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jackster62's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Lighthearted and easy read
menniemenace's review against another edition
3.0
Love the characters, not so into the story.
I liked some aspects of it. I thought the parallels between the two cases were so subtle, which made me feel so smart when I saw them. I hated the absence of the resolution, though.
I liked some aspects of it. I thought the parallels between the two cases were so subtle, which made me feel so smart when I saw them. I hated the absence of the resolution, though.
squirrellygoat's review against another edition
5.0
“A storm in a teacup could be very serious thing for the sailors in that teacup.”
dominicangirl's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
kmg365's review
3.0
Three and a half stars.
It's difficult to explain the appeal of this series. It's funny, but not in a laugh-out-loud way-- no jokes, just a very high whimsy quotient. It's a police procedural... barely. In this particular short story/novella, there were no arrests made, no stakeouts, and no trials. Ulf Varg is about as soft-boiled as a detective could be. One of the two cases Ulf works on isn't even officially a case, but a favor to his brother, who is a politician with the Moderate Extremist party. Please do not confuse them with their nemesis copycat party, the Extreme Moderates, those scalawags. There's something relentlessly pleasant about this Scandinavian Blanc genre, as Smith has dubbed it. I'm plowing straight ahead into The Talented Mr. Varg now.
mayarelmahdy's review
3.0
Love the characters, not so into the story.
I liked some aspects of it. I thought the parallels between the two cases were so subtle, which made me feel so smart when I saw them. I hated the absence of the resolution, though.
I liked some aspects of it. I thought the parallels between the two cases were so subtle, which made me feel so smart when I saw them. I hated the absence of the resolution, though.
actiaslunasaturniidae's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
dinipandareads's review
3.0
This is my first read of anything written by Alexander McCall Smith. I was immediately attracted to it because of the title—I mean, how can you not be intrigued by a title about Moderate Extremists, whatever that might be?
This novella introduces us to the characters of the Malmo Police Department of Sensitive Crimes, which is composed of Ulf Varg, Anna Bengsdottor