Affairs of Steak (A White House Chef Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Julie Hyzy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2012 | Series: A White House Chef Mystery (Book 5)

White House chef Olivia Paras and her arch nemesis, White House Sensitivity Director Peter Everett Sargeant, must work together to solve the double murder of one of the First Lady's assistants and the Chief of Staff-before they become the next victims of a merciless assassin with a secret agenda.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425245837
• ISBN-13: 978-0425245835
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > General
  • #56 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > General

More About the Author

Julie Hyzy is the national bestselling author of the White House Chef Mysteries and the Manor House Mysteries. She won the Barry and Anthony Awards for Best Paperback Original for State of the Onion in 2009, and several other awards for her novels and short stories. Her first Manor House Mystery, Grace Under Pressure, earned a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly. Julie loves to read, eat out, and watch old movies and TV shows with her husband and three daughters. They live near Chicago with two rambunctious cats, Kitka and Violet.

MANOR HOUSE MYSTERIES
Grace Under Pressure
Grace Interrupted
Grace Among Thieves (coming, June 2012)

WHITE HOUSE CHEF MYSTERIES
State of the Onion
Hail to the Chef
Eggsecutive Orders
Buffalo West Wing
Affairs of Steak

Originally published in hardcover books now available on KINDLE:
Artistic License (standalone romantic suspense)
Deadly Blessings (first in Alex St. James series)
Deadly Interest (second in Alex St. James series)

Also on KINDLE
Short Story Collection, Volume 1
Writing Dialogue
Deadly Shorts, Alex St. James short stories

Available on KINDLE - under the N.C. Hyzy pseudonym (decidedly less cozy!):
Playing With Matches
Mystery Short Stories, Volume 1
Tracer's Blues

And, under the S.F. Hyzy pseudonym - Science Fiction shorts
Science Fiction Short Stories, Volume 1

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb!!!, January 3, 2012

By 

Lori Caswell "dollycas" (FALL RIVER, WI) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Affairs of Steak (A White House Chef Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

The first lady is throwing a birthday party for the Secretary of State to show the world that while her husband, the President, and the Secretary are from different political parties they get along very well. The problem starts when Ollie, the White House Chef, and the thorn in her side, Peter Sargeant, the White House Sensitivity Director, are assigned to work together to find a venue outside of the White House to hold the party. After a rough day of visiting different places, neither one of them agreeing on anything, they finally arrive a the last choice, Lexington Place. They are escorted to the banquet area and are waiting to meet with one of the first lady's assistants. As Ollie gets tired of waiting she decides to check out the kitchen where she finds the assistant, but she is very dead and when police arrive another body is found, that of the chief of staff.

With the assistant's death Ollie and Sargeant are assigned the job of organizing the party, but they are also going to have to work together to find a murderer. Their own lives are on the line. Did they see something they shouldn't have? Before they become the next victims they need to put their differences aside and find the killer.

Dollycas's Thoughts

A good portion of this book takes place outside of The White House so we see a little more of Ollie's personal life. She has the perfect neighbor. Everyone needs a Mrs. Wentworth next door. Ollie's love life is also evolving in a way both Mrs. Wentworth and I approve of.

The interplay between Sargeant and Ollie was unexpected, cleverly written, moving at times, as well as funny. Their relationship was taken to a new level that I really enjoyed. The total ineptness of the "interim" head usher just added to this multi-layered mystery. Ollie spent almost as much time in his office as the kitchen and she has a much higher patience level than this reader. I would have been so fired.

The entire story is superb. This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I look forward to each and every trip to The White House with Ollie. Julie never fails to cook up a marvelous mystery and Ollie takes us right into the middle of the fray. Be sure to add the to your new year reading lists!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new twist for Ollie, January 5, 2012

By 

MysteryMama (CT) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Affairs of Steak (A White House Chef Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

As were the books that came before, the white House Chef Mystery number five was a pleasure. The plot was engaging throughout the entire story (I won't summarize it for you -- I really don't like spoilers!). The characters were well developed and interesting -- I found myself caring for people usually considered distasteful. That's no easy feat!

The one surprise for me was that the book did stray from it's predecessors in that Ollie does not discuss the food she prepares much. Most of the book is set outside the White House. I'm not sure if it takes a little away from the flavor of the series. It wasn't until the end that I realized that the food preparations were much more summarized than in previous books. I enjoyed the story so much, I didn't notice until it was over. Don't let this stop you from reading the book, it's just an observation.

I still loved it and will enjoy reading it again and again.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorougly Enjoyed this book!, January 4, 2012

By 

Sharon R. Schall (ELLINGTON, CT, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Affairs of Steak (A White House Chef Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

Ollie Paras returns again as White house Chef in a new mystery from Julie Hyzy. At the request of the First Lady, Ollie has to work with prissy Sensitivity Director, Peter Sergeant, to arrange a birthday party for the Secretary of State. On their way to the venue, they are stopped by Peter's ne'er do well relative, Milton, who is pushing Peter for a White House job. They also have a brush with a rude stranger. When the duo gets to the Lexington, they discover the bodies of two White House staffers in some kitchen equipment. Thus begins Ollie's wild ride.

Ollie tries not to get involved but the fates conspire against her. First the head usher, Ollie's friend Paul, takes an indefinite leave which puts an inexperienced guy in his place. Then she somehow gets involved in a kidnapping of a family member of the Secretary of State. Finally, if working with Peter isn't annoying enough, she gets saddled with Wyatt, a protocol aide who is a big blowhard know -it-all. Add to all of this the need to keep most of the situation a secret for security's sake and the ongoing feud with the First Family's private chef, the situation just keeps getting worse.

Ollie's personal life isn't any calmer. Her romance with Secret Service Agent Tom is a fading memory and her new romance with SAC Gavin is seemingly going nowhere. Poor Ollie, it seems as though she has no peace in her life at work, at home, or in her love life. Ms. Hyzy does a great job of depicting the ins and outs of DC life and the way the White House hierarchy works. The situations that Ollie finds herself in aren't so farfetched as to be unbelievable. The book is suspenseful from beginning to end with plot twists galore.