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Hungarian Tea House Mystery #3
Death on the Night of Lost Lizards
Along with her mother and grandmother, Hana Keller has achieved renown serving tea and cakes with a European flair, but when a local professor is killed, she uncovers a serving of suspects instead…
Hana Keller is getting ready for a lovely holiday season. When she receives a rare tea set as a birthday gift, she decides to host a tea at her apartment for her closest friends. During the cozy get-together, one of Hana's friends gets word that a murderer is on the loose. Hana soon learns that the victim was Sandor Balog, a professor of Hungarian Studies at the local college.
With her growing psychic ability, Hana senses that she is going to be pulled into the investigation of the professor's death somehow. With her sexy boyfriend Erik on the case, Hana finds the Tea House steeped in suspects. She studies the smiling faces celebrating the season, but the real killer is good at hiding the truth and putting Hana in the hot seat….
Hana Keller is getting ready for a lovely holiday season. When she receives a rare tea set as a birthday gift, she decides to host a tea at her apartment for her closest friends. During the cozy get-together, one of Hana's friends gets word that a murderer is on the loose. Hana soon learns that the victim was Sandor Balog, a professor of Hungarian Studies at the local college.
With her growing psychic ability, Hana senses that she is going to be pulled into the investigation of the professor's death somehow. With her sexy boyfriend Erik on the case, Hana finds the Tea House steeped in suspects. She studies the smiling faces celebrating the season, but the real killer is good at hiding the truth and putting Hana in the hot seat….
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First published June 3, 2021
32 people are currently reading
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About the author
Julia Buckley
31 books803 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 103 reviews
May 27, 2021
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Fresh Fiction
DEATH ON THE NIGHT OF LOST LIZARDS is book three in the Hungarian Tea House Mystery series by Julia Buckley. Hana Keller and her tea-leaf reading grandmother are back in action with this super exciting installment. I always enjoy the banter and sense of community that this series has, but it felt even more potent with this particular book. I read this book very quickly, which tells you just how fun and exciting it is.
The local professor who first gets killed really sparks the intrigue of this book, but there are so many other aspects of this book that I really enjoyed too. An example is the subtle romance thread that is hidden within this mystery. It’s not so overpowering that it takes away from the mystery, but instead complements it in a way that is satisfying for the reader.
This much intrigue and charm is sure to be a hit with fans. If you haven’t tried the Hungarian Tea House mystery series by Julia Buckley yet, then what are you waiting for? You’ll definitely be in for a treat!
DEATH ON THE NIGHT OF LOST LIZARDS is book three in the Hungarian Tea House Mystery series by Julia Buckley. Hana Keller and her tea-leaf reading grandmother are back in action with this super exciting installment. I always enjoy the banter and sense of community that this series has, but it felt even more potent with this particular book. I read this book very quickly, which tells you just how fun and exciting it is.
The local professor who first gets killed really sparks the intrigue of this book, but there are so many other aspects of this book that I really enjoyed too. An example is the subtle romance thread that is hidden within this mystery. It’s not so overpowering that it takes away from the mystery, but instead complements it in a way that is satisfying for the reader.
This much intrigue and charm is sure to be a hit with fans. If you haven’t tried the Hungarian Tea House mystery series by Julia Buckley yet, then what are you waiting for? You’ll definitely be in for a treat!
July 24, 2021
The third book in this charming series finds Hana busy at her family's tea house during the bustling Christmas season, but it's not all comfort and joy. Hana's developing psychic abilities turn out to be useful when a Hungarian professor and artifact collector is murdered. With Maggie's Tea House hosting Prof. Balog's memorial, Hana and Erik are able to discover many possible suspects with reasons to resent the deceased man, but who among them was angry enough to kill?
DEATH ON THE NIGHT OF LOST LIZARDS was beautifully written with the descriptions of snow, Christmas traditions, and the amazing Hungarian antiques. What a lovely magical atmosphere for this puzzling mystery.
DEATH ON THE NIGHT OF LOST LIZARDS was beautifully written with the descriptions of snow, Christmas traditions, and the amazing Hungarian antiques. What a lovely magical atmosphere for this puzzling mystery.
July 2, 2021
The Hungarian Tea Shop is one of my favorite mystery series. There are so many series to choose, but for me this hits all the right spots with it's background of Hungarian history, culture, language and food. And did I say fairytales? Buckley seamlessly weaves in Hungarian folktales that are related to her mysteries.
And the main character has growing psychic abilities like her tea leave reading grandmother. It's all very realistic with a slightly serious sometimes darkish tone that really engages my inner-sleuth. There's also tea and beautiful tea cups!
If you like solid mysteries with a subtle twist, I heartily recommend Death On The Night Of Lost Lizards.
And the main character has growing psychic abilities like her tea leave reading grandmother. It's all very realistic with a slightly serious sometimes darkish tone that really engages my inner-sleuth. There's also tea and beautiful tea cups!
If you like solid mysteries with a subtle twist, I heartily recommend Death On The Night Of Lost Lizards.
May 25, 2021
I have never written a book review for a cozy mystery and said that it was hauntingly beautiful at times, but that is exactly how I felt about Death on the Night of Lost Lizards by Julia Buckley. Her imagery of the winter evenings combined with the dreamlike states of her psychic visions created the perfect atmosphere for this cozy taking place during the Christmas season.
I keep coming back to the Hungarian Tea House Mysteries for the detailed and varied characters, the wonderful descriptions of the food, tea sets and parties, and the Hungarian folklore along with the interesting Hungarian facts, all combined with a touch of psychic activity… which keeps increasing a bit with every new book.
