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The Masala Chai Mystery Club
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jul 26Win a free print copy of this book!
15 days and 16:45:37
5 copies available
U.S. only
TBC
- GenresCozy MysteryFiction
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 21, 2026
8 people are currently reading
1606 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Soni
1 book9 followersMJ Soni’s heartwarming debut, the Masala Chai Mystery Club, is to be released in July 2026.
It’s a murder mystery about badass diverse women, featuring a saree-wearing amateur sleuth, warm communities, and a dash of humor, and draws upon her love of the culture and cuisine of her diverse Indian, African, and American background.
She is also the author of DEFYING APARTHEID, her part-memoir about being a doctor activist in apartheid South Africa.
Book club visits are one of my favorite things to do so feel free to get in touch.
It’s a murder mystery about badass diverse women, featuring a saree-wearing amateur sleuth, warm communities, and a dash of humor, and draws upon her love of the culture and cuisine of her diverse Indian, African, and American background.
She is also the author of DEFYING APARTHEID, her part-memoir about being a doctor activist in apartheid South Africa.
Book club visits are one of my favorite things to do so feel free to get in touch.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Think The Thursday Murder Club, but with masala chai, Indian family dynamics, and characters who carry their past as well as their wrinkles.
The Masala Chai Mystery Club by M.J. Soni is a warm, charming cozy mystery with real character depth—and it’s genuinely funny at times, veering into almost slapstick humor.
It was one of those... just one more chapter. Worth the read
Thanks to netgalley who let me read it in exchange for an honest review
The Masala Chai Mystery Club by M.J. Soni is a warm, charming cozy mystery with real character depth—and it’s genuinely funny at times, veering into almost slapstick humor.
It was one of those... just one more chapter. Worth the read
Thanks to netgalley who let me read it in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"The Masala Chai Mystery Club" by Mj Soni is a solid cozy mystery set in a fictional coastal New England town. The references to Agatha Christie in the blurb and to Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club made me pick up the book, as I am a sucker for Agatha Christie–esque mystery novels.
Written in the third person, the book follows retired Indian librarian Neeti Shah, who was forced to retire from the library she managed and now suffers from an existential crisis. Her husband has passed away, her two children have moved away, and she lives with her niece and her niece’s child. She needs to find a hobby to occupy her, and when a much-hated neighbor, who also happens to be a childhood friend, is killed, she suspects foul play. Together with her friends and her niece, she investigates the death, which the police deemed natural. Thus, the Masala Chai Mystery Club is born. A mysterious death, intriguing clues, and a lot of masala chai make this an engaging tale, even if the execution isn’t always smooth.
Overall, I liked the story. Themes of friendship, family, loss, community, loneliness, being adrift after losing a job, finding new routines and meaning, and reaffirming one’s identity beyond work are interwoven throughout the book. I loved the diverse cast, the cultural elements, the homage to Agatha Christie’s The Dumb Witness, and the mystery itself. I also liked the twists, and I didn’t figure out who the perpetrator(s) were, which is always a good thing.
The characters are developed well enough that you are quickly pulled in and start to care about them. I liked Neeti, but I found her niece to be too hasty and quick to misinterpret things. Another favorite character of mine was the dog, and I appreciated the nod to the dog in Agatha Christie’s The Dumb Witness. I also liked the parallel between the plot and Christie’s novel.
This is a debut novel, and it shows. There is a lot of potential here. The “bones” of the story are good, and there are a few twists along the way, but the execution needs improvement. I really wanted to like this book more. The concept was intriguing, and the characters were interesting, but the writing didn’t quite work for me. It felt stiff and didn’t really flow. Despite the issues I had with the writing, I kept reading because the plot itself was engaging, and I genuinely wanted to know how the mystery would be resolved.
In addition, there are some side threads about the histories of certain characters that have no real bearing on the plot. I felt they were there to make a point and could have been avoided. All in all, while I enjoyed the book, I rate it 3 out of 5 stars. It isn’t a bad book; it just needs a bit of editing and fine-tuning. Fans of cozy mysteries and readers simply looking for a light read will likely enjoy it as long as the writing isn’t a dealbreaker for them.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...
Written in the third person, the book follows retired Indian librarian Neeti Shah, who was forced to retire from the library she managed and now suffers from an existential crisis. Her husband has passed away, her two children have moved away, and she lives with her niece and her niece’s child. She needs to find a hobby to occupy her, and when a much-hated neighbor, who also happens to be a childhood friend, is killed, she suspects foul play. Together with her friends and her niece, she investigates the death, which the police deemed natural. Thus, the Masala Chai Mystery Club is born. A mysterious death, intriguing clues, and a lot of masala chai make this an engaging tale, even if the execution isn’t always smooth.
