State of the Onion (A White House Chef Mystery, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

May 21, 2014 Book Concierge rated it it was ok

Shelves: mystery, series, concierge, cooking, library

2.5**

The first in the White House Chef mystery series introduces the readers to Ollie (Olivia) Parus, and the rest of the staff in the White House kitchen. On her way back to work after running an errand, Ollie happens upon a serious breach of security; an apparent madman is running across the White House lawn, pursued by Secret Service. But when the man is on the ground right next to her, he pleads for her help. The Secret Service members she’s always been on a first-name basis with are now dis 2.5**

The first in the White House Chef mystery series introduces the readers to Ollie (Olivia) Parus, and the rest of the staff in the White House kitchen. On her way back to work after running an errand, Ollie happens upon a serious breach of security; an apparent madman is running across the White House lawn, pursued by Secret Service. But when the man is on the ground right next to her, he pleads for her help. The Secret Service members she’s always been on a first-name basis with are now distantly professional and she can’t get any straight answers, even from her Secret Service boyfriend. In the meantime, Ollie is in competition for a promotion; she’s up against a TV celebrity chef who is from the same home state as the first family. And to add further stress, the kitchen is given only a week’s notice of a major state dinner.

Ollie irritated me no end. Not quite “too stupid to live,” she is annoyingly nosy, especially given her position in the White House kitchen. I had a hard time believing she was a trained professional when she wasn’t behaving professionally most of the time. Her romantic relationship doesn’t ever get off the ground either; they spend all their time mad at one another and not speaking.

Hyzy includes a fair number of red herrings … multiple people are described with particular physical characteristics that might make them the lead suspect. One particularly unlikeable character was a lead candidate, as far as I was concerned; at least until he completely disappeared from the book in the last 30 pages. Hyzy also has a tendency to repeat herself; I got it the first time she told me that additional staff would be brought in for a state dinner, or the first time Ollie opined that she was sure the TV chef would get the job over her.

I had previously read a later book in the series and gave it 3 stars. The plot in that book was also thin, and despite the framework of the White House Kitchen there is very little emphasis on food. Still, I was reasonably entertained, and decided to go back to the first in the series to start at the beginning. Basically we have a reasonably interesting premise/framework for a cozy mystery series, but not the best execution. I’m not sure I’ll read another.
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Mar 01, 2012 Nell rated it liked it

Shelves: awards-finalists, z2013

Fascinating premise. The main character is assistant chef at the White House. The plot opens as she crosses the White House lawn just as an intruder attempts to gain entry. Chased by Secret Service agents, it's Olivia who fells him with a frying pan. Behind-the-scenes look at the kitchen staff and how they operate from accommodating the First Family's preferences to preparations for a massive state dinner. The food itself becomes a political issue. This is the first in a series and there were so ...more

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