This book also included some suspense with Erik’s sister and some of the events that happened, so for me, that was a great bonus. The mystery was well thought out and kept me guessing, and I’m still enjoying Hana and Erik’s relationship, which is a must for me to continue any series.
I highly recommend the Hungarian Tea House Mysteries. And while you could start with book three and not be confused, do yourself a favor and start with book one instead, Death in a Budapest Butterfly.
I keep coming back to the Hungarian Tea House Mysteries for the detailed and varied characters, the wonderful descriptions of the food, tea sets and parties, and the Hungarian folklore along with the interesting Hungarian facts, all combined with a touch of psychic activity… which keeps increasing a bit with every new book.
This book also included some suspense with Erik’s sister and some of the events that happened, so for me, that was a great bonus. The mystery was well thought out and kept me guessing, and I’m still enjoying Hana and Erik’s relationship, which is a must for me to continue any series.
I highly recommend the Hungarian Tea House Mysteries. And while you could start with book three and not be confused, do yourself a favor and start with book one instead, Death in a Budapest Butterfly.
September 8, 2024
Interesting story. I enjoyed the previous two books in this series much better.
August 21, 2021
THIS. WAS. SO. GOOD. I love this series so much. Didn't know who the killer was, learned some neat Hungarian history and customs and had a really great story in between all of that. So fantastic!!
March 26, 2025
It's winter, the magical snowy season of Hana's birthday and Christmas. She prepares to quietly celebrate her birthday with family when she learns Grandma informed Erik it was her birthday. She doesn't mind too much if he spoils her. She's madly in love. Driving home one morning, she spies a young man walking out of an alley without a coat. He appears to be unhappy about something and Hana is concerned about the boy. She thinks his face seems familiar somehow and for some reason, her Uncle Zoltan's face appears in her mind. When she gets home, she discovers Uncle Zoltan has sent her a rare Chinese-inspired Hungarian made porcelain tea set she's wanted since she was 11 years old. When she invites her gal pals, including Erik's sisters and neighbor Paige, over for tea to use the new tea set, they encourage her to try to solve the mystery of the coatless young man. Erik is busy working, there's been a murder near where Hana saw the coatless young man. What if there's a connection? Hana has a gut feeling something is wrong and tells Erik what she discovers. Security camera footage reveals the identity of the young man as the son of the tea shop window washer, members of the local Hungarian community. The young man, Frank Dobos, swears he didn't kill the university professor, Sandor Balog, but discovered the body and the gun and feared his mother, a fellow language professor, did the deed. While Erik doesn't consider Frank a suspect and clears Frank's mother, the clues do seem to point to the university faculty who just so happen to have a tea party at Maggie's Tea House scheduled for the next day. Erik insists on tagging along as staff and wants Hana to listen in and report any gossip to him. She uncovers any number of suspects but can't quite put the puzzle pieces together. She also learns her mother's old high school rival has returned and wants something from Hana's mother. Meanwhile, Runa's baby needs surgery ASAP, long before she's ready to be born, and everyone is worried. Christmas is coming and Hana is eager for Erik to spend the day with her family but until this murder is solved, he has to work day and night even on Christmas. Can Hana's insights help him solve the case faster?
This story was long! There was a little TOO much cozy that went on too long. Did we need the Skype call with Uncle Zoltan? No. Did we need the subplot about Aunt Luca? No. We've never met either of them before and they're irrelevant to the plot. Did we need the plot about Runa's baby? Absolutely not! That sounds VERY far fetched especially as she's only about 12 weeks pregnant tops. It's a catalyst for Hana's "inner eye" but Hana doesn't even know if what she's seeing is real or imagined so that could have been done differently without the drama of the baby and she could have met the parents another time. What happened to Thanksgiving?
Anyway, the mystery portion of the story was good. There were a lot of suspects so I never guessed who did it. I liked how Hana just tries to solve the puzzle and freely admits it but the villain doesn't come after her. I disliked how many witchy women there were and why anyone is still writing such stereotypical characters these days. While this author writes beautifully about her own culture, people from other cultures are stereotyped and thinly sketched.
I like Hana well enough but I don't really feel a strong connection to her for some reason. She doesn't sound 27 with her extensive knowledge and fascination of Hungarian porcelain. That's a weird thing to be into for a Millennial. Most Millennials don't want stuff let alone porcelain. It makes a little sense because they run a tea shop and she's connected to her Hungarian roots but it's a weird interest for someone so young. She just seems older to me. I'm not sure I really like the whole second sight/intuition thing. Everyone takes it in stride like oh yeah? cool! and doesn't question it like woah what? Hana's relationship with Erik happened so quickly but she knows he's THE ONE now she's seen his aura or whatever. YET he's told her nothing about his family and she has yet to meet his parents. That's kind of weird when family is so important to her. I'm an introvert but anyone who knows me knows all about my family and has met them and I'd want to know all about their family too. I do like Hana's growing relationship with Erik's sisters though. They're fun and obviously they love their little brother, even though they like to tease, they're happy he's met his soul mate at last. They have each other so even if Runa wasn't in love with Andy, they'll never be alone. They're a bonded pair like Hana's cats, Antony and Cleopatra. Like Erik, Cleopatra is more introverted than Antony but sometimes craves attention.
Erik is a good man. He's a diligent, dutiful police officer, albeit intense and doesn't jump to conclusions. He works through every angle until he finds the right person and trusts Hana's unusual instincts. He's a sweet boyfriend but that birthday gift was not what I expected. It's only been three months but they've made it clear it's forever. Domo is still immature. I don't know what Margie sees in him. Maybe she's in love with his warm, effusive family? He's 29 and doesn't know how to cook. He comes to his sister's to eat and watch a movie- one he likes - even though her boyfriend shows up. The classy adult thing to do would have been to leave when Erik arrived even if Erik had to continue working for a bit. Hana and Erik get very little alone time. Margie is very sweet. She's come out of her shell and has become part of the Hovarth-Keller family. Margie is a good baker and I want some of her recipes!
