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Hungarian Tea House Mystery #2
Death of a Wandering Wolf
Hana Keller is enjoying a day off from serving up tea and delicious pastries at her family's Hungarian Tea House when her downtime turns deadly....
The only thing Hana loves more than a good cuppa is finding a delicate porcelain treasure to add to her collection. She's usually on the hunt for teacups but when she spots a rare wolf figurine at a local yard sale, she knows it's her lucky day. Hana also knows the wolf is valuable and tells the seller that he's charging too little for it. His reaction is peculiar--he says he received the wolf from someone he doesn't trust and he just wants it out of his life.
Hana is inspecting her new prize when she finds a tiny microchip attached to the bottom of the porcelain wolf. When she shows the figure to her police detective boyfriend, Erik, Hana is shocked to learn that the chip is actually a tracking device. They decide to confront the seller about the sneaky sale but when they arrive at his house, they find him dead. Erik and Hana now must hunt a calculating killer who has no intentions of crying wolf when it comes to murder...
The only thing Hana loves more than a good cuppa is finding a delicate porcelain treasure to add to her collection. She's usually on the hunt for teacups but when she spots a rare wolf figurine at a local yard sale, she knows it's her lucky day. Hana also knows the wolf is valuable and tells the seller that he's charging too little for it. His reaction is peculiar--he says he received the wolf from someone he doesn't trust and he just wants it out of his life.
Hana is inspecting her new prize when she finds a tiny microchip attached to the bottom of the porcelain wolf. When she shows the figure to her police detective boyfriend, Erik, Hana is shocked to learn that the chip is actually a tracking device. They decide to confront the seller about the sneaky sale but when they arrive at his house, they find him dead. Erik and Hana now must hunt a calculating killer who has no intentions of crying wolf when it comes to murder...
275 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 24, 2021
33 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
About the author
Julia Buckley
31 books800 followersJulia 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 the Chicago Writers Association. She blogs about writing and mysteries at Mysterious Musings, where she has interviewed almost 200 other mystery writers about their work.
She teaches high school English and enjoys reading, playing Words With Friends, and spending time with her husband and two sons, along with their menagerie of animals.
Buckley is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Chicago Writers Association. She blogs about writing and mysteries at Mysterious Musings, where she has interviewed almost 200 other mystery writers about their work.
She teaches high school English and enjoys reading, playing Words With Friends, and spending time with her husband and two sons, along with their menagerie of animals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
June 25, 2020
4.5 stars
Hana Keller and her family run Maggie's Tea House, an establishment heavily influenced by the family's Hungarian heritage and specializing in European-style traditional tea service. The women in Hana's family all have psychic abilities and can sense things about people and the future. In this second installment in Julia Buckley's A Hungarian Tea House Mystery series, Hana is enjoying a rare day off work. She goes to a yard sale and finds a couple of treasures, including a rare wolf figurine and two paintings. When she gets home, her detective boyfriend, Erik, finds a tracker on the figurine and goes to confront the man in charge of the yard sale. But when they arrive at his house, they find him dead. Erik and Hana are determined to solve the case, especially when it becomes apparent that Hana is the killer's next target.
A fantastic addition to this enchanting series by Julia Buckley. The writing style flowed so effortlessly that I finished the story in 24 hours, which doesn't happen very often. I really loved the setting - it had an almost atmospheric feel to it. The Hungarian traditions, food, and folklore added a unique layer to the story. The characters are developing nicely. We learn more about Hana's psychic abilities and family history. The introduction of Erik's sisters added plenty of entertainment to the story. It was fun seeing Hana bond with them, and I hope they will continue to make appearances in the upcoming books. The mystery was well done and kept me engaged. There were enough suspects, clues, and action to keep readers on their toes.
Overall, this is a charming paranormal cozy, with strong female characters, heartwarming family relationship, and mouthwatering descriptions of food. Julia Buckley is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors and I highly recommend any of books.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Hana Keller and her family run Maggie's Tea House, an establishment heavily influenced by the family's Hungarian heritage and specializing in European-style traditional tea service. The women in Hana's family all have psychic abilities and can sense things about people and the future. In this second installment in Julia Buckley's A Hungarian Tea House Mystery series, Hana is enjoying a rare day off work. She goes to a yard sale and finds a couple of treasures, including a rare wolf figurine and two paintings. When she gets home, her detective boyfriend, Erik, finds a tracker on the figurine and goes to confront the man in charge of the yard sale. But when they arrive at his house, they find him dead. Erik and Hana are determined to solve the case, especially when it becomes apparent that Hana is the killer's next target.
A fantastic addition to this enchanting series by Julia Buckley. The writing style flowed so effortlessly that I finished the story in 24 hours, which doesn't happen very often. I really loved the setting - it had an almost atmospheric feel to it. The Hungarian traditions, food, and folklore added a unique layer to the story. The characters are developing nicely. We learn more about Hana's psychic abilities and family history. The introduction of Erik's sisters added plenty of entertainment to the story. It was fun seeing Hana bond with them, and I hope they will continue to make appearances in the upcoming books. The mystery was well done and kept me engaged. There were enough suspects, clues, and action to keep readers on their toes.
Overall, this is a charming paranormal cozy, with strong female characters, heartwarming family relationship, and mouthwatering descriptions of food. Julia Buckley is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors and I highly recommend any of books.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2020
DEATH OF A WANDERING WOLF is the second book in the delightful Hungarian Tea House Mystery series. Hana Keller gets more than she bargained for at a yard sale, when the seller, a local artist, is murdered shortly after Hana scores some too good to be true deals. Hana uses her developing psychic ability and smarts to unlock the secrets in his paintings. Will his art reveal the identity of his killer?
I enjoyed this complex murder mystery that combines intriguing Hungarian culture and folklore, mysterious paintings, and a touch of the paranormal. It was great seeing Hana and Detective Erik Wolf’s relationship grow closer, and the introduction of Erik’s sisters was a lot of fun. I hope they make an appearance in future books. Hana and her family are wonderful characters who make this an engaging cozy mystery series. Highly recommended!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this complex murder mystery that combines intriguing Hungarian culture and folklore, mysterious paintings, and a touch of the paranormal. It was great seeing Hana and Detective Erik Wolf’s relationship grow closer, and the introduction of Erik’s sisters was a lot of fun. I hope they make an appearance in future books. Hana and her family are wonderful characters who make this an engaging cozy mystery series. Highly recommended!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2021
Love, love, love this series! Love all the culture! I can’t wait to chat with this author May 15th on my channel!! Please join us @ 2pm Es time to join the discussion and fun!!
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November 18, 2022
Such a great story! The spectacular plot had me on the edge of my seat! I enjoy the cast of characters, especially, Hana, her mom, and Hungarian grandmother. Having tea at their tea house sounds wonderful. I think Erik and Hana are the best match, and I’m happy Hana realized he was the one in this book! Several of the recurring characters are very intriguing; I think Henrik Sipos is a great person and his memories add a lot to the story. Erik’s sisters add lots of humor, and I really like them!
Author Buckley is a master storyteller and has outdone herself with this novel. I highly recommend this story and the previous story to cozy mystery readers….along with all other stories she’s written! (Aka Veronica Bond).
Author Buckley is a master storyteller and has outdone herself with this novel. I highly recommend this story and the previous story to cozy mystery readers….along with all other stories she’s written! (Aka Veronica Bond).
June 30, 2020
After reading the first book in the series, I was interested in Julia Buckley’s writing. This is only the second book that I’ve tried by this author and while I enjoyed the concept on this series in the first book of the series, I felt like DEATH OF A WANDERING WULF took a bit of a different approach than I was expecting.
