Sansom, Ian. Mr. Dixon Disappears. A Mobile Library Mystery. NY: Harper, 2006.
Submitted by R. Stuhr
This is the second in the Mobile Library Mystery series. I posted a review of the first novel, The Case of the Missing Books in March of this year. You can hearken back to that review for my general feelings about mysteries. And yet, I dived into volume two and Sansom still pleases because of his take on libraries and librarianship, for his cast of quirky characters falling into no particular stereotypes, and this time for his representation of churches, pastors, and congregations.
The plot in this novel surrounds the disappearance of the head of a local department store. Israel, the mobile librarian, is implicated because, while he is setting up a display he has created to tell the history of the department store, he is called in to be of service at the scene of the crime by a panic stricken caretaker. Naturally, being a librarian, he responds to the call, and as he is trying to read the clues--leaves his fingerprints all over the place. It is a ridiculous plot, gets going slowly, and then takes several twists and turns to a satisfying ending. My main objection with Sansom's writing is his dialogue--people rarely finish sentences, and Israel is unnecessarily thick with his inability to follow people's intentions.
Still! Read up and Enjoy!
Showing posts with label Library Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Library Fiction. Show all posts
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Case of the Missing Books
Sansom Ian. The Case of the Missing Books. NY: Harper, 2005.
submitted by R. Stuhr
Mystery is not usually a genre I'm excited about reading, but how could I pass up this particular mystery? The main character is Israel Armstrong, the Jewish-Irish London raised underemployed librarian who has so far found work in a mall bookstore. Israel finally finds a bona fide librarian position at a public library in Ireland, only to find out that the library has been closed. He still has a job, but his new library is mobile, in fact his new library consists of an old book mobile or "mobile learning center." He is convinced by the local bureaucrat to take the job on at least temporarily to get the mobile library started up. Israel soon discovers, however, that all of the books are missing. This not too intense mystery unravels as Israel gets to know the local library constituency and has encounters with chickens, mud, and angry citizens. He may or may not solve the mystery, but the local readers are well served before the novel ends.
This is fun reading and the author knows something about libraries and city councils.
Burling 3rd Floor PR 6119 .A575 M66 2006b
This is the first in a series, so if you like this one, you are in luck!
submitted by R. Stuhr
Mystery is not usually a genre I'm excited about reading, but how could I pass up this particular mystery? The main character is Israel Armstrong, the Jewish-Irish London raised underemployed librarian who has so far found work in a mall bookstore. Israel finally finds a bona fide librarian position at a public library in Ireland, only to find out that the library has been closed. He still has a job, but his new library is mobile, in fact his new library consists of an old book mobile or "mobile learning center." He is convinced by the local bureaucrat to take the job on at least temporarily to get the mobile library started up. Israel soon discovers, however, that all of the books are missing. This not too intense mystery unravels as Israel gets to know the local library constituency and has encounters with chickens, mud, and angry citizens. He may or may not solve the mystery, but the local readers are well served before the novel ends.
This is fun reading and the author knows something about libraries and city councils.
Burling 3rd Floor PR 6119 .A575 M66 2006b
This is the first in a series, so if you like this one, you are in luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