Alexandra Malandro is Maggie Hovarth's high school rival and a classic mean girl. This woman is a total bleep. She's rude, snobby and condescending towards anyone who doesn't have as much money as she does. Yet Maggie senses Alex wants something and is determined to maintain the friendship. No way! Nope not unless this witch stops being so snotty and if she promises not to barge into a private event again. Her husband sure sounds like a real prize.
The victim, Sandor Balog, was a professor of Hungarian studies at the local university and chair of the Foreign Language department. Hana knew him as a fellow lover of beautiful antiques and a frequent customer at Falken's Treasures. The professor had a bigger budget than Hana and collected some rare and expensive pieces. He was faced with cutting a language from the department and refused to consider cutting his own even though it's not super popular with the students. That sounds selfish to me. Obviously keep Spanish that's a no-brainer and Chinese, maybe Italian and French or keep one of the two depending on demand. Spanish would be the best choice of the three romance languages but being so close to Canada, French may be in demand too. Sandor was also a ladies' man. He had a wife and several girlfriends on the go when he was separated from his wife. It doesn't seem like he was into commitment. He used to be close with some other male colleagues but lately they've drifted apart personally and are competitive game players. Sandor wagered money on the games and typically won. It seems that's how he was able to afford his beautiful treasures. I think he was a narcissist in love with his treasures and less so his work. There's a claim he was wedded to his job but I think it was more the space- his version of a man cave.
Sandor was wooing three colleagues. Livia Parravicini is the Italian professor. She seems nice. She's fun and loves languages. Livia enjoyed her time with Sandor but he may have read more into the relationship than she intended, or so she says. She's a one man woman and I get the impression she expects her man to be a one woman man, even if it's casual. Hana strikes up a friendship with Livia but I don't know if Livia is sincere. I hope so because I want to like her. She's not old school Italian like my family who have more in common with Hana's grandmother. Livia is modern but not a femme fatale. She's the nicest of the three women Sandor was dating. Yvonne Yves is the French professor and a massive *itch. She's rude to everyone, hits on younger men and enjoys making snide remarks. She doesn't seem too broken up about Sandor's death. She may also have lied to Hana. Fortunately she develops into a slightly more complex character at the very end but only just. Wanda Lee was Sandor's third paramour! She seems nice enough but doesn't seem to feel guilty about dating a married man who had two other women on the go.
Hans Weber teaches German, one of the languages that might be cut. He's jovial and romantic but is he serious? He indicates that he was close friends with Sandor in the past but not recently. What happened? Tony was Sandro's chess partner and gambling buddy. The two of them always played chess for real money and one of them always won. This gives Tony a very strong motive for murder! Frank's mother, Sarah Dobos, seems to be the only one who sincerely regrets having harsh words with Sandor right before his death and the only one who really shows respect and empathy for his widow in her speech.
Nancy, the widow, seems sad. She's more of a traditional housewife than the "exotic" "foreign" women Sandro dated. I feel so bad for her because he didn't treat her very well. She needs money and isn't likely to get it from her husband's estate. That's just awful for her.
Francois is a true artist but doesn't seem to realize it. It's good he's humble and still worried about money. We finally meet Claire and they're both very much in love but also manage to stay professional. It was great to see Hana's dad and Grandpa bonding but in a scene that could have been cut. It's sweet how Hana's dad has embraced Hungarian culture and traditions.
I'm not too invested in this series so I'm not entirely sad to see it end. I wish there were more recipes in this one though. The gingerbread cookie recipe is very similar to a Scandinavian one I make with Golden Syrup. I'll have to try this one with honey.
This story was long! There was a little TOO much cozy that went on too long. Did we need the Skype call with Uncle Zoltan? No. Did we need the subplot about Aunt Luca? No. We've never met either of them before and they're irrelevant to the plot. Did we need the plot about Runa's baby? Absolutely not! That sounds VERY far fetched especially as she's only about 12 weeks pregnant tops. It's a catalyst for Hana's "inner eye" but Hana doesn't even know if what she's seeing is real or imagined so that could have been done differently without the drama of the baby and she could have met the parents another time. What happened to Thanksgiving?
Anyway, the mystery portion of the story was good. There were a lot of suspects so I never guessed who did it. I liked how Hana just tries to solve the puzzle and freely admits it but the villain doesn't come after her. I disliked how many witchy women there were and why anyone is still writing such stereotypical characters these days. While this author writes beautifully about her own culture, people from other cultures are stereotyped and thinly sketched.
I like Hana well enough but I don't really feel a strong connection to her for some reason. She doesn't sound 27 with her extensive knowledge and fascination of Hungarian porcelain. That's a weird thing to be into for a Millennial. Most Millennials don't want stuff let alone porcelain. It makes a little sense because they run a tea shop and she's connected to her Hungarian roots but it's a weird interest for someone so young. She just seems older to me. I'm not sure I really like the whole second sight/intuition thing. Everyone takes it in stride like oh yeah? cool! and doesn't question it like woah what? Hana's relationship with Erik happened so quickly but she knows he's THE ONE now she's seen his aura or whatever. YET he's told her nothing about his family and she has yet to meet his parents. That's kind of weird when family is so important to her. I'm an introvert but anyone who knows me knows all about my family and has met them and I'd want to know all about their family too. I do like Hana's growing relationship with Erik's sisters though. They're fun and obviously they love their little brother, even though they like to tease, they're happy he's met his soul mate at last. They have each other so even if Runa wasn't in love with Andy, they'll never be alone. They're a bonded pair like Hana's cats, Antony and Cleopatra. Like Erik, Cleopatra is more introverted than Antony but sometimes craves attention.
