Final Notice - Miss Zukas Mystery Bk 6 Author:Jo Dereske Librarian Helma Zukas usually keeps her home as well organized as the library where she works so she never expected a visit from her elderly Aunt Em to turn her life into chaos and provide her with the makings of a hair-raising whodunit. The moment Helma and her fearless friend Ruth arrive at the airport to pick up the slightly dotty dowager, th... more »e trouble begins when the dear lady's purse is snatched.
Thinking the incident is safely filed away, they are shocked to arrive home with the recovered purse only to discover the dead body of the would-be thief outside Helma's apartment. Helma can't believe her favorite aunt would be involved in anything unsavory but, with a little investigation, she discovers that Aunt Em's life is not quite an open book. It appears that some dark secrets are about to come to light, and unless Helma can learn the whole story, the final chapters are about to be written as a tale of mystery, mayhem...and murder.« less
I'm sad. I've now read every Miss Zukas book except the most recent one. She has become someone I know and this book, even though it's one of the earlier ones, does not disappoint. We meet more relatives, her love life is moving slowly along and she's just altogether just a quick, enjoyable read. If you enjoy this series, don't miss this one, if you've never read any of these books, what are you waiting for?
#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.
Marlene W. (KansasSunflower) - 
