Israel Armstrong has lost his job as a librarian. Off he goes (from England) to Ireland to become the driver of a mobile library. He discovers a mystery when he arrives, the books have gone missing! As Israel goes about trying to find them, he mixes it up with the locals. The book and it's characters are a bit quirky and it starts out slow but in the end I really enjoyed it. ( )

From the book jacket: 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?

My reactions
This was an enjoyable diversion, full of quirky characters and unlikely scenarios. Israel is as far from a hero as one could imagine – rumpled, decidedly UNambitious, content to do just enough to get along. But he does manage to rise to the occasion, despite more than a few setbacks and missteps.

I’m not sure I’ll bother with reading another in the series, as I like a little more actual mystery in my cozy mysteries. But I did enjoy the references to books! ( )

librarian discovers new job has disappeared with closing of library and books for mobile library are missing, sort of depressing

Adult fiction; sort-of mystery. Israel Armstrong is an out-of-place Londoner taking a job as a bookmobile librarian in rural Ireland, and makes for a bumbling, unlikely detective. Kind of amusing, but not that memorable overall. ( )

Very easy read. Very amusing. ( )