Erik is a good man. He's a diligent, dutiful police officer, albeit intense and doesn't jump to conclusions. He works through every angle until he finds the right person and trusts Hana's unusual instincts. He's a sweet boyfriend but that birthday gift was not what I expected. It's only been three months but they've made it clear it's forever. Domo is still immature. I don't know what Margie sees in him. Maybe she's in love with his warm, effusive family? He's 29 and doesn't know how to cook. He comes to his sister's to eat and watch a movie- one he likes - even though her boyfriend shows up. The classy adult thing to do would have been to leave when Erik arrived even if Erik had to continue working for a bit. Hana and Erik get very little alone time. Margie is very sweet. She's come out of her shell and has become part of the Hovarth-Keller family. Margie is a good baker and I want some of her recipes!
Alexandra Malandro is Maggie Hovarth's high school rival and a classic mean girl. This woman is a total bleep. She's rude, snobby and condescending towards anyone who doesn't have as much money as she does. Yet Maggie senses Alex wants something and is determined to maintain the friendship. No way! Nope not unless this witch stops being so snotty and if she promises not to barge into a private event again. Her husband sure sounds like a real prize.
The victim, Sandor Balog, was a professor of Hungarian studies at the local university and chair of the Foreign Language department. Hana knew him as a fellow lover of beautiful antiques and a frequent customer at Falken's Treasures. The professor had a bigger budget than Hana and collected some rare and expensive pieces. He was faced with cutting a language from the department and refused to consider cutting his own even though it's not super popular with the students. That sounds selfish to me. Obviously keep Spanish that's a no-brainer and Chinese, maybe Italian and French or keep one of the two depending on demand. Spanish would be the best choice of the three romance languages but being so close to Canada, French may be in demand too. Sandor was also a ladies' man. He had a wife and several girlfriends on the go when he was separated from his wife. It doesn't seem like he was into commitment. He used to be close with some other male colleagues but lately they've drifted apart personally and are competitive game players. Sandor wagered money on the games and typically won. It seems that's how he was able to afford his beautiful treasures. I think he was a narcissist in love with his treasures and less so his work. There's a claim he was wedded to his job but I think it was more the space- his version of a man cave.
Sandor was wooing three colleagues. Livia Parravicini is the Italian professor. She seems nice. She's fun and loves languages. Livia enjoyed her time with Sandor but he may have read more into the relationship than she intended, or so she says. She's a one man woman and I get the impression she expects her man to be a one woman man, even if it's casual. Hana strikes up a friendship with Livia but I don't know if Livia is sincere. I hope so because I want to like her. She's not old school Italian like my family who have more in common with Hana's grandmother. Livia is modern but not a femme fatale. She's the nicest of the three women Sandor was dating. Yvonne Yves is the French professor and a massive *itch. She's rude to everyone, hits on younger men and enjoys making snide remarks. She doesn't seem too broken up about Sandor's death. She may also have lied to Hana. Fortunately she develops into a slightly more complex character at the very end but only just. Wanda Lee was Sandor's third paramour! She seems nice enough but doesn't seem to feel guilty about dating a married man who had two other women on the go.
Hans Weber teaches German, one of the languages that might be cut. He's jovial and romantic but is he serious? He indicates that he was close friends with Sandor in the past but not recently. What happened? Tony was Sandro's chess partner and gambling buddy. The two of them always played chess for real money and one of them always won. This gives Tony a very strong motive for murder! Frank's mother, Sarah Dobos, seems to be the only one who sincerely regrets having harsh words with Sandor right before his death and the only one who really shows respect and empathy for his widow in her speech.
Nancy, the widow, seems sad. She's more of a traditional housewife than the "exotic" "foreign" women Sandro dated. I feel so bad for her because he didn't treat her very well. She needs money and isn't likely to get it from her husband's estate. That's just awful for her.
Francois is a true artist but doesn't seem to realize it. It's good he's humble and still worried about money. We finally meet Claire and they're both very much in love but also manage to stay professional. It was great to see Hana's dad and Grandpa bonding but in a scene that could have been cut. It's sweet how Hana's dad has embraced Hungarian culture and traditions.
I'm not too invested in this series so I'm not entirely sad to see it end. I wish there were more recipes in this one though. The gingerbread cookie recipe is very similar to a Scandinavian one I make with Golden Syrup. I'll have to try this one with honey.
July 9, 2021
Death on the Night of Lost Lizards is the third book in Julia Buckley’s Hungarian Tea House Mystery series. The story can be read as a standalone, however, I think you would get more enjoyment out of reading the other books first. Julia is definitely my go-to cozy mystery author. I tend to lose myself in her stories and characters. As a result, I didn’t read the blurb and was pleasantly surprised to discover that Death on the Night of Lost Lizards takes place during Christmastime.
It’s the month of December and Hana Keller, her mother Maggie, and her grandmother, Juliana Horvath, are busy running around and putting on Christmas events at Maggie’s Tea House, the family business owned by Hana’s mother. After returning home from running errands, Hana is surprised to discover her uncle sent her a Herend’s Yellow Dynasty tea set for her birthday. Hana is so excited to show off the set that she quickly plans a girls’ night out at her house. She invites her neighbor Paige, her best friend Katie, and her boyfriend Erik’s twin sisters Runa and Thyra. While hanging out together, they discover that a murder has been committed at the local university. This leads Hana to remember something she saw earlier in the day. It turns out Hana knows the murder victim and at least one person of interest.
