This was a satisfying read, at times worth a laugh out loud. It's a tried and true story line, very much along what we saw from the James Herriott Yorkshire veterinarian novels - a young man, fresh from college, is sent to the remote Irish hamlet of Ballybucklebo in County Down to serve as the assistant to the well-established and well-respected town GP. The overall plot is quite predictable, but the episodes that young Barry Laverty encounters along the way make the journey all the more enjoyable. This is the first in a series of at least seven books, with more still on the way; I will find myself dipping a toe into Ballybucklebo throughout the year, because it's a rich and calm place to tuck into a book.

I only found out about the series through an interview on CBC radio with the author. Happy I tuned in at just the right time. Lots of fun. 4 out of 5 stars.