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Death in a Budapest Butterfly
(Hungarian Tea House Mystery #1)
by
Hana Keller serves up European-style cakes and teas in her family-owned tea house, but when a customer keels over from a poisoned cuppa, Hana and her tea-leaf reading grandmother will have to help catch a killer in the first Hungarian Tea House Mystery from Julia Buckley.
Hana Keller and her family run Maggie's Tea House, an establishment heavily influenced by the family's ...more
Hana Keller and her family run Maggie's Tea House, an establishment heavily influenced by the family's ...more
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Kindle Edition, 304 pages
Published
July 30th 2019
by Berkley
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Start your review of Death in a Budapest Butterfly (A Hungarian Tea House Mystery #1)

Vasorrú Bába!
Hungarian folklore, European high tea, and just a touch of the paranormal come together to make DEATH IN A BUDAPEST BUTTERFLY a delightful start to a new cozy mystery series!
Three generations of the Horvath/Keller family run Maggie’s Tea House in suburban Chicago. Hana, her mother Maggie, and grandmother Juliana are shaken when a guest is poisoned to death at one of their events. With a murderer on the loose and their business in danger, Hana is willing to help Detective Erik Wolf w ...more
Hungarian folklore, European high tea, and just a touch of the paranormal come together to make DEATH IN A BUDAPEST BUTTERFLY a delightful start to a new cozy mystery series!
Three generations of the Horvath/Keller family run Maggie’s Tea House in suburban Chicago. Hana, her mother Maggie, and grandmother Juliana are shaken when a guest is poisoned to death at one of their events. With a murderer on the loose and their business in danger, Hana is willing to help Detective Erik Wolf w ...more

2.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hana works at her family's Hungarian tea house and loves her job. When the Magyar Women, a group of older Hungarian women, rent out the space for an afternoon tea, she expects it to be gossip, “when you going to meet a nice boy” talk, and friendship sharing, she does not expect murder.
With the reputation of their tea house on the line, Hana and her moth ...more
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hana works at her family's Hungarian tea house and loves her job. When the Magyar Women, a group of older Hungarian women, rent out the space for an afternoon tea, she expects it to be gossip, “when you going to meet a nice boy” talk, and friendship sharing, she does not expect murder.
With the reputation of their tea house on the line, Hana and her moth ...more


This is my first book by Julia Buckley and I have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised. I picked up this book because I had no idea what a Budapest Butterfly was and was curious. But it turns out, there’s quite a lot of interesting things about this book.
First off, this is a first in a new series and it has a real focus on the Hungarian culture. I’m always a big fan of series that do this. Not only do you get something interesting to read, but you can also learn about different cultures as well ...more

Dollycas’s Thoughts
Welcome to Maggie’s Tea House where Hana, her mother Maggie, and grandmother Juliana, serve cakes and tea focused on the family’s Hungarian heritage. A real treat is that Juliana can read tea leaves and predict the future. The ladies have a vast tea service collection for their customers and Hana has a private collection too. She just added a beautiful butterfly cup, one that she has put on display at their latest event.
With the event well underway Maggie notices her cup is no ...more
Welcome to Maggie’s Tea House where Hana, her mother Maggie, and grandmother Juliana, serve cakes and tea focused on the family’s Hungarian heritage. A real treat is that Juliana can read tea leaves and predict the future. The ladies have a vast tea service collection for their customers and Hana has a private collection too. She just added a beautiful butterfly cup, one that she has put on display at their latest event.
With the event well underway Maggie notices her cup is no ...more

The first book in the Hungarian Tea Shop mysteries is fun read where it explains family life in a Hungarian family. Hana Keller works alongside with her Mother and Grandmother in the family business, Maggie Tea House. The story is a cozy mystery with a twist of paranormal as the woman in the family have inherited the gift of sight. It is refreshing to read a book will the police are willing to work with the protagonist.
Hana has a collection of teacups which treasures highly. She receives a gift ...more
Hana has a collection of teacups which treasures highly. She receives a gift ...more

Dec 08, 2020
Chatting About
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2020-cozies-read,
cat,
home-family-hearth,
contemporary,
humor,
cozy-mystery,
cozy-series,
culinary-cozy,
mystery
Review to post soon

Being the kind of reader who is attracted to a book by its cover, it is no wonder I was eager to read this book. I just find the cover to be adorable! Death in a Budapest Butterfly is the first book in the A Hungarian Tea House Mystery series and what a delightful cozy mystery this turned out to be. I loved the inclusion of Hungarian culture and folklore which permeated everything in this story. At the start I was introduced to Hana, her mother and grandmother, who are all co-owners of Maggie’s
...more

I loved this book! Certainly I have enjoyed other books by Julia Buckley, but in this one I was immediately drawn into the story and in love with the characters. Hana, her mother and grandmother run a teashop specializing in European high tea when there is a death there during a tea for a Hungarian Ladies group. Charmingly written and immersed in Hungarian culture. There's even a touch of the paranormal as Hana realizes she has a touch of extreme intuitiveness like her grandmother. Highly recomm
...more

Death in a Budapest Butterfly is the first novel in A Hungarian Tea House Mystery series written by Julia Buckley (A Writer’s Apprentice Mystery series). Hana Keller is twenty-six years old and of Hungarian descent. Hungarian food and the culture are a big part of the family’s lives. We get a comprehensive account of the various Hungarian dishes prepared. It was interesting to learn more about the Hungarian culture, cuisine, traditions and folklore. I wish, though, that the Hungarian words had c
...more

A Budapest Butterfly china teacup is a thing of
beauty but can it be turned into a weapon of death??
Hana Keller sets up a special display for the Anna
Weatherley butterfly teacup in Maggie’s Tea House
for a function hosting a group of Hungarian women.
Somehow the teacup is removed from the display. A
Hungarian saying is written inside the cup, poison
added then the cup is served to one of the attendees
by a non employee of the Tea House. After drinking
from the cup, she dies. Who removed the cup, a ...more
beauty but can it be turned into a weapon of death??
Hana Keller sets up a special display for the Anna
Weatherley butterfly teacup in Maggie’s Tea House
for a function hosting a group of Hungarian women.
Somehow the teacup is removed from the display. A
Hungarian saying is written inside the cup, poison
added then the cup is served to one of the attendees
by a non employee of the Tea House. After drinking
from the cup, she dies. Who removed the cup, a ...more

Got a third of the way through and could not finish it.
I've tried to like the "cozy mystery" type books, and hoped this would be better than previous ones I'd tried. The blurb and preview seemed promising, and the Hungarian elements appealing, but I was sorely disappointed once again. Banter between characters feels forced. Characters in their late twenties/early thirties think and behave like naive white high schoolers.
I specify white here in particular because holy smokes, the main character, ...more
I've tried to like the "cozy mystery" type books, and hoped this would be better than previous ones I'd tried. The blurb and preview seemed promising, and the Hungarian elements appealing, but I was sorely disappointed once again. Banter between characters feels forced. Characters in their late twenties/early thirties think and behave like naive white high schoolers.
I specify white here in particular because holy smokes, the main character, ...more

2020 bk 75. A cute mystery with 'gifted' women in a family of Hungarian Americans. I forget how close in time the Hungarian emigration was (1950's -1980's) and this book reminded me of the fairly recent immigration patterns of eastern Europe. The mystery involves the death of the most recent immigrant in the tight knit community and the discovery that she was poisoned while drinking tea at the main character's tea house, after Hana's grandmother predicts dark things for her. I found it to be a t
...more

This was a very pleasant surprise. I didn't really know what it was about, only that my friend had to read it for a cozy group she is in [that I got turfed out of] and she asked me to read it with her [and then she powered it out before me LOL] and it was already on my list so I figured why not and there was an audiobook so away I went.
This was absolutely delightful [minus the weird romance writing - I am not a romance fan, but I have read romance and this was cringe-worthy. I was tempted multi ...more
This was absolutely delightful [minus the weird romance writing - I am not a romance fan, but I have read romance and this was cringe-worthy. I was tempted multi ...more

