Customer Reviews

Miss Zukas and the Raven's Dance (Miss Zukas Mysteries)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

The sun never shines on this book, literally. The weather is dismal, Miss Zuka's job is rather dismal, but the plot shines. It is obvious that Jo Dereske, the author, is an ex-librarian, as she gets the library details correct. I'm a school librarian, and found it interesting that she got her Dewey Decimal number right, the precise cataloging needed right, and even the possibility of a special cataloging system for specialized collections right.

Ms. Dreske also got the Native characters right, along with the pseudo-Native characters right too. The Raven, a trickster from the Northwest, is explained well, as are the details of the museum.

I enjoyed the story. When reading a mystery, I never try to figure "who dunnit." I just read for fun. In this book, I sure never thought "who dunnit" "dunnit."

Read it for an enjoyable, easy read.

Miss Zukas has stumbled onto another mystery, this one at a Native American Cultural Center. When the librarian at the cultural center is found dead, Helma is sent to catalog the center's collection. Frightening stunts seem to be happening all over the building, and it becomes clear that Helma, the new cataloger, may be in danger too.

The plot of this mystery is solid, and it's a good addition to the series. This is the fourth book in the series, and I'm finding that after four books Helma is starting to wear on me. She seems to be rather unkind to her friends; I'm honestly not sure how it is that she has any friends. Her prim and proper demeanor was charming in the first book, but it's becoming extreme, and Helma now is treating people badly.

Probably the most egregious victim in the book is Boy Cat Zukas, the stray cat that Helma has sort of taken in, but who she leaves out at night and to whom she refuses to show affection. These irritations aside, I am enjoying the series, and will surely continue to read it.

i read this series before i got my kindle. i was so happy to see it here. miss zukas is a smart lady. i enjoy watching her little grey cells work.

I received my first Miss Zukas book from a friend, and was hooked. I'm still am not sure why I love the series, but I do. Miss Zukas is priggish to the extent where I'm wondering if in a future installment there will be a revelation that discloses a hideous childhood trauma. But I love her adventures, how sure she is (usually) of herself, and I'm waiting to see if there is an explanation of why so many men find her so appealing. Still, I can't wait to read the next adventure.

I read this book last year and I really enjoyed it. It is one of the best mysteries. The librarian Miss Zukas is dragged into a murder of the curator of rare Native American books. I Loved Ruth too and the story is easy to read and understand. Some mysteries are complicated and involved with too many characters but not this one. I couldn't put this one down. The Ravens dance is a rather enjoyable story.