Who is Helen Nazelrod?
In the Zeb Hanks series, Helen Nazelrod serves as Zeb's secretary. In a more politically correct time and place she would be called his administrative assistant. But, this is a part of the west where such niceties are unnecessary and would seem out of place. However, she gets as much respect as someone of equal power to Sheriff Zeb Hanks.
What does Helen do?
Her work at the Graham County Sheriff's Office pre-dates Zeb. She has been there most of four decades. She is essentially the eyes and ears, mostly the ears, of the sheriff's office. In a running joke throughout the series, Helen never shuts Zeb's door all the way when she leaves his office so she can overhear anything and everything. Zeb is wise to her snoopy behavior and is fine with it. He often uses it to his advantage. Other times he closes the door so she can't hear what is going on behind them. Certainly, unless directed otherwise, Helen will pass on the gossip she hears at the office. Her words never hurt Zeb's cases. In fact spreading a little gossip is often helpful in solving the mysteries of the ZEB HANKS series.
Helen serves as the constant memory for the series. If it happened and she knew about, she remembers the details of any and all situations. Her memory serves the office well and often triggers Zeb's personal remembrances of instances that he may have shoved to the back of his mind.
Why are Zeb and Helen so close?
Helen Nazelrod is Sheriff Zeb Hanks' aunt, sister to Zeb's mother. Zeb is close to Helen for many reasons. Being his favorite aunt is merely one of them. When Zeb was a child, his alcoholic father brought fear and danger into the home. Zeb's mother, quite wisely and often, sent Zeb to Aunt Helen's house until the air cleared at home. This brought about a very protective relationship between Helen and Zeb. This protection Helen provided Zeb as a child is implicitly evident in the books of the series.
To this day Helen watches out for Zeb's health. Zeb has a weak stomach. Helen believes this is a constitutional issue from an uncertain childhood. She holds fast in her beliefs.
What else does Helen believe in?
One of her beliefs is a strong Mormon faith. Helen is very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and follows its system of beliefs quite closely. While it bothers her that Zeb is somewhat of a lapsed Mormon, she tolerates his indifference for many reasons.
Does Helen have a family?
Helen, who is in her 50's and 60's in the ZEB HANKS: Small Town Sheriff Big Time Trouble Series, has two children and two grandchildren. She is a doting grandmother and a strong parent. Her children and Zeb, while friends and family, are not particularly close.
Anything else?
Zeb would do anything for Helen. The same can be said for Helen in that she would go to the ends of the earth for Zeb. In her mind she is like a second mother to Zeb and filled in the gaps his own mother failed to fulfill. Her heart is huge and full of love, not only for Zeb but for anyone who is unnecessarily suffering.
Helen is an idealized mother, aunt, co-worker and friend. Her faith carries her forward. Her love of others creates a little better place for everyone she touches.