State of the Onion, by Julie A. Hyzy, tells the story of a White House chef who becomes embroiled in a state security mystery. Protagonist Olivia Paras is an assistant chef in the White House, and on her way to work she stops an intruder from getting to the President. What she at first thinks was just a simple security matter becomes an extended plot that could threaten both the President and the United States. Olivia must solve the mystery of who is trying to infiltrate the White House while contending with a rival competing for her job and relationship problems with her Secret Service boyfriend.
Fast paced and with a light tone, State of the Onion is a quick read perfect for a rainy day. I enjoyed this novel. For me, the mystery was definitely not obvious, and the final reveal shocked me. A high point in this read was getting to learn more about the inner workings of the White House. I could tell that Hyzy had done a lot of research. However, the book was far from perfect. Most of the side characters weren’t very developed, and for a novel about a chef, there weren’t very many descriptions of food. At times, the writing felt a bit clunky. I would definitely recommend this book to any who enjoy learning about the government or the White House. But if you’re just looking for a mystery, there are probably better options out there.