Grace Takes Off

Praise for the national bestselling Manor House Mysteries

GRACE AMONG THIEVES

“Very believable and well researched . . . The characters are well drawn and believable . . .
[A] reliable series with an interesting setting, a capable heroine, and interesting
puzzle to work out.”

—
The Mystery Reader

GRACE INTERRUPTED

“Hyzy has another hit on her hands.”

—
Lesa’s Book Critiques

“A most intriguing and engaging read.”

—Once Upon a Romance

“Hyzy will keep you guessing until the end and never disappoints.”

—AnnArbor.com

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE

“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)

“A strong, intelligent, and sensitive sleuth . . . 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. Hyzy is skilled at creating unique series characters. Readers will
love Grace.”

—
Chicago Sun-Times

Praise for the
New York Times
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

BUFFALO WEST WING

“[A] 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 . . . Great job, Julie
Hyzy. Another all-around great read!”

—
The Romance Readers Connection

EGGSECUTIVE ORDERS

“The ever-burgeoning culinary mystery subgenre has a new chef-sleuth . . . The backstage
look at the White House proves fascinating.”

—
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 . . . Glimpses at the working class inside the White House . . .
An engaging chef’s cozy.”

—
Midwest Book Review

“[A] well-plotted mystery . . . A must-read series to add to the ranks of culinary
mysteries.”

—
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, author of
Dead by Midnight

“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
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

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

GRACE TAKES OFF

G
RACE
T
AKES
O
FF

JULIE HYZY

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

Published by the Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

USA | Canada | UK | Ireland | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa | China

Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

For more information about the Penguin Group, visit penguin.com.

GRACE TAKES OFF

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

Copyright © 2013 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.

Berkley Prime Crime Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

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

For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group
(USA) Inc.,

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

ISBN: 978-1-101-62438-8

PUBLISHING HISTORY

Berkley Prime Crime mass-market edition / July 2013

Cover illustration by Kimberly Schamber.

Cover design by Rita Frangie.

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.

To my favorite English teacher, Donna Wojtulewicz Sifling, who encouraged my writing
when I needed it most.

Acknowledgments

I adore visiting historic mansions—always have. Marshfield has become the manor house
of my dreams, and although I’ll never own anything like it in the physical sense,
I’m delighted to be able to wander its rooms, and even better, to invite readers to
join me in discovering its secrets.

So many friends have helped me get details just right for Grace’s newest adventure.
My good friends Hannah Dennison (Vicky Hill Exclusives Mysteries) and Betty Hechtman
(Crochet Mysteries) provided lots of valuable information about charter airline travel.
And major thanks to “The Poison Lady,” Luci Zahray, for her pharmaceutical suggestion.

Thanks to my lovely eldest daughter, Robyn, who helped me out with art-related questions;
my lovely middle daughter, Sara, for (as always) being the first to read and critique;
and to my lovely youngest daughter, Biz, for copyediting suggestions as well as coming
up with a fun title. We weren’t able to use that one, but it gave us a chance to giggle.
I love my girls!

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.
Writing may be a solitary endeavor, but as friends we’ve become a team.

I am absolutely thrilled to be working with my wonderful editor, Michelle Vega, again.
I’m grateful for, and delighted by, her ever-enthusiastic support. I owe a debt of
gratitude to copyeditor Erica Rose at Berkley Prime Crime, who shows enormous patience
with me despite my missteps with commas. And, as always, many thanks to my agent,
Paige Wheeler, who negotiates contracts with cheerful aplomb.

To my family: Curt, Robyn, Sara, Biz, Paul, Mitch, Grandma, and Claudia—my deepest
gratitude for your unwavering support. Love you!