Overall, I liked the story. Themes of friendship, family, loss, community, loneliness, being adrift after losing a job, finding new routines and meaning, and reaffirming one’s identity beyond work are interwoven throughout the book. I loved the diverse cast, the cultural elements, the homage to Agatha Christie’s The Dumb Witness, and the mystery itself. I also liked the twists, and I didn’t figure out who the perpetrator(s) were, which is always a good thing.
The characters are developed well enough that you are quickly pulled in and start to care about them. I liked Neeti, but I found her niece to be too hasty and quick to misinterpret things. Another favorite character of mine was the dog, and I appreciated the nod to the dog in Agatha Christie’s The Dumb Witness. I also liked the parallel between the plot and Christie’s novel.
This is a debut novel, and it shows. There is a lot of potential here. The “bones” of the story are good, and there are a few twists along the way, but the execution needs improvement. I really wanted to like this book more. The concept was intriguing, and the characters were interesting, but the writing didn’t quite work for me. It felt stiff and didn’t really flow. Despite the issues I had with the writing, I kept reading because the plot itself was engaging, and I genuinely wanted to know how the mystery would be resolved.
In addition, there are some side threads about the histories of certain characters that have no real bearing on the plot. I felt they were there to make a point and could have been avoided. All in all, while I enjoyed the book, I rate it 3 out of 5 stars. It isn’t a bad book; it just needs a bit of editing and fine-tuning. Fans of cozy mysteries and readers simply looking for a light read will likely enjoy it as long as the writing isn’t a dealbreaker for them.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a fun, cozy mystery read. The pacing was a little slow at times, but I really enjoyed how the story unfolded and continued to build as it went. There were plenty of suspects thrown into the mix, just enough to make you feel confident in your guess… only to second-guess yourself later. I also loved the cultural dynamics woven throughout the story. It added so much charm and made the reading experience feel fresh and engaging.
The focus leaned more toward questioning motives and relationships rather than hardcore detective work, but I still appreciated how Soni tied in family tension, friendship, and community. Some moments genuinely made me laugh, while others hit a more emotional note, and overall it felt well balanced. It’s an easy, comforting read, though I do wish there had been a bit more traditional sleuthing involved.
Neeti Shah, a retired librarian, is ready for a quiet life with her chai-loving friends until a neighbor and childhood friend turns up dead, with a murder scene eerily similar to her book club’s latest Agatha Christie read. Determined to uncover the truth, Neeti teams up with the Masala Chai Mystery Club to investigate, but as more bodies appear and tensions rise, the stakes grow higher. It’s cozy, clever, and full of heart.
Thank you Net Gallery for the ARC.
Rating: 4⭐
Tropes: Cozy mystery, amateur sleuths, found family, bonding over tea, cultural dynamics
The focus leaned more toward questioning motives and relationships rather than hardcore detective work, but I still appreciated how Soni tied in family tension, friendship, and community. Some moments genuinely made me laugh, while others hit a more emotional note, and overall it felt well balanced. It’s an easy, comforting read, though I do wish there had been a bit more traditional sleuthing involved.
Neeti Shah, a retired librarian, is ready for a quiet life with her chai-loving friends until a neighbor and childhood friend turns up dead, with a murder scene eerily similar to her book club’s latest Agatha Christie read. Determined to uncover the truth, Neeti teams up with the Masala Chai Mystery Club to investigate, but as more bodies appear and tensions rise, the stakes grow higher. It’s cozy, clever, and full of heart.
Thank you Net Gallery for the ARC.
Rating: 4⭐
Tropes: Cozy mystery, amateur sleuths, found family, bonding over tea, cultural dynamics
February 1, 2026
huge thanks to crooked lane books + netgalley for this ARC!
i loved the premise and the cozy, warm atmosphere. this book felt like a more diverse rosemary + thyme or midsomer murders.
however, it was painfully slow-paced, and the character dialogue was generic across most of the cast. except for lawrence and thandi, every character’s voice was indistinguishable from the other, and that singular voice felt wildly uncharacteristic for a cast of retirement-age/older characters. there are a lot of characters to keep up with, and with such indistinct characterization, i struggled to connect meaningfully with any of them.
i didn’t enjoy the writing style. while it was simplistic and easy to read, there was a lot of exposition about what the characters felt or thought, and a lot of dining table discussions of how to solve the murder, rather than actually solving it.
