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4 Beaverton Mystery- A to Z

Other titles in the Mobile Library Mysteries series:

  1. Mr. Dixon Disappears: A Mobile Library Mystery
  2. The Book Stops Here

The Case of the Missing Books (Mobile Library Mysteries)

by Ian Sansom

The Case of the Missing Books (Mobile Library Mysteries) Cover

ISBN13: 9780060822507
ISBN10: 0060822503
Condition: Standard
All Product Details

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

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?

Review:

"British author Sansom (The Impartial Recorder) launches a humorous new series set in Tumdrum, Northern Ireland, the small village that transplanted Londoner Israel Armstrong reluctantly makes his home. The nebbishy Jewish vegetarian shows up at the Tumdrum and District Public Library eager to assume his post as the new librarian, only to find the place boarded up and that it's his job to steward the beat-up mobile library instead. When he finally gets inside the library building, he discovers its 15,000 books are missing. Less astute than the detective characters in the novels he has devoured, Israel blunders through an investigation, making startling discoveries while suffering some hard knocks along the way. Israel's fish-out-of-water dilemmas and encounters with kooky locals will resonate with Alexander McCall Smith fans." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"British author Sansom (The Impartial Recorder) launches a humorous new series set in Tumdrum, Northern Ireland, the small village that transplanted Londoner Israel Armstrong reluctantly makes his home. The nebbishy Jewish vegetarian shows up at the Tumdrum and District Public Library eager to assume his post as the new librarian, only to find the place boarded up and that it's his job to steward the beat-up mobile library instead. When he finally gets inside the library building, he discovers its 15,000 books are missing. Less astute than the detective characters in the novels he has devoured, Israel blunders through an investigation, making startling discoveries while suffering some hard knocks along the way. Israel's fish-out-of-water dilemmas and encounters with kooky locals will resonate with Alexander McCall Smith fans. (Jan.) " Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"The plot here is an excuse for the scenes, but what scenes! Begging to be read aloud, they unfold with a rollicking blend of dry humor, slapstick, and sheer farce....Librarians have found themselves a new hero in Israel Armstrong." Booklist

Review:

"A buoyant series kickoff....Sansom writes with refreshing deftness and sharp wit." Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Ian Sansom, the author of two previous Mobile Library mysteries, is a regular contributor to The Guardian and the London Review of Books. He lives in Northern Ireland.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
enfanta, March 4, 2007 (view all comments by enfanta)
This book was tedious and exasperating. The main character is a dim-witted slob, the supporting characters were mean-spirited and boring and in the end, there was no mystery about the books. This might have made in interesting short story but as it stands, it's not worth anyone's time.
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(3 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
jlee, January 8, 2007 (view all comments by jlee)
This is a really fun great book -
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(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780060822507
Author:
Sansom, Ian
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers
Author:
by Ian Sansom
Subject:
Jews
Subject:
Mystery & Detective - General
Subject:
Librarians
Subject:
General Fiction
Subject:
Mystery fiction
Subject:
Theft.
Series:
Mobile Library Mysteries
Publication Date:
January 2007
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
336
Dimensions:
8.00x5.32x.83 in. .57 lbs.

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