Death Through a Dark Green Glass by Julia Buckley

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

As an assistant to romantic suspense author Camilla Graham, Lena London has had a lot of new experiences—not all pleasant.  The upcoming event seems poised to be one of the most memorable, however: it’s a puzzle competition between four best-selling mystery novelists. PR genius Sasha Hardwick has devised a murder mystery game to be held in her beautiful estate.  Whichever one of the four authors solves the mystery first gets bragging rights.  It’s a scheme designed to fuel interest in all the authors’ work as well as raise some funds.  It’s all be very well planned, except for the real dead body that turns up. 

This is the sixth book in the Writer’s Apprentice series, but you need not have read any of the others.  This is my favorite book in the series, partly because it can be read as a standalone.  The earlier books were closely linked by plot, so those need to be read in order.  The books feature likeable characters, romantic elements, and clever plots.  I especially enjoy the little sequences where Lena and Camilla talk about writing, not just plotting but symmetry, atmosphere, and setting:  things a reader can take for granted but which can make or break a book.  Buckley takes these things seriously, which means I can always count on her for an enjoyable read.

I also liked that this series pays tribute to the great writers of romantic suspense:  Mary Stewart, Daphne du Maurier, Phyllis Whitney, etc. and hopefully introducing them to a new generation of readers.

The series in order:

A Dark and Stormy Murder

Death in Dark Blue

A Dark and Twisting Path

Death Waits in the Dark

Death with a Dark Red Rose

Death Through a Dark Green Glass

Death at a Castle Christmas by Veronica Bond

 

Death at a Castle Christmas by Veronica Bond (Dinner and a Mystery, book 3)

Reviewed by Jeanne

Nora loves working at Castle Dark, an American castle that hosts various forms of entertainment—murder mystery shows, music, etc.  Not only does Nora get to use both her singing and acting talents, but the close-knit castle troupe all pitch in with costumes, lighting, backdrops, and whatever needs doing.  They’ve become a family.

This Christmas is a special one indeed.  Nora loves the musical presentations and comedy skits, even though the schedule is a grueling one. There’s still time for Nora to spend with friends including her detective boyfriend, and Nora’s parents and siblings are coming for the holiday.

The first hint of trouble comes when two small children show up at the castle, claiming to be selling candy for their school.  They’re much too young to be out alone and the candy doesn’t look like anything a school would sponsor.  Nora and company discover the children’s mother Jenn is in the hospital and Charlie, the children’s guardian, left to go to the store and never returned.  All reports say that Charlie was responsible and loving toward Jenn and the kids. This is definitely out of character. Jenn is horrified to discover her young children have been left alone and files a missing person report on Charlie.

Things get even darker when the body of an unidentified man turns up on the Castle grounds after an attempted break in.  Could these two events possibly be connected?

I had read the first two in this series and enjoyed them very much.  The characters are likeable and there’s a strong sense of comradery that appeals to me.  I also love the descriptions of the various performances as told by someone who appreciates theatre and music.  The mysteries have been cleverly constructed too, but the emphasis is on characterization.  The fact that Nora has three kittens doesn’t hurt, either.

The writing is done with a deft hand; while “Veronica Bond” may only have three books to her credit, the author behind the series is really Julia Buckley, a long time mystery author of several series.  I especially loved her Hungarian Teahouse series because of the folklore she included.

While I think this could be read as a standalone, there are a lot of relationships in this story.  In fact, I began to have the feeling this was going to be the last in the series as couples paired off.  While I was glad to see well-deserving characters get their happily ever after, I was less glad to think that I might not see any of them again.

Usually I wouldn’t review this possibly last in series book here on the blog, but this book really feels seasonal.   It’s not just the Christmas carols sung by the troupe, though that is a part of it. I especially liked a section in which Nora meditates on one of the carols, “Good King Wenceslas” and its meaning.  The book felt very festive, and not in a superficial way.  Some books set at Christmas throw in a few seasonal details like shopping or tree trimming but don’t convey the feeling as much as this one does.

