Miss Zukas and the Raven's Dance (Miss Zukas Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jo Dereske (Author)

Book Description

Series: Miss Zukas Mysteries | Publication Date: December 1, 1996

A most unusual death has landed Helma Zukas right in the middle of another murder scene. Stanley Plummer had been cataloguing a collection of Native American books for Bellehaven's new Cultural Center when his body was found in the Center's ladies room - stabbed through the heart, and clutching a Barbie doll. Miss Zukas is asked by the library to finish the cataloging. Now she's been asked by the victim - in a letter dated the day he died - to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Within the category of mysteries known as "cozies," Dereske's series about Helma Zukas, a lively and courageous librarian in the small Washington town of Bellehaven, is near the top in terms of good stories, interesting characters, and smooth writing. This time out, Miss Zukas is asked to replace a murdered curator of Native American books, and, of course, finds herself compelled to put a hold on the killer. Past entries in the series include Miss Zukas and the Island Murders; Miss Zukas and the Library Murders.

From Publishers Weekly

Librarian Wilhelmina "Helma" Zukas confronts murder in Bellehaven, Wash., where interminable rain is a running gag as well as an appropriate background to her fitful romance with the chief of police. In her fourth adventure, Helma's New Age boss manipulates her into completing the catalogue at a wealthy eccentric's Native American cultural center when the prior cataloguer (whose sleazy past includes lack of proper library certification) is found dead in a bathroom stall. Despite a contrived finale in which Helma temporarily steps out of character, readers will gladly suspend disbelief because of her unwavering integrity. Helma's investigation seems secondary to Dereske's (Miss Zukas and the Library Murders) gentle chiding of the library world with true-to-life dialogue and personnel. Consistently straightforward, no-nonsense prose is a welcome bonus in this cozy.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Avon (December 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038078243X
• ISBN-13: 978-0380782437
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #865,119 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jo Dereske grew up in western Michigan and now lives in the foothills of Mount Baker near Bellingham, Washington. She draws on her Michigan background and Lithuanian heritage for her books, especially in the Miss Zukas and Ruby Crane mysteries. She's a former librarian who believes that libraries are one of our last truly public institutions, where the entire world can mix and mingle amid the written word - what could be better! Jo's website: www.jodereske.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant time-passer; good vacation book, August 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Miss Zukas and the Raven's Dance (Miss Zukas Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this on vacation under Hawaii's sun and was ever so grateful not to be in the gray and rainy Washington town with Ms Zukas. As a librarian, I enjoyed the librarian detective, but hope my profession isn't peopled by too many as spacy as "Ms. Moonbeam" or as hidebound and routine-driven as Ms. Zukas. Young Frank was appealing, and Ms. Zukas's free-spirited friend was beguiling. When I got back to town I went to a bookstore and purchased another paperback in the series. I guess I'm hooked.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Fun Mystery, May 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Miss Zukas and the Raven's Dance (Miss Zukas Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm hooked on this series. The sleuth, Helma Zukas, is a librarian in the public library of the fictional town of Bellehaven, WA. Although a complete amateur she is unwittingly dragged into a murder investigation by the murder victim himself.

The murder victim was done to death by a paper spike in the women's washroom at a Native Cultural Centre. He was the curator of a collection of rare Native Indian books. And his death brings in Helma who takes over where he left off and then some.Quite a clever story really.

And Helma's side-kick Ruth is fun. The characters of Ms Moon, Eve and other caricatures of the library world seem all too familiar to a public library patron like myself. And the Native Indian characters are quite decently drawn. I liked Young Frank, Audrey and Juiliana.

Really a good mystery.

Besides, I've never seen the Vancouver Public Library in a mystery before and in the Raven's Dance it gets a cameo.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Miss Zukas at the Bellehaven Cultural Center, March 27, 2002

By 

Karen Potts (Lake Jackson, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Miss Zukas and the Raven's Dance (Miss Zukas Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Miss Zukas, a librarian in Bellehaven Washington, is asked to catalogue a collection of Native American books and memorabilia in the new Cultural Center. She is replacing Stanley Plummer whose dead body was found in the ladies' restroom at the Center, having been stabbed by a spindle-wielding murderer. She is not particularly pleased at having been "loaned" to the Center without her consent and is somewhat apprehensive as to whether she may be the next target of the murderer. In self-defense, and armed with her usual curiosity and powers of observation, Miss Zukas carries on her own investigation. As usual, her sidekick, the freewheeling artist Ruth, assists Miss Zukas in her pursuit of the killer. While working at the Center, Miss Zukas learns a lot about the Indian culture and meets some very interesting characters. With this book, Jo Dereske produces another delightful and entertaining "cozy" in her Miss Zukas Mystery Series.