sarful's review against another edition
4.0
Just what I was looking for. Once again our intrepid White House executive gets caught in a strange murder, and uses her genius sleuthing skills to help find the culprit.
The series is fun because it’s all around White House staff and the secret service. I’m learning a lot of behind the scenes of the White House. Ollie even has a budding romance with a service agent and an ex with one too. Her sleuthing is both respected and exasperating for the secret service.
In this one, on a routine venue hunting for the First Lady, Ollie and the sensitivity aide find two dead bodies in the kitchen. Suddenly Ollie is being hunted, and there’s something a bit off about an event planning aide that tings her somethings off antennae. Maybe this is also surrounding the Secretary of State as well. Who knows until Ollie figures it out. Which she does. Obvi.
Of course all is well in the end, and possibly Gav will give into his feelings and they can finally date.
The series is fun because it’s all around White House staff and the secret service. I’m learning a lot of behind the scenes of the White House. Ollie even has a budding romance with a service agent and an ex with one too. Her sleuthing is both respected and exasperating for the secret service.
In this one, on a routine venue hunting for the First Lady, Ollie and the sensitivity aide find two dead bodies in the kitchen. Suddenly Ollie is being hunted, and there’s something a bit off about an event planning aide that tings her somethings off antennae. Maybe this is also surrounding the Secretary of State as well. Who knows until Ollie figures it out. Which she does. Obvi.
Of course all is well in the end, and possibly Gav will give into his feelings and they can finally date.
wiseowl33's review against another edition
4.0
I love this series. I was very excited to read the newest, and it did not disappoint.
llkendrick's review against another edition
4.0
Fun series! I enjoy the characters, dialogue, and the plots are compelling enough to keep you sucked in. I hope she writes more books to this series.
kairosdreaming's review against another edition
4.0
Affairs of Steak is the fifth book in the White House Chef Mystery series by Julie Hyzy. While I always highly recommend you read things in order, this book could probably be read as a standalone in a pinch, you just wouldn't understand some of the character interactions.
Ollie has really gotten herself into it this time. When she and her arch nemesis Peter Sargeant have to work together on a banquet, they quickly dive into trouble when they discover the bodies of two White House employees. Not realizing just how much danger they are in they follow proper procedure, but then strange things start to happen and Ollie starts to believe that her life just may be in danger. With having to worry about that and the numerous dinners and parties going on at the White House, Ollie has her hands full. Especially since she and Sargeant are in this together and snipping at each other the whole way.
Ollie is always the better person, and as such, she is an inspiration. She tries to do right by people even if it isn't the most popular choice. In short, she's the kind of person I would like to be. Not to mention, she's a chef, and I love food. I also like how she can even relate to the people she doesn't like and overcome her initial anger at them. Her love interest Gav, is pretty special too. He is pretty level headed but seems to genuinely care for Ollie. I was pleasantly surprised by Sargeant's character in this one too. While still a jerk at least he had some depth for once and played more than the bad guy.
The plot was pretty exciting. There was a lot of action, but less of the romance this time,which I was actually pretty disappointed about. I had hoped for a little more than that after the last one, but once again its a slow process for Ollie. Unfortunately the mystery was kind of predictable and the bad guys a little smarmy this time. There wasn't as much food either with the exception of the recipes listed in back. In fact, I would say that there was barely time spent in the kitchen this time around. Which was a little sad since I had grown used to Ollie preparing food and working with the other kitchen staff.
It was still a good book. Just not as good as the previous one. I don't know when Hyzy plans on putting out the next book, but I definitely plan on reading it!
Affairs of Steak
Copyright 2012
293 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2012
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
Ollie has really gotten herself into it this time. When she and her arch nemesis Peter Sargeant have to work together on a banquet, they quickly dive into trouble when they discover the bodies of two White House employees. Not realizing just how much danger they are in they follow proper procedure, but then strange things start to happen and Ollie starts to believe that her life just may be in danger. With having to worry about that and the numerous dinners and parties going on at the White House, Ollie has her hands full. Especially since she and Sargeant are in this together and snipping at each other the whole way.
Ollie is always the better person, and as such, she is an inspiration. She tries to do right by people even if it isn't the most popular choice. In short, she's the kind of person I would like to be. Not to mention, she's a chef, and I love food. I also like how she can even relate to the people she doesn't like and overcome her initial anger at them. Her love interest Gav, is pretty special too. He is pretty level headed but seems to genuinely care for Ollie. I was pleasantly surprised by Sargeant's character in this one too. While still a jerk at least he had some depth for once and played more than the bad guy.
The plot was pretty exciting. There was a lot of action, but less of the romance this time,which I was actually pretty disappointed about. I had hoped for a little more than that after the last one, but once again its a slow process for Ollie. Unfortunately the mystery was kind of predictable and the bad guys a little smarmy this time. There wasn't as much food either with the exception of the recipes listed in back. In fact, I would say that there was barely time spent in the kitchen this time around. Which was a little sad since I had grown used to Ollie preparing food and working with the other kitchen staff.
It was still a good book. Just not as good as the previous one. I don't know when Hyzy plans on putting out the next book, but I definitely plan on reading it!
Affairs of Steak
Copyright 2012
293 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2012
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
setaian's review against another edition
3.0
After discovering a body at a venue being considered for a White House event, the White House's Executive Chef finds herself once again in the firing line and needs to team up with the persistent thorn in her side, Sensitivity Director Peter Everett Sargeant.
Nothing particularly new or original but this series is consistently entertaining and at book #5 is still pretty good fun. Onto #6.
Nothing particularly new or original but this series is consistently entertaining and at book #5 is still pretty good fun. Onto #6.
sheltzer's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book as much as the others, although I thought the crime was a bit excessive for the motive! But there are some strange people out there.
I really liked that Ollie and Peter Sargant called a truce during this book as I was frustrated last book when she was being attacked from all sides by Virgil and Peter. I'm also enjoying the burgeoning romance between her and Gav.
I really liked that Ollie and Peter Sargant called a truce during this book as I was frustrated last book when she was being attacked from all sides by Virgil and Peter. I'm also enjoying the burgeoning romance between her and Gav.
alittlebitmaria's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fun and easy read that was highly enjoyable! If your looking for a good cozy mystery that is full of fun and adventure then this is a great series to read!!
nutti72's review against another edition
4.0
Ollie is at it again. Helping to plan a birthday party for the Secretary of State she stumbles across the bodies of two White House employees at one of the possible venues. When the killer seems to think she knows more than she does, Ollie is once again under Secret Service protection. Tension in the White House kitchen is still high as Ollie continues to butt heads with the personal chef of the President's family. Tom & Gavin are also back as Gav and Ollie try to figure out their relationship. Lots of fun in this one, but the food plays 2nd fiddle to all the inner workings of the White House.
dollycas's review against another edition
5.0
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!
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!