Final Notice

Miss Zukas #6

by Jo Dereske

A visit from her elderly Aunt Em takes a deadly turn when librarian Helma Zukas discovers, outside her apartment, the dead body of the man who tried to steal her aunt's purse at the airport, in the sixth mystery in the "cozy" series. Original.

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

240 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

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

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Final Notice (1998) by Jo Dereske is the sixth mystery starring librarian Helma Zukas. Helma is an orderly, methodical lady whose life is about to be turned upside down. Her favorite aunt--Aunt Em--was due to arrive in a week or so for a visit, but plans change when Aunt Em has a "brain incident" and can't be released from the hospital to be alone at home. Helma volunteers to have Aunt Em come and stay early. From the moment Aunt Em arrives at the Seattle airport, life gets complicated. Someone tries to run off with her luggage. Then someone tries to steal her purse and she stabs him with a hatpin--three times.
That night they hear two men arguing outside Helma's apartment. The police are called, but they all (Helma, Aunt Em, and Helma's fried and sidekick in mysteries Ruth) go outside to see what's up...only to find a dead body. Aunt Em declares that the man is the same one who tried to steal her purse and, sure enough, when his arm is examined there are three small holes. When they return to the apartment, they're horrified to discover that Aunt Em left the door open behind them and someone took advantage of the moment and ransacked the place. Someone is very determined to find something that Aunt Em has--but who? And what are they looking for? And why did they follow Aunt Em all the way to Washington to look for it?

The Miss Zukas mysteries are cozies with just a bit of bite to them. In this particular outing, we find out that Aunt Em (who is in her 80s) had ties to Chicago gangsters and the villain after her possessions isn't just playing at cops and robbers, he'll take her out to get what he wants. Of course, being a cozy, it isn't full of blood and gore and the only death is not described in much detail--but there is a nasty air of menace.

It was nice to revisit this series (I had read several of them from the library when they first came out) and I always enjoy a good mystery that has libraries or books or anything of that nature at its center. Helma is an interesting character and the regulars who surround her (Ruth and Police Chief Wayne Gallant as well as the other employees at the library) are all well-defined and interesting as well.

First posted on my blogMy Reader's Block.

[Patricia (Irishcharmer) Yarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, Helma and with the help of friend Ruth do solve the mystery n murder in the end....but it's the story before that's the kicker! Helen's Aunt Em (Emily) is shipped off to Helma's because her brother states they can't keep her...like she's a pet up for rescue! Actually, big brother thinks Auntie Em is losing it..in a way she kinda is, but not so much once you hear the "rest of the story"!
And I also want you to know, Miss Zukas may have budding romance with the Chief Gallant!! About time too I'd say....but I'm not saying another word, you gotta read it..
It's light, it's kinda funny, it's telling with some of us that just might have a touch of OCS😉😀! So, go get comfy, grab a cold one and some snacks and enjoy the read...I believe you will !!--P/

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cozy mystery series is really addicting.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss Zukas is my junk food reading. It’s light, fun, and humorous. Helma has to take in her elderly aunt who had a brain incident. Aunt ‘Em is a feisty lady and foils a purse snatcher that ends up dead in Helma’s parking lot. There’s a burglary, and strange flowers being delivered. The personality tests were a hoot! Just a lot of fun.

[Mary (Biblophile) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy these little mysteries. Helma is so rigid and anal that it's always interesting to see how she reacts to a situation. I love her friend Ruth who is outrageous and the polar opposite of Helma. Many of the other library cast are present in this one as well as Helma's mom and aunt.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this whole series

Hope this series about Librarian Helma Zukas is still in print or available as an ebook. They are too good to allow them to 'fade away'. Jo Dereske's characters are always interesting and the stories keep you turning the pages to see how they end...most enjoyable reading. No real violence or bad language, a hint here and there of romance and always a mystery to find the answers to.

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn't focus so much on Miss Zukas' obsession with order and tidiness.
It did make me laugh about personality tests in the workplace.
I also enjoyed her aunt's history and her mother's reaction to their shared history.

[Marty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third Miss Zukas Mysteries I have read. This prim, proper, and stubborn lady librarian has grown on me. She has also stopped being quite so prim and proper. This time Helma is anticipating a visit from her elderly (93 years old) aunt. Just before Aunt Em is to arrive she learns that Aunt Em has had some sort of “brain twerk” that causes her to forget things and occasionally act strangely. .. Aunt Em turns out to be a challenging and very interesting visitor! At the airport when she arrives, someone tries to snatch her purse – and that someone winds up stabbed to death in Helma’s parking lot.

