What is the title of your latest release?
MOONLIGHT MURDER
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Kausar Khan returns with a case that might break her – eighteen years after his tragic death, Kausar is determined to find out what really happened, the night she lost her youngest son Ali, and silence her suspicions and questions once and for all.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
My novels are usually set in the Golden Crescent neighbourhood. This fictional neighbourhood is inspired by Scarborough, located in the east end of the Greater Toronto Area, and one of the most diverse and interesting areas of the country.
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
I’ve always said I want to be Kausar Khan when I grow up, so yes, pretty sure she would be an excellent hang.
What are three words that describe your hero?
Tenacious, Compassionate, Intelligent.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
Writing a mystery is like constructing an elaborate puzzle box and magician trick all rolled in one!
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I always wait until I’m done to edit, otherwise I’ll lose steam and start to second guess everything. I need to have a complete draft before I can start to rip it apart.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I’m a simple woman. Fresh popcorn with a bit of salt, some butter, and I’m happy. Also a caffeinated drink – chai is a go-to!
Describe your writing space/office!
I’m fortunate to have a separate office in my house, a bright and sunny space on the second floor, with a large table where my iMac sits. Behind my desk is a huge window that lets in a lot of light. There is a small Ikea sofabed in front of the window, for visiting guests. I have three bookshelves that hold about half of my book collection. I intend to buy more bookshelves so I can finally unpack the rest of my books. I’ve also decorated with framed prints of my book covers, and various other knickknacks collected over the years. I’m especially proud of my Jane Austen bobble head, a gift from the Jane Austen Society of North America, as well as my many different versions of Pride and Prejudice.
Who is an author you admire?
I’m a big fan of Anthony Horowitz’s adult mystery novels, in particular the Hawthorne series. I get a kick out of the meta mysteries, where the author himself plays a bumbling Hastings to the fictional cantankerous detective Hawthorne. I’m also really enjoying Kelly Armstrong’s A Rip Through Time series.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Likely A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. I love that book so much. It was the first time I saw my own South Asian culture represented on a massive canvas, each character meticulously created and unique. It inspired me to dig into my own identity and explore writing diverse stories.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published). Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
In my case, I think the more significant moment was when I first got an offer of representation from my then-agent (who has since retired). I had been querying for a while, and had so far only fielded rejections. When I received the email that offered representation, I had to sit down and remind myself to breathe. That’s what started it all.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Romance and mystery.
What’s your favorite movie?
I don’t have one, but I think about Stranger than Fiction a lot – mostly because I wish I had written it!
What is your favorite season?
Fall. I live in the GTA (greater Toronto area) and the Fall is when the weather is pleasant, not too scorching, not yet cold, and the trees have changed colour. I also love Fall fashion.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I’m not a big birthday person. If it’s a significant birthday, I’ll get together with friends. If it’s a regular year, my husband and I will go out for dinner. I do insist my children buy me or make me something though – I want them to get into the habit of showing their appreciation for the women in their lives!
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I absolutely love the podcast Normal Gossip – the title really gives away the premise. It is delightful! I’m looking forward to watching Riz Ahmed’s Prime show, Bait.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Not sure I have a favorite, I like all food. I enjoy Indian, as it’s familiar. I love Mexican, Italian, Thai – as long as it’s made fresh, by someone else, I’m good!
What do you do when you have free time?
I tend to lounge on my couch and watch something on Netflix or another streamer. There is likely some sweet delicious thing to eat beside me, or a bowl of popcorn, and the remnants of a coffee or a chai. I also enjoy spending time with family or friends.
What can readers expect from you next?
My next rom-com is out in October! Look out for DINA GETS LUCKY and the hilarious hijinks that are only possible during a massive South Asian wedding!
Detective Aunty Investigates #2
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.
Mystery Cozy [ Harper Perennial, On Sale: May 5, 2026, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780063434967 / ]
Uzma Jalaluddin is a teacher and also writes a funny parenting column named 'Samosas and Maple Syrup' for the Toronto Star, Canada's largest daily newspaper. Her debut novel is AYESHA AT LAST.
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