The Book Stops Here

By Ian Sansom

Book Overview

Israel Armstrong, one of literature's most unlikely detectives, returns for more crime solving adventure in this hilarious third novel from the Mobile Library series.

Israel has been invited to attend the Mobile Meet in London, the annual mobile library convention, with his irascible companion Ted Carson. Back in the UK, Israel is reunited with his family, and there is much eating of paprika chicken, baklava and the drinking of good coffee. But within only twenty-four hours of their arrival, the mobile library has been nicked.

Who on earth would want to steal a thirty-year old rust-bucket of a van, and who can the two men turn to for assistance? Can Mr and Mrs Krimholz, the parents of Israel's childhood rival Adam Krimholz, help them out? Amidst all this mayhem, will Israel and Ted, one of literature's oddest oddball couples, ever make it to the Mobile Meet? In this, his most puzzling, personal and problematic case yet, Israel has never had it so bad... neither has his library.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0007255349
• ISBN13: 9780007255344
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Great addition to the series...

It's unfortunate that there aren't more reviews for this book. It really is part of a genuinely unique, wonderfully written series. Israel Armstrong is a not your typical detective. In fact, he's not a detective at all, but a Librarian who runs a Mobile Library van in a small Northern Ireland town. His unlikely partner, Ted Carson, is a belligerent curmudgeon who doesn't seem to like Israel too much. In this story, Israel and Ted are on their way to the "Mobile Library Meet" near London, which will reunite Israel with is family. He'll also meet up with his girlfriend Gloria (or will he?) All does not really go as planned when the van is stolen and Israel and Ted must set off to find it, with the help of Israel's domineering mother. There are a lot of laugh-out-loud moments in this book (Israel and Ted's visit to Ted's cousin is priceless.) Only one thing that bothers me is that Israel is too much of a dishrag. I'd like to see him have a little bit more back-bone in future books. If you're a fan of Patrick Taylor's books, you might like this series as well.

amusing satirical mystery

In Tumdrum, Northern Ireland Jewish mobile librarian Israel Armstrong informs his peer Ted Carson that for him THE BOOK STOPS HERE as he plans to tell their boss Linda he is resigning so he can restart his exciting London life especially with his girlfriend. However, before he can open his moth, Linda tells Israel and Ted they will to London on an all paid expenses trip to represent their district at the annual mobile library gala. Ted does not want to go claiming he once went to Belfast, which was enough of a big city for him. However, Israel, dropping his quitting plans at least until after the trip, cons his mobile partner into going by betting the prideful Carson that their library vehicle will win no prizes from the Mobile Library Steering Committee unless there is something given for the worst. On the way to London, the duo stops in Finchley to see Israel's mom only to lose the van, which makes no sense to Israel as the vehicle is a crappy rusty junker older than him. He, his Londoner mom, and Ted search for the lost mobile in a quest that takes them to Stonehenge in order to recover and bring the mobile to the competition before Linda learns they lost the vehicle. The third Mobile Library mystery (see THE CASE OF THE MISSING BOOKS and MR. DIXON DISAPPEARS) is a lighthearted frolic that never takes itself seriously. The stolen van mystery is low keyed as the tale focuses on the misadventures of the lead pair and the ensemble support cast consisting mostly of family, the Mobile Library Committee, the thieves and a few other eccentrics. Although crime buffs will pass, fans of an amusing satirical mystery will laugh at the antics of those crime busting buddies "not" Israel and Ted. Harriet Klausner