As you can see, the title of the series is A Hungarian Tea House Mystery and what I liked about the first book is that it is a cultural experience in addition to a mystery story. With this book, I do still feel like you get that unique cultural experience. However, the focus of this book is Hana’s interest in a particular porcelain treasure. I guess it still matches well with the theme, but I didn’t find myself as invested in this storyline and concept as much as the first book.
That being said, it took me a while to get into this book. There are a lot of extra details, which can be seen as a good thing. However, it’s a double-edged sword because too much of that extra information and make the story feel bogged down and that’s what I felt like happened here. It’s unfortunate because I like Hana a lot.
I’m hoping that the next book in the series will be a better match for me. So while the theme of this story didn’t work as well for me, I am hoping that the next concept will interest me more.
March 21, 2021
I’m really loving this series and I hope there are many more books to come. Hana and Erik are great characters and I loved getting to meet more of Erik’s family in this book. The mystery was good and the ending exciting.
May 25, 2020
I really enjoyed Death in a Budapest Butterfly, so when I saw book two in An Hungarian Tea House Mystery, Death of a Wandering Wolf by Julia Buckley was coming out, I knew I wanted to read it. And book two was just as good as the first one, which often isn’t the case in cozy mystery series.
Buckley continues with her excellent character development. We get to know more about Hana and her family, along with their psychic abilities and we get to meet some new characters, including Det. Wolf’s sisters, whom I hope to see in future books. And talking about psychic abilities, Hana is starting to explore hers more, which I absolutely love.
And I adore that Det. Wolf continues to believe in Hana’s powers and share information with her in regards to the case. So many cozies have the police presence or even the heroine’s family and friends discourage her from investigating, so when I find a cozy mystery series that encourages the main character, I get very happy.
In this book, as in the first book, we learn a bit about Hungarian folktales and a lot about Hungarian cooking. Death of a Wandering Wolf inspired me to look up a recipe for a Hungarian casserole that turned out delicious and helped to encourage me to try more of the recipes at the end of the book.
As for the mystery itself, there were lots of suspects and at no point was I absolutely certain who might be the killer. Another fantastic book in An Hungarian Tea House Mystery series and one that I highly recommend.
Buckley continues with her excellent character development. We get to know more about Hana and her family, along with their psychic abilities and we get to meet some new characters, including Det. Wolf’s sisters, whom I hope to see in future books. And talking about psychic abilities, Hana is starting to explore hers more, which I absolutely love.
And I adore that Det. Wolf continues to believe in Hana’s powers and share information with her in regards to the case. So many cozies have the police presence or even the heroine’s family and friends discourage her from investigating, so when I find a cozy mystery series that encourages the main character, I get very happy.
In this book, as in the first book, we learn a bit about Hungarian folktales and a lot about Hungarian cooking. Death of a Wandering Wolf inspired me to look up a recipe for a Hungarian casserole that turned out delicious and helped to encourage me to try more of the recipes at the end of the book.
As for the mystery itself, there were lots of suspects and at no point was I absolutely certain who might be the killer. Another fantastic book in An Hungarian Tea House Mystery series and one that I highly recommend.
July 10, 2020
This is second in the Hungarian Tea House Mystery series and is even better than the first! The author is adept at presenting strong, believable characters who are engaging and likable, and defined well through their conversations and actions. She has also plotted and finely executed this mystery, and I enjoyed it from the first page. Most of it takes place in Riverwood, just outside of Chicago, with real action taking place in Chicago.
Three generations of women are involved in Maggie’s Tea House. Hana, her mother Magda, and grandmother Juliana love being in this Hungarian tea house and serving family gatherings and groups of all sizes, including many organizations in the Hungarian community. All three women have the gift of second sight passed down from great-grandma Natalia, Magda and Hana are coming to terms with their inclusion. Hana is still surprised at some of the feelings and lights she experiences when paying attention to her inner eye.
This includes her recent feelings when meeting William Kodaly, a painter who had an estate sale in his home. Unbeknownst to her when she went there, Kodaly is a highly sought-after Hungarian artist, who, like her grandmother, immigrated from Hungary. Hana, a collector of things that get her attention, including various tea settings and Hungarian figurines, found a unique wolf statue at his estate sale that was very underpriced. He was happy with the price he set as it he simply wanted to get rid of it. She also purchased a couple of his paintings, one that was done in Hungary. He has heard of her family and the tea house and wants to have coffee with her sometime.
Erik, Hana’s boyfriend, a detective, saw a tracking device on the wolf, and wanted to go back to find out more about the man. An hour later, when she and Erik arrive, Kodaly was dead, murdered. Hana may have been the last person to talk with him. Days later, an attempt is made on Hana’s life, and Erik prepares to keep her under guard of family members when he has to be at work.
Hana was instrumental in finding the killer of a woman in their tea house a couple months ago, which is when she met Erik. Her instincts and the way she processes clues is valuable, even though Erik wants to protect her and keep her out of the line of fire. Hana can’t help but begin to ask questions regarding Kodaly. He dated several women in the Hungarian community, a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy. Those women remained friends with him afterwards, even those who were married at the time.
One of the delightful surprises in this novel is meeting Runa and Thyra, Erik’s twin sisters. I love the two of them – won’t say more than that – and hope to see much more of them in the future! Another surprise is the family history that Henrik Sipos, another immigrant from Hungary reveals, another friend I hope to see more of.
There are twists and turns throughout that enhance the novel. The Hungarian fairy tale also adds to the story. This mystery is fast-paced and thought-provoking. My sleuth cap did not work at all this time – the whodunit was not even on my suspect list! The end is full of surprises, and I am already looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy well-crafted cozy mysteries, tea houses, art and collectibles, Hungarian culture and foods, and characters that are like family.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
Three generations of women are involved in Maggie’s Tea House. Hana, her mother Magda, and grandmother Juliana love being in this Hungarian tea house and serving family gatherings and groups of all sizes, including many organizations in the Hungarian community. All three women have the gift of second sight passed down from great-grandma Natalia, Magda and Hana are coming to terms with their inclusion. Hana is still surprised at some of the feelings and lights she experiences when paying attention to her inner eye.
This includes her recent feelings when meeting William Kodaly, a painter who had an estate sale in his home. Unbeknownst to her when she went there, Kodaly is a highly sought-after Hungarian artist, who, like her grandmother, immigrated from Hungary. Hana, a collector of things that get her attention, including various tea settings and Hungarian figurines, found a unique wolf statue at his estate sale that was very underpriced. He was happy with the price he set as it he simply wanted to get rid of it. She also purchased a couple of his paintings, one that was done in Hungary. He has heard of her family and the tea house and wants to have coffee with her sometime.
Erik, Hana’s boyfriend, a detective, saw a tracking device on the wolf, and wanted to go back to find out more about the man. An hour later, when she and Erik arrive, Kodaly was dead, murdered. Hana may have been the last person to talk with him. Days later, an attempt is made on Hana’s life, and Erik prepares to keep her under guard of family members when he has to be at work.
Hana was instrumental in finding the killer of a woman in their tea house a couple months ago, which is when she met Erik. Her instincts and the way she processes clues is valuable, even though Erik wants to protect her and keep her out of the line of fire. Hana can’t help but begin to ask questions regarding Kodaly. He dated several women in the Hungarian community, a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy. Those women remained friends with him afterwards, even those who were married at the time.
One of the delightful surprises in this novel is meeting Runa and Thyra, Erik’s twin sisters. I love the two of them – won’t say more than that – and hope to see much more of them in the future! Another surprise is the family history that Henrik Sipos, another immigrant from Hungary reveals, another friend I hope to see more of.
There are twists and turns throughout that enhance the novel. The Hungarian fairy tale also adds to the story. This mystery is fast-paced and thought-provoking. My sleuth cap did not work at all this time – the whodunit was not even on my suspect list! The end is full of surprises, and I am already looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend this to those who enjoy well-crafted cozy mysteries, tea houses, art and collectibles, Hungarian culture and foods, and characters that are like family.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
November 18, 2020
Julia Buckley is another of my favorite cozy mystery authors so I'm not surprised that I purchased this novel only unsure as I mentioned in my review of "Pumpkin Spice Peril" by Jenn McKinlay why I purchased the 2nd novel in "A Hungarian Tea House Mystery Series" rather than in sequential series order. The two (2) books were on my to-read shelf together so that's a clue to my mystery.
Maggie's Tea Room is described so vividly that it's easy to visualize how each guest to the tea room is enchanted by the experience. The magic of the tea room is due to the talents of three (3) generations of Hana Keller's family as she works with her mother and grandmother. I would enjoy Hana's role the most of decorating the tea room for the season or scheduled events and choosing which tea service would best add to the festive atmosphere and joy of the guests. I'd also like to be a guest at the tea room to sample the delicious sounding offerings on the menu.
At one of the events held in the tea room, a ladies' group had invited a guest and self-help guru to speak for a "guided reflection." To begin, the guest offered a centering exercise with eyes closed, "Now imagine a little carousel, going around and around. Everyone you care about is on the carousel. Watch them as they go around." It was such a lovely thought that I paused in my reading and imagined.
I really enjoyed this cozy for multiple reasons (in no particular order):
• The charming tea room with entrepreneurs of 3 generations of women.
• The magical possibilities of a grandmother who can read tea leaves.
• The romance of Hana Keller and her Wolf.
• Hana’s friendship with Katie and their treasure hunts at garage or yard sales.
• The intriguing artist who sadly became the murder victim.
• Hana’s cats, siblings Antony and Cleopatra as I loved each description of their personalities.
• The fascinating tale of Hana’s grandmother’s insight that led to rescue of a child.
I'm definitely ready to read the 1st book of this series and then continuing reading the series as available.
Maggie's Tea Room is described so vividly that it's easy to visualize how each guest to the tea room is enchanted by the experience. The magic of the tea room is due to the talents of three (3) generations of Hana Keller's family as she works with her mother and grandmother. I would enjoy Hana's role the most of decorating the tea room for the season or scheduled events and choosing which tea service would best add to the festive atmosphere and joy of the guests. I'd also like to be a guest at the tea room to sample the delicious sounding offerings on the menu.
At one of the events held in the tea room, a ladies' group had invited a guest and self-help guru to speak for a "guided reflection." To begin, the guest offered a centering exercise with eyes closed, "Now imagine a little carousel, going around and around. Everyone you care about is on the carousel. Watch them as they go around." It was such a lovely thought that I paused in my reading and imagined.
I really enjoyed this cozy for multiple reasons (in no particular order):
• The charming tea room with entrepreneurs of 3 generations of women.
• The magical possibilities of a grandmother who can read tea leaves.
• The romance of Hana Keller and her Wolf.
• Hana’s friendship with Katie and their treasure hunts at garage or yard sales.
• The intriguing artist who sadly became the murder victim.
• Hana’s cats, siblings Antony and Cleopatra as I loved each description of their personalities.
• The fascinating tale of Hana’s grandmother’s insight that led to rescue of a child.
I'm definitely ready to read the 1st book of this series and then continuing reading the series as available.
August 14, 2020
Love love love this series! In fact, my only issue with this book is how long I will have to wait for the next one. Having Hungarian friends makes reading this a much needed visit with friends and with the unique Hungarian culture. Hana, her family, her boyfriend and his family all are so deftly drawn, they pop off the page. Hana meets a Hungarian artist at a garage sale...his last visitor excepting his murderer. There is more than a spark of understanding between them and he says he knows her grandmother. Also Hana is learning more about the "gift" she has inherited from the other women in her family. The mystery is tautly written with enough twists and suspects to keep you guessing. Highly recommended!
September 30, 2020
Hanna and her family, mother and Grandmother, run a tea house. They are Hungarian and second sight runs in the family.
Hanna is at a garage sale and spots a rare wolf figurine at the sale, which she buys, as well as a few paintings from the owner and a fancy sweater.
All of these items relate to the story.
The man who had the garage sale is found dead at his house.
He is William Kodoly a famous painter.
Erik is the local detective and Hana's boyfriend. He is handling the case.
But the killer finds out Hana's family is psychic and worried about what Hanna could know.
Hana then becomes a target.
Really different cozy, filled with lots of characters that really are a lot of fun. Erik's sisters for example. Plus there is the idea of psychic abilities and some stories about the different family members. Makes for a bit of whimsy, and different take on a cozy story.
Hanna is at a garage sale and spots a rare wolf figurine at the sale, which she buys, as well as a few paintings from the owner and a fancy sweater.
All of these items relate to the story.
The man who had the garage sale is found dead at his house.
He is William Kodoly a famous painter.
Erik is the local detective and Hana's boyfriend. He is handling the case.
But the killer finds out Hana's family is psychic and worried about what Hanna could know.
Hana then becomes a target.
Really different cozy, filled with lots of characters that really are a lot of fun. Erik's sisters for example. Plus there is the idea of psychic abilities and some stories about the different family members. Makes for a bit of whimsy, and different take on a cozy story.
January 16, 2025
4.2 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Another nice and thrilling story from a little tea house in Chicago. I like the characters overall. I really enjoy following the main character and her family and I go through these books fairly quickly because I get dragged in.
I liked the previous book a little more than this. I guess the storyline just seemed more compelling to me, but I'm still excited to read the next!
Another nice and thrilling story from a little tea house in Chicago. I like the characters overall. I really enjoy following the main character and her family and I go through these books fairly quickly because I get dragged in.
I liked the previous book a little more than this. I guess the storyline just seemed more compelling to me, but I'm still excited to read the next!
October 25, 2020
3.5 stars
September 8, 2021
This book was SO good!! I literally could not put it down. I don't have enough words yet, still processing, I will have to add to my review later.
September 22, 2022
I really like the element of Hungarian folklore in this series, plus the light supernatural touch.
July 27, 2020
Love, love, love this series!!
February 25, 2025
Hana Keller hits the jackpot browsing a neighborhood garage sale. First her friend Katie finds a gorgeous wool sweater that would be perfect for Hana's boyfriend Erik. Then Katie helps Hana again, finding a Hungarian made porcelain figurine of a wolf. Although the figurine is worth hundreds of dollars, the seller only wants $5, claiming it was given to him by someone he loathes. He is also an artist. Hana loves his paintings and while chatting with the artist, she discovers he's not only Hungarian but knows her mother. He's excited to meet Hana and they part on good terms but when Hana shows Erik the wolf figurine, he's horrified to discover a tracker on it. That can NOT be good. Who is this Will Koldaly and why did he sell Hana a wolf with a tracker? When Erik arrives back at Will's house, the man has been shot dead. Erik is on the case but he needs Hana's ... whatever it is... and her knowledge of the local gossip. Hana is coming to terms with her family gift and trying to figure out how to use it. She especially wants to know if Erik is "the one" and has an aura like her dad and Grandpa. What does it mean if she can't see it? Is Erik not the right man for her? Her best friend Katie is having boyfriend drama too and Erik is not thrilled with Hana's hesitation. Hana meets another Hungarian from her great-grandmother's hometown who claims he knows and loves the family but Grandma has never heard of him. Hana makes more new friends when she accidentally meets Erik's sisters who take an instant liking to her and don't miss a chance to tease their little brother. The Wolf twins are fierce warriors though and they're willing to protect Hana when Erik realizes the killer is after his beloved! Will Hana live long enough to figure out the identity of the murderer?
This mystery is fast paced and I couldn't put it down. I didn't enjoy the rapid pace of the romance though. I appreciated the getting to know you stage but that didn't last too long. I really like the Hungarian culture as presented in these novels. This one had a little bit less and it was secondary to the mystery. I could do without the psychic abilities or whatever it is Hana has inherited from her great-grandmother.
Hana is a bit too much of a flat character for me. I don't really connect with her too much. She seems older than she is. Hana only has one friend her age and everyone else she associates with, besides Erik, Domo and Margie, is old. Hana loves pretty things which I guess might be part of her sixth sense thing. She has strong, visceral reactions to things and situations. Hana doesn't really connect with her cats much either. They're there, they're hungry, they sit in her lap. Erik interacts with them more. I know Hana loves her parents and Grandma but apparently Grandpa is an afterthought. I don't see why Hana and Erik can't continue to get to know each other. Maybe it's not love at first sight like Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa but more of a gradual thing? They met while he was working and now he's working again. Their relationship is weird. She feeds him, he takes notes on what she's learned, then make out and that's about it. When they do go on a date in this book, it's a working date and interrupted by attempted murder. Part of my problem with the relationship moving too fast is that I don't know Erik. Hana has never met his family or knows anything about them! She has to pry that information out of him and then he leaves out relevant information like his sisters are twins and constantly tease him because he's the baby. Erik wants to move forward with the relationship but he's remarkable reticent to open up and share his life with Hana. He's weird.
The secondary characters are much more lively and colorful. I like them a whole lot more. I love Grandma Juliana. She's funny and charming. She reminds me of my Italian grandmother - so old world and so loving. Maggie, Hana's mom, is less well developed. She was Americanized early on and has been reluctant to admit she has the family gift too. She alternately claims she didn't know and alternately tries to tramp it down and hide it. She loves her daughter and doesn't want to see Hana get hurt. The two older women have some great love advice for Hana. Dad is MIA in this novel and Grandpa answers the phone but is also otherwise MIA. I'd like to see them included more. Young Iris is mostly MIA too but she's mentioned a few times and appears in one scene. She's a hoot. This girl knows who she is (a pirate) and knows what she wants (all the Halloween candy)! Her dad has an important role to play in this story. He's very kind and shrewd. Of course he spots the lie right away. It was a bad one.
Hana's friend Katie is a little obnoxious. I can see her writing in pink and LIKE THIS! dotting her is with hearts. She's bubbly, talks a lot and second guessing her own feelings. Her boyfriend, Eduardo, isn't the knight in shining armor to sweep her off her feet like she always dreamed of. Does she communicate with him like an adult? No. It's up to Hana to inform Eduardo (when he asks) what he's done wrong and what he could be doing better. Eduardo is a nice guy and I think he loves Katie in his own way. He just maybe doesn't know how to show it or maybe takes her for granted or maybe because they work together he feels the need to keep the relationship on the down low. Dom and Margie are growing closer and she comes "out of her shell" more. It still takes her days to recover from an evening of socializing, eating and dancing. I like her but I don't like Dom. He's still mooching food but is only in the one scene thank goodness. I like Francois, the temperamental French chef. He understands love and what it takes for a relationship to succeed. He helps Hana out, explaining the male perspective on things.
Best of all are the new characters, Erik's sisters. Thyra and Runa are fierce Nordic goddesses or Amazons! They're tall, beautiful, fit, fierce, fashionable blonds and I should hate them but I don't. I should also hate them for how much they tease Hana and Erik. They're the big sisters, it's their right to tease their little brother. Underneath their teasing they do love him and care a lot about him. They knew right away Hana was special when their brother even MENTIONED her. (Or more precisely, they first learned about her). They're protective of their brother and want to make sure Hana feels the same way about Erik as he does about her. The sisters are a little silly when it comes to Grandma's tea leaf readings. They instantly adore the tea room and are eager to have Grandma read the leaves for them. One reading seems to be for entertainment - telling her what she wants to hear, but the other, the one done privately, is the real thing. What a shocker! Runa's boyfriend, Andy, is the exact opposite of her. He's quiet, mild mannered and teaches at a local college. He's devoted to Runa and I wouldn't call him a puppy dog. He's very nice.
The murder victim, William Kodaly seemed like a nice man when Hana met him. He undervalued his own work believing in art for arts sake. He was excited to meet Hana and knew her mother. She felt a connection to his paintings and to him because he was Hungarian. His death was so sad. The gossip grapevine among the 50+ community in Riverwood is that Will was a love 'em and leave 'em sort of man. Yet, none of the women he dated seemed to hold a grudge or hate him in any way. Well, yeah. If the parting was mutual. Some of the relationships he had sound like flings and rebound flings. The men were jealous of Will's charm and his stealing all the women away. Good grief! Women are free to choose and discard their partners the same as men do and if a man's who is so fragile he can't handle that, then he has a big problem with HIMSELF and not the other man. Could one of these ex-girlfriends or partners be the murderer? Please tell me it's more than that! This IS the 21st century and I hope we've moved beyond that. Plus adults should be able to communicate like adults.
One of Will's girlfriends was Cassandra Stone, from the library. Cassandra seems nice but kind of a gossip. She seems eager to help Hana explore her psychic powers but not a very good librarian because she may have gossiped to others about Hana's supposed abilities. Librarians aren't supposed to ask questions about why a patron wants a certain book or share that private information with anyone. What if Cassandra inadvertently told the murderer and the murderer came after Hana? Cassandra dated Will two years ago. She's moved on but remained friends with Will. She posed for a picture on vacation once and Hana realizes the painting she bought from Will's garage sale was done from the photo of Cassandra. Could Cassandra's current lover be jealous enough to murder the artist? Richard Crenshaw seems nice and chill. The two of them want to enjoy a quiet life together with no drama. Or so they say. Richard was once married to Sofia Kálmar. She didn't like his name and apparently this relationship didn't work out. Nor did her relationship with Will. Sofia is from the Hungarian community and also an artist. She seems the most broken up by Will's death. They must have had a connection being both Hungarian and artists but perhaps all that passion didn't make for a good relationship. Sofia then had a fling with Brad who was married to high school English teacher Amber Derrien. Brad and Amber are back together now, working things out. Like Cassandra, she had moved on. Except that I get the impression Amber is not a one man kind of woman. There's an old friend who reenters her life and she seems very happy to see him. Is the second time around with Brad not working the way she hoped or is she a flirt or not a monogamous person? Ms. Derrien was the cool teacher even the non English nerds liked. She likes to study the psychology of fictional characters but does that make her a good judge of character? I hope she's not the murderer because that would be terrible for her students. We never meet Brad during the investigation and don't get his side of the story. Sofia's latest man, Zane, could be a suspect. He has a strong motive but he isn't even IN the story. He's mentioned late in the book and I didn't know who he was. He could still be the killer though. Sofia is beautiful and probably has had many lovers and the fragile male egos of her partners don't understand the 21st century and one possibly killed Will. Yuck.
What about the painting that was stolen? Did the killer steal it hoping to protect his identity? Or is it just a coincidence? Could the murder center around the stolen painting and the art scene?
In spite of flaws, I liked this book and plan to read the third but I'm not sure I would want to read more than that. This series is darker than what I prefer.
Content note:
Technically this is a kisses only story but Hana and Erik do go to bed together, off page.
This mystery is fast paced and I couldn't put it down. I didn't enjoy the rapid pace of the romance though. I appreciated the getting to know you stage but that didn't last too long. I really like the Hungarian culture as presented in these novels. This one had a little bit less and it was secondary to the mystery. I could do without the psychic abilities or whatever it is Hana has inherited from her great-grandmother.
Hana is a bit too much of a flat character for me. I don't really connect with her too much. She seems older than she is. Hana only has one friend her age and everyone else she associates with, besides Erik, Domo and Margie, is old. Hana loves pretty things which I guess might be part of her sixth sense thing. She has strong, visceral reactions to things and situations. Hana doesn't really connect with her cats much either. They're there, they're hungry, they sit in her lap. Erik interacts with them more. I know Hana loves her parents and Grandma but apparently Grandpa is an afterthought. I don't see why Hana and Erik can't continue to get to know each other. Maybe it's not love at first sight like Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa but more of a gradual thing? They met while he was working and now he's working again. Their relationship is weird. She feeds him, he takes notes on what she's learned, then make out and that's about it. When they do go on a date in this book, it's a working date and interrupted by attempted murder. Part of my problem with the relationship moving too fast is that I don't know Erik. Hana has never met his family or knows anything about them! She has to pry that information out of him and then he leaves out relevant information like his sisters are twins and constantly tease him because he's the baby. Erik wants to move forward with the relationship but he's remarkable reticent to open up and share his life with Hana. He's weird.
The secondary characters are much more lively and colorful. I like them a whole lot more. I love Grandma Juliana. She's funny and charming. She reminds me of my Italian grandmother - so old world and so loving. Maggie, Hana's mom, is less well developed. She was Americanized early on and has been reluctant to admit she has the family gift too. She alternately claims she didn't know and alternately tries to tramp it down and hide it. She loves her daughter and doesn't want to see Hana get hurt. The two older women have some great love advice for Hana. Dad is MIA in this novel and Grandpa answers the phone but is also otherwise MIA. I'd like to see them included more. Young Iris is mostly MIA too but she's mentioned a few times and appears in one scene. She's a hoot. This girl knows who she is (a pirate) and knows what she wants (all the Halloween candy)! Her dad has an important role to play in this story. He's very kind and shrewd. Of course he spots the lie right away. It was a bad one.
Hana's friend Katie is a little obnoxious. I can see her writing in pink and LIKE THIS! dotting her is with hearts. She's bubbly, talks a lot and second guessing her own feelings. Her boyfriend, Eduardo, isn't the knight in shining armor to sweep her off her feet like she always dreamed of. Does she communicate with him like an adult? No. It's up to Hana to inform Eduardo (when he asks) what he's done wrong and what he could be doing better. Eduardo is a nice guy and I think he loves Katie in his own way. He just maybe doesn't know how to show it or maybe takes her for granted or maybe because they work together he feels the need to keep the relationship on the down low. Dom and Margie are growing closer and she comes "out of her shell" more. It still takes her days to recover from an evening of socializing, eating and dancing. I like her but I don't like Dom. He's still mooching food but is only in the one scene thank goodness. I like Francois, the temperamental French chef. He understands love and what it takes for a relationship to succeed. He helps Hana out, explaining the male perspective on things.
Best of all are the new characters, Erik's sisters. Thyra and Runa are fierce Nordic goddesses or Amazons! They're tall, beautiful, fit, fierce, fashionable blonds and I should hate them but I don't. I should also hate them for how much they tease Hana and Erik. They're the big sisters, it's their right to tease their little brother. Underneath their teasing they do love him and care a lot about him. They knew right away Hana was special when their brother even MENTIONED her. (Or more precisely, they first learned about her). They're protective of their brother and want to make sure Hana feels the same way about Erik as he does about her. The sisters are a little silly when it comes to Grandma's tea leaf readings. They instantly adore the tea room and are eager to have Grandma read the leaves for them. One reading seems to be for entertainment - telling her what she wants to hear, but the other, the one done privately, is the real thing. What a shocker! Runa's boyfriend, Andy, is the exact opposite of her. He's quiet, mild mannered and teaches at a local college. He's devoted to Runa and I wouldn't call him a puppy dog. He's very nice.
The murder victim, William Kodaly seemed like a nice man when Hana met him. He undervalued his own work believing in art for arts sake. He was excited to meet Hana and knew her mother. She felt a connection to his paintings and to him because he was Hungarian. His death was so sad. The gossip grapevine among the 50+ community in Riverwood is that Will was a love 'em and leave 'em sort of man. Yet, none of the women he dated seemed to hold a grudge or hate him in any way. Well, yeah. If the parting was mutual. Some of the relationships he had sound like flings and rebound flings. The men were jealous of Will's charm and his stealing all the women away. Good grief! Women are free to choose and discard their partners the same as men do and if a man's who is so fragile he can't handle that, then he has a big problem with HIMSELF and not the other man. Could one of these ex-girlfriends or partners be the murderer? Please tell me it's more than that! This IS the 21st century and I hope we've moved beyond that. Plus adults should be able to communicate like adults.
One of Will's girlfriends was Cassandra Stone, from the library. Cassandra seems nice but kind of a gossip. She seems eager to help Hana explore her psychic powers but not a very good librarian because she may have gossiped to others about Hana's supposed abilities. Librarians aren't supposed to ask questions about why a patron wants a certain book or share that private information with anyone. What if Cassandra inadvertently told the murderer and the murderer came after Hana? Cassandra dated Will two years ago. She's moved on but remained friends with Will. She posed for a picture on vacation once and Hana realizes the painting she bought from Will's garage sale was done from the photo of Cassandra. Could Cassandra's current lover be jealous enough to murder the artist? Richard Crenshaw seems nice and chill. The two of them want to enjoy a quiet life together with no drama. Or so they say. Richard was once married to Sofia Kálmar. She didn't like his name and apparently this relationship didn't work out. Nor did her relationship with Will. Sofia is from the Hungarian community and also an artist. She seems the most broken up by Will's death. They must have had a connection being both Hungarian and artists but perhaps all that passion didn't make for a good relationship. Sofia then had a fling with Brad who was married to high school English teacher Amber Derrien. Brad and Amber are back together now, working things out. Like Cassandra, she had moved on. Except that I get the impression Amber is not a one man kind of woman. There's an old friend who reenters her life and she seems very happy to see him. Is the second time around with Brad not working the way she hoped or is she a flirt or not a monogamous person? Ms. Derrien was the cool teacher even the non English nerds liked. She likes to study the psychology of fictional characters but does that make her a good judge of character? I hope she's not the murderer because that would be terrible for her students. We never meet Brad during the investigation and don't get his side of the story. Sofia's latest man, Zane, could be a suspect. He has a strong motive but he isn't even IN the story. He's mentioned late in the book and I didn't know who he was. He could still be the killer though. Sofia is beautiful and probably has had many lovers and the fragile male egos of her partners don't understand the 21st century and one possibly killed Will. Yuck.
What about the painting that was stolen? Did the killer steal it hoping to protect his identity? Or is it just a coincidence? Could the murder center around the stolen painting and the art scene?
In spite of flaws, I liked this book and plan to read the third but I'm not sure I would want to read more than that. This series is darker than what I prefer.
Content note:
Technically this is a kisses only story but Hana and Erik do go to bed together, off page.
June 15, 2020
Death Of A Wandering Wolf is the second book in the A Hungarian Tea House Mystery series.
Hanna Keller is enjoying a rare day off from her family’s tea house. She decides to stop at a yard sale to see if she might find any teacups to add to her collection. Instead, she finds, is what she believes, a rare figurine of a wolf. She explains this to the owner, William Kodaly, and offering to pay more for it. He refuses her offer, saying that he just wants to get rid of it and that he doesn’t trust the person who gave it to him. She also purchases a couple of beautiful oil paintings that he had painted. She then heads to meet her police detective boyfriend, Erik, for breakfast. She shows him the figurine and as he is looking it over, he shows Hanna that there is a tracking chip on the bottom. They immediately leave to return to the house to learn why it has the chip on it. But when they arrive they see a woman coming out of the house screaming and they will soon find the man has been murdered.
As Hana is starting to learn more about Kodaly she meets Henrik Sipos. Not only did Hana learn about Kodaly’s time in her little community, but also when Sipos knew him in Hungary. As a side story, Hana learns that as a very young child had gone missing, Hana’s grandmother and great grandmother, using there psychic abilities to find the missing Sipos. Hana has been trying to get Erik to share more about his family. She is surprised when she stops by his apartment to drop off a note and some of his favorite Hungarian food and as she is about to leave, a set of beautiful twins come out of his bedroom. Hana is of course speechless and the twins take the opportunity to introduce themselves and turn out to be Erik’s sisters.
The book is well-written and reads at a good pace. A great addition to this exciting new series. I’m looking forward to learning more about the twins and Erik’s family.
A delicious-sounding recipe is also included in the book.
I will be watching for the next book in this interesting series.
Hanna Keller is enjoying a rare day off from her family’s tea house. She decides to stop at a yard sale to see if she might find any teacups to add to her collection. Instead, she finds, is what she believes, a rare figurine of a wolf. She explains this to the owner, William Kodaly, and offering to pay more for it. He refuses her offer, saying that he just wants to get rid of it and that he doesn’t trust the person who gave it to him. She also purchases a couple of beautiful oil paintings that he had painted. She then heads to meet her police detective boyfriend, Erik, for breakfast. She shows him the figurine and as he is looking it over, he shows Hanna that there is a tracking chip on the bottom. They immediately leave to return to the house to learn why it has the chip on it. But when they arrive they see a woman coming out of the house screaming and they will soon find the man has been murdered.
As Hana is starting to learn more about Kodaly she meets Henrik Sipos. Not only did Hana learn about Kodaly’s time in her little community, but also when Sipos knew him in Hungary. As a side story, Hana learns that as a very young child had gone missing, Hana’s grandmother and great grandmother, using there psychic abilities to find the missing Sipos. Hana has been trying to get Erik to share more about his family. She is surprised when she stops by his apartment to drop off a note and some of his favorite Hungarian food and as she is about to leave, a set of beautiful twins come out of his bedroom. Hana is of course speechless and the twins take the opportunity to introduce themselves and turn out to be Erik’s sisters.
The book is well-written and reads at a good pace. A great addition to this exciting new series. I’m looking forward to learning more about the twins and Erik’s family.
A delicious-sounding recipe is also included in the book.
I will be watching for the next book in this interesting series.
July 14, 2022
This is the second book in the Hungarian Tea House mystery series. Hana Keller works with her mother and grandmother at her family's Hungarian Tea House. She and her best friend Katie visit a tag sale on Hana’s day off. While at the sale the duo discover many treasures, including the man hosting the sale, Will Kodaly, a local artist. Hana finds a valuable porcelain figure among the sale items priced only at five dollars. Mr. Kodaly refuses to take more for the figurine as he sees it will bring Hana joy. Hana and Katie part ways at their cars; Katie heads to work, and Hana to breakfast with her boyfriend, Detective Erik Wolf.
Breakfast is cut short when Erik finds a GPS tracker hidden in Hana’s new figurine. The pair head back to Mr. Kodaily’s so that Erik can discuss the tracker with him. As they arrive at the house they are greeted by a screaming woman. Mr. Kodaly has been shot in his home. Erik finds himself investigating a murder, and Hana finds herself connected to the artist in ways she never expexted.
I loved this book. We are introduced to Erik’s sisters and learn more about Hana’s family history. The plot is engaging and made it hard to put the book down. I recommend this book. It could stand alone, but this series is wonderful. I can’t wait to read the next book.
Breakfast is cut short when Erik finds a GPS tracker hidden in Hana’s new figurine. The pair head back to Mr. Kodaily’s so that Erik can discuss the tracker with him. As they arrive at the house they are greeted by a screaming woman. Mr. Kodaly has been shot in his home. Erik finds himself investigating a murder, and Hana finds herself connected to the artist in ways she never expexted.
I loved this book. We are introduced to Erik’s sisters and learn more about Hana’s family history. The plot is engaging and made it hard to put the book down. I recommend this book. It could stand alone, but this series is wonderful. I can’t wait to read the next book.
December 4, 2020
Julia Buckley is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors. Death of a Wandering Wolf has made her Hungarian Tea House series one of my favorites. I love that Julia infuses her culture into the series.
Death of a Wandering Wolf finds Haniska “Hana” Keller and her friend Katie browsing a basement garage sale. Hana is shocked to discover that there are so many beautiful paintings up for sale at a fraction of what they should be worth, in her estimate. Hana hits the jackpot when Katie discovers a Herend wolf statue for only $5. When Hana goes to speak with the seller, Will Kodaly, she discovers that he’s the artist of all the paintings being sold and that he knows her family. Hana tries to pay more for the Herend wolf, but Will declines. She soon finds herself at another murder scene, when she takes her boyfriend, Detective Erik Wolf, back to Will’s house. Erik and Hana discover that Will has been killed and Erik is sure the wolf Hana purchased is somehow involved.
Hana later finds herself helping her friend Falken go through Will’s house to determine what things can be sold. Never does she expect to find that Will has had her family investigated. But things get even more complicated when Hana is almost killed not once but twice, after coming face to face with the killer. It’s a good thing wolves travel in packs, and that the Kedves/Keller women are suspected of having a sixth sense.
Death of a Wandering Wolf was an amazing story that left me guessing up until the reveal and still had me on the edge of my seat. I loved that the romance between Hana and Erik was stepped up, providing a little closed-door romance. Hana learns a little more about Erik’s family and is finally sure that Erik is the one for her. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
**Received a copy of the book courtesy of the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**
Death of a Wandering Wolf finds Haniska “Hana” Keller and her friend Katie browsing a basement garage sale. Hana is shocked to discover that there are so many beautiful paintings up for sale at a fraction of what they should be worth, in her estimate. Hana hits the jackpot when Katie discovers a Herend wolf statue for only $5. When Hana goes to speak with the seller, Will Kodaly, she discovers that he’s the artist of all the paintings being sold and that he knows her family. Hana tries to pay more for the Herend wolf, but Will declines. She soon finds herself at another murder scene, when she takes her boyfriend, Detective Erik Wolf, back to Will’s house. Erik and Hana discover that Will has been killed and Erik is sure the wolf Hana purchased is somehow involved.
Hana later finds herself helping her friend Falken go through Will’s house to determine what things can be sold. Never does she expect to find that Will has had her family investigated. But things get even more complicated when Hana is almost killed not once but twice, after coming face to face with the killer. It’s a good thing wolves travel in packs, and that the Kedves/Keller women are suspected of having a sixth sense.
Death of a Wandering Wolf was an amazing story that left me guessing up until the reveal and still had me on the edge of my seat. I loved that the romance between Hana and Erik was stepped up, providing a little closed-door romance. Hana learns a little more about Erik’s family and is finally sure that Erik is the one for her. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
**Received a copy of the book courtesy of the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**
April 23, 2020
Death of a Wandering Wolf is the second in this cozy mystery series. It did not disappoint. You can always read the publisher's synopsis, so I won't get into the whole story here. I will say that the characters continue to develop as we learn more about Hana and her psychic abilities and her boyfriend Erik's family. The introduction of Erik's twin sisters is a great addition to the plot and i hope we se more of them in books to come.
The mystery that runs throughout the book, the death of an artist and ladies' man, keeps the reader guessing as to the who and why's he was killed. High recommednded.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
The mystery that runs throughout the book, the death of an artist and ladies' man, keeps the reader guessing as to the who and why's he was killed. High recommednded.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 8, 2021
This is the second book in the series and one word: wow!
This was much more than a cozy mystery (not to take away from a really well written whodunit).
The victim’s back story was captivating, which included paintings, past loves and his life in Hungary. It was rich, vibrant, filled with family love and heritage.
Add in a dash of psychic abilities and this book was one I could not put down.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next one in the series!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
This was much more than a cozy mystery (not to take away from a really well written whodunit).
The victim’s back story was captivating, which included paintings, past loves and his life in Hungary. It was rich, vibrant, filled with family love and heritage.
Add in a dash of psychic abilities and this book was one I could not put down.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next one in the series!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
June 29, 2020
Readers of the first Hungarian Tea House Mystery will be delighted to return to Riverton, Illinois, where the community includes expatriate Hungarians, including Hana Keller’s mother, Maggie, and grandmother, Juliana. Their tea house provides elegant, themed teas for community groups, with fancy treats from the kitchen, and decorations culled from their decades-old collections of tea sets and lovely ephemera.
As this book begins, Hana and her friend Katie are at a garage sale, exclaiming over the seller’s exquisite paintings, hand-knit sweaters, and porcelains. One of them is a Herend wolf, with its trademark fishnet patterning, priced at $5, that Hana wants to add her cherished collection, but she is aghast at the price - it’s worth so much more. So are the paintings. She listens to her better angels and offers the seller, Will Kodaly, what they really are worth, but he brushes off her concern; he will accept nothing more.
Hana feels a connection to the artist, a Hungarian whose landscape of a town named Keszthely causes her to experience one of the odd, sometimes frightening premonitions that she has come to call “The Misery.” She has begun to believe that this sensation is common to the women in her family, having heard tales of her great-grandmother Natalia’s perceptions, and seen firsthand how her own grandmother can sense otherwise-unknowable facts, sometimes just from reading tea leaves. Each of Hana’s “miseries” proved true and useful for her and her police detective boyfriend, Erik Wolf, when they were drawn together to solve a prior murder in the teahouse itself.
But there hasn’t been another murder in Riverton - or has there? Does Hana’s misery portend someone’s death?
Grandmother Juliana’s fear of wolves, whether in Hungarian folklore, a handsome detective’s name, or a ceramic wolf will be tested again, as the murder victim was, himself, a bit of a wolf where women were concerned. Solving this case will take the reader back to the old Hungary of the emigres, where great-grandmother Natalia’s gifts loop back to the events of the present, and to the subjects of more than one of Kodaly’s paintings.
Two of the new characters in this book are Erik’s fierce, blonde, preternaturally loyal twin sisters, whose wit and police training are invaluable in solving this case. When they are called on to protect Hana, a new loving and protective bond - a wolf pack- is created. The sisters are endlessly entertaining, and I look forward to reading more about them.
This is such a delicious book, filled with romantic fits and starts, to-die-for recipes, and characters whose exotic backgrounds ring true. Five stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review.
As this book begins, Hana and her friend Katie are at a garage sale, exclaiming over the seller’s exquisite paintings, hand-knit sweaters, and porcelains. One of them is a Herend wolf, with its trademark fishnet patterning, priced at $5, that Hana wants to add her cherished collection, but she is aghast at the price - it’s worth so much more. So are the paintings. She listens to her better angels and offers the seller, Will Kodaly, what they really are worth, but he brushes off her concern; he will accept nothing more.
Hana feels a connection to the artist, a Hungarian whose landscape of a town named Keszthely causes her to experience one of the odd, sometimes frightening premonitions that she has come to call “The Misery.” She has begun to believe that this sensation is common to the women in her family, having heard tales of her great-grandmother Natalia’s perceptions, and seen firsthand how her own grandmother can sense otherwise-unknowable facts, sometimes just from reading tea leaves. Each of Hana’s “miseries” proved true and useful for her and her police detective boyfriend, Erik Wolf, when they were drawn together to solve a prior murder in the teahouse itself.
But there hasn’t been another murder in Riverton - or has there? Does Hana’s misery portend someone’s death?
Grandmother Juliana’s fear of wolves, whether in Hungarian folklore, a handsome detective’s name, or a ceramic wolf will be tested again, as the murder victim was, himself, a bit of a wolf where women were concerned. Solving this case will take the reader back to the old Hungary of the emigres, where great-grandmother Natalia’s gifts loop back to the events of the present, and to the subjects of more than one of Kodaly’s paintings.
Two of the new characters in this book are Erik’s fierce, blonde, preternaturally loyal twin sisters, whose wit and police training are invaluable in solving this case. When they are called on to protect Hana, a new loving and protective bond - a wolf pack- is created. The sisters are endlessly entertaining, and I look forward to reading more about them.
This is such a delicious book, filled with romantic fits and starts, to-die-for recipes, and characters whose exotic backgrounds ring true. Five stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review.
June 21, 2020
DEATH OF A WANDERING WOLF, the second book in the Hungarian Tea Room Mystery series by Julia Buckley, is an enchanting cozy mystery that captured my imagination! Protagonist Hana Keller is an engaging character and I love the bond she has with her mother and grandmother. Together, the three of them own and run Maggie’s Tea Room. The descriptive voice of the author makes me want to visit and experience the charming setting and delectable food. The intrigue starts early on in the book and I adored how Ms. Buckley weaves in Hungarian culture through food, art, and fairy tales.
Shortly after Hana purchases two paintings from a Hungarian artist, he is found murdered. Since she and her boyfriend, Detective Erik Wolf, had returned to the artist’s home just as his body was found, Hana feels the need to get involved. On top of that, she felt an unusual connection to the man she’d never met before that day. She also felt a connection to his paintings, particularly those painted in Hungary. The addition of the mystical abilities that Hana’s grandmother has and that Hana is slowly discovering added a layer of intrigue for me, especially as the past is intertwined with the present. I also appreciated that Det. Wolf doesn’t discount Hana and her grandmother’s abilities and instead supports her efforts to find the killer. As Hana’s questions close in on the identity of the perpetrator, her life becomes endangered. Here the author introduces the reader to Det. Wolf’s mysterious sisters, Thyra and Runa. They add a delightful flair to the story and I truly hope that they are featured in future books. With a heart pounding conclusion, this story wrapped up the threads of the plots and subplots and left me wanting more!
With so many mouthwatering Hungarian dishes mentioned throughout the story, I’m grateful that Ms. Buckley includes several recipes at the back of the book.
