Series Sunday: Murder with Honey Ham Biscuits

(Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mystery #4) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Murder with Honey Ham Biscuits, the fourth book in the Mahalia Watkins Soul Food mystery series by A.L. Herbert. Everyone in Maryland knows Mahalia Watkins is known for homemade southern food. Her cooking skills are to be admired. Hence, why she is invited to serve as a guest judge on a cooking competition show to be aired on national TV. Throw in a longtime restaurant competitor, a crass mogul, shady production/film crew and cutthroat finalists. A whole slew of suspects when the frontrunner is found dead. Of course, Halia sorts through clues to identify the murderer. 

"Just throw in a 'Girl!' every now and then...or a 'oh no he di'int.'" ~ 15%

I was on the fence about whether to continue reading this series. Certainly not because of the content. The storylines are anything but stale. However, I have a strong side-eye upon discovering the author is a Latino male writing a series featuring a black female. Suddenly the loud wig-wearing relative, soul food references and dialogue seemed stereotypical. The characters' names, Halia and Wavonne, were a little too cultural. The author not doing personal appearances and keeping his identity somewhat hidden seemed more misleading. Is this practice of tapping into a new market acceptable? But damn, are these stories good! So I chose to stick with the Mahalia Watkins Soul Food mystery series and was granted an advance readers copy.

"I don't think so, but it wasn't that long ago that someone was stabbed to death over a Popeye's chicken sandwich, so people have certainly killed for less." ~ 69%

Like most cozy mysteries, Murder with Honey Ham Biscuits is full of laughs, mouthwatering recipes and outlandish antics. Per usual, Wavonne still sees her way into conversation that is none of her business. Mahalia is still bossy, or as she prefers to be called, a strong leader and helluva amateur sleuth. My only con is how long it took for the murder to occur (at 53%). The opportunity was there but just didn't happen during the first half of the book. As a result, the murder solving was a bit rushed.

Just read it, bookhearts. All author issues aside, the mystery was revealed with twists and the main characters are still lovable. If you are new to the series, check out my previous reviews. If you are hesitant in continuing to read about Halia and 'nem, then let me nudge you towards picking this book up, brewing a pitcher of sweet tea and settling in for a good read.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Murder with Honey Ham Biscuits

Author: A.L. Herbert

Published: July 2020

Pages: 272

Edition: Galley

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

 

Series Sunday: Murder with Collard Greens and Hot Sauce

(Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mystery #3) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Murder with Collard Greens and Hot Sauce, the third book in the Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mystery series by A.L. Herbert. We are back in Maryland for a beauty industry trade show. Business is booming at Mahalia's Sweet Tea restaurant. Customers are looking to satisfy their appetite after spending the day surrounded by beauty styles. Unfortunately, the moment fades when a beauty mogul/pop culture icon is found shot to death. The list of suspects is long! Mahalia and her trusty sidekick cousin, Wavonne, multi-task with solving the murder and keeping slow-cooked collard greens moving out of the kitchen. Hilariously, they are the black version of Daphne and Velma looking for clues.

"Sista was murdered. Iced. Kevorked. Whacked—" ~ 44%

I have waited on this third book for what seems like forever! So imagine my delight when I saw an advance reader's copy was available for my review. To get in the zone, I fried a couple pork chops, smothered rice in gravy and onions, with collard greens and hot sauce on the side. My meal was just as good as the novel, but not the best.

The first two books earned 5-heart ratings. I was hooked when I read Murder with Fried Chicken and Waffles. A strong follow-up was Murder with Macaroni and Cheese. So of course, I expected nothing short of page-turning in Murder with Collard Greens and Hot Sauce. 

"Sisters might forgive lying, stealing, cheating with their husbands, but if you screw up their hair you better get out of town and find a good witness protection program." ~ 59%

Instead, the book was not very well-paced for a mystery. The murder didn't happen until almost halfway in. It didn't leave much time for Halia and Wavonne to sleuth, especially with so many suspects thrown in the mix. Still at 80%, I was ready for any character to just admit it already! Yes, it was entertaining but I wish the focus was more on solving the murder and less on background info/events leading up to the climax. 

Nevertheless, the Mahalia Watkins Soul Food series is recommended for readers that like a cozy foodie mystery. It is a good worthy read! As a bonus, there are recipes sprinkled throughout the novel for collard greens, Purple Rain iced tea, and smothered pork chops. One of these days I will try a recipe. But in the meantime, I will keep reading and using black haircare products!

Title: Murder with Collard Greens and Hot Sauce

Author: A.L. Herbert

Published: March 2019

Pages: 288

Edition: Galley

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Murder with Fried Chicken and Waffles

(Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mystery #1) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Murder with Fried Chicken and Waffles, the first book in the Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mystery series by A.L. Herbert. Welcome to Mahalia's Sweet Tea—the finest soul food restaurant in Prince George's County, Maryland. It is famous for it's cornbread and mashed potatoes that make you want to slap yo' mama. The owner, affectionately nicknamed Halia, has her hands full cooking, dipping, and solving an unexpected mystery.

"It's all such a mystery. One minute he's enjoying my fried chicken and waffles, and, next thing you know, he turns up dead." ~ pg. 127

When a fast-talking shady entrepreneur turns up dead in her kitchen, Halia acts on impulse. Determined to keep her restaurant out of the news, she cleans the fingerprints off the weapon, a cast iron skillet, and moves the body to a neutral place. But Halia's efforts only point a finger at her young cousin as the prime suspect.

"You was the Lucy in this episode, Halia. I was just the Ethel." ~ pg. 111

Soul Food + Mystery = Fictional Greatness. Nothing says cozy like a mystery served with fried chicken. How come no one else thought of this? And how am I just now discovering this series? And why are there are only two (2) books?! Okay, let me calm down. At least enough to recommend you check out this series if cozy foodie lit is your thing.

Title: Murder with Fried Chicken and Waffles

Author: A.L. Herbert

Published: February 2015

Pages: 276

Edition: Paperback

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Murder with Macaroni and Cheese

(Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mystery #2) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Murder with Macaroni and Cheese, the second (and hopefully not the last) book in the Mahalia Watkins Soul Food Mystery series by A.L. Herbert. Welcome to Mahalia's Sweet Tea—the finest soul food restaurant in Prince George's County, Maryland. The owner, affectionately nicknamed Halia, has her hands full cooking, frying, and solving another murder with her curvy loud cousin Wavonne.

Halia agrees to cater her upcoming high school reunion. She didn't even plan to attend due to being so busy at the restaurant but the organizing committee really needs her help at the last minute. Like most high school reunions, it is bittersweet. Some ex-classmates have blossomed while others have not changed, like mean girl Raynell Rollins. When Raynell is found dead the morning after the reunion, Halia starts picking possible suspects. Nearly everyone had a reason to want the manipulating, insulting bitch dead. Even though the police believe it was an accident, Halia and Wavonne prove otherwise.

"Some indulgences amass calories. And I guess certain other indulgences burn them." ~ pg. 103

I love how the murder doesn't happen until halfway through the book. It sets the stage for fuller character development and lets readers get to know the possible suspects way beforehand. It also lets readers develop their own opinion of the victim; at only 23% into the book, I was ready for Raynell Rollins to be killedt...yes, with a T. Quite clever pacing, actually. And most of all, it doesn't feel like the mystery is dragging on forever.

Soul Food + Mystery x 2 = Fictional Greatness Leftovers. Once again, I recommend this short series if cozy foodie lit is your thing. There are great recipes inside as a bonus. Now excuse me while I go stalk the author for info on book #3.

Title: Murder with Macaroni and Cheese

Author: A.L. Herbert

Published: August 2016

Pages: 266

Edition: Paperback

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Top 5 Series of 2018

Click the title for my previously published review of the books featured in my Top 5 Series of 2018.

5. Ambush by James Patterson (Mike Bennett #11) 

4. Die Trying by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #2)

3. Tethered Souls by Beth Flynn (Nine Minutes Spin-off)

2. You Won't Know I'm Gone by Kristen Orlando (Black Angel Chronicles #2)

1. Murder with Macaroni & Cheese by A.L. Herbert (Mahalia Watkins #2)

 

Top 5 Series of 2020

1. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler (Earthseed #1)

2. On the Corner of Hope and Main by Beverly Jenkins (Blessings #10)

3. A Wedding Thing by Shea w/Larami Serrano (The One #3)

4. Graceful Burdens by Roxane Gay (Out of Line #1)

5. Murder with Honey Ham Biscuits (Mahalia Watkins #4)