Index to Murder (2008)

Jo Dereske knows libraries. And she knows how to poke fun at librarians because she was one. Perhaps that makes her stories more fun if you've ever worked in a library but for a 'cozy' read with gentle humor, you can't beat the Miss Zukas mysteries.

Set in the charming Northwest community of Bellehaven, librarian Helma Zukas and her unlikely best friend Ruth, who is an artist, find themselves involved in solving local mysteries. This time someone has stolen two paintings from her friend's upcoming exhibit "Ruth Revealed". Those paintings were inspired by two former male friends who have recently died in 'accidents'.

The plot is not deep but the language is colorful and spending time with these characters is a pleasant diversion.