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DEATH OF A WANDERING WOLF, the second book in the Hungarian Tea Room Mystery series by Julia Buckley, is an enchanting cozy mystery that captured my imagination! Protagonist Hana Keller is an engaging character and I love the bond she has with her mother and grandmother. Together, the three of them own and run Maggie’s Tea Room. The descriptive voice of the author makes me want to visit and experience the charming setting and delectable food. The intrigue starts early on in the book and I adored how Ms. Buckley weaves in Hungarian culture through food, art, and fairy tales.
Shortly after Hana purchases two paintings from a Hungarian artist, he is found murdered. Since she and her boyfriend, Detective Erik Wolf, had returned to the artist’s home just as his body was found, Hana feels the need to get involved. On top of that, she felt an unusual connection to the man she’d never met before that day. She also felt a connection to his paintings, particularly those painted in Hungary. The addition of the mystical abilities that Hana’s grandmother has and that Hana is slowly discovering added a layer of intrigue for me, especially as the past is intertwined with the present. I also appreciated that Det. Wolf doesn’t discount Hana and her grandmother’s abilities and instead supports her efforts to find the killer. As Hana’s questions close in on the identity of the perpetrator, her life becomes endangered. Here the author introduces the reader to Det. Wolf’s mysterious sisters, Thyra and Runa. They add a delightful flair to the story and I truly hope that they are featured in future books. With a heart pounding conclusion, this story wrapped up the threads of the plots and subplots and left me wanting more!
With so many mouthwatering Hungarian dishes mentioned throughout the story, I’m grateful that Ms. Buckley includes several recipes at the back of the book. Since my family is a huge fan of breakfast dishes (even for dinner) I was drawn to the recipe for Juliana’s Palacsinta (pronounced pahla-cheenta). These yummy sweet cheese-filled crepes are baked with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar after filling. Garnished with sour cream, fresh strawberries, and jam, this dish is perfect for a brunch gathering or a breakfast-themed dinner.
Amazon Synopsis
Hana Keller is enjoying a day off from serving up tea and delicious pastries at her family’s Hungarian Tea House when her downtime turns deadly….
The only thing Hana loves more than a good cuppa is finding a delicate porcelain treasure to add to her collection. She’s usually on the hunt for teacups but when she spots a rare wolf figurine at a local yard sale, she knows it’s her lucky day. Hana also knows the wolf is valuable and tells the seller that he’s charging too little for it. His reaction is peculiar–he says he received the wolf from someone he doesn’t trust and he just wants it out of his life.
Hana is inspecting her new prize when she finds a tiny microchip attached to the bottom of the porcelain wolf. When she shows the figure to her police detective boyfriend, Erik, Hana is shocked to learn that the chip is actually a tracking device. They decide to confront the seller about the sneaky sale but when they arrive at his house, they find him dead. Erik and Hana now must hunt a calculating killer who has no intentions of crying wolf when it comes to murder…
A special thanks to Julia Buckley for providing one lucky winner with a print copy of DEATH OF A WANDERING WOLF! Giveaway is limited to U.S. residents. Contest ends Sunday, July 19, 2020 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
(Pronounced pahla-cheenta)
You can fill these delicious crepes with jam or with the cheese filling described below.
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- Butter as needed
- Powdered sugar
- 1 pound dry curd (dry cottage cheese or sometimes called farmer's cheese.)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup sugar
- Vanilla to taste
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Heat oven to 350 degrees (F).
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Mix the flour, salt, and sugar. Beat eggs and mix in milk. Gradually add to the dry flour mixture until you have a thin pancake batter.
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Melt butter in a skillet and pour a thin layer of the batter mixture and brown on both sides. This will take less than a minute.
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Put the thin pancake on a plate and add your chosen filling. Roll up and place in a buttered baking dish. Repeat until the batter is finished. Sprinkle powdered sugar on the rolled crepes.
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Bake 10 - 12 minutes.
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Serve warm; top with sour cream, fresh strawberries, or strawberry jam. Apricot jam is also a popular choice.
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Mix all of the ingredients, adding sugar and vanilla to the desired level of sweetness. Add to the cooked crepes as indicated above.
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I was provided an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I collect Basset Hound figures and white hobnail glass. I come from a family of collectors.
I collect special exhibit art book and museum guide books.
I collect a ton of stuff! LOL! I do love pretty tea cups! I mainly collect books, Pyrex, ….thanks for the chance!
Hubby and I were both clowns plus we were personal friends with Emmett Kelly Jr. With that being said, we did collect the Flambro Emmett Kelly Jr. porcelain clown figurines. Three years ago when we downsized and moved, we parted with a lot of them keeping those that had an emotional connection to us. Honestly, as you get older (or just old) a lot of what you thought you had to have ends up just being stuff or things that need dusting all the time. 🙂
I will add that we do have a pretty nice collection of large bells – all outside and all still bring us great joy. Guess maybe I’m not quite so old after all. 🙂
“DEATH OF A WANDERING WOLF” by Julia Buckley sounds wonderful and is now on my TBR list. I’d love the opportunity to read it.
