Book of the Week: Julie Hyzy's "Hail to the Chef"

I don't read a lot of cozies, but occasionally one catches my eye, as was the case with Julie Hyzy's second mystery in the White House Chef series. Hail to the Chef is the kind of book that easily could have been pretty bad -- a series built around a gimmick, an improbable amateur sleuth, etc. -- but Hyzy is a good enough writer to make it all work. The story is entertaining, the character is charming, the setting (i.e., the White House) is interesting...Sure, it's not serious, but it's 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.