Heart Burn Holiday

Twelve hours. What can happen in twelve hours?

On Monday, May 5, 1862, the Mexican Army fought from daybreak to dusk against a foreign enemy. When night fell, they had defeated the French forces at the Battle of Puebla. They suffered 83 fatalities.

On Sunday, May 5, 2019, Mexican Americans in the town of Greenleaf, Florida, celebrated Cinco de Mayo from daybreak to dusk and into the night with music, feasting, drinking, dancing, and fireworks. When night fell, a battle was raged against a common enemy. Floral county suffered three fatalities-noted cardiologist Dr. Norman Frank, pharmacist Larry Clay, and local runaround Jimmy Clay-all apparent victims of massive heart attacks.

What can happen in twelve hours? Controversial cardiac casualties.

What's more delectable than a delicious murder mystery with food and drinks ... and recipes?

Take one Mexican-American Heritage Day celebration, serve up a double engagement, roast hot ghost peppers, add in overly spicy seasonings, chill with icy cervezas, and watch the fireworks begin. What you get is a fiery recipe for fatal heart attacks an herbalist and an Irish food inspector/chef detective team must extinguish in a hurry.

When cardiologist Dr. Norman Frank, pharmacist Larry Clay, and his brother Jimmy Clay collapse in the middle of the Cinco de Mayo party, Thomasina "Tommie" Watson and her partner Finbar Holmes use their sleuthing skills to solve the heart-stopping crimes and have the attacker arrested.