I actually have a few tea cups that were gifts and bridal shower favors, but I don’t collect them. All of my figurines were gifts, too. I would love to read Death of a Wandering Wolf!
I do have a lot of cat figurines! My mother collected tea cups but I was never interested in them.
My Mom has a very eclectic collection of teacups – none of them match but they are all beautiful. I collect Gaudy Welsh china because my Grandmother gave me her small GW collection and it is quite unique ~
The Palacsinta look delicious. Thanks for the giveaway!
The book sounds wonderful.
I have figurine’s and tea cups, but not really a specific planned collection.
No, I am not. I used to collect Precious Moments and Dreamsicles figurines for our daughters.
I collect elephants – big, small and in all mediums – I even have a jade one.
The book sounds fun and the recipe yummy!
Thank you for the giveaway.
I collect teapots. And I have quite a few teacups and saucers that my mom has painted 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win!
I don’t collect teacups, but my sister has a small collection, so I keep an eye out for something she would like. She also collects Pie Birds, (AKA Pie Vents), those are really hard to come by, but some really nice and unusual ones out there.
The book sounds great, put in my wish list!
I’m not a figurine or teacup collector. But I do collect ARCs, postcards, and stickers. Book and recipe sound wonderful.
I collect Santas and Hallmark Keepsake ornaments. And of course, I collect books.
not a collector of anything
I have a small teacup collection. Most were given to me by friends long ago out of their personal ones.
I actually have a collection of Starbucks mugs from all over the US as well as from other countries.
I’m a figurine person. I love collecting fairies.
No. The only thing I collect is books, mostly cozies!
I collect tea cups and also collect little figurines that are in my glass cabinet.
I collect bears, penguins, dragons and snowmen – love this series, thanks for the chance to own one
My dad got me into collecting NASCAR stuff and carnival glass.
I don’t collect teacups or figurines. My mother used to and she had some lovely pieces. Thank you for the opportunity to win!
I’m a figurine collector and I also have a collection of plates with scenes from Gone With The Wind. Thanks for your great generosity.
I am fascinated by old tea cups. But there are very few I want badly enough to buy!
I’m not really a collector, but I do have more teacups than I actually need.
I used to collect different things but now I’m no longer adding to collections and in fact giving some away as donations to a local thrift store in hopes someone else will purchase them for years of their own enjoyment or to give as a gift. My previous collections (Coca-Cola for my kitchen), Cat’s Meow (decorates the top of door frames in our home), snow globes, and different Christmas themes (e.g. angels, trees, Santa Claus) were dearly loved and have been dearly loved.
I don’t collect many figurines. I seem to have and collect more books than anything else. I do have a lot of rocks and fossils that I collect with the grandchildren.
I don’t really collect anything except books. My mom has a collection of teapots but she’s running out of room for them.
Looks delicious. I like collecting spoons.
I collect elephant figurines.
I collect salt and pepper shakers, coins and paper money from other countries, cast iron pencil sharpeners, mugs and eagle figures. Thank you for a chance to win a print copy of Death Of A Wandering Wolf.
I collect crystals.
I have two tea cups because they were given to me.
I collect anything that has to do with dolphins!
I collect cherished teddy figurines and teapot both regular size and minature. thanks for the chance.
Teacups definitely. I have my Moms collection of tea cups and her 9 teapots which are precious.
Yes I do collect things..tea cups, fairies and more, much more..lol Thanks for the giveaway & recipe!!!
I collect coffee mugs. I donated most of them when I moved two years ago and I’m slowly amassing a new collection.
I like teacups! Thanks for the chance!
I collect a few figurines (mostly angels), but I desperately want to start collecting teacups.
I tend to have random collections of things I like.
I’m inadverdently a teacup collector. My mother in love willed me her collection! She loved her teacups, so for her to think of me, I was, and am honored to house her collection safely.
Not really, although I do have quite a few beautiful tea cups that belonged to my grandmother.
I collected a few figurines. Nut mostly I tend to have random collections of things I like.
I have a teacup and a figurine collection.
I use to collect things, but now I don’t have room for them.
This recipe looks delicious and I can’t wait to try it!
I have more stuffed animals than a toy store. Thank you for this chance!
I like to collect pins
I am a teacup collector. My grandma passed along her collection to me and I’ve continued the collection on. Her best friend gave me a bone china tea pot as a wedding gift and I love serving tea to friends and family.
I have a lot of cat figurines.
I have figurines and plates but mostly they are ones that I have inherited and kept.