one thing i did love was neeti’s send-off speech to rohit at the end. i was honestly more invested in their shared history than in the whodunnit (which, admittedly, was unexpected). the conclusion to their story as a unit was satisfying, and really touching.
i loved the premise and the cozy, warm atmosphere. this book felt like a more diverse rosemary + thyme or midsomer murders.
however, it was painfully slow-paced, and the character dialogue was generic across most of the cast. except for lawrence and thandi, every character’s voice was indistinguishable from the other, and that singular voice felt wildly uncharacteristic for a cast of retirement-age/older characters. there are a lot of characters to keep up with, and with such indistinct characterization, i struggled to connect meaningfully with any of them.
i didn’t enjoy the writing style. while it was simplistic and easy to read, there was a lot of exposition about what the characters felt or thought, and a lot of dining table discussions of how to solve the murder, rather than actually solving it.
one thing i did love was neeti’s send-off speech to rohit at the end. i was honestly more invested in their shared history than in the whodunnit (which, admittedly, was unexpected). the conclusion to their story as a unit was satisfying, and really touching.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed the cozy mystery by MJ Soni. I loved the way Neeti stood up for herself and others, refusing to let things slide. Some of the characters are annoying, such as the police chief, who gives off the vibe of a barking dog that is loud for the sake of it, and Thandi, who, for some reason, is made to constantly be loud and repeats herself. This book strongly gave off the vibes of the Netflix movie "The Thursday Murder Club", with the ensemble consisting of senior citizens, a female detective, a retired librarian, a single mom and her child, and the incompetent police chief. The book needs a little bit more polishing, with editing out the typos and taking out some unnecessary background info for some of the characters. I give this book four out of five stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Masala Chai Mystery Club by MJ Soni is a cozy murder mystery set in the US.
It's the story of Neeti Shah, a reluctantly retired librarian and widow, following the death of Rohit, a locally highly disliked member of the Home Owners Association, and her childhood friend. Refusing to believe his death was accidental, her suspicions lead to a balance of characters - friends, family and even Rohit's dog banding together to investigate.
I found the writing to be engaging and entertaining, and the story original, despite this being an overly popular genre at the moment. Neeti is intelligent and likeable, and I hope more amateur sleuthing is on the cards for her and the rest of The Masala Chai Mystery Club! She still has a few more unpleasant neighbours in the complex.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
It's the story of Neeti Shah, a reluctantly retired librarian and widow, following the death of Rohit, a locally highly disliked member of the Home Owners Association, and her childhood friend. Refusing to believe his death was accidental, her suspicions lead to a balance of characters - friends, family and even Rohit's dog banding together to investigate.
I found the writing to be engaging and entertaining, and the story original, despite this being an overly popular genre at the moment. Neeti is intelligent and likeable, and I hope more amateur sleuthing is on the cards for her and the rest of The Masala Chai Mystery Club! She still has a few more unpleasant neighbours in the complex.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is not your usual cozy. Yes, it’s about a librarian amateur sleuth and her tea loving friends, yes it’s about solving a murder, and yes it’s light hearted and an easy read.
But our sleuth not only wears a saree, she also runs in one. The tea is masala chai. And, she loves all things books and libraries. Our amateur sleuths live in picturesque New England full of small-town eccentricities, and largely white. However hidden within these communities are smaller pockets of minority groups who are featured in this book.
I really enjoyed the friendships, and the Shakespeare quotes, complete with lovable dog and kid, and a more than solid mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
But our sleuth not only wears a saree, she also runs in one. The tea is masala chai. And, she loves all things books and libraries. Our amateur sleuths live in picturesque New England full of small-town eccentricities, and largely white. However hidden within these communities are smaller pockets of minority groups who are featured in this book.
I really enjoyed the friendships, and the Shakespeare quotes, complete with lovable dog and kid, and a more than solid mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*A big thanks to MJ Soni and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC of this book; this in no way affects my honest review*
My goal for 2026 is to diversify my reading and read more books by non-white authors. So when I came across this book by M.J Soni and read the synopsis i was instantly interested.
While it wasn't my favourite book, it was a fun read. But it did feel slow-moving, and they spent too long figuring out how to solve the mystery and not enough time actually solving the mystery.
however this is a debut novel, and while it does show there is significant potential shown from the author, and I will be keeping an eye out for future books.
My goal for 2026 is to diversify my reading and read more books by non-white authors. So when I came across this book by M.J Soni and read the synopsis i was instantly interested.
