Death in a Budapest Butterfly

By: Julia Buckley

Narrated by: Laura Jennings

Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

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, which carried the poisoned tea, becomes the center of the murder investigation. 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.

©2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC (P)2019 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Story Great, performance not so much

I really enjoyed reading this book and book 2 but I just couldn't get through Chapter 2 in the audio book. I'm sure Ms. Jennings does a good job with other books but her voice was more droning with little difference when changing characters.
I may be spoiled listening to Cassandra Campbell in the Magical Cat series by Sofie Kelly.

Enjoyable Cozy

Interesting cultural insights. Sad ending for the old woman’s long-ago grief. I’m guessing there are more Hungarian community tales to be told.

Intro to a New Series

This book was a good intro to a new series by author Julia Buckley, well written, with good character development. I do always have a bit of trouble with love at first sight, but I'm willing to suspend my disbelief in this instance, for details that would be a spoiler if I divulged them.

However - someone need to get with the reader, and give her a few lessons. Petit four is NOT pronounced with the final T; it should be silent. And the French accent should not sound like the Hungarian accent, thank you very much.

Other than that, the reading was good.

A MUST READ for any Hungarian

As a Hungarian romantic, I totally enjoyed every minute spent listening as I mowed my lawn. I didn't know my psychic anomalies were inherited but I embrace them all the more. the story inspired me to buy 2 Zsolnay 🍵 🍵 teacups and saucers. My Aunt Betty taught me how to read tea leaves and to hear the details repeated in the story was quite memorable. Everything in the story is spot on, except for a few mispronounced words, but that's to be expected. If you live in the Southern United States, like we do, you have to put up with Yankified English, and so it's a tolerable thing to put up with a few mispronounced Hungarian words when the book is 110% Hungarian Wonderful!

Pick the printed book if you’re Hungarian

A fine cozy mystery following the usual cliches like cute pets, a policeman as the love interest etc. The Hungarian background made it fun for me as I was born and raised there (the Hungarian “mythology” is pretty far fetched though). But I’m mainly writing a review for the narration.
The narrator’s voice is pleasant, but her pronunciation of Hungarian words is atrocious. I do not expect perfect of course, but she didn’t even bother to look up basic rules (like S always sounds as SH). She’s not better with French pastry either... I could decipher food names, but couldn’t figure out most surnames or other words. Very distracting and annoying.

Terrible narration but great story!

The narrator couldn’t even properly pronounce the most basic Hungarian words. What a terrible choice for a narrator. It’s really disappointing that she couldn’t take a bit of time to learn how to properly say the Hungarian words included, considering the whole plot and theme of the book is Hungarian!! Even the basic word for Hungary (Magyar) was botched to be pronounced “mag-are” and it was cringeworthy. This isn’t the fault of the author, but I HOPE she gets a better narrator for future installments.

Otherwise I enjoyed the story, the culture & intrigue that was woven into the cozy mystery. The characters were enjoyable and fun, and I hope there will be more books to come!

Authentic Hungarian dishes, good mystery

I enjoyed this trip down my Hungarian memory lane. So many references about the culture, food, beliefs and family rang true. The crime solving added a bit of “paprika “ to the plate. Highly recommend Death in a Budapest Butterfly.

GREAT READ WITH A UNIQUE SETTING

HUNGARIAN? I READ A LOT! IN ALL MY READING I DO NOT RECALL A SERIES, PARTICULARLY A COZY MYSTERY SERIES, THAT IS BASED ON HUNGARIAN CULTURE. WOULD I LIKE A COZY MYSYERY ENMESHED IN THE HUNGARIAN CULTURE? THE ANSWER IS "YES." FULL DISCLOSURE, THIS ISN'T SET IN HUNGARY. THESE CHARACTERS ARE GENERATIONS OF IMMIGRANTS FROM HUNGARY AND FIRST GENERATION AMERICANS - ALL OF WHOM HAVE BLENDED WHILE RESPECTING THEIR HISTORY. THREE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN - HANNAH, HER MOTHER, AND HER GRANDMOTHER - EACH WITH SOME LEVEL OF GIFT. HANNAH'S AMERICAN BORN FATHER OF GERMAN ANCESTRY, HER GRANDMOTHER, BROTHER, AND DETECTIVE ERIK WOLF. LOVED THEM ALL AND LOOK FORWARD TO MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES.

Death, and Tea, and Mystery or my!

I absolutely loved this book and the narrator did a fantastic job. I loved the inclusion of fantasy and folklore. it was cozy and spooky at the same time. the characters were well written and memorable.

meh

It's ok, a bit formulaic with a hint of supernatural because of the psychic thing. I'm not sure if I want the next book.