Case of the Missing Books - BookWyrm.World

No cover — Ian Sansom: Case of the Missing Books (2007, HarperCollins Publishers)

English language

Published 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.

ISBN:: 978-0-06-146103-3

(1 review)

Israel Armstrong is a passionate soul, lured to Ireland by the promise of an exciting new career. Alas, the job that awaits him is not quite what he had in mind. Still, Israel is not one to dwell on disappointment, as he prepares to drive a mobile library around a small, damp Irish town. After all, the scenery is lovely, the people are charming—but where are the books? The rolling library's 15,000 volumes have mysteriously gone missing, and it's up to Israel to discover who would steal them . . . and why. And perhaps, after that, he will tackle other bizarre and perplexing local mysteries—like, where does one go to find a proper cappuccino and a decent newspaper?

8 editions

coral reviewed The case of the missing books by Ian Sansom

None

2 stars

I feel sort of guilty about not liking this book--like I really should have liked it--but the characters and the plot just really failed to draw me in. The protagonist is a mishmash of librarian and English person stereotypes, and I disliked most of the side characters, finding very little in the way of redeeming qualities in them. There are interesting points and funny moments, but not enough to carry the book, really. I read mostly in the hopes that the main character would finally stand up for himself and give the council what-for.