The books in the series are

1.       Death in Castle Dark

2.      Castle Deadly, Castle Deep

3.      Death at a Castle Christmas

Death of a Wandering Wolf by Julia Buckley

Reviewed by Jeanne

Hana Keller is thrilled to find a valuable china figurine of a wolf at a garage sale.  It’s a Herend, the product of a famous Hungarian pottery, and priced at only $5.  Hana tells the seller it’s worth much, much more, but he says it came from someone he doesn’t trust and he wants rid of it. He also has some beautiful paintings he’s selling for far less than they’re worth. Hana loads up, and lets a friend who owns an antique shop know about the amazing sale so he can check it out.

Unfortunately, when she shows her prize to Eric Wolf, her detective boyfriend, he doesn’t seem nearly as enchanted.  In fact, he’s downright upset.  The wolf has a tiny metal tracking device attached, meaning whoever has the figurine is being tracked by someone else.  Eric and Hana head back to the seller’s house, only to find that he has been murdered.

This is the second in the Hungarian Tea House Mystery series, following Death in a Budapest Butterfly.  I was anxious to read it because I loved the first one.  Hana and her family run a traditional Hungarian Tea House, so the reader learns not only about Hungarian food but customs and folklore as well.  There’s a touch of the supernatural in that Hana’s grandmother reads tea leaves with uncanny accuracy, and Hana is beginning to realize she may have inherited this gift. 

The plot is more cozy than classic mystery, which is to say that some clues come from supernatural sources and there is as much interest in interpersonal relationships as in the mystery. The characters are interesting and entertaining, and I quite enjoyed meeting Eric’s twin sisters.  That said, I would have liked a bit more action with Hana’s grandmother because she is more steeped in Hungarian ways which is one of the book’s attractions for me.

Death of a Wandering Wolf did not disappoint.  There is a fascinating mystery tied up with an historical event involving Hana’s great grandmother as well as character development.  We’re introduced to some of Eric’s family, Hana explores her gift, and there are wonderful descriptions of art and food.  I’m not one of those who reads cozy mysteries for the recipes—I have to replace smoke detector batteries every time I cook—but I am sorely tempted to try the haluska which involves cabbage, noodles, and butter, three of the major food groups.

I don’t think you would have to read these in order to enjoy them, but I prefer to read series that way.  The first book had more Hungarian folklore and culture, and I was especially intrigued by the various “witches” who populated the folktales.

I already have the third book in the series, and I fully expect it to be a delight as well.

Death in a Budapest Butterfly by Julia Buckley

Reviewed by Jeanne

Maggie’s Tea House specializes in Hungarian food and serves traditional European teas—the meal, not just the drink.  With one of their regular groups scheduled, the Magyar Women, Hana Keller is busy preparing special cups and polishing the silver.  Her grandmother may even treat the ladies to a tea leaf reading, which always makes an impression on the participants. 

This time, though, what she sees is not supernatural but still frightening: inside a cup someone has written, “the witch with the iron nose,” a reference to Hungarian folklore.  

And the woman who drank from the cup is dead.

This is a first in series book that captured my attention from chapter one.  I am a sucker for books that include folklore and this one really delivered.  I also learned about Hungarian food, history, and culture.  Also a bit about tea cups, since Hana collects them; in fact the “Budapest Butterfly” of the title refers to a teacup created by a famous Hungarian artist. 

The characters are well-developed and interesting. Hana is an intelligent young woman who loves her family.  Let me ‘fess up here I read a LOT of cozy mysteries and while I don’t mind the occasional ditsy heroine, I find it refreshing to have one who seems competent and calm.  Hana is also a first generation American:  her mother came over as a child and assimilated early, but the Old World traditions linger pleasantly.  It’s a close and loving family, and I quickly became fond of everyone but especially Grandma.  As with most cozy series, there’s the beginning of a love interest in the form of the investigating detective. 

There’s also a supernatural element as Hana discovers that the “for fun” tea leaf readings are more accurate than chance would allow.  Hana also realizes that she herself has inherited certain sensitivities.

The description of the food was mouth-watering and exotic.  While the book does come with recipes, I really need samples because I am a lousy cook and no recipe is going to help.

But it was the folklore that really drew me in.  There are a whole host of female spirits, including witches, demons, and fairies, and Hana tries to fit the archetypes to suspects. I do like books which expand my horizons the way this one did.  I liked the Old World feel of the traditions and the foods.

I am very much looking forward to the next in the series. 

Note:  I read the paperback version which has a different cover.  See if you can spot the relevant detail that caught my eye: