A Mobile Library Mystery

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?

My 53rd read of 2007.

This was a quick, easy read. There wasn't much to the mystery (and even though it was solved, he didn't figure it out), but it was fun going along with Israel as he got pushed into finding the books and what happens to him along the way. Many colorful characters in this book, and Israel is lovably inept in a Mr. Bean kind of way!

An RABCK to my good buddy. :)

Elly, what on earth am I going to do with you? Sending you books in return isn't nearly thanks enough for all these RABCKs you send my way.

Although, ya know... I've got this box here that I've been meaning to get out to you... maybe that'll be a start... *wink*

I wonder if my book club would like this one? Must ask...

One last word... THANKS.

It's never a good sign when you skip the last 100 pages to find out how the mystery unfolds, and even then you're not satisfied.

I'm all for a good farce, but this was too repetitive, and I can't help but wonder if there was meant to be an anti-Semitic slant to the entire concept of Israel, since he was such an utterly unable-to-be-redeemed buffoon. Or maybe we're supposed to love him despite his absolute inability to... function. I mean... Ballygullable?