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Zusatztext Praise for the New York Times Bestselling White House Chef Mysteries “A compulsively readable whodunit full of juicy behind-the-Oval Office details, flavorful characters, and a satisfying side dish of red herrings.”— Publishers Weekly “Stellar adventure…Delightful.”—Carolyn Hart, New York Times bestselling author of Death Comes Silently “This series burns as bright as the sun during a sweltering D.C. summer.”—Seattle Post-Intelligencer “[A] unique setting, strong characters, sharp conflict, and snappy plotting...Hyzy's research into the backstage kitchen secrets of the White House gives this series a special savor that will make you hungry for more.”—Susan Wittig Albert, New York Times bestselling author of Widow's Tears “The backstage look at the White House proves fascinating.”— Booklist Informationen zum Autor Julie Hyzy Klappentext It's an old adage that too many cooks spoil the broth. But when a tour of the White House kitchen by a group of foreign chefs ends in murder! it's Olivia Paras who finds herself in the soup... Due to a government sequester! entertaining at the White House has been severely curtailed. So executive chef Olivia Paras is delighted to hear that plans are still on to welcome a presidential candidate from the country of Saardisca—the first woman to run for office—and four of that nation's top chefs. But while leading the chefs on a kitchen tour! pastry chef Marcel passes out suddenly—and later claims he was drugged. When one of the visiting chefs collapses and dies! it's clear someone has infiltrated the White House with ill intent. Could it be an anti-Saardiscan zealot? Is the candidate a target? Are the foreign chefs keeping more than their recipes a secret? Once again! Olivia must make sleuthing the special of the day... Leseprobe CHAPTER 1 As executive chef at the White House, I was responsible for feeding the First Family and—whether they be friend or foe—all the home’s guests. I took my duties to heart, and was exceedingly proud of my team and the small part we played in shaping our country’s history. My role at the White House had evolved over the years, much to the Secret Service’s dismay. Through no fault of my own (well, most of the time) I’d been entangled in situations involving enemies of the president, international assassins, and those who attempted to conspire against the United States. Armed with stubborn tenacity and more than a bit of good luck, I’d had a hand in seeing justice served, and even saved a few lives in the process. It had been suggested, more than once, that President and Mrs. Hyden find less of a troublemaker to head up their kitchen. But the First Family liked me and what I brought to the table, both literally and figuratively. Several months ago, Special Agent in Charge, Leonard Gavin—Gav—and I had gotten married in a surprise ceremony here in the White House. Surrounded by friends and family as we exchanged vows, my life changed forever. After the ceremony, during the sweet reception that my assistants, Bucky and Cyan, had arranged for us, I’d endured countless good-natured barbs about how, now that I’d “settled down,” perhaps my terrorist-fighting days were over. And maybe they were. Since our wedding day, life had been very, very quiet. And truly, I had no quarrel with that. If I never went into hand-to-hand combat, if I never faced another barrel of a gun, if I was never again left bound and gagged with no chance of escape, well, I wasn’t about to complain. I rested my chin in one hand, elbow perched on the White House kitchen’s gleaming countertop. The fingers of my other hand beat out a non-rhythm of impatience against the shiny stainless steel. It’s not that I craved life-threatening adventure. Not at all. But right about now I would have appreciated...
