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kimdavishb's review
5.0
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.
guk's review
4.0
A fun return to the world of the Hungarian Tea House with a nice family and community that sees more than its share of murders--but that's a cozy mystery! The food descriptions are worth the read.
abigaillaurawriter's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I love this series so much!! It was a great third installment! It takes place around Christmas, which was lovely and I’m glad I read it right after the holiday!
booksnbrooches's review
3.0
This series continues to be cute and wholesome. For whatever reason, I did not like the plot so much with this installment. While still technically a cozy, there were several moments that could have brought anxiety to readers, so please, check trigger warnings for surgeries and pregnancy.
I hope there will be more installments in the future.
I hope there will be more installments in the future.
magis1105's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
We have Hannah again and she just keeps getting mixed up in very peculiar situations. She is trying to juggle her love life, her new discovering psychic abilities and her family tea shop. The Hungarian traditional food, customs, folklore - its on point. It gives the story such a rich atmosphere. I just love that aspect of it.
Full review can be found at https://bunkerofbooks05.wixsite.com/bunker-of-books/post/death-on-the-night-of-lost-lizards
Full review can be found at https://bunkerofbooks05.wixsite.com/bunker-of-books/post/death-on-the-night-of-lost-lizards
wildflowerz76's review
4.0
Number three in the Hungarian Tea House series was just as fun as the first two. I still maintain that Hana and Erik are weird around each other. But it feel like the writing there is just stilted. Overall, the books are a bit more sweet than I usually like, but I am definitely enjoying them. I have a couple more books my this author from another series and I'm anxious to give them a shot too.
hannahcpk's review
5.0
I love cozy mysteries with happy endings. I love cozy Christmas stories and the atmosphere it brings. I love a little bit of magical realism infused in the stories I read. Combine them all together and you have this cute book... Entirely heartwarming! 5 stars!