by A.L. Herbert
Series: Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mystery #3
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Mahalia’s Sweet Tea boasts the most flavorful soul food in all of Prince George’s County, Maryland. But as events at the beauty industry’s leading trade show turn ugly, owner Halia Watkins needs to bite into an unsavory new item on the menu—murder!
When the chicest hair convention of the year gets cooking in town, so does business at Mahalia’s Sweet Tea. Halia can barely handle the influx of customers looking to satisfy their appetites after spending the day surrounded by outrageous runway styles. As buzz builds around beauty mogul and pop culture icon Monique Dupree, collard greens start moving out of the kitchen faster than models strutting down the catwalk . . .
But the glitz fades the moment Monique is found shot to death. Turns out, the glamorous entrepreneur’s vanity empire was stained by bitter rivalries, explosive affairs, and backstabbers scheming for fame and fortune. With more suspects than ingredients listed on a bottle of deep conditioner, Halia and her cousin Wavonne rush to discover who pulled the trigger—before the conniving culprit dishes another deadly surprise . . .
Please welcome Sophia Rose to the blog. Today she is sharing the cozy mystery, Murder With Collard Greens and Hot Sauce by A.L. Herbert. Grab a coffee and enjoy! I don’t know about you but I love a foodie book with murder.
Sophia Rose’s Review
In my quest to discover more cozy mystery series to love, the title on this one leaped to the eye and pulled me in for a closer inspection. Soul food and murder? I’ll take a double helping of that, please.
Murder with Collard Greens and Hot Sauce is the third book in the series, but I had no difficulty diving in with this book. I could tell that a handful of characters were recurring, but there didn’t seem to be a connecting series storyline that needed me to start from the beginning.
Mahalia and her lively cousin are getting their hair done at their usual stylist a few doors down from Halia’s restaurant when they learn a local minor celebrity, a hair care gal, will be bringing her entourage to Latasha’s salon because of how much Latasha has been able to sell Monique’s product. Halia and her mother make the refreshments for Monique’s visit and this draws them in to the flashy and fabulous Monique’s celebrity world just in time for a murder.
One of the wonderful things about cozies are how much attention they give to setting and to the average daily life of the characters as opposed to launching straight at the mystery and revving up the suspense. In this case, we have the world of hair care products and styling for black women and Halia’s own mouth-watering kitchen creations in her restaurant and her family life. While, as a white gal, I found the styling side interesting at first, there was a point where I was ready to tap out if there was one more mention of straightener or anti-frizz or conditioner. Like Halia, I like low maintenance dos and I don’t get into creative styling so I lost interest in the world of hair care rather quickly. Thankfully, the foodie angle and the lively cast of characters kept me going. Did I mention they end up at a drag queen event at a gay bar?
The murder takes a while to tease out between the long setup of the story introducing all the players and further revealing a bit about the regulars. I didn’t mind this since this was my first encounter with the series. Plus, the added character development gave me a better idea of the suspects. I wasn’t sure who did it and found the twist at the end to be a great surprise. This ended up being one of those stories that I was less into the book for the mystery as to enjoy the characters and their world. It wasn’t riveting, but I did get ‘cozy’.
Incidentally, the author graciously includes the recipes for all that mouthwatering food and beverages that Halia and her mama serve up.
So, if you are looking for a new cozy mystery series to try with a fun group of characters, some mouthwatering food, and a slow-burn mystery, take a gander at Murder With Collard Greens and Hot Sauce.
Murder With Collard Greens and Hot Sauce by A.L. Herbert. offers a new cozy mystery series to try with a fun group of characters, some mouthwatering food, and a slow-burn mystery Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Mary @StackingMyBookShelves!
I love a good cozy mystery. I feel like I am so missing out with school and all these great book reviews. I have to try harder I think.
Mary
lisa thomson
This book sounds really cute. Except someone gets murdered…so there’s that 😀 I definitely want to check out other books by this author. Thanks for the review, Sophia.
Sophia Rose
It was definitely a cutie and had some great humor moments even though there was a death. Hope you like them when you get the chance, Lisa!