Hana has inherited her Hungarian family’s “gift” of sight or sixth sense. She uses her ability to help her boyfriend, police detective Erik Wolf track down the killer of Sandor Balog, the professor of Hungarian, and the chair of the World Languages Department at Riverwood University. She just isn’t prepared to find herself as the next victim.
Once again, Julia has written an engrossing mystery. I was as in the dark as Hana was. The reveal definitely came as a surprise but made complete sense. The romantic in me is over the moon at Hana and Erik’s blossoming relationship. In fact, this Christmas is going to be a memorable one for the Horvath/Keller family. I really hope there are more books to come in this wonderful Hungarian Mystery series.
~ Favorite Quote ~
“In its most powerful form, grace gives us the strength to endure any trial.”
**Received a copy of the book courtesy of the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**
It’s the month of December and Hana Keller, her mother Maggie, and her grandmother, Juliana Horvath, are busy running around and putting on Christmas events at Maggie’s Tea House, the family business owned by Hana’s mother. After returning home from running errands, Hana is surprised to discover her uncle sent her a Herend’s Yellow Dynasty tea set for her birthday. Hana is so excited to show off the set that she quickly plans a girls’ night out at her house. She invites her neighbor Paige, her best friend Katie, and her boyfriend Erik’s twin sisters Runa and Thyra. While hanging out together, they discover that a murder has been committed at the local university. This leads Hana to remember something she saw earlier in the day. It turns out Hana knows the murder victim and at least one person of interest.
Hana has inherited her Hungarian family’s “gift” of sight or sixth sense. She uses her ability to help her boyfriend, police detective Erik Wolf track down the killer of Sandor Balog, the professor of Hungarian, and the chair of the World Languages Department at Riverwood University. She just isn’t prepared to find herself as the next victim.
Once again, Julia has written an engrossing mystery. I was as in the dark as Hana was. The reveal definitely came as a surprise but made complete sense. The romantic in me is over the moon at Hana and Erik’s blossoming relationship. In fact, this Christmas is going to be a memorable one for the Horvath/Keller family. I really hope there are more books to come in this wonderful Hungarian Mystery series.
~ Favorite Quote ~
“In its most powerful form, grace gives us the strength to endure any trial.”
**Received a copy of the book courtesy of the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**
February 8, 2022
This is one of my favorite series and I hope there are many more books to come! I really like the characters and how they interact with one another. I think I also enjoy all the Hungarian culture in these books as it is different from other cozies.
January 12, 2023
I do like this series. I hope the author finds a way to write more about these characters
May 30, 2021
DEATH ON THE NIGHT OF LOST LIZARDS is the third book in the Hungarian Tea House Mysteries by Julia Buckley. This series just keeps getting better and better and I couldn’t put this book down. The author does an admirable job in setting the scene with plenty of holiday ambiance and Hungarian language, food, and folklore. While this is a mystery, I truly enjoyed getting to learn snippets of Hungarian myths and legends that the protagonist, Hana Keller, introduces throughout the story. Combined with the psychic abilities Hana is discovering and her tea leaf reading Grandmother, the book became magical and I didn’t want to stop reading until I’d devoured the entire story. I also loved the delightful descriptions of the unique tea set gifted to Hana by a beloved uncle, even if I’m not a fan of lizards.
The author uses the rare tea set, with the twin lizard handles, as a backdrop to the mystery. She showcases how the design evokes the theme of having two choices for every decision a person faces in their life and the duality that lives in each of us. She effectively intertwines this theme with the mystery of who killed a local college professor. I also admired how Hana’s relationship with her detective boyfriend, Erik, is progressing, and how he appreciates her intelligence and insights into the crime. As the clues unfold – it helps that a large group of suspects hold a memorial service for the victim at Hana’s family’s tea house – the sharp reader can follow along with Hana in narrowing in on the killer. But truthfully, this is such a beautifully written book, I wanted to sit back and enjoy it all without distraction, and as the conclusion wrapped up, I longed to be able to read the next book in the series right away!
Running the tea house with her mother and grandmother, there are all sorts of amazing Hungarian dishes mentioned with mouthwatering details! The author provides a few recipes at the back of the book for readers to try at home.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The author uses the rare tea set, with the twin lizard handles, as a backdrop to the mystery. She showcases how the design evokes the theme of having two choices for every decision a person faces in their life and the duality that lives in each of us. She effectively intertwines this theme with the mystery of who killed a local college professor. I also admired how Hana’s relationship with her detective boyfriend, Erik, is progressing, and how he appreciates her intelligence and insights into the crime. As the clues unfold – it helps that a large group of suspects hold a memorial service for the victim at Hana’s family’s tea house – the sharp reader can follow along with Hana in narrowing in on the killer. But truthfully, this is such a beautifully written book, I wanted to sit back and enjoy it all without distraction, and as the conclusion wrapped up, I longed to be able to read the next book in the series right away!
Running the tea house with her mother and grandmother, there are all sorts of amazing Hungarian dishes mentioned with mouthwatering details! The author provides a few recipes at the back of the book for readers to try at home.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 10, 2021
I love the snippets of Hungarian culture and folklore that are given in each of these stories. It adds so much to the mysteries. I do, however, get a little annoyed when the sleuth takes too many liberties when pursuing their solution to the crime. Hana interrogated so many people in this one that several of her suspects actually asked if she was working for the police. Other than that, this was another good addition to the series.
June 8, 2021
This is the third 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).
Set at Christmas and Hana’s birthday, this latest offering in the series 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 I hope to read more books in this series.
This was much more than a cozy mystery (not to take away from a really well written whodunit).
