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Olivia "Ollie" Paras, Assistant Chef at the White House, managed to subdue a man fleeing the Secret Service across the White House grounds as she reported back to work. That's when all her problems started. First, she'd hit the guy with Henry's retirement gift, putting a dent in the frying pan. Then security took the pan as evidence, the new protocol officer treated her like an ant at a picnic, and it looked like her rival for the Chef position had already won even though the selection process hadn't been complete. When she mentioned to her boyfriend that the news spot concerning the man she beamed earlier that day wasn't the one they showed on TV, he told her to "mind her own business". Ollie is not one to be told what to think, so she starts digging -- and now a world-class assassin is after her.

State of the Onion is a definite page turner. Ollie is a wonderful character and a person that just can't let a puzzle alone -- she has to figure it out. It's a trait that gets her in trouble, but it's also one that means she observes her surroundings and it makes her a great viewpoint character. We see the world through Ollie and her personal filters. I enjoyed her company for the length of the book and hope to meet her again in another.

I was also intrigued by the workings of the White House kitchen staff. There's a lot of history of this important building and the city woven seamlessly into the story and the plot. Culinary mysteries usually center around cooking and kitchens, but this kitchen is in the White House, and the scope for the characters are therefore much broader.

Hyzy manages to tell a multi-layered mystery and make it seem believable, as well as exciting and sometimes comedic. This a book to curl up with because you'll probably read it in one sitting. To top it off many of the recipes used throughout the book are given at the end: Honey-Almond Scones; Virginia Ham & Spinach Omelet; Henry's Famous Hash Browns; Broiled Grapefruit; Cinnamon Bread; Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich on Cinnamon Bread; Matchstick Vegetables with a Kick; Apple Tart; Oven-fried Chicken; Garlic Mashed Potatoes; Ollie's Green Beans; Chocolate Angel Food Cake with Fresh Berries; Crisp Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies; Cucumber Slices Stuffed with Feta & Pine Nuts; and Baklava Stuffed with Almonds, Pecans, & Pine Nuts

Read and enjoy, I did.