ARC Review: Death in a Budapest Butterfly by Julia Buckley

Death in a Budapest Butterfly
Author: Julia Buckley
Series: A HUNGARIAN TEA HOUSE MYSTERY (Book 1)
Publication: Berkley (July 30, 2019)

Description: 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 Hungarian heritage and specializing in a European-style traditional tea service. But one of the shop's largest draws is Hana's eccentric grandmother, Juliana, renowned for her ability to read the future in the leaves at the bottom of customers' cups. Lately, however, her readings have become alarmingly ominous and seemingly related to old Hungarian legends...

When a guest is poisoned at a tea event, Juliana’s dire predictions appear to have come true. Things are brought to a boil when Hana’s beloved  Anna Weatherley butterfly teacup becomes the center of the murder investigation as it carried the poisoned tea. The cup is claimed as evidence by a handsome police detective, and the pretty Tea House is suddenly endangered.  Hana and her family must catch the killer to save their business and bring the beautiful Budapest Butterfly back home where it belongs.

My Thoughts: Hana Keller and her family run a tea house and Hana collects Hungarian teacups and other art. One day, at a tea party for the Magyar Women, a woman named Ava Novak sips her tea from one of Hana's collector tea cups and dies.

Hana, her mother, and grandmother get involved in the investigation because of their knowledge of Hungarian and the Hungarian myths that seem to underlie the investigation. Police Detective Erik Wolf is glad for their help. He and Hana develop a relationship around the investigation since she seems to find lots of clues to bring to his attention.

The story was filled with Hungarian myths, food, and language. There was also a lot of description of things that didn't necessarily need to be described. I kept thinking that the various detailed descriptions would feature in the plot, but they did not.

Fans of cozies with recipes and with an interest in Hungarian culture would be the best audience for this story.

Favorite Quote:

I was dizzy from indecision. I stood facing the V at the top of his shirt, where blond hairs curled against his tanned skin. Without my permission, my fingertip touched him there, on the little hollow in his throat. It felt electric, that moment of connection. I thought I felt his heart beating against the tentative pressure of my hand.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.