The Recommended Reading Order
Julie Hyzy's White House Chef Mysteries follow a straightforward, linear chronology. Because the character development, career milestones, and romantic relationships progress steadily from book to book, the recommended reading order is the original publication order.
- State of the Onion (2008)
- Hail to the Chef (2008)
- Eggsecutive Orders (2010)
- Buffalo West Wing (2011)
- Affairs of Steak (2012)
- Fonduing Fathers (2012)
- Home of the Braised (2014)
- All the President's Menus (2015)
- Foreign Éclairs (2016)
Additionally, you may encounter the volume titled Inaugural Parade (2014). This is not a standalone entry or a new story; it is a three-in-one omnibus edition collecting the first three novels: State of the Onion, Hail to the Chef, and Eggsecutive Orders.
The White House Chef Books in Detail
1. State of the Onion (2008)
We are introduced to Olivia 'Ollie' Paras, an executive sous chef in the White House kitchen. While managing the pressure of prep work and dealing with her difficult boss, Ollie witnesses a security breach on the White House grounds. Her quick actions save a life, but throw her into the crosshairs of a deadly assassin known as the Chameleon.
2. Hail to the Chef (2008)
Ollie is hoping for a promotion to executive chef, but kitchen politics and murder get in the way. When a White House electrician is electrocuted and the First Lady's nephew apparently commits suicide, Ollie suspects foul play and begins investigating, putting her own career—and life—on the line.
3. Eggsecutive Orders (2010)
Tensions rise in the White House kitchen when the executive chef disappears and a guest dies after eating a meal Ollie prepared. Facing a poisoned food scandal that threatens the First Family and her own livelihood, Ollie must track down the real culprit before she is blamed for the disaster.
4. Buffalo West Wing (2011)
When the President decides to host a surprise summit at a remote location, the kitchen staff must prepare under tight security. However, danger follows them outside of Washington, D.C., and Ollie finds herself trying to prevent a political catastrophe while keeping the peace among her fellow staff members.
5. Affairs of Steak (2012)
Ollie has finally secured the top job, but being the Executive Chef is more stressful than she imagined. A major state dinner is thrown into chaos when a double murder occurs, forcing Ollie to team up with her workplace nemesis to clear her staff's names.
6. Fonduing Fathers (2012)
Historical conspiracy meets culinary arts when Ollie is tasked with preparing a special dinner using recipes from the Founding Fathers. The discovery of an old diary and the sudden death of a prominent museum curator lead Ollie into a mystery involving historic secrets and modern-day greed.
7. Home of the Braised (2014)
A high-profile event is disrupted when a Secret Service agent is found dead. Ollie's romantic relationship with Agent Tom Landis adds personal stakes to the investigation as she tries to uncover a mole within the White House security detail.
8. All the President's Menus (2015)
Ollie is sent to assist at a presidential retreat, hoping for a brief change of pace. Instead, she gets caught in a web of international intrigue when a foreign diplomat is murdered, forcing her to solve the crime before relations sour on a global scale.
9. Foreign Éclairs (2016)
In the final installment of the series, Ollie's career and personal life reach a turning point. A complex conspiracy involving a visiting delegation and culinary sabotage threatens everything she has worked for, bringing the series to a satisfying and dramatic conclusion.
Chronological vs. Publication Order & Caveats
There are no prequel novellas or spin-off short stories that disrupt the timeline of the White House Chef Mysteries. The events of each book occur in the order they were published. The only potential point of confusion for collectors is the 2014 release of Inaugural Parade, which is simply a boxed set/omnibus compilation of the first three novels. Readers should buy either the individual paperbacks or the omnibus, but do not need both.
Where to Start & Practical Reader Advice
You should absolutely start with the first book, State of the Onion. While each mystery is self-contained and can technically be read as a standalone, reading the series out of order will spoil major developments. Throughout the nine books, Ollie goes through significant career growth—from an assistant fighting for recognition to the Executive Chef running the entire White House kitchen. Furthermore, her slow-burn romance with Secret Service agent Tom Landis progresses chronologically, making a sequential read much more rewarding.
As an added bonus for food lovers, Julie Hyzy includes recipes at the end of each book, showcasing the actual dishes Ollie cooks for the President, the First Family, and visiting dignitaries.
Spin-offs and Crossovers
Julie Hyzy is also the author of the popular Manor House Mysteries, which stars Grace Wheaton as an assistant curator at a historic estate. While both are cozy mystery series written by the same author, they are set in entirely different universes and feature no character crossovers. You do not need to read the Manor House Mysteries to fully enjoy Ollie's adventures in the White House kitchen.