Loved it!
I really enjoyed this one. I liked Hana and the rest of the characters. Hard to pick out a murderer in a roomful of little old Hungarian women. I don’t know much about Hungarian culture and it was fun learning about it. There could have been a little more translating on some of the Hungarian phrases. Can’t wait to see what happens next. Another good pick by #readforkimberly
I really enjoyed this one. I liked Hana and the rest of the characters. Hard to pick out a murderer in a roomful of little old Hungarian women. I don’t know much about Hungarian culture and it was fun learning about it. There could have been a little more translating on some of the Hungarian phrases. Can’t wait to see what happens next. Another good pick by #readforkimberly

Three generations of Hungarian women own and manage Maggie’s Tea House, specializing in the European high tea. Grandmother Juliana is known for her ability to read the future in a person’s tea leaves. The tea house is named from Hana Keller’s mother, Maggie. The three women are getting ready for a special event for the Magyar Women.
During the high tea, Ana Novak’s tea is poisoned. Detective Erik Wolf comes to investigate and through the course of inquiry learns that Hana and Juliana both have s ...more
During the high tea, Ana Novak’s tea is poisoned. Detective Erik Wolf comes to investigate and through the course of inquiry learns that Hana and Juliana both have s ...more

What a great start to a new series! There are several things I like about it, including excellent writing, strong, gentle female characters, and a challenging mystery. It is the first one I can recall reading for a long time that I was in denial about who the real killer might be, even after the confession, because the person just didn't seem like a cold-blooded killer! I also enjoyed learning about the interesting ideals and backgrounds of those who immigrated from Hungary.
Hana's mother Maggie ...more
Hana's mother Maggie ...more

Series: A Hungarian Tea House Mystery - Book 1
Author: Julia Buckley
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Coffee/Tea Shop/Paranormal
Publisher: Berkley
Page Count: 304
Publishing Date: July 30, 2019
The first cozy book Death in a Budapest Butterfly in a new series “A Hungarian Tea House Mystery “from author Julia Buckley hits stores on July 30, 2019, published by Berkley.
This new series has stout, gifted women, tasty food, exotic teas, a delightful teacup collection, and a look at Hungarian culture. There are p ...more
Author: Julia Buckley
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Coffee/Tea Shop/Paranormal
Publisher: Berkley
Page Count: 304
Publishing Date: July 30, 2019
The first cozy book Death in a Budapest Butterfly in a new series “A Hungarian Tea House Mystery “from author Julia Buckley hits stores on July 30, 2019, published by Berkley.
This new series has stout, gifted women, tasty food, exotic teas, a delightful teacup collection, and a look at Hungarian culture. There are p ...more

As I mentioned in my review of "Death of a Wandering Wolf" it's unusual for me to read a series out of order when I am aware of the series order before adding the novel on GoodReads but my 'stash' of tbr novels has dwindled away as books have been my company for bedtime reading more than ever this year. For the multiple reasons listed in review of the 2nd novel of the series it was most enjoyable to meet the debut of the characters, setting, etc.
A true compliment to the series is that I'd love t ...more
A true compliment to the series is that I'd love t ...more

This is the first book in the Hungarian Tea House series. Hana along with her mother and grandmother run Maggie's Tea House. When a death occurs during one of their events using Hana's valuable butterfly tea cup, the police ask them for their help since they know the Hungarian culture. I absolutely loved this book. I loved the connection that Hana has with both her mother and grandmother. I really connected with Hana and her family. I loved mystery. I liked the interview process and how everythi
...more

Ever since I went with my husband on a river cruise on the Danube, which included Budapest, I have been drawn to all books that have something to do with Hungary. Hungarian authors such as Sandor Marai, Magda Szabo and Miklos Banffy have been wonderful to read. So as soon as I this title, I knew I had to pre-order it.
I really enjoyed all the Hungarian culture included in this book.
I really enjoyed all the Hungarian culture included in this book.

