Read The Department of Sensitive Crimes A Detective Varg Novel Alexander McCall Smith Books
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In the Swedish criminal justice system, certain cases are considered especially strange and difficult, in Malmö, the dedicated detectives who investigate these crimes are members of an elite squad known as the Sensitive Crimes Division.
These are their stories.
The first case the small matter of a man stabbed in the back of the knee. Who would perpetrate such a crime and why? Next a young woman's imaginary boyfriend goes missing. But how on earth do you search for someone who doesn't exist? And in the final investigation eerie secrets that are revealed under a full moon may not seem so supernatural in the light of day. No case is too unusual, too complicated, or too, well insignificant for this squad to solve.
The team Ulf “the Wolf” Varg, the top dog, thoughtful and diligent; Anna Bengsdotter, who's in love with Varg's car (and possibly Varg too); Carl Holgersson, who likes nothing more than filling out paperwork; and Erik Nykvist, who is deeply committed to fly fishing.
With the help of a rather verbose local police officer, this crack team gets to the bottom of cases other detectives can't or won't bother to handle. Equal parts hilarious and heartening, The Department of Sensitive Crimes is a tour de farce from a true master.
Read The Department of Sensitive Crimes A Detective Varg Novel Alexander McCall Smith Books
"What a delightful book! McCall Smith's first book in a new series, (I sincerely hope), is the funniest book I have read in a long time.
On the surface it is a satirical homage to the Swedish mystery genre, (think Henkell's Wallander), and yes it is that but also so much more. Wallander's alter ego here is Ulf Varg; both are the narrators of the tale; but while Wallander's voice tilts heavily on the dark side, Ulf at least tries to keep one foot in the land of the living. And when did you ever laugh out loud at a Swedish mystery? I not only laughed out loud here, but often had to stop to catch my breath before moving on!
Ulf's coworkers offer myriad opportunities for both humor and pathos. I guarantee that you will never think of fish again without suppressing a giggle.
All in all, I highly recommend that you read this book, and once you do, I'm sure you will join me in hoping that the author follow this volume with many, many more!"
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The Department of Sensitive Crimes A Detective Varg Novel Alexander McCall Smith Books Reviews :
The Department of Sensitive Crimes A Detective Varg Novel Alexander McCall Smith Books Reviews
- I thought maybe "The Department of Sensitive Crimes" would be mostly a light, funny read, and I was pleasantly surprised as I read to discover that while yes, the team that makes up the department (Ulf, Anna, Erik and Carl … with quirky policeman Blomquist assisting on most cases) and the cases they are assigned DO have many comic, amusing, laughable moments, there are equal measures of serious ideas and interesting, thought-provoking things that are just parts of life (though sometimes one might not really think about them; they just try to live through them the best he or she can). I alternated between laughing and pausing after a thought or comment to think about it, and saying to myself, "Hmmm, yeah, I know what you mean, but I hadn't really thought about it much … " It was really a lot of fun, to try and figure out the cases along with the team (do you punish someone for causing chaos with his or her imagination? How can one whose job it is to seek justice for a victim possible feel sympathy for a suspect?), and to follow their personal lives and challenges (what is wrong with Ulf's dog? Who will best whom for the best joke on April Fool's Day? Will Anna and Ulf talk, or pretend like nothing unusual is going on? How is the best way to deal with Blomquist and his sometimes lengthy talks about potato skins, the proper amount of sunscreen and other thoughts?) I couldn't believe how talented the author was in injecting humor into topics or situations where it would appear to be … well, quite sad.
I really, really liked this book because it was so easy to get interested and involved and it made me smile while making me think about oddball things I probably would never have much reason to think about otherwise - fun! I can't wait for the next book in the series! - This book was easy to read... but hard to review. By easy to read, I mean it was a real page turner, full of quirky characters and interesting twists and mysteries. It wasn't always easy to fully understand what was going on, however. I mean that in a mostly good way.
Quirky is the word here. The Department of Sensitive Crimes is set in a fascinating Swedish police department that is tasked with solving the most unusual, complicated and maybe not so serious crimes. Not at all X Files, don't get confused.
Many mysteries have a murder or series of murders- and the detective(s) solve the murder. No murder here. Missing people? A possible murder? Strange occurrences? Here, instead of "mysteries" we more have "mystifying happenings".
Our Protagonist is Ulf Varg (or Wolf Wolf) who has a knack for solving such mystifying happenings. Fascinating gentleman.
A little action, but no real violence, some romance and a very fun read. - What a delightful book! McCall Smith's first book in a new series, (I sincerely hope), is the funniest book I have read in a long time.
On the surface it is a satirical homage to the Swedish mystery genre, (think Henkell's Wallander), and yes it is that but also so much more. Wallander's alter ego here is Ulf Varg; both are the narrators of the tale; but while Wallander's voice tilts heavily on the dark side, Ulf at least tries to keep one foot in the land of the living. And when did you ever laugh out loud at a Swedish mystery? I not only laughed out loud here, but often had to stop to catch my breath before moving on!
Ulf's coworkers offer myriad opportunities for both humor and pathos. I guarantee that you will never think of fish again without suppressing a giggle.
All in all, I highly recommend that you read this book, and once you do, I'm sure you will join me in hoping that the author follow this volume with many, many more! - I love this author, but was largely disappointed with this new series. I wanted more and I wanted less, more details on the cases or at least better resolutions and less rambling minutia. Having said that I would read another because McCall Smith is a master storyteller
- I've read all of his "Number One Ladies Detective Agency" books. I enjoyed this one too. It is easy to read, with lots of insights into the thinking of the characters.
- Read this for a philosophical education on many fronts...everyday clear philosophy! His books are always full of wisdom and practical thoughy...we just find ourselves lacking the time to ponder...I love how many ideas he shares in the narrative that move me and make me think. This Book was also incredibly funny...I have not laughed so hard on a very long time...such a pleasure, especially npw...it is a tough time. His books always, in subtle ways, reflect life right now. READ THIS Book! What FUN!
- This book was so hard to put down. And when it ended, I felt like I couldn’t wait for the next installment. The characters are so charming and interesting and you just want to keep in touch with them, as if they were really good friends, not just of each other, of but of the reader. It amazes me how the author manages to devise dialogue that is so unusual and yet seems so true to life. His characters have so much character!
- It has the serenity and thoughtfulness of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books. There is a little humor and there are, of course, people who know massive amounts of trivia and love to bore the world with it.
If you like the hard hitting action of the mass market paperback police procedurals and murder mysteries you are probably not going to like this book that takes place in Sweden and involves the people in the Sensitive Crimes Division of the Malmo police department. The cases are not hard core and generally require thoughtfulness and gentle treatment. Most are interesting, but I found the last case in the book involving a man who suffers from lycanthropy and a cheating wife more than far fetched.
I am very fond of Alexander McCall Smith's books. I have read many including all the Number One Detective Agency series. Sometimes I think I can feel the gentle soul of the author in his books. This book is no exception although I think it is too obviously trying too hard to become another successful series. I am not sure it will make it, but if there is a second book I will buy it.
