Fonduing Fathers
Authors: Julie Hyzy
Praise for the National Bestselling
White House Chef Mysteries
AFFAIRS OF STEAK
“Hyzy shines in this volume.
Affairs of Steak
proves unequivocally that this series burns as bright as the sun during a sweltering D.C. summer.”
—Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“These are wonderful books, enjoyable to read, hard to put down, and they make you really look forward to the next one in the series.”
—AnnArbor.com
“Fun and intriguing…I will keep my eye out for other books in the White House Chef Mystery Series.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Hyzy balances an appealing main character, an amazing setting, and a gripping mystery in this novel that is sure to please fans and newcomers to the series alike.”
—SheKnows
“
Affairs of Steak
weaves another fascinating, behind-the-scenes culinary mystery. Like a well-planned banquet, the intrigue incorporates multilayered characters with a dash of political intrigue, a splash of spicy romance, and a simmering plot that leaves readers fully satisfied while looking forward to the next White House Chef Mystery.”
—Emerging Novelists
“Julie Hyzy has created a culinary delight that will appeal to all of your senses.”
—The Best Reviews
BUFFALO WEST WING
“Hyzy’s obvious research into protocol and procedures gives her story the realistic element that her readers have come to expect from this top-notch mystery writer. Adventure, intrigue, and a dash of romance combine for a delicious cozy that is a delight to read.”
—Fresh Fiction
“A captivating story from the very first page until the end. The plot thickens like pea soup, and each character has a different spice to add to it. From the easy-to-re-create recipes in the back to its high-energy, ever-changing story line, this one is good enough to serve to the higher-ups. Ollie is definitely a character worth following. Great job, Julie Hyzy. Another all-around great read!”
—The Romance Readers Connection
“Ollie Paras is at the top of her game in [
Buffalo West Wing
], as is Hyzy…Every White House Chef Mystery is cause for celebration. The daily schedule in the White House kitchen is trauma enough, but Hyzy always ratchets up the tension with plots and danger…Julie Hyzy’s star shines brighter than ever with
Buffalo West Wing
.”
—Lesa’s Book Critiques
EGGSECUTIVE ORDERS
“The ever-burgeoning culinary mystery subgenre has a new chef-sleuth…The backstage look at the White House proves fascinating. Recipes are included for Eggcellent Eggs.”
—Booklist
“A quickly paced plot with a headstrong heroine and some recipes featuring eggs all add up to a dependable mystery.”
—The Mystery Reader
HAIL TO THE CHEF
“A gourmand’s delight…Julie Hyzy balances her meal ticket quite nicely between the glimpses at the working class inside the White House with an engaging chef’s cozy.”
—Midwest Book Review
“The story is entertaining, the character is charming, the setting is interesting…Fun to read, and sometimes that is exactly what hits the spot. I’ve found all of Hyzy’s books to be worth reading, and this one is no different.”
—
Crime Fiction Dossier
(Book of the Week)
“[A] well-plotted mystery.”
—The Mystery Reader
STATE OF THE ONION
“Pulse-pounding action, an appealing heroine, and the inner workings of the White House kitchen combine for a stellar adventure in Julie Hyzy’s delightful
State of the Onion
.”
—Carolyn Hart, national bestselling author of
Death Comes Silently
“Hyzy’s sure grasp of Washington geography offers firm footing for the plot.”
—Booklist
“[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, national bestselling author of
The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose
“From terrorists to truffles, mystery writer Julie Hyzy concocts a sumptuous, breathtaking thriller.”
—Nancy Fairbanks, bestselling author of
Turkey Flambé
“A compulsively readable whodunit full of juicy behind-the-Oval Office details, flavorful characters, and a satisfying side dish of red herrings—not to mention twenty pages of easy-to-cook recipes fit for the leader of the free world.”
—Publishers Weekly
More praise for the novels of Julie Hyzy
“A well-constructed plot, interesting characters, and plenty of Chicago lore…[A] truly pleasurable cozy.”
—Annette Meyers, author of
Hedging
“[A] promising talent with a gift for winning characters and involving plots.”
—Chicago Sun-Times
Berkley Prime Crime titles by Julie Hyzy
White House Chef Mysteries
STATE OF THE ONION
HAIL TO THE CHEF
EGGSECUTIVE ORDERS
BUFFALO WEST WING
AFFAIRS OF STEAK
FONDUING FATHERS
Manor House Mysteries
GRACE UNDER PRESSURE
GRACE INTERRUPTED
GRACE AMONG THIEVES
JULIE HYZY
BERKLEY PRIME CRIME, NEW YORK
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) • Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England • Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) • Penguin Group (Australia), 707 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3008, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) • Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India • Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) • Penguin Books, Rosebank Office Park, 181 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown North 2193, South Africa • Penguin China, B7 Jaiming Center, 27 East Third Ring Road North, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, China
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The recipes contained in this book are to be followed exactly as written. The publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision. The publisher is not responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes contained in this book.
FONDUING FATHERS
A Berkley Prime Crime Book / published by arrangement with Tekno Books
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Berkley Prime Crime mass-market edition / January 2013
Copyright © 2012 by Tekno Books.
Cover illustration by Ben Perini.
Cover design by Annette Fiore Defex.
Interior text design by Laura K. Corless.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
ISBN: 978-1-101-61862-2
BERKLEY
®
PRIME CRIME
Berkley Prime Crime Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
BERKLEY
®
PRIME CRIME and the PRIME CRIME logo are trademarks of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
| ALWAYS LEARNING | PEARSON |
In memory of my dad
I love writing these White House Chef Mysteries. Having been able to create Ollie and her friends and to see them through all sorts of dangers as Ollie stirs up trouble provides me never-ending enjoyment. This sixth book in the series brings answers to questions Ollie’s been asking all her life, and I hope you enjoy digging into the truth alongside her.
I tapped into many friends’ expertise for authentic details and I’m grateful for their generous help. First up, Ellen Crosby. This talented author of the outstanding Wine Country Mysteries advised me where best to set a vineyard just outside D.C. Thank you, Ellen!
Many thanks to my blog sisters, The Cozy Chicks (www.cozychicksblog.com), and my friends at CozyPromo. It’s wonderful to be part of such helpful and supportive groups. Thanks also to Facebook friends Diane Donceel McDonald and Jeanine Elizalde for helping me sort out a plot problem early on. Even though the story ultimately went a different direction, Diane’s and Jeanine’s enthusiastic help was appreciated nonetheless. Enormous thanks as well, to my good friend, David Eppenstein, for legal advice as I neared the climactic scene. His timely input prevented Ollie from making a very big mistake!
