Julie Hyzy – Fonduing Fathers

The sixth book in the White House Chef Mystery series, published December 31, 2012.
Genre: cozy mystery with recipes
Cover: tasty!



White House executive chef Olivia Paras has enough on her plate. But after gaining new information about her father's death, the First Family isn't the only family Olivia is concerned about...
Olivia has always believed that her father was an honorable man - until a trip to visit her mother reveals that he was dishonorably discharged from the army. Olivia is even more shocked to learn that he was brutally murdered because someone at his company suspected him of selling corporate secrets. Refusing to believe that her father was a scoundrel, Olivia won't rest until she proves his innocence.
Enlisting the help of her boyfriend, Gav, Olivia must reach out to her father's colleagues to discover the truth behind his murder. What she's about to discover may not only put her at risk, but threaten national security as well...


Olivia has never known her father very well, as he died when she was just a little girl, but she knows he died a hero. He is buried at Arlington Cemetery after all. But her mother never wanted to tell her what really happened. This time Ollie has taken a short vacation from the White House, and is taking her boyfriend (manfriend) Gavin to meet her mother and grandmother, and she is determined to find out the truth this time.
When her mother reluctantly tells her what has happened, that her father was dishonorably discharged, and started working for a company selling food supplements, when he was murdered, she is devastated. Her father’s boss also accused him of corporate theft, of selling the company’s secrets to outsiders. Ollie refuses to believe it, and with Gav’s help, she is determined to find out the truth.
Little does she know what kind of trouble she will stir up.

Meanwhile back home, she is needed at the White House a lot for someone who is supposed to be on vacation. Little Josh wants to go with her to the Food Expo, and the Secret Service needs her to be disguised. And later Josh wants her help in making some love cheese fondue, when the Family’s personal chef refuses. Ollie has fun with Josh, but even at the Food Expo they run into trouble, and in her father’s old company …


This is the first time that Ollie is deliberately investigating something, instead of just falling into the middle of a plot. Despite many warnings and admonishments to give up her quest, she keeps going on, she needs to know the truth about what happened. With help from Gavin and one of his spy friends, she manages to unearth the truth and straight into lethal danger for herself and others.

Through it all there are some goings on at the White House as well, where a new Chief Usher needs to be appointed. The acting one is really not cut out for the job, even as he wants Ollie to endorse him. Which she is not going to do, as she does not want him to get the job. But when the new Chief Usher is made known, she sure is surprised!

It was an action packed story, and I loved it very much. The relationship between Ollie and Gavin is improving, and I enjoyed those parts. The White House really needs her Chef, even when she is off duty. The interaction with Josh is fun as well, Ollie is discovering some maternal genes she did not think she had. This does not mean she is ready to settle down though, she has worked very hard for where she is now. And Gavin will be getting dangerous assignments as well.

The mystery, well, I did see some things coming about her father, but the truth was a very big surprise. And a good one. The next book has been published this week, and I hope to read it soon. Of course the bad thing is, I will then have to wait a whole year for the book after that one, just like everyone else.

9 stars.

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian