My sister, Christie, and I both read Julie Hyzy’s White House Chef series. So, when Sandie Herron said she recently discovered the series, and was listening to it on audiobook, I was excited to share her reviews with you. Here’s Sandie’s review of the first in the series, State of the Onion.
White House Chef Mystery, Book 1
Written by Julie Hyzy
Narrated by Eileen Stevens
Unabridged Audiobook
Audible Studios (February 11, 2014) originally published
1/1/2008
1/1/2008
Listening Time: 8
hours, 54 minutes
hours, 54 minutes
Barry Award for Best Paperback Original
(2009), Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original (2009)
(2009), Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original (2009)
The action starts immediately in this series debut featuring
Olivia Paras, assistant chef in the White House kitchen. She is just arriving for work when a man runs
across the White House lawn and right in front of her. Secret Service agents are too far away to
catch him, so she whacks him with a frying pan intended to be a gift. He tells her he wants to warn the President
about some danger.
Olivia Paras, assistant chef in the White House kitchen. She is just arriving for work when a man runs
across the White House lawn and right in front of her. Secret Service agents are too far away to
catch him, so she whacks him with a frying pan intended to be a gift. He tells her he wants to warn the President
about some danger.
Olivia’s dream job would be to become the Executive Chef, a
position that will open up soon as the current man retires. Olivia, or Ollie for short, is the top
candidate from the current staff. She is
vying for the job against a former White House kitchen employee who now has her
own TV show. Her audition is to be a
taped episode of her TV show that is intended to be her last hurrah once she is
appointed Executive Chef.
position that will open up soon as the current man retires. Olivia, or Ollie for short, is the top
candidate from the current staff. She is
vying for the job against a former White House kitchen employee who now has her
own TV show. Her audition is to be a
taped episode of her TV show that is intended to be her last hurrah once she is
appointed Executive Chef.
An international assassin known as the Chameleon appears to
be in Washington, DC at the same time delegates from two large middle Eastern
countries have come to negotiate a trade agreement with the help of the
President. Ollie joins with her crew of
chefs in the small kitchen to prepare not only the first family’s meals but
also meals for invited guests. Ollie
even travels to Camp David to feed royalty
be in Washington, DC at the same time delegates from two large middle Eastern
countries have come to negotiate a trade agreement with the help of the
President. Ollie joins with her crew of
chefs in the small kitchen to prepare not only the first family’s meals but
also meals for invited guests. Ollie
even travels to Camp David to feed royalty
Ollie is worried about the man she whacked with the frying
pan, so she calls the local jail to check on him. No information is given to her, but the man
calls her cell phone. He wants to
arrange a meeting so he can pass on his warning. Reluctantly she agrees. Before he can say anything, he is shot by a
mysterious man that Ollie can identify.
They believe this is the Chameleon.
And he considers Ollie a loose end.
pan, so she calls the local jail to check on him. No information is given to her, but the man
calls her cell phone. He wants to
arrange a meeting so he can pass on his warning. Reluctantly she agrees. Before he can say anything, he is shot by a
mysterious man that Ollie can identify.
They believe this is the Chameleon.
And he considers Ollie a loose end.
Learning more about the inner workings of the White House
was fascinating. Seeing how the chefs prepare meals every day and for many special
events concurrently was quite interesting in author Julie Hyzy’s hands. Every day is different, and the staff is
always aware that they are preparing meals for the most important house in the
country. Ollie has to balance this against fleeing from the assassin’s efforts
to eliminate her. The action throughout
held an urgency that kept me listening to Eileen Steven’s narration without
stopping. Her handling of the action and
many different character voices was equally compelling. Plot lines crossed easily without being
contrived. A very enjoyable listen that
I definitely recommend. On to book two!
was fascinating. Seeing how the chefs prepare meals every day and for many special
events concurrently was quite interesting in author Julie Hyzy’s hands. Every day is different, and the staff is
always aware that they are preparing meals for the most important house in the
country. Ollie has to balance this against fleeing from the assassin’s efforts
to eliminate her. The action throughout
held an urgency that kept me listening to Eileen Steven’s narration without
stopping. Her handling of the action and
many different character voices was equally compelling. Plot lines crossed easily without being
contrived. A very enjoyable listen that
I definitely recommend. On to book two!
This really is a delightful mystery all on its own plus being the debut to a terrific series. I'm just about to read the last in the series and kind of sad to be saying good-bye to Ollie.