Mama’s strange behavior jolts accountant Cleopatra Jones from her whirl of late summer activities with her daughters, pregnant Saint Bernard, and new boyfriend. When Cleo overhears the heated argument between Mama and her church-lady rival, Erica Hodges, she realizes Mama is out of control. The police report Erica files about Mama’s threats add to Cleo’s growing unease. Two days later, Erica is dead, the victim of a hit and run. Though Erica’s reputation of arrogance, bossiness, and rudeness is well-deserved, she descended from the town’s founder. The mayor pressures the police to obtain justice for the town’s leading citizen. To Cleo’s horror, there’s a person-sized dent in Mama’s gray Olds. Mama denies killing Erica but refuses to account for her whereabouts that night. Mama’s secrets are maddening, but are they deadly?