy murder mystery hit! South Asian-Canadian detective Aunty Kausar Khan is impelled to investigate another murder in Toronto--this time linked to one of her granddaughters. Double doses of intrigue arise as clues pile up that inspire Kausar to finally solve who killed her son, Ali, twenty years ago." - Christian Science Monitor
"Jalaluddin, who has crossed into crime fiction from the romantic comedy genre, doesn't skimp on plotting--the whodunnit twist caught me pleasingly flat-footed--but shines most with character and community, showing complexities of mother-daughter relationships and the variability of longtime friendships. Detective Aunty is the first in a new series and I certainly welcome more installments." - New York Times Book Review on Detective Aunty
"Jalaluddin has created a complex character who must come to terms with her past as well as her future while dealing with outmoded ideas and behavior aimed at women of a certain age, and supporting characters add humor to the plot. Recommended for fans of Sujata Massey's Perveen Mistry books and Robert Thorogood's 'Marlow Murder Club' series." - Library Journal on Detective Aunty
"I love a good, cozy mystery, one with lots of charm and a solid central character, and Detective Aunty is the perfect spring read. With intelligence, the wisdom of age and the nosiness everyone permits in an 'Aunty, ' Kausar uncovers plots and secrets that no one, even she, could predict. This is a terrific beginning for what I hope is a series." - The Globe and Mail on Detective Aunty
"For fans of cozy mysteries, amateur sleuths, and family relationships!" - Book Riot on Detective Aunty
"I adored this--it weaves together that perfect mix of mystery, community heart, and secrets, all with wit and warmth. Uzma Jalaluddin puts her finger on the pulse of tricky mother-daughter relationships, gently prods cultural norms, and keeps you guessing as to whodunnit all in an expertly paced style. I can't wait to see what Kausar Khan gets up to next!" - Kristen Perrin, nationally bestselling author of How to Solve Your Own Murder, on Detective Aunty
"A read as cozy and delicious as a cup of chai, Kausar Khan proves aunties get stuff done. I already loved Jalaluddin's romances and now I've found a new favorite cozy mystery series as well!" - Mia P. Manansala, author of the best-selling Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series, on Detective Aunty