Aleen @ Lampshade Reader
I like that fact about cozy mysteries too. Probably why they call them cozy. 😉
I’m always on the lookout for more cozies to read. Glad you enjoyed this one. Great review.
Sophia Rose
Good point. They do seem to make me want to curl up and relax.
Glad to point you to it, Aleen!
blodeuedd
Hmmm, I kind of want to steal you now Sophia for like a cozy guest post or something, hehe
Sophia Rose
Any time! I’m happy to drop by with the occasional review. 🙂
Dani Eide
My writing partner loves mysteries of all kinds. Cozy mysteries are some of her favorite. They are fun and love the attention to the lives of MC. Great review Sophie! ❤️❤️
Sophia Rose
A kindred spirit! I’m a big mystery fan, too. I’m late to the party on cozies, but I’ve come to enjoy them a lot.
Carla
This one sounds very tasty. I love cozy mysteries and this cast sounds like a lot of fun. Nice review Sophia Rose.
Sophia Rose
Very tasty! It should come with a warning label about not reading it while hungry. 🙂
RO
Being from Maryland, I know exactly where Prince Georges County is located, and if I’m going to eat some veggies collard greens with hot sauce is definitely my go to. I like the sound of this story, and while I don’t normally read Cozy Mysteries, I definitely plan to grab this one! Great review! Hugs and Happy National Goof Off Day! RO
Sophia Rose
That is so cool that you are from the area. She names a tone of places. Oh hey, you might want the first two books as well. I prefer my collard greens with bacon, but hot sauce would definitely give them some zing.
Glad I could point you to a good one, Ro. 🙂
Debbie S Haupt
Great review mi amigo and you’ll have to check out my reviews on Mystery Scene magazine because that’s what they have me reviewing.
Sophia Rose
Really? Haha! Fun that we got the same one. I’ll be curious to get your thoughts on it. 🙂
Nadene @totallyaddictedtoreading
I always wondered why they call i soul food. This sounds like a fun and mouthwatering read.
Sophia Rose
You know? I have no idea. Maybe because its comfy food that makes even the soul feel its been fed? I’ll have to look that up now.
This was definitely a food book. 🙂
Stefanie
What a fun cover. When I lived in the city, there was a soul food place based upon New Orleans. The owner talked to each table and I tried alligator.
Sophia Rose
Look at you bravely trying gator, Stefanie! 🙂 The owner sounds friendly like Halia in this story.
Anne - Books of My Heart
This sounds so colorful and fun. Nice review.
Sophia Rose
It sure was. The characters, especially her cousin and mom, cracked me up and there was always something fun going on.
Kimberly
Thanks for sharing Sophia.
Sophia Rose
Always a pleasure to visit and share about a book, Kimberly! 🙂
Tyler H. Jolley
Nice review Sophia Rose! I hope you’re well.
Sophia Rose
Thanks, Tyler!
I’m doing great and wishing you the same. 🙂
Anna
I have to agree. The moment I read the title I was ready to buy. Very tastie. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Sophia Rose
Some are hooked most by book covers and I can’t say that I’m impervious, but a title is where it starts for me. This was a fun and delicious one. 🙂
Melliane
it’s always great to find good cozy mystery novels! I love them but it’s been a while since I have read one
Sophia Rose
I’ve been trying to get into them more over the last few years and have been trying out different authors and series. This was a fun one- that made me sooo hungry. LOL
Mary Kirkland
I have yet to read a cozy mystery but the titles always make me smile.
Sophia Rose
They do have the best titles. I know I’ve laughed over the cleverness of several. This series has titles that make me hungry. 🙂
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
Oh how fun! I’m not a big fan of collard greens but I like the sound of this mystery and I’ve been loving my cozies!
Sophia Rose
I can’t say I do well with them unless they are smothered in butter and have bacon crumbled into them. LOL
It was a fun one, Katherine. 🙂
Ailyn Koay
is murder served cold, or like… with hot sauce? I do like the title it’s catchy
Sophia Rose
I thought that title was fun, too. The earlier titles are mouthwatering as well. 🙂