JO DERESKE

CHARACTER:	HELMA ZUKAS
CATEGORY:	PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Miss Zukas is a librarian in the town of Bellehaven, Washington (modelled after Bellingham, WA.). Dereske pokes fun at the stereotype of repressed, methodical librarians. Miss Zukas parks her car, a mint condition Buick she received as a graduation present, so that the hood ornament lines up just so with the flagpole; when she eats a milk chocolate M&M (Miss Zukas has never had a peanut M&M), she reflects on how they were designed to give soldiers in World War II a chocolate candy that wouldn't melt in their rucksacks and she feels a little shiver of patriotism. But Miss Zukas's best friend is a wildly unconventional artist; Miss Zukas found the warning not to try her Water Pic on "tender body" parts too interesting not to experiment; and Miss Zukas just can't keep from noticing odd details at murder scenes she has to investigate further. If you like classic puzzles combined with Washington scenery, you'll probably enjoy Helma Zukas.

Miss Zukas And The Library Murders
Miss Zukas And The Island Murders
Miss Zukas And The Stroke Of Death
Miss Zukas And The Raven's Dance
Out Of Circulation