Book 29, 2025

[chez_jae]

Death in a Budapest Butterfly by Julia Buckley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


View all my reviews

I finished reading Death in a Budapest Butterfly last night. It’s book 1 in author Julia Buckley’s “Hungarian Tea House” series of cozy mysteries. The main character is Hana Keller, who run’s Maggie’s Tea House with her Hungarian mother and grandmother.

Hana and her family have made a success of their business, which features European-style high teas. At one such event, a guest is poisoned, putting the tea house’s reputation on the line. Worse, the poison was delivered via Hana’s most prized teacup, a valuable Anna Weatherly butterfly cup. Not only do the police claim it as evidence, but they set about questioning the guests, along with Hana, her mother, and her grandmother. It’s Hana’s grandmother, Juliana, who is renowned for her ability to read tea leaves and tell the guests their fortunes. Hana is eager to see the case resolved. She asks questions and relates what she learns to Detective Wolf, who’s in charge of the investigation. When danger comes to her family, Hana is even more determined to bring the killer to justice.

This was a compelling read. I’m not familiar with Hungarian culture, so it was interesting to learn about it, along with Detective Wolf. Hana is somber and serious, but fiercely devoted to her family. I enjoyed her interactions with her brother’s girlfriend, Margie, who’s introverted to the point of agoraphobia. All of the characterizations were superb, and the plot moved at a steady pace, making sense as events unfolded along the way.

Favorite lines:
♦ I had developed an interest in all things tea, especially teacups, which to me were like jewels, tiny treasures, and individual pieces of art.
♦ “I don’t really need a man, but if I run across a great one I’ll give him a try.”
♦ “There’s not a lot of crime at tea parties, as a rule.”
♦ “Your cats look like executioners.”
♦ “Can you really picture one of these old ladies committing murder?” // “Of course I can. They’re a scary batch of Old County women, full of superstition and paprika-scented resentment.”
♦ “You’ve known this guy for like twenty minutes, and you’ve already connected romantically and had a fight?”
♦ “The police just have to solve a mystery, like Nancy Drew or the Scooby-Doo gang or something.”

Evocative and engrossing, five stars.


1. Does the mc work at/as one of the following: baker/bakery/sweet shop/tea shop/coffee shop, library/librarian, antique/vintage shop, book store, fashion/boutique, bed & breakfast? Yes, she works in a tea house
2. Does the mc live at her (or his) place of occupation? No
3. Is the love interest involved in law enforcement? (Police officer, sheriff, detective, PI, FBI) Yes, alas
4. Does the mc have a dog/cat as a pet? Yes, she has two cats
5. Is the mc's BFF either a gay guy or a ditzy/zany woman? No
6. Did the mc find the body? Yes
7. Did the mc wind up in mortal danger at the end of the book? Not really
8. Is the mc's mother either: dead, absent, far removed, ditzy and dithering, or overbearing/disapproving/meddling? Not at all, thank goodness
9. If mother is dead/absent, does the mc have another mother-figure (grandmother, aunt, mom's friend, or an older friend)? NA
10. Is the mc child-free? (Either no children or else grown children--i.e. no small children to look after) Yes

Comments

[felaine]

I'm so glad you read and enjoyed it, this series is one of my favorites.

The Hungarian aspect and the varied psychic skills gave it an unusual view.

Loved Grandma's reaction to the "Wolf", and the character of the person who was...the culprit.

[chez_jae]

I have one other in the series, and I look forward to reading it.