Mobile librarian Israel Armstrong is contemplating his resignation for the umpteenth time when he's given a dream opportunity. Israel relocated from London to Northern Ireland over six months ago to take a job and he feels like a fish out of water. Homesick, craving any hint of familiarity, Israel is thrilled to learn that the library steering committee is sending him to represent Tumdrum in the annual mobile library convention in London. Less enthused is Ted Carson, Israel's cranky fellow librarian and travel companion, who's a jack-of-all-trades and keeps the ancient library van going.

As delighted as Israel is to be returning to London, he finds his welcome to be less than heartwarming. Everything seems to have changed and home just isn't home anymore. Israel can't make contact with his long-distance girlfriend/roommate, Gloria, which is very odd. Things go from bad to worse when the mobile library van is stolen from its parking place. Who would want an ancient, crumbling heap of a van?

Israel and Ted valiantly search for their missing vehicle with little help from the police. With the help of Israel's widowed mother, whom Ted has surprisingly warmed up to, they begin to make some progress. Will they be able to recover the van before the conference is over? Where is Gloria? Why doesn't she return Israel's numerous calls and texts? Does Ted harbor romantic feelings for Israel's mother?

The missing van and the AWOL Gloria are the extent of the mystery here. Instead, the story is more about Israel's realization that he's changed too much to go back to the person he was before he left. Unfortunately, THE BOOK STOPS HERE was not my cup of tea. Readers who don't mind constant stream of consciousness and British humor will probably enjoy this one more than I did. The mystery in this one is light, but Mr. Sansom's other mobile library books have meatier mystery storylines. Readers may want to read the series in order before tackling this one.

Book Summary

Disgruntled, disheveled, fish-out-of-water mobile librarian Israel Armstrong is finally going home to London, rattling along with his irascible companion Ted Carson in their rust bucket book van en route to the Mobile Meet. The annual library convention gives Israel the opportunity to catch up with his family, eat paprika chicken and baklava, and drink good coffee. But they've barely found parking when the unimaginable occurs: their library-on-wheels is stolen!

Who on earth would want to take a thirty-year-old traveling disaster with the words "The Book Stops Here" painted across the back? Israel and Ted are determined to find out. But their search is leading them on a very twisty trail through the countryside in pursuit of a suspicious convoy of New Age travelers. And the hunt is raising numerous troubling questions—such as where exactly is Israel's high-flying girlfriend, Gloria? And is Ted really making a move on Israel's widowed mother?