Lila’s Nose Knows: The Castle Hill Mystery

Have You Ever Followed a Scent?

A mysterious scent is drifting across Hungary, leading through colourful towns, peaceful countryside, sparkling lakes, and places just waiting to be discovered. As evening settles over Budapest and golden lights begin to sparkle, a mysterious scent floats through the city. It twists through cobblestone streets, slips past centuries-old buildings, and drifts toward Castle Hill. There’s only one thing to do… follow your nose.

Lila’s Nose Knows: The Castle Hill Mystery (Coming Soon)

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Lila's Nose Knows: The Castle Hill Mystery

Lila is back with a brand-new adventure inspired by author Jackelyn Mossman’s own travels through Hungary.

During a month-long stay in Hungary, Jackelyn explored far beyond Budapest, travelling through the country and discovering the landscapes, flavours, traditions, and unexpected little moments that make travel unforgettable.

One of those moments began with a scent.

While walking through Budapest, Jackelyn caught the unmistakable aroma of something warm and sweet drifting through the streets. She didn’t know what it was or where it was coming from, so she followed it. Block after block, the scent grew stronger until she finally discovered its source: a stand selling freshly made Kürtőskalács, Hungary’s famous chimney cake.

That real-life adventure became the inspiration for Lila’s Nose Knows: The Castle Hill Mystery.

This time, Lila’s nose takes her on a journey across Hungary. Along the way, she’ll meet 10 new animal friends and follow 10 mysterious scents, each one leading to another discovery and another glimpse into this fascinating country.

But one scent keeps calling her onward. Warm. Sweet. Deliciously mysterious.

Where is it coming from?

Eventually, the trail leads Lila to Budapest, across the beautiful city and all the way up to Castle Hill, where the mystery behind the scent is finally revealed.

But that isn’t Lila’s only surprise.

Another Mystery Hiding in the Pictures…

During Jackelyn’s month in Hungary, another kind of treasure hunt began.

Hidden throughout Budapest are tiny bronze sculptures created by Ukrainian-Hungarian sculptor Mihály Kolodko. His miniature works of guerrilla art appear in unexpected places throughout the city, often tucked onto railings, walls, bridges and ledges where they can easily be missed unless you know to look for them.

Finding them became one of Jackelyn’s favourite adventures in Budapest. She made it her mission to search the city for as many as she could find.

And now, that real-life treasure hunt has found its way into Lila’s adventure too.

Hidden within the illustrations of The Castle Hill Mystery will be tiny statues inspired by Jackelyn’s Budapest treasure hunt. Young readers can search for them as they travel through Hungary with Lila, creating a second mystery hidden inside the first.

And when Lila finally reaches Castle Hill?

She just might discover that the final surprise isn’t only something she can smell.

Inspired by a true adventure, a mysterious scent, and a month spent discovering the hidden treasures of Hungary.

Inspired by my real Hungarian adventures.

I’ll never forget the day a warm, sweet scent stopped me in my tracks in Budapest. I followed it through the city for blocks, curious to discover where it was coming from, until I found a chimney cake stand. It was such a simple moment, but it became one of those travel memories I never forgot, and years later, it helped inspire Lila’s own adventures.

— Jackelyn Mossman