Catalogue of Death

Miss Zukas #10

by Jo Dereske

At last, construction begins on a new library for Bellehaven, a gift of Franklin Harrington, scion of old Bellehaven money, and one of the locally famous Harrington triplets. But when a freak snowstorm hits, Bellehaven is brought to its knees. Not so Miss Helma Zukas who is at her post, dispensing library information, overseeing wayward employees, and soothing a busload of stranded gamblers.

Suddenly, an explosion rocks the snowy day, destroying the library site, killing the benefactor and a penny–pinching city finance czar.

The snow melts but not trouble. Shockingly, Ms. Moon thrusts the new library project onto Helma. And Helma soon discovers why, uncovering secrets and shady dealings from start to finish – secrets in the library, in the City, and in the Harrington family – secrets worth killing for.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Mystery Thriller

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 27, 2007

About the author

I grew up in rural Michigan, greatly influenced by my Lithuanian roots. I'm one of those tedious people who wanted to write stories as soon as I learned to read, but believed I had to leave Michigan first. In fact, I couldn't wait to shake off that Michigan dust! Curiously, everything I write seems to have a connection to Michigan or my Lithuanian heritage.
I now live in the beautiful foothills of Mount Baker, near Bellingham, Washington.
I've loved being a librarian: libraries are one of our last truly public institutions, where the whole world, in all its zits and glory, passes through.
There are twelve titles in the Miss Zukas mystery series. Miss Zukas is tough, honest, crafty, a complicated woman with a deep but futile desire to perceive the world in black and white. And yes, Helma Zukas is what used to be called, a “real” librarian. You might say she embraces the stereotype. Helma is unapologetic.
Ruby Crane is a forgery specialist, a subject that's fascinated me since I forged my first absence excuse in fourth grade. There are three books in the series.
My three young people's books were written when my children were young.
Please visit me on my website!
jo 5/26/2013

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first 100 pages or so were pretty boring with very little movement toward solving the mystery. I found myself getting annoyed with Helma Zukas, the librarian detective, although I've enjoyed her character in previous books. This time, I just found her rigid and seemingly unwilling to grow. The solution to the mystery was a little vague as well and I had to re-read parts of the last chapter to fully understand it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

What an odd book--I liked all the other characters more than the main character, whom I detested. She's boring, uptight, judgmental, and humorless. I'm not sure she's even very convincing as a character. I thought perhaps that she'd eventually crack and show a sliver of humanity (e.g., she'd have sex with one of the two guys interested in her, she'd drink more than two sips of alcohol, she'd make a joke or laugh at someone else's, she'd swear [but no it's "Faulkner" or nothing--ugh]), but nope, nothing. I suppose the author could just be attempting to make the least sympathetic central character of a mystery that she could for some reason--perhaps just a poke at all the mysteries that have sympathetic main characters? Or perhaps the librarian stereotype brought to an extreme is some kind of drawn-out joke that I missed. Oh well. The plot was pretty good.

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss Zukas investigates the death of the man who was giving the library a new building site. Ms. Moon forced her into it, but let's face it, it doesn't take much effort to get Miss Zukas to check into things.

Her relationship with Wayne Gallant picks up, but Boyd Bishop is interested, too.

I came away with the impression that this tale existed mostly to move things along in the series, kind of like a middle book in a trilogy. It's still good, just not my favorite.

[Kelli Bragg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unlikable characters abound, especially Librarian Zukas, who presents as an unpleasant stereotype: shushing, snobby, and forever put-upon by the teeming, undereducated masses. I wanted so much to like this since it's protagonist shares my profession...but I just kept getting more frustrated with Helma. The caricatures of the other characters as flighty, boorish, stupid, etc. was so intolerable I couldn't finish the book.

[Grey853 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I normally like books about librarians, but the main character of this one, Helma Zukas is one cold fish. She's got a cat, but has never even touched it. She's very duty-minded, but at the same time isolated by that attitude. Nobody ever really measures up. I guess the real problem for me was I didn't like Helma very much and that affected my enjoyment of the mystery.

[Cris · Rating 1 out of 5]

The main character, Helma Zukas, seemed more like a caricuture of a librarian than a real person. I enjoyed the setting the most because I've visited the Pacific Northwest and it was fun to read about places I'd seen.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a former librarian, I do appreciate the digs at the librarian stereotypes, but Miss Zukas is just TOO prim and unrealistic for me. Thankfully, I don't know any librarians who fit the stereotype very much. (Well, maybe one...) I'd much rather hang out with Ruth.

[Tammy · Rating 1 out of 5]

couldn't get past first 5 pages, when your main character can't bring herself to touch a cat or dry off a cat who's been asleep in a snow storm, I can't be bothered to waste anymore time on your writing style. Zero stars if that were possible.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best Miss Zukas story yet. I wonder if people who aren't familiar with librarians and libraries really get the humor?

[Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The longest book in the series so far. As always, I really enjoyed the book. I enjoy reading about Miss Zukas but as a person I would not like her in the least. I love all the other characters. Even Mz Moonbeam. This is the first series that I ever loved where I don't like the main character. Don't get me wrong though, I still really enjoy reading about Miss Zukas but that doesn't mean I like her. If I was the Chief of police I wouldn't go out with her again! He must love punishment, that's all I'm saying. We are nearing the end of this series and I am really going to miss reading about the happenings in this library setting. Really going to be a void.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really, Helma!!! I know you're a prissy librarian but you've been dawdling with Chief Gallant (the proper name for him) for FOREVER!!! I missed some intervening installments, so I was sure that by #10, their relationship would be more heated. Nope. Less. They don't even have a "date" until the last chapter. The plot is is a tad disappointing too.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh Helma, when will you loosen up? Lol. Good thing there’s Ruth! An unexpected snowstorm is wreaking havoc but not as much as an explosion at the digs of the new library! Helma is forced into following up on why the donator of the said property was a target of the explosion. Quirky characters abound. Dutch shows a new side. Will Helma pet the cat?

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 - Good

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprise ending, at least for me. Still not clear how Miss Zukas was able to put the clues together to add up to murder. I still like the characters, so I will finish the series.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting series!!!

[Greyling54 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine entry in the series. My one complaint is that it's hard to tell who's responsible for the events of the story at the end.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a world where light mysteries such as this one are consistently falling in grammatical standards, "Catalogue of Death" is a welcome breather. It is, I suppose, fitting that a book about a prim librarian should at least have decent grammar and spelling, but I've ceased to be surprised at the horrors that await me if I dare to read most amateur detective novels. Jo Dereske should be applauded (or her editor should receive a pay rise).

That aside, "Catalogue of Death" is an amusing read. Someone as prim and proper as Helma Zukas, with her often overly-uptight reaction to humorous events and witty banter, is a bit tiring at times, but her character was at least consistent. It is a refreshing change that the slightly dowdy but quirky librarian didn't hop into the bed of the potential love interest(s), nor did everyone in the community suddenly fall in love with her (i.e. Aurora Teagarden). She stuck to her job from beginning to end, and I appreciate that the story didn't twist suddenly from a mystery to a romance, as so many of these amateur detective novels tend to do.

The one, glaring weakness is the characters, none of whom are particularly sympathetic. Helma is quirky and funny in her own way, but it's difficult to really like her, as previously mentioned. Ruth is too wild, and the rest of the cast are only revealed to us through their brief dealings with Helma. Del and Rosy were interesting, but otherwise, it was difficult to care what happened to most of them. In a novel where there's more of a focus on the community, its people and their dealings than the murder itself, this deficiency detracts somewhat from full enjoyment of the book.

