Miss Zukas and the Library Murders

MISS ZUKAS AND THE LIBRARY MURDERS is the first in a series of mysteries featuring a librarian in the coastal area of Bellehaven, Washington. This book is copyrighted 1994, and the author has added about a book a year since then. A fun and fast-paced thriller with wonderful, fresh, multi-dimensional characters and delightful plot twists. Reads very quickly, making you want more! I just love Miss Zukas (her way of swearing is "Oh, Faulkner!"). This is going to be an enjoyable series! Fun, fun, fun!

This is my first Miss Zukas mystery. I thouroughly enjoyed meeting Helma Zukas and look forward to learning more about her, her friends, and her family.

This is an excellent series!! Not only is the murder investigation suspenseful, but there are also the underlying plots of Helma's relationship with Police Chief Wayne Gallant, and her relationship with Boy Cat Zukas (a stray which decides to adopt her). Also, her artist friend, Ruth, is really a "hoot"!! Just about the direct opposite of Helma. Besides the solving of each murder mystery in each book, Jo Dereske gives "just a nibble" regarding the relationships with the reading of each of the books in the series (5 at present) to "keep you hooked". I found that as soon as I finished the first one, I had to pick up the next and so on. I am anxious for the new one to appear!! They are very entertaining for someone looking for light and good mystery reading. And, "Out of Circulation" (the latest one out) was excellent!! Really kept you guessing right up to the end as to who the "bad guy" was.

I have been a librarian for 10 years. In that time, I have had many difficult customers. And I've filed thousands of catalog cards. So, it was quite interesting for me to read about how one particular librarian dealt with a difficult customer--with a catalog card drawer rod through the heart! This is the first in the Miss Zukas series of mysteries, and it comes highly recommended by librarians who are mystery fans. The characters are well devloped, the plot is well constructed, and Ms. Dereske's style is a real page turner. Get acquainted with Helma Zukas, librarian and sleuth, today

Helma Zukas's "silver-dime" voice can quiet the rowdiest child in the Bellhaven (Bellingham) public library. Miss Zukas is captivating as the slueth who solves library-related murders. Jo Dereske writes with humor and obviously likes her characters. You don't have to be a librarian to enjoy this series! Anyone from Bellingham, WA will recognize certain places even though the names have been changed. I am certainly pleased to note Dereske has a new Miss Zukas mystery coming out this fall.