Meet Mercedes de la Cruz Former crime reporter, now owner of the newest tamale shop, the Hot Tamale Mama. Nothing heats up a fiesta like platters of tamales and pitchers of margaritas. And Mercedes has provided plenty of both at her annual Christmas Eve Tamale Party. Friends and family fill the house shouting to be heard over the trumpets and violins of the Mariachis. But everyone will remember this Christmas Eve party — and not because of the tamales. Someone's been murdered. Strangled with a string of chile lights in Mercedes front yard. Mercedes's brother Rudy, who argued with the victim, lies to police, and then disappears. Now, against the advice of her boyfriend, Cisco Valdez, Mercedes is determined to use her years of experience as a crime reporter to solve this murder and prove her brother innocent. With the help of some wannabe gang members, Mercedes follows a trail of secrets, lies, and betrayals. And discovers some members of this tight knit community are not what they seem—including her own brother.