DEATH IN A BUDAPEST BUTTERFLY, the first in the new Hungarian Tea House Mystery series by Julia Buckley, is a delightful introduction to the author’s Hungarian culture. It’s packed full of mystery, folklore, and three generations of strong women who run Maggie’s Tea House. The protagonist, Hana Keller, along with her mother, Maggie, and grandmother, Juliana, are known for serving European High Tea and specialty events with a Hungarian flair. Ms. Buckley did an outstanding job capturing the essen
...more

Feb 11, 2020
Joy
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
cozy-mysteries,
book-club-reads
I really enjoyed this cozy and look forward to following the series. The cultural details and the mix of fairy tale/legend with the mystery make it a very engaging read.

https://openbooksociety.com/article/d...
Death in a Budapest Butterfly
A Hungarian Tea House Mystery #1
By Julia Buckley
ISBN 9781984804822
juliabuckley.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Hanna Keller runs her family’s Tea House, serving up scrumptious snacks and tantalizing teas but when a customer keels over from a poisoned cuppa, Hanna and her tea-leaf reading grandma will have to catch a killer in the first of the new cozy mystery series from Julia Buckley.
Hanna Keller and her famil ...more
Death in a Budapest Butterfly
A Hungarian Tea House Mystery #1
By Julia Buckley
ISBN 9781984804822
juliabuckley.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Hanna Keller runs her family’s Tea House, serving up scrumptious snacks and tantalizing teas but when a customer keels over from a poisoned cuppa, Hanna and her tea-leaf reading grandma will have to catch a killer in the first of the new cozy mystery series from Julia Buckley.
Hanna Keller and her famil ...more

This is a truly delightful first in a new series.
This is a fresh and unique take on a "tea shop" cozy mystery.
It is great to have a female protagonist who is strong and not starting over again after a messy break-up, divorce or job loss.
I really enjoyed the characters of Hana and her family. The Hungarian folk tales and customs that were mentioned in the mystery were interesting and ones I would like to read more about. The Hungarian food that was discussed made my mouth water and wish I had som ...more
This is a fresh and unique take on a "tea shop" cozy mystery.
It is great to have a female protagonist who is strong and not starting over again after a messy break-up, divorce or job loss.
I really enjoyed the characters of Hana and her family. The Hungarian folk tales and customs that were mentioned in the mystery were interesting and ones I would like to read more about. The Hungarian food that was discussed made my mouth water and wish I had som ...more

Feb 17, 2020
Kim Galla
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
Cozy readers
Shelves:
2020-backlist
I love when a cozy author brings in an international culture. Being second generaion Hungarian, it made me feel a little sad that I don't know how to make more of the food. This was a good cozy with different approaches than other ones.
...more

What draws you to read a cozy mystery series? Cozies are unique: murders aside, they are set in places you'd like to visit, with characters who are basically good people (murderous impulses notwithstanding) who often fall in love. Murders are generally solved without significant damage to the community. The focus can be food, cats, libraries, knitting, or other creative endeavors (as in Julia Buckley's Writers' Apprentice series). The reader can relax, read, and enjoy a respite amongst the lovel
...more

I borrowed this book out from my library (OverDrive), and after almost 3 weeks of procrastination - and reading a lot of other things - I thought I’d better read it before my loan period expired. I’m so glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a lot different from most of the cozy mysteries I come across, especially those centred around America and American characters, in that it was very dependent on the culture of the characters. The fairy stories told to Hana by her grandparents had
...more
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Julia Buckley is a Chicago-area writer. She has written three mystery series with Berkley Prime Crime, including the best-selling Writer's Apprentice Series, which Mystery Scene calls "engaging, enjoyable, and surprising," while Kirkus dubs it "pleasantly old-fashioned." The Library Journal called Buckley "a writer to watch."
Buckley is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and ...more
Buckley is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and ...more
Other books in the series
Hungarian Tea House Mystery
(3 books)
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“I admit I have a Hungarian temper. Why not? I am from Hungary. We are descendants of Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun. —ZSA ZSA GABOR”
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