I was provided an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Shortly after Hana purchases two paintings from a Hungarian artist, he is found murdered. Since she and her boyfriend, Detective Erik Wolf, had returned to the artist’s home just as his body was found, Hana feels the need to get involved. On top of that, she felt an unusual connection to the man she’d never met before that day. She also felt a connection to his paintings, particularly those painted in Hungary. The addition of the mystical abilities that Hana’s grandmother has and that Hana is slowly discovering added a layer of intrigue for me, especially as the past is intertwined with the present. I also appreciated that Det. Wolf doesn’t discount Hana and her grandmother’s abilities and instead supports her efforts to find the killer. As Hana’s questions close in on the identity of the perpetrator, her life becomes endangered. Here the author introduces the reader to Det. Wolf’s mysterious sisters, Thyra and Runa. They add a delightful flair to the story and I truly hope that they are featured in future books. With a heart pounding conclusion, this story wrapped up the threads of the plots and subplots and left me wanting more!
With so many mouthwatering Hungarian dishes mentioned throughout the story, I’m grateful that Ms. Buckley includes several recipes at the back of the book.
I was provided an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 27, 2020
Thank you @netgalley for the review copy of this cozy mystery. All opinions are my own.
I loved the first book in the series, so I was beyond excited to get my hands on the sequel. Thankfully it was just as fantastic! The mystery and story line was so well done and flowed seamlessly with the descriptions and dialogue. I adore the characters and love learning little tidbits about their Hungarian culture. The new cast members added were a wonderful, surprise bonus.
I was intrigued by this case right from the start. Hana met the most amazing and mysterious victim that I've come across in a cozy for quite some time. You knew his story was going to be interesting and full of layers of clues to sort through. I love how his storyline tied together with Hana and her family. I loved the descriptions of his art too!
Hana got more in touch with her special abilities throughout this story. I love that she is opening up to understanding her unique family trait more. Her insight and psychic glimpses definitely added to parts of the story and preceded many action packed scenes! Wolf if a doll. I love watching their new romance slowly blossom. His twin sisters were such a fun addition. Talk about some powerful, strong minded females. They carried a lot of comical relief and will be favs as the series continues and we see more of them.
I'm not too familiar with the Hungarian culture, but I love learning tidbits about it from the characters interactions. The food descriptions alone sound amazing, but I love seeing the phrases and learning about the art from the area. I even looked up what a Herend Wolf and china pattern looked like. Beautiful!!
The book concluded with several Hungarian recipes.
I can't recommend A Hungarian Tea House Mystery series enough. It is easily becoming one of my favs. I'll anxiously be awaiting the announcement of book 3!!!
I loved the first book in the series, so I was beyond excited to get my hands on the sequel. Thankfully it was just as fantastic! The mystery and story line was so well done and flowed seamlessly with the descriptions and dialogue. I adore the characters and love learning little tidbits about their Hungarian culture. The new cast members added were a wonderful, surprise bonus.
I was intrigued by this case right from the start. Hana met the most amazing and mysterious victim that I've come across in a cozy for quite some time. You knew his story was going to be interesting and full of layers of clues to sort through. I love how his storyline tied together with Hana and her family. I loved the descriptions of his art too!
Hana got more in touch with her special abilities throughout this story. I love that she is opening up to understanding her unique family trait more. Her insight and psychic glimpses definitely added to parts of the story and preceded many action packed scenes! Wolf if a doll. I love watching their new romance slowly blossom. His twin sisters were such a fun addition. Talk about some powerful, strong minded females. They carried a lot of comical relief and will be favs as the series continues and we see more of them.
I'm not too familiar with the Hungarian culture, but I love learning tidbits about it from the characters interactions. The food descriptions alone sound amazing, but I love seeing the phrases and learning about the art from the area. I even looked up what a Herend Wolf and china pattern looked like. Beautiful!!
The book concluded with several Hungarian recipes.
I can't recommend A Hungarian Tea House Mystery series enough. It is easily becoming one of my favs. I'll anxiously be awaiting the announcement of book 3!!!
October 24, 2021
2.5 The only thing Hana loves more than a good cuppa is finding a delicate porcelain treasure to add to her collection. She's usually on the hunt for teacups but when she spots a rare wolf figurine at a local yard sale, she knows it's her lucky day. Hana also knows the wolf is valuable and tells the seller that he's charging too little for it. His reaction is peculiar--he says he received the wolf from someone he doesn't trust and he just wants it out of his life. Hana is inspecting her new prize when she finds a tiny microchip attached to the bottom of the porcelain wolf. When she shows the figure to her police detective boyfriend, Erik, Hana is shocked to learn that the chip is actually a tracking device. They decide to confront the seller about the sneaky sale but when they arrive at his house, they find him dead.[amazon synopsis]
Apparently, a golden aura over Eric's head will mean happiness and "he's the one". The author should have spent more time developing the mystery than developing the relationship.
Apparently, a golden aura over Eric's head will mean happiness and "he's the one". The author should have spent more time developing the mystery than developing the relationship.
June 15, 2020
4.5 stars
This is the second book in the Hungarian Tea House Mystery series by Julia Buckley.
This is the first book I have read in this series and I really enjoyed myself. It was a fun ride. Hana Keller found some prime pieces at an artist’s garage sale. When she gets home with a wolf statue, her cop boyfriend finds a tracker on the statue and goes to confront the artist. By the time he gets there the artist is dead.
I liked watching Hana as she learned to trust her own psychic powers and learning how to trust herself as she uses them. Then the whole relationship between her and Erik Wolf was a fun addition to the plot. I loved the whole family dynamic here. It was just real fun! Definitely a story I think cozy lovers would enjoy. Check it out
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the second book in the Hungarian Tea House Mystery series by Julia Buckley.
This is the first book I have read in this series and I really enjoyed myself. It was a fun ride. Hana Keller found some prime pieces at an artist’s garage sale. When she gets home with a wolf statue, her cop boyfriend finds a tracker on the statue and goes to confront the artist. By the time he gets there the artist is dead.
I liked watching Hana as she learned to trust her own psychic powers and learning how to trust herself as she uses them. Then the whole relationship between her and Erik Wolf was a fun addition to the plot. I loved the whole family dynamic here. It was just real fun! Definitely a story I think cozy lovers would enjoy. Check it out
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
September 29, 2020
This is the second book in the Hungarian tea house series. Hana meets an artist at a garage sale. She buys a few paintings and a wolf figurine that she later learns has a tracker in it. When she and her detective boyfriend, Eric, return to the garage sale to talk to the artist they find him dead. It turns out the artist has a surprising connection to her family. I absolutely loved all the new characters in this book. The stories that Hana learns about her grandmother and great grandmother were excellent. I loved the addition of Eric's sisters and so hope they are permanent features of the books from now on. The mystery was well done and I loved seeing the story come together.
July 21, 2020
Another great read. I loved this series when it came out last year and I really enjoyed this addition. Hana is an interesting character and the cast of intriguing characters around her continue to grow. I like the whole Hungarian community theme, I like the family history of the women having a little bit something extra, most of all I like that her boyfriend doesn't seem threatened by it and takes her seriously. This mystery includes art and beautiful things as well as the Hungarian community, all things in Hana's wheelhouse, I strongly recommend.
September 2, 2020
I LOVED this book. Introducing Erik’s sisters was simply brilliant. I love reading about other cultures and this book is full of things I never knew about Hungarian food and the people who make it. My only problem with the awesome series is that I have to wait another year for the next installment in this series.
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