While it wasn't my favourite book, it was a fun read. But it did feel slow-moving, and they spent too long figuring out how to solve the mystery and not enough time actually solving the mystery.
however this is a debut novel, and while it does show there is significant potential shown from the author, and I will be keeping an eye out for future books.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much for the ARC. I was really looking forward to reading this book, I love Agatha Christie stories & the book also promised to be much more diverse than other mystery books. And it did deliver is that regard. While the writing isn’t great, and is actually very random and haphazard, the cast of characters is so diverse. I loved this! I felt like I was reading about real people in a real neighborhood. Overall, the plot itself was interesting but the execution / delivery of the story is lacking.
January 26, 2026
3.5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book!
I liked the storyline, but to be completely honest a lot of cozy mysteries can feel a bit redundant with the sleuthing and more or less detective work. I like that the group bonded over masala chai, which is something I’d like to try. I’m glad Neeti was able to get down to business pretty efficiently and use her library resources to help catch the killer. I unfortunately didn’t get that right, but that’s why I’m not in it lol. Overall it was a good book
I liked the storyline, but to be completely honest a lot of cozy mysteries can feel a bit redundant with the sleuthing and more or less detective work. I like that the group bonded over masala chai, which is something I’d like to try. I’m glad Neeti was able to get down to business pretty efficiently and use her library resources to help catch the killer. I unfortunately didn’t get that right, but that’s why I’m not in it lol. Overall it was a good book
January 20, 2026
Think Erotic Stories For Punjabi Widows meets The Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson and you have this beautiful story set in an estate where the most hated person dies. Everyone believes his death to be accidental but not his best friend. And thus begins the MCMC. One thing is for sure, you will not guess the culprit in the end.
I love me a good thriller. 🫶🏾
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
I love me a good thriller. 🫶🏾
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A cosy, murder mystery.
I liked the concept and the community, though some characters were either very similar in tone or changed behaviour quite drastically so could be a bit confusing at times. A little repetitive in parts but an easy, enjoyable read - with lots of food inspo!
Particularly enjoyed the final send off, it was a satisfying conclusion and gave a new perspective to Rohit’s character.
[I received an ARC from NetGalley.]
I liked the concept and the community, though some characters were either very similar in tone or changed behaviour quite drastically so could be a bit confusing at times. A little repetitive in parts but an easy, enjoyable read - with lots of food inspo!
Particularly enjoyed the final send off, it was a satisfying conclusion and gave a new perspective to Rohit’s character.
[I received an ARC from NetGalley.]
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you to netgalley for a copy of this arc.
i didn’t really enjoy this book to be honest. the plot line felt very slow moving and rushed at the same time. there was lots of deciding how they were going to solve the murder and not enough of actually solving the murder. i didn’t enjoy the ending because the plot twist felt inconceivable, which made the ending feel rushed.
i didn’t really enjoy this book to be honest. the plot line felt very slow moving and rushed at the same time. there was lots of deciding how they were going to solve the murder and not enough of actually solving the murder. i didn’t enjoy the ending because the plot twist felt inconceivable, which made the ending feel rushed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I very much enjoyed the comedy and the murder mystery. I giggled at some of the similarities between the family dynamics in this book and my husband’s family (who are also from India ). The amount of chai portrayed in this book is very accurate to the amount served by my in laws haha. There are a few typos that hopefully will get fixed come publication day.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
The overall plot and characters in the story were good; however, the pacing was slow, and there was a lot of “explaining how the murder would be solved” and not enough “actually solving the murder.” The main character, Neeti, was nicely written, and those who enjoy a cozy mystery would like this book.
The overall plot and characters in the story were good; however, the pacing was slow, and there was a lot of “explaining how the murder would be solved” and not enough “actually solving the murder.” The main character, Neeti, was nicely written, and those who enjoy a cozy mystery would like this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Net Galley for this advance copy. This book had a cute premise but it felt like it couldnt decide if it was a cozy mystery or a thriller. I think it would have worked a bit better if it was shorter and stated true to a cozy mystery style. It went on too long for my liking and there were a lot of side characters that were hard to follow and didn’t add much to the plot. If this is the start of a series, it has definite potential!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Masala Mystery Club is a delightful cozy mystery that spices up the genre with its vibrant diverse characters and lighthearted tone. The intricate plot kept me guessing until the very end.
The unexpected twist makes it an engaging read. Neethi is such a steadfast and strong character.
Perfect for those who enjoy a blend of humor and intrigue.
The unexpected twist makes it an engaging read. Neethi is such a steadfast and strong character.
Perfect for those who enjoy a blend of humor and intrigue.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The writing wasn't fantastic but it was fun and very slow paced and gave a cosy kind of vibe I had no inkling of DNFing.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews