Murder with Collard Greens and Hot Sauce

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Mahalia Watkins is a woman after my own heart. She wears her hair short and in a wash and wear style. In Murder with Collard Greens and Hot Sauce by A.L. Herbert, Halia operates Mahalia's Sweet Tea in Prince George's County, Maryland, and she serves the best soul food around.

While having her hair done with her cousin Wavonne at Illusions, the local salon, they hear that Monique Dupree will be in town in two days. Halia has never heard of Monique, but all the other women and the salon owner are ecstatic about her appearance. Monique is in town for the Unique Chic Hair Convection and is kicking off a cross-country tour with a special appearance at Illusions.

She is known as the biggest thing to happen to African American hair in ages, so naturally everyone is clamoring to meet her. When Monique arrives at Illusions she has a camera crew in tow. Also on hand are her stylist Maurice and her rude, arrogant husband Nathan. Halia and her mother are roped into an interview about the hair products with Wavonne making a guest appearance.

Monique is charming, gracious and has an electrifying presence. Happily Halia invites Monique and

her entourage which includes her personal chef Alex, her frenemy Odessa, Maurice and Nathan, to dinner at Sweet Tea. Monique returns the favor by inviting Halia and Wavonne to an elegant party at her home. She even offers to have her stylist take them shopping for something white to wear to the white party.

While they are enjoying the party, Halia hears some not too pleasant arguments between Monique and Odessa and Monique and Alex, but she figures it is none of her business and she moves away. She also discovers that Nathan beats Monique, but of course Monique downplays it. The next morning, Monique is found dead in her home from a gunshot wound.

Halia's investigating instincts kick in and she decides to assist the police in solving the crime. They however, aren't that interested in her assistance as they have arrested Nathan for the murder. Halia's investigation leads her into all sorts of places including a drag queen hangout and with her outspoken cousin Wavonne, the scene is hilarious.

Halia discovers jealousies, bitter rivalries, backstabbers and schemers in her quest to find the killer. Murder with Collard Greens and Hot Sauce is a delicious mystery with brassy, bold women as characters. Gotta love the sistas, as Wavonne would say.