People tend to love or hate this series, usually based on their view of its heroine. Some see Helma Zukas as the worst stereotype of a librarian - an almost robotic combination of smart, precise, meticulous to a fault, rigidly set in her ways, and a great believer in rules and doing things by the book. While fans see her as a send-up of the stereotype, with a number of endearing quirks and lots of dry humor in how she makes following that book work for her, as she becomes less of an android with each outing...sometimes despite herself. Count me among the appreciative fans.

Bellehaven, Washington isn't supposed to get blizzards. But Helma wakes up one morning to a scene reminiscent of her Michigan childhood. She heads off to work, firmly believing that "The Bellehaven Public Library was certainly an essential city service... And most definitely Helma's skills were essential to its operation." One of those taking refuge there is Franklin Harrington, who, with some subtle nudges from Helma, is donating the site for a new library. Shortly after he leaves to inspect the site, an explosion shatters the quiet morning.

Harrington's family didn't agree with the donation, so Helma's manipulative New Ager boss gives her the assignment of working things out. Helma goes along, because her boss said to, but also to investigate Harrington's death. That investigation is assisted by her amazonian and flamboyant artist friend, Ruth (that friendship is definitely one of the non-stereotype things), and the local police chief looking to resume a relationship with Helma that was derailed by a backstabbing new library employee who'd prefer that he relate to her.

A plot blurb doesn't really tell you much about whether you'll like this book. It's all in the flavor of things - the dry humor underlying the way prim Helma relates to people and her world, the slashes of color provided by Ruth, the sly way Helma manipulates people such as her boss according to the book, even as they think they're using her rigid adherence to it for their own ends instead. It's a lot of fun, with Helma a pretty unique protagonist well worth savoring. Recommended.