Another Review at MyShelf.Com

State of the Onion
First in the New White House Chef Mystery Series

by Julie Hyzy

      State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy may be the first ever White House kitchen mystery, but damn, I hope it's not the last. At least not HER last.

Olivia Paras is an assistant chef in the White House kitchen. There's a lot going on in her life at the moment. 1) Henry, the Executive Chef and her mentor is retiring, 2) she's one of the two final candidates to replace him, and 3) somehow she's managed to be the only person to ever get a good look at the world's number one assassin and live.

Whoops!

Oh, and she's dating one of the Secret Service agents, but that's kind of one of those "open" secrets in the kitchen. Only the Secret Service doesn't know it's going on.

It all starts out so unexpectedly. She's returning with a silver fry pan (engraved and Henry's going away present from the staff) when she spots a man running across the White House lawn being chased by the Secret Service. She's in his path, and rather than let him get away, she whacks him with the pan.

Thus she finds herself involved in a conspiracy that may be about killing the President. Or maybe not. No one seems to be sure. The only thing anyone does know for sure is that Ollie (as Olivia is known to her friends) is in hot water with everyone about everything, and thinks she's on the verge of losing the job she loves and her boyfriend.

The book is quick paced, witty, full of mystery and thrills, and for those who like that sort of thing, there are even recipes at the end of the book of all the foods made during the story. Since I know I have an oven, but I can't remember exactly where it is, that didn't do much for me.

But I love the book, and in spite of our differences of opinion on the need for cooking skills, I'm really looking forward to more Ollie in the future.

Reviews of other titles in this series

State of the Onion #1
Hail to the Chef #2
Affairs of Steak #5
Fonduing Fathers #6

The Book

Berkley
January 2, 2008
Paperback
0425218694 / 978-0425218693
Mystery
More at Amazon.com

The Reviewer

Sarah Bewley
Reviewed 2008
© 2008 MyShelf.com