Book 197: The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom
Book 197: The Case of the Missing Books (Mobile Library Mystery #1).
Author: Ian Sansom , 2005.
Genre: Cosy Mystery. Comedy/Drama.
Other Details: Paperback. 335 pages.
Israel is an intelligent, shy, passionate, sensitive sort of soul: he’s Jewish; he’s a vegetarian; he could maybe do with losing a little weight. And he’s just arrived in Ireland to take up his first post as a librarian. But the library’s been shut down and Israel ends up stranded on the North Antrim coast driving an old mobile library. There’s nice scenery, but 15,000 fewer books than there should be. Who on earth steals that many books? How? When would they have time to read them all? And is there anywhere in this godforsaken place where he can get a proper cappuccino and a decent newspaper? - synopsis from UK publisher's website.
This was a pleasant enough cosy mystery with lashings of quirky humour based on the fish-out-of-water premise described above, It certainly proved entertaining and brought back some fond memories of visiting rural Ireland, which moves at its own leisurely pace.
This was a reading group election and most of the group agreed that it was entertaining but not that notable. I don't feel I will continue with the series even though it is very popular with some members of my library reading group including the librarian who facilitates the meetings. I like my mysteries a little grittier than this.
Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge.