Jo Dereske: Index to Murder May 3, 2008

When Helma Zukas suggests to her brokenhearted artist friend, Ruth Winthrop, that she regain her equilibrium by painting scenes from her past, Ruth stirs up Bellehaven by exposing romantic secrets, and painting mysteriously dead men. Throw in an angry ex-wife, jealous artists and a secret society of tree-mad do-gooders, not to mention the mysterious injury of scheming library director, Ms. Moon, and Helma is facing not just murder, but mayhem.