On the third Wednesday of each month, I’ll feature a cozy mystery I read long ago. Backlist titles make my heart sing and hopefully you’ll find some new to you reads for your cozy TBR. 

Today’s Way Back Cozy Wednesday title is Eggsecutive Orders (A White House Chef Mystery, Book 3) by Julie Hyzy

341 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published January 5, 2010 by Berkley

About the Book:

Chef Olivia Paras has too many eggs in one basket-and is feeling like a basket-case…

When NSA big shot Carl Minkus dies right after eating the dinner Olivia Paras’s staff had prepared, all forks point to them. Now the Secret Service is picking apart the kitchen-and scrutinizing the staff’s every move. The timing couldn’t be worse with the White House Lawn Easter Egg Roll to prep for without access to a kitchen. Olivia must find the real culprit-before she cracks under pressure.

My Thoughts:

It’s funny how some reading experiences stay with you. 

I vividly remember reading this book in 2011. I was home with my first baby – she was only a few weeks old. I had finally figured out how to read while holding a baby (thank you thumb page holder). I loved this series before my daughter was born, and my mother-in-law had dropped off book three at my house right after I got home from the hospital – along with that thumb page holder. It was a very cold, very snowy January day, and it was one of the first days I was home by myself with my brand new baby. (The weather was too bad for my mom to pop by). I sat in our cozy recliner and held a snuggly baby and read Eggsecutive Orders. I remember being so immersed in the story that I felt like I was in Washington DC in springtime – and being surprised when I looked up to see blowing snow out our sliding glass door. 

Such a wonderful series. There are nine books total and I remember being so sad when the series ended. 

About the Author:

Julie Hyzy is a New York Times bestselling and Anthony Award-winning author. Her novels include the standalone techno-thriller, VIRTUAL SABOTAGE (October 23, 2018; Calexia Press), the White House Chef mystery series, the Manor of Murder mystery series and the Alex St. James mystery series. A Chicago native and graduate of Loyola University, she lives in the Chicagoland area with her husband. Visit her website. (Although I don’t think this has been updated in awhile.)