Set at Christmas and Hana’s birthday, this latest offering in the series 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 I hope to read more books in this series.
June 8, 2021
Title: Death on the Night of Lost Lizards
Author: Julia Buckley
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4.2 out of 5
I enjoyed this read! The characters and setting—a Hungarian family-owned tea house—is unique, and I kind of want to hang out with these people. Actually, this book almost made winter and lots of snow sound appealing…which is saying something, for a lifelong southerner.
To me, the murderer wasn’t glaringly obvious, which is great, as “mysteries” where the culprit is clear are boring to read. Hana and her circle of people are fun and people I genuinely would like to spend time with. Definitely read this!
(Galley courtesy of Berkley in exchange for an honest review.)
Author: Julia Buckley
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4.2 out of 5
I enjoyed this read! The characters and setting—a Hungarian family-owned tea house—is unique, and I kind of want to hang out with these people. Actually, this book almost made winter and lots of snow sound appealing…which is saying something, for a lifelong southerner.
To me, the murderer wasn’t glaringly obvious, which is great, as “mysteries” where the culprit is clear are boring to read. Hana and her circle of people are fun and people I genuinely would like to spend time with. Definitely read this!
(Galley courtesy of Berkley in exchange for an honest review.)
June 24, 2021
Marvelous series full of Hungarian culture, folklore and food with interesting and engaging characters. Plus the mystery is well-plotted and paced to keep you turning pages.
June 15, 2021
First time reading this series (I've read the author's other series (A Writer's Apprentice Mystery), which I absolutely love. I rarely read more than 1 series from an author. However, this one is one I would add to my list. I liked the characters and the mystery kept me guessing. I neither figured out who did it or why. I look forward to more in the series and going back and reading the first 2.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest reveiw.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest reveiw.
June 17, 2021
This cozy mystery and series have so much that make it charming, unique, and intriguing. Our setting is a suburb of Chicago, where much of the action takes place in Maggie’s Tea House, owned by a woman who immigrated from Hungary with her parents. Her mother, Juliana, works at the tea shop, as does her daughter, Hana. A true family business, when necessary, her husband and son participate in some of the special events. One of the things I enjoyed was reading about the children’s tea to celebrate St. Mikulas Day, including the costumes and activities. The folklore, customs, and works of art were so interesting!
Hana has been involved in a couple murder investigations in recent months, which is how she met Erik, her boyfriend and a detective for the local police department. She has a knack for learning about people and has helped put away a couple bad guys. When enjoying the magic of gently falling snow, Hana saw an anxious looking young man without a coat or jacket slipping out of an alley. She didn’t know yet that Sandor Balog, a professor who taught Hungarian at the nearby university had been murdered early that morning. Or that the young man was one of his students who, with his father, washed windows at the tea house and would soon be the primary suspect.
Hana realized, upon seeing Sandor’s photo, that she had met and had several pleasant conversations with him in their mutually favorite antiques shop while looking for Hungarian porcelain collectibles. As Erik hunts the bad guys through police channels, Hana talks with people she knows and the professors Sandor knew at the university. They can confirm the student didn’t kill Sandor, but somebody did, and many in the Hungarian community and the university want the killer found. As Hana talks with various people and serves at the tea he was memorialized at, she learns he wasn’t quite as beloved as some wanted to think. There were several possible suspects, and the list slowly grew.
This riveting tale drew me in at the beginning and held my attention throughout. The characters are delightfully memorable, especially Hana and her grandmother, Juliana, and I enjoyed getting to know them better than before, especially as Hana practices the special sight that seems to run in the women of her family. Amidst the pre-Christmas teas and murder, Hana even makes time for one of Erik’s sisters, in the hospital with special challenges for her and her unborn baby.
I enjoyed watching the interactions of Erik and Hana, as well as how Hana helped find Sandor’s killer. Wisdom, love, and joy are valued by Hana and her family, which includes her closest friends. There were plot twists that kept the intrigue at a high, and it was hard to determine whodunit in this skillfully crafted cozy. While the real killer was vaguely on my “list”, I was still quite surprised. I am so looking forward to the next in series and seeing our friends again! I highly recommend this to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries with wonderful characters and the fascinating Hungarian culture in the setting of a family tea house.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this copy, and this is my honest review.
Hana has been involved in a couple murder investigations in recent months, which is how she met Erik, her boyfriend and a detective for the local police department. She has a knack for learning about people and has helped put away a couple bad guys. When enjoying the magic of gently falling snow, Hana saw an anxious looking young man without a coat or jacket slipping out of an alley. She didn’t know yet that Sandor Balog, a professor who taught Hungarian at the nearby university had been murdered early that morning. Or that the young man was one of his students who, with his father, washed windows at the tea house and would soon be the primary suspect.
Hana realized, upon seeing Sandor’s photo, that she had met and had several pleasant conversations with him in their mutually favorite antiques shop while looking for Hungarian porcelain collectibles. As Erik hunts the bad guys through police channels, Hana talks with people she knows and the professors Sandor knew at the university. They can confirm the student didn’t kill Sandor, but somebody did, and many in the Hungarian community and the university want the killer found. As Hana talks with various people and serves at the tea he was memorialized at, she learns he wasn’t quite as beloved as some wanted to think. There were several possible suspects, and the list slowly grew.
This riveting tale drew me in at the beginning and held my attention throughout. The characters are delightfully memorable, especially Hana and her grandmother, Juliana, and I enjoyed getting to know them better than before, especially as Hana practices the special sight that seems to run in the women of her family. Amidst the pre-Christmas teas and murder, Hana even makes time for one of Erik’s sisters, in the hospital with special challenges for her and her unborn baby.
I enjoyed watching the interactions of Erik and Hana, as well as how Hana helped find Sandor’s killer. Wisdom, love, and joy are valued by Hana and her family, which includes her closest friends. There were plot twists that kept the intrigue at a high, and it was hard to determine whodunit in this skillfully crafted cozy. While the real killer was vaguely on my “list”, I was still quite surprised. I am so looking forward to the next in series and seeing our friends again! I highly recommend this to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries with wonderful characters and the fascinating Hungarian culture in the setting of a family tea house.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this copy, and this is my honest review.
August 12, 2021
From the moment I read the author's dedication, "For my father and mother, in gratitude for Christmases past." I felt the possibility that it would be the month of December as I turned the pages. Two wonderful quotes led me to Chapter 1 entitled, "The Man in the Snow" and I was already entranced in the magic of the holiday season. I loved the opening to learn of Hana's memory of her grandmother explaining that "snow is friendlier than rain" as "snow sits on your shoulder and tells you the truth: that life is cold, but it warms us with beauty."
That is just one of the enchanting treasures of reading novels by Julia Buckley. In the midst of conversations, remembrances, and events there are beautiful descriptions that not only create charming settings where her characters live, work, and play but her writing transports the reader and his or her own imagination to feel like they have an inside view to all that occurs within the story. As I remember Hana purchasing a snow globe as one of her Christmas gifts for her grandmother it gives me another way to describe the author's writing. At the beginning of her story, the reader has shaken the precious globe and as the snow is dancing and glittering with beauty inside the globe there is delightful anticipation as to what will transpire in this special setting. As the snow settles, another mystery begins.
Hana, her mother Maggie, and grandmother continue to delight their customers with beautifully created events for the Christmas season and share many customs held dear in the Hungarian culture. Even as one event becomes a memorial tea for the gentleman that had planned the event and looked forward to the event as host there are traditions shared that remind me of the wonderful Christmases past hosted by my father and mother for our own family and many very similar in nature especially the holiday menus. I also found strength in these words that would be a blessing to give to all we meet on our life journey not only at Christmas but all the year through.
That is just one of the enchanting treasures of reading novels by Julia Buckley. In the midst of conversations, remembrances, and events there are beautiful descriptions that not only create charming settings where her characters live, work, and play but her writing transports the reader and his or her own imagination to feel like they have an inside view to all that occurs within the story. As I remember Hana purchasing a snow globe as one of her Christmas gifts for her grandmother it gives me another way to describe the author's writing. At the beginning of her story, the reader has shaken the precious globe and as the snow is dancing and glittering with beauty inside the globe there is delightful anticipation as to what will transpire in this special setting. As the snow settles, another mystery begins.
Hana, her mother Maggie, and grandmother continue to delight their customers with beautifully created events for the Christmas season and share many customs held dear in the Hungarian culture. Even as one event becomes a memorial tea for the gentleman that had planned the event and looked forward to the event as host there are traditions shared that remind me of the wonderful Christmases past hosted by my father and mother for our own family and many very similar in nature especially the holiday menus. I also found strength in these words that would be a blessing to give to all we meet on our life journey not only at Christmas but all the year through.
'When we think of grace,' she said, we think of something that allows us to regenerate, to sanctify, not just what we feel within, but what we see without. We seek our moments of grace, and we find reward in them. And in its most powerful form, grace gives us strength to endure any trial. I wish for you a Christmas filled with holy grace, and a year filled with opportunities to bring that feeling to others.'For all who love this series it is a wonderful continuation of the relationships of all the characters we love. If you haven't yet started the series, I would encourage you to read the series in order as then the progression of the relationships is even more precious to enjoy. I hope this series has many more stories yet to be told.
May 31, 2021
Death On The Night Of Lost Lizards is the third book in the A Hungarian Tea House Mystery series by Julia Buckley.
With summer on its way, this is a great time to read this wonderful addition to this series. The setting of the book is close to Christmas near blustery Chicago, Illinois.
Hana Keller is finishing up her Christmas shopping, and while waiting for her car to warm, she sees a young man with no coat on throw something into a dumpster behind a store. When Hana tries to tell Detective Erik Wolf, Erik, her boyfriend, informs her he is investigating the murder of a professor and will talk later. Later that day, Hana tells Erik what she saw, and he promises to have the dumpster searched. The next day Erik tells Hana that the police did find a coat with evidence wrapped in it.
When she learns the victim is Professor Balog, and of his valuable collection of Hungarian artifacts, she realizes she knows of him. She has seen him at her favorite antique store. Hana starts talking with the other professors in Balog’s department, and to a person, they say Balog was well-liked. Hana is skilled at asking questions, as well as listening. She will overhear conversations at the family tea house, which will point her to several suspects, which she will share with Erik.
Erik’s sister has problems with her pregnancy and has asked Hana to use her psychic abilities to learn if everything will turn out all right. Hana has only recently discovered her skills and hasn’t them that much and is torn between using them or not.
The book is well-written and plotted. The characters are well-developed and very interesting, and believable. I particularly enjoyed learning about Hungarian traditions, folklore, and especially some traditional foods. The author also included recipes for some of the foods mentioned in the book.
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this delightful series.
With summer on its way, this is a great time to read this wonderful addition to this series. The setting of the book is close to Christmas near blustery Chicago, Illinois.
Hana Keller is finishing up her Christmas shopping, and while waiting for her car to warm, she sees a young man with no coat on throw something into a dumpster behind a store. When Hana tries to tell Detective Erik Wolf, Erik, her boyfriend, informs her he is investigating the murder of a professor and will talk later. Later that day, Hana tells Erik what she saw, and he promises to have the dumpster searched. The next day Erik tells Hana that the police did find a coat with evidence wrapped in it.
When she learns the victim is Professor Balog, and of his valuable collection of Hungarian artifacts, she realizes she knows of him. She has seen him at her favorite antique store. Hana starts talking with the other professors in Balog’s department, and to a person, they say Balog was well-liked. Hana is skilled at asking questions, as well as listening. She will overhear conversations at the family tea house, which will point her to several suspects, which she will share with Erik.
Erik’s sister has problems with her pregnancy and has asked Hana to use her psychic abilities to learn if everything will turn out all right. Hana has only recently discovered her skills and hasn’t them that much and is torn between using them or not.
The book is well-written and plotted. The characters are well-developed and very interesting, and believable. I particularly enjoyed learning about Hungarian traditions, folklore, and especially some traditional foods. The author also included recipes for some of the foods mentioned in the book.
I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this delightful series.
June 12, 2021
This is such a charming series. I just love Hana, her family, friends and the Tea House. Her Hungarian background and her special insights just add to the feel of these books which is warm and enlightening. The murder of a college professor, a collector of Hungarian artifacts, someone Hana had met at her favorite antique shop leaves her with many feelings as the holiday approach. While busy at the Teahouse with many holiday events, her relationship with an early suspect, a memorial at the Teahouse for the victim and her relationship with Erik means there is no way that Hana won't be involved!
Another interesting and satisfying read.
Another interesting and satisfying read.
March 24, 2022
This is really about a 4.4 which is pretty darn good in my book. I absolutely loved this series and this third book was enchanting. Love the way Our Heroine has gradually grown to accept her powers, love all the family relationships, adore the Hungarian folklore and culture, and so on. I was crushed to read this may be the last. It's my favorite Julia Buckley series and one of my favorites of all the cozy series I've read. . . . and I read a lot of these things. Berkley Publishers is letting a great one get away if they drop it.
December 2, 2021
Skipped the 2nd book to get to this Christmas themed cozy. It all starts with a tea set and the Hungarian antiques theme runs throughout the book, and helps to solve the crime. Love the family and holiday themes, too. The whodunit isn’t obvious which is always nice. Very festive, but could be enjoyed anytime of year.
January 19, 2025
4.3 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Another good read in the Hungarian Tea House Mystery series. I really do enjoy the characters as always and I'm looking forward to reading more in the future. These books are light reads that sort of leave you with a good feeling, which is just needed sometimes.
Another good read in the Hungarian Tea House Mystery series. I really do enjoy the characters as always and I'm looking forward to reading more in the future. These books are light reads that sort of leave you with a good feeling, which is just needed sometimes.
June 16, 2021
6/15/2021 3.5 stars. Another delight. Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.
August 16, 2022
This is a very good mystery in the Hungarian Tea House series. The characters are good, the setting is great, and the plot is very satisfying.
November 8, 2021
Love this series. I hope there will be a #4!!
March 31, 2024
As a girl I devoured Nancy Drew mysteries. This series is Nancy Drew for grown-ups. Super clean reading, I don’t think there was a single curse word, and not one bit of spicy romance, but definitely fun romance. A great whodunnit book. This was my first in the Hungarian Teahouse Mysteries, and I’ll definitely be reading the others!
November 4, 2021
Love this series!! It's Christmastime and Hanna is excited after her uncle sends her a beautiful tea set for her birthday. Unfortunately, her tea party is interrupted by news of the murder of a professor at the college who taught Hungarian. Hanna knew the man as they shared a love of antiques. She does some investigating to help her detective boyfriend, Eric, find the killer. I love the characters in this series and learning the Hungarian folklore and legends. It is fascinating to me. I love the bond between Hanna, her mother, and her grandmother and the psychic sense they all share. I really hope that there will be more books in this series as I want more interesting Hungarian stories and want to see what's next for these characters!
June 13, 2021
I’m very much enjoying these sweet, well-written cozy mysteries, and look forward to the next installment!
September 3, 2021
I really enjoy this cozy series, and book 3 did not disappoint.
I know almost nothing about Hungarian culture, but have enjoyed learning more about it through this series. It's fun to get an education about different traditions, food and history and this cozy does that in a very entertaining way without being like a lecture. The author does a good job just weaving bits and pieces nicely in with the story.
I very much like pretty much all the charcters in this series. Hana as our amateur sleuth is likable and does not do the TSTL (too stupid to live) things that annoy me in some other cozies. She does stick her nose into other people's business, but she is so likable it's hard to be mad at her, even for most of the people whose business she's all up in.
The plot on this book was well-conceived and for those who like to try to figure out the killer before the reveal (I do not, preferring to just ride along and enjoy the story) I feel like there are enough clues to allow for that. I just enjoyed the ride.
This is a good solid cozy series, and one that I will definitely continue with by reading future books.
I know almost nothing about Hungarian culture, but have enjoyed learning more about it through this series. It's fun to get an education about different traditions, food and history and this cozy does that in a very entertaining way without being like a lecture. The author does a good job just weaving bits and pieces nicely in with the story.
I very much like pretty much all the charcters in this series. Hana as our amateur sleuth is likable and does not do the TSTL (too stupid to live) things that annoy me in some other cozies. She does stick her nose into other people's business, but she is so likable it's hard to be mad at her, even for most of the people whose business she's all up in.
The plot on this book was well-conceived and for those who like to try to figure out the killer before the reveal (I do not, preferring to just ride along and enjoy the story) I feel like there are enough clues to allow for that. I just enjoyed the ride.
This is a good solid cozy series, and one that I will definitely continue with by reading future books.
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