While Eva Jurczyk’s debut novel is called The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, it could have just as easily been called The Department of Missing Books and Special Librarians. First there’s one missing book. Then a missing librarian. Then another missing book. As beautiful and unusual as the books are, though, the academic librarians at this Toronto university are just as unusual.

Liesl Weiss isn’t even supposed to be at The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. She was on sabbatical to write her own book when Christopher Wolfe, the library director for over forty years, had a stroke. Now, she’s frantically trying to break into Christopher’s safe where the latest acquisition, the Plantin Bible, is kept. Lawrence Garber, the University President, insists it’s important to show off the book to the university donors. And, Liesl, as interim director, must find a way to get into the safe.

Garber’s biggest concern is always the donors. Don’t make waves that will upset the donors. When Liesl finally gets the safe open, and finds it empty, she wants to call the police. Garber insists the book is only missing and he wants the librarians to inventory the collection to find it. When one of the librarians disappears, a quiet woman who never caused waves, Garber is even less concerned.

When Liesl Weiss comes back to the library in Christopher’s absence, she discovers she has no more control over the library than she ever had. And, she doesn’t have support. No one wants her to report the missing books or the missing woman. Max, a former priest who specializes in the religious collection, thinks he should have been appointed interim director. Liesel can’t understand why a friend of over twenty years, Francis, doesn’t want her to contact the police. But, Max and Francis, along with the missing librarian, Miriam, all have secrets. When Liesl and the woman’s husband finally call the police, President Garber is angry. Headlines about a missing woman and missing books might upset the donors.

The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections is as much about the mystery of people as it is a mystery of books that have disappeared from a special collection. Jurczyk focuses on Liesl Weiss, a woman over sixty who is aware that women seem to disappear as they age. She certainly has no presence when it comes to the library itself. She’s unsure of herself, and tends to vanish into the stacks so she doesn’t have to make decisions.

Jurczyk’s debut novel is interesting, but she tries to juggle too many elements. She tries to deal with the role of women, especially older women, in academia. She deals with depression and the role it plays in the lives of the person who suffers from it, as well as the partner and family members who deal with it daily. Of course, there is also the mystery of the missing books. This novel is already popular with librarians, for obvious reasons. Jurczyk’s admiration is evident. But, I’d like to have seen what this novel could have become if she’d picked one or two topics rather than so many in The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.

Here’s Eva Jurczyk talking about the background of the book.

Eva Jurczyk’s website is https://www.evajurczyk.com/

The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Eva Jurczyk. Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press, 2022. ISBN 9781728238593 (paperback), 336p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received an ARC in order to moderate a panel.