[Boweavil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly gripping - a fun read.

[Asta · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far the most "Lithuanian" in all Miss Zukas mystery series.
In previous books aunt Em would send kugelis to Helma.
In this one, the said aunt arrives to Bellehaven in person and cooks kugelis from scratch in Helma's kitchen!
(disclosure: even though I am Lithuanian, I am not a huge fan of kugelis, but I understand what the fuss is about :) )

Another "Lithuanian touch" is the amber necklace that aunt Em has been wearing for decades.

I loved this installment.
The mystery, glimpses of the past, family secrets, Prohibition era, aunt Em talking Lithuanian.

"Zyltas", Aunt Em said. Grass snake. There were no curse words in Lithuanian and the terms for snake and toad were as strong as the language got.

I wonder whether there was a typo, or an oversight - "grass snake" in Lithuanian is "zaltys", not "zyltas".
But I won't argue about the curse words mostly referring to snakes and toads :)

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I liked the plot, my current favorite fictional librarian was uncharacteristically irresponsible, and it put someone else in danger, not her. Helma is the reasonable character in the series, so this made her almost unbelievable. That pulled the rest of the book down for me. I kept screaming in my head, "what are you doing?"

[Greyling54 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable entry in the series. I especially liked the activity in the library around the personality test. The mystery was quite good and it was fun to see Aunt Em, who has been mentioned numerous times, in person.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Aunt Em! What a firecracker! Glad she stayed in town.

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

#6 Miss Zukas mystery set in fictional Bellehaven, WA. Helma has her elderly, somewhat eccentric Aunt Emily come to stay with her after she has a 'brain incident' and isn't able to stay alone just yet. Shortly after her arrival, a man is killed outside Helma's apartment, and Aunt Em is shocked to recognize him as the man who tried to steal her purse in the airport--she had poked him good with her hatpin, and he fled, but she's sure it's the same man.

Further investigation and Helma's looking into her aunt's checkered past leads her to believe that her aunt may well be in danger because of things that happened years ago. Enlisting the help of her 'friend,' police chief Wayne Gallant, Helma narrows down the search--although she's uneasy asking for Chief Gallant's help, as rumor has it that he is seeing his ex-wife again.

I really like Helma and do enjoy this series very much, and got a kick out of Aunt Em, who is about as polar opposite of Helma as you can get. And yet they 'work well' together. Interesting story, although the mystery wasn't too mysterious, and looking forward to the next one.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoy the Miss Zukas Mystery series. This not-quite-stereotypical maiden librarian is always encountering another murder... this one when she has a visit from her aging aunt.

The tension of a "romance that isn't" with Bellehaven's chief of police is classic. If they ever do get past both of their politeness and practical honor it will be surprising, but the second-guessing will be missed.

Look forward to the next time I take a trip with Miss Zukas... I hope Ms. Dereske keeps writing them.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Zukas finds new problems when her beloved Aunt Em comes to visit, trailed, apparently, by criminals looking for something in her purse or suitcase. When a man is murdered outside Miss Zukas' apartment building, she finds herself again involved in a crime, helped as usual by her friend, the Bohemian artist Ruth. Concerns about the library, and about her relationship with the chief of police (whose ex-wife has returned and threatened Miss Zukas) complicate the story.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our retired librarian friend loaned us several of the Miss (Helma) Zukas mysteries. They are short and sweet. Just the thing for a respite from a thick, heavy and profound novel. Final Notice starts when librarian Helma's favorite aunt had a "brain incident" before she comes out to visit. At the airport someone tries to steal her purse and someone else tries to walk off with her suitcase. The man who tried to steal her purse is found dead outside Helma's apartment. Recommended

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mysteries and porn movies share a penchant for titular puns and stock characters, but I guess when you pump out money-makers you can't take the time to crafty a masterpiece every go. Meaning a good pun, of course.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny.
About Internet access in public library.
Director is a looney - into harmony.
Aunt Em comes to visit and her purse is stolen. Murder tied to Aunt Em's past - gangster Chicago.
Good, funny, light.

[Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Miss Zukas Mystery Series. I really enjoy how much detail she writes about the people and happenings at the public library. I like how the series builds upon itself. Some people don't care for the main character but I find her refreshing.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helma Zukas never disappoints, probably because she is so efficient and orderly. This book is a great choice for a lazy summer afternoon.

[Shaunesay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helma's quirks are what make her so endearing.

[Kitty Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who stole the color test key though?