INDEX TO DEATH (Jo Dereske)

Maybe it was my mood or the awful weather we have been having this summer, but as I read this mystery (I have read all of the previous Miss Zukas books) I actually began to get annoyed with Helma Zukas, weary of her perfection and, yes, tired of her total and complete self-confidence. Suddenly, though, as if she knew that something needed to change to add spice to this well-crafted mystery, author Dereske added a new twist to the mix that is Miss Zukas' well-ordered life: a new haircut! This might sound strange to someone who is not familiar with Bellehaven's logical, precise, and extremely controlled librarian, but Miss Zukas' haircut will be a big deal to her faithful fans. As for the mystery itself, it was enjoyable and not too predictable. As usual, the antics of best friend Ruth, library director Ms. Moon, Helma's mother and aunt, Em, add a nice touch of additional humor to the mix.