Grace Interrupted

Table of Contents

 

“Hyzy creates the well-researched and believable estate of Marshfield Manor, part mansion and part museum . . . Well-drawn characters like busybody secretary Frances, handsome landscape architect Jack, and stalking wannabe PI Ronny are supported by lively subplots, laying series groundwork to rival Marshfield Manor’s own elaborate structure.”

—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

 

“Each page will bring a new surprise . . . A must-read for this summer!”

—
The Romance Readers Connection

 

“Julie Hyzy’s fans have grown to love Ollie Paras, the White House chef. They’re going to be equally impressed with Grace Wheaton, a young, competent woman taking over a job she loves.”

—
Chicago Sun-Times

 

 

 

“A gourmand’s delight . . . Glimpses at the working class inside the White House . . . 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 . . . A must-read series to add to the ranks of culinary mysteries.”

—
The Mystery Reader

 

 

 

“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, author of
Laughed ’Til He Died

 

“Hyzy’s sure grasp of Washington geography offers firm footing for the plot.”

—
Booklist

 

“Topical, timely, intriguing. Julie Hyzy simmers a unique setting, strong characters, sharp conflict, and snappy plotting into a peppery blend that packs an unusual wallop.”

—Susan Wittig Albert, author of
Holly Blues

 

“From terrorists to truffles, mystery writer Julie Hyzy concocts a sumptuous, breathtaking thriller.”

—Nancy Fairbanks, bestselling author of
Turkey Flambé

 

“Exciting and delicious! Full of heart-racing thrills and mouthwatering food, this is a total sensual delight.”

—Linda Palmer, author of
Kiss of Death

 

“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

 

 

 

“Deliciously exciting.”

—Nancy Fairbanks

 

“A well-constructed plot, interesting characters, and plenty of Chicago lore . . . A truly pleasurable cozy.”

—Annette Meyers

 

“[A] solid, entertaining mystery that proves her to be a promising talent with a gift for winning characters and involving plots . . . Likely to appeal to readers of traditional mysteries as well as those who enjoy stories with a slightly harder edge.”

—
Chicago Sun-Times

 

“The fast-paced plot builds to a spine-chilling ending.”

—
Publishers Weekly

 

“A nicely balanced combination of detective work and high-wire adventure.”

—
Kirkus Reviews

 

“Riveting . . . A twisty, absorbing, headline-current case. First rate.”

—Carolyn Hart

 

“A well-crafted narrative, gentle tension, and a feisty, earthbound heroine mark this refreshingly different mystery debut.”

—
Library Journal

STATE OF THE ONION
HAIL TO THE CHEF
EGGSECUTIVE ORDERS
BUFFALO WEST WING

 

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE
GRACE INTERRUPTED

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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.

 

GRACE INTERRUPTED

 

A Berkley Prime Crime Book / published by arrangement with the author

 

PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Prime Crime mass-market edition / June 2011

Copyright © 2011 by Julie Hyzy.

 

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.

 

eISBN : 978-1-101-52888-4

 

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
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PRIME CRIME and the PRIME CRIME logo are trademarks of Penguin Group
(USA) Inc.

 

 

 

For anyone who has ever opened heart
and home to a stray

Special thanks to my fabulous editor, Emily Rapoport, and to Michelle Vega, Kaitlyn Kennedy, and Erica Rose at Berkley Prime Crime as well as to my marvelous agent, Paige Wheeler. You are all a dream to work with and I thank you for your enthusiastic support.

Thanks, too, to my blogmates at
www.MysteryLoversKitchen.com
, and at
www.KillerCharacters.com
. What fabulous groups of people! So much fun. I count myself lucky to be associated with these great authors.

I have to thank one individual in particular for his help with this book. Our good friend Jerry Rodell (who also happens to be my pledge-father from ages ago), is an active and avid Civil War re-enactor. He provided a steady stream of facts, pictures, and websites, as well as an in-depth knowledge of re-enacting I could not possibly have found elsewhere. Any and all errors (and variations due to creative license) are mine entirely. Thank you, Jerry. And a special thank-you to his wife, Denise, for the girly info . . . especially about the Soiled Doves. Loved that!

My family means everything to me, and I want to take a moment to thank my wonderful husband and kids. Love you, Curt, Robyn, Sara, and Biz. One of our new additions to the family makes her debut in this novel as “Bootsie.” Hope you enjoy meeting her.

Thanks to Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Thriller Writers of America. I especially want to thank readers who “friend” me on Facebook, post reviews online, and e-mail asking how soon the next book will be out. You make this job a joy. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

THE TWO WOMEN GLARED AT ME WITH SUCH sizzling fury I was afraid their eyeballs might catch fire. Flanked as they were by a pair of our manor’s elderly security guards, they appeared harmless enough, but both were so visibly agitated it was hard to be sure. They shifted their weight and met my gaze as the guards, Niles and William, explained the situation and handed me the women’s photo IDs. I took an involuntary step back in case either of the two in custody decided to take a swing at me.

We faced each other in Marshfield Manor’s West Salon, a high-ceilinged room on the mansion’s first floor. In the midst of a major refurbishment, the room was off-limits to visitors. Painting scaffolds blocked butternut bookcases, café au lait walls, and even one of the floor-to-ceiling windows. The two massive billiard tables that hadn’t been removed were covered with protective canvas duck. Since it was Friday and near quitting time, the painters and carpenters had taken off for the weekend, leaving the West Salon empty and quiet. I was pleased that our two security guards had opted to escort our unwelcome visitors here. This way our conversation would not disturb lingering tourists taking a final circuit of the mansion.