The story is quite interesting, however, and the ending (and the identity of the 'murderer') came as a bit of a surprise. The final scene of Ruth's painting was also done masterfully, so all in all, "Catalogue of Death" was enjoyable despite its faults.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that is fun to read--you don't have to think about it much, though there are some serious parts. The two deaths occur early in the book. Helma Zukas, a librarian of Lithuanian heritage is an interesting person--very intelligent and animal loving, though the cat she supports is not allowed inside her apartment--she feeds him, but has no bathroom facilities for him. She is a good friend to Ruth, the artist and likes to find out why and how things happen. She even has a male friend, a policeman. Delightful to fill one's time. Good luck to the new Pope, Francis I!

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolutely adorable read during the winter. I love cosy mysteries and although I started this book without ever having read any of the rest of the series it was easy to get into. As a lover or books, a cosy mystery that follows a librarian is an easy sell.

The snowstorm that blankets "Bellhaven" (read Bellingham) Washington gives the novel a sort of locked room feel to it since most of the town would be unable to commit the murder.

Overall, it was a great read. I would recommend it to other cozy mystery fans.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A snowstorm stops everything in Bellehaven except Helma Zukas opening the library, and a murder. The dead man, who visited the library just before an explosion killed him, was a library benefactor who donated land for a new building. But he never signed the papers, and now his family wants to renege on the deal. Helma must explore his tangled family and the even more tangled past before finding who was responsible.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it snows in Bellehaven (think Bellingham), only essential city services remain open. And that, of course, means the library. As soon as Miss Zukas opens the library's doors, people come in and set up camp for the day. And of course there's a murder (although it isn't in the library). I adore these mysteries, and I aspire to be more like Helma Zukas, because everyone knows you don't want to mess with the librarian ...

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

#10 Miss Zukas mystery in which a snowstorm hits the usually temperate Bellehaven and during the storm, an explosion kills an elderly man who was the library's benefactor, he having donated the land for the new library. Or did he? Miss Zukas finds out through her investigation that there was no written agreement and now his family are squabbling over the land which his brothers had wanted developed for condominiums.

Enjoyable visit to Bellehaven with Helma, Ruth and the rest of the gang.

[Chi Dubinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bellehaven Library starts a construction project, with funds donated by local old money scion Franklin Harrington. But a freak snowstorm hits Bellehaven, and Miss Zukas holds down the fort at the library, dispensing books, information, and tending to a busload of stranded passengers. A sudden explosion destroys the library, kills Harrington and a city finance officer, and Miss Zukas is determined to investigate.

[A.J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy detective stories and love libraries, so thought this might be a good choice. I did keep reading until the end, but I didn't really enjoy the story that much. Helma Zukas just wasn't all that engaging as a main character - obsessively clean and tidy, with odd objections to certain things: pointing indoors, for example. And why give a cat house room if you won't even touch it and can't bring yourself to wear an item of clothing with a cat hair on it?

[Babs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, light read for a change of pace but not the best Zukas mystery. A heavy snowstorm hits Bellehaven but dedicated public librarian Helga Zukas skis into work. Despite the town being shutdown due to the storm, a few folks trickle in and out but next thing you know KABOOM! The mystery solving begins for Helma and her sidekick Ruth.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A diligent Dewey decimalist, Miss Wilhelmina Zukas believes in doing everything by the book. This is a loving sendup of the stereotype of the prim librarian. Miss Zukas is not fond of cats, but has rescued one and named him Boy Cat Zukas he is not fond of her either, but they tolerate each other to the readers amusement. This is an easy read and full of tongue in the cheek humor.

[Lindig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a re-read for me and, sadly, I didn't like it as much as I did. Miss Zukas, librarian extraordinaire, is precise and logical and intelligent and resourceful -- to a fault. Once I found her quirky and tolerable; now I find her irritating and am glad she's not real so I don't have to deal with her.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another entry in the series about Miss Zukas, a librarian in Bellhaven, Washington. Really makes me glad I don't have to deal with death & murder at our library! But those librarian skills of being inquisitive, able to do research, plus her relationship with the local police chief make Helma a formidable force.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just read a bunch of more serious books, I'm re-reading this paper back. I live in Bellingham ("Bellhaven") and it's fun reading a book set in familiar territory. All of Dereske's books are good for a easy, relaxing read.