Detective Aunty: In Conversation with Uzma Jalaluddin
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What inspired Uzma Jalaluddin to write Detective Aunty?
Today I want to highlight a Canadian author who's done really well for herself since her debut novel, Aisha at Last, that came out in 2018. I'm talking about Uzma Jalaluddin. Her 2021 book, Hanakhan Carries On, is being adapted into a feature film with Mindy Kaling being involved. We reviewed her 2023 novel, Three Holidays and a Wedding, last year, a book I thought was super original and a perfect cozy holiday read. It was set in a small Canadian town when a traveling family gets diverted and snowed in there during the holidays. And this in a year where three holidays line up to happen all at the same time. Eid, Christmas, and Hanukkah. It was like a super sweet Canadian multicultural Hallmark movie in a book.
It was really cool. Jalaluddin's latest book, though, is Detective Aunty. It's an Agatha Christie-inspired murder mystery. And it's her first foray into mystery because before this, her books were typically romantic comedies. But one thing that's consistent in all her works is that they're all set within Southeast Asian and Muslim communities, specifically in and around the GTA. That's the Greater Toronto Area. But I think an important part of the quality of these books that has to be mentioned is that they're positive and cheerful.
How does Detective Aunty differ from Uzma's previous romantic comedies?
They're intelligent and sweet, but they're just wholesome. They're warm, which makes them an absolute breeze to listen to. Fantastic audiobook editions too. Today, I'm talking to Usma Jalaluddin. This is Audiobook Cafe. I'm Jacob Szymanski.
All of the titles I just mentioned are available on Sela in human narrated audio. And of course, they're also on Audible. We have a short sample of Detective Auntie. Take a listen.
Ami, Gosser's eldest child, Sana, her voice carefully calm, had said over the line, I need you in Toronto now. Corser hadn't responded, frozen in the crossbeams of two contradictory thoughts. That she couldn't return to Toronto, and that her daughter would never ask unless something had gone terribly wrong. Sana continued in that strangely calm voice, as if her words were nothing more than a commentary on the day. As if this moment, too, were inevitable.
What role does the Greater Toronto Area play in Detective Aunty?
I'm in trouble. There's been a murder. And I'm the prime suspect.
That was a sample of Detective Auntie by Usma Jalaluddin, narrated by Deepti Gupta. The full audiobook is a little over 11 hours if you're interested. Usma, thank you so much for making time. Welcome to Audiobook Cafe.
Oh, thank you so much, Jacob. I'm really happy to be here.
I want to start with Detective Vanti because it's your most recent release. And this is a good old fashioned murder mystery a la Agatha Christie, which is interesting because before all of your books were romantic comedies. So I'm wondering why the change?
Such a great question. And I'm sure my editors and agent were wondering the same thing when I approached them. Yeah.
Who is the main character in Detective Aunty and what challenges does she face?
A few years ago. The truth is I've always loved mysteries and I always wanted to write one. In fact, I kind of fell into writing rom-coms. It was a detour, a very happy detour. And I remember when I was writing Aisha at last and I finally managed to, you know, it was the book that helped me find an agent and helped me get my very first publishing deal. And right when, just before the book was coming out, you know, the advice that writers are given is work on your next book. You know, like don't ruminate over all the things that are happening in terms of your, the book that's about to be published, work on the next book. And I started outlining a mystery. And then I approached my agent who has since retired at the time and said,
I said, oh, but the next book is going to be a mystery. And she's like, no, no, no, no. You sold a rom-com. That means you have to write a few more because in publishing, it's very important to kind of establish yourself within a genre and not confuse readers because readers don't necessarily follow you into different genres all the time. And, and it was really good advice.
What does the term 'auntie' signify in the context of the novel?
And I wrote three more rom-coms after Aisha, I last, and I love each and every one of them.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What inspired Uzma Jalaluddin to write Detective Aunty?
0:02–1:26
2
How does Detective Aunty differ from Uzma's previous romantic comedies?
1:26–2:38
3
What role does the Greater Toronto Area play in Detective Aunty?
2:38–3:28
4
Who is the main character in Detective Aunty and what challenges does she face?
3:28–4:35
5
What does the term 'auntie' signify in the context of the novel?
4:35–5:29
6
How does Uzma Jalaluddin incorporate humor and seriousness in her writing?
5:29–6:38
7
Why is representation important in Uzma's works?
6:38–7:54
8
What can listeners expect from the audiobook version of Detective Aunty?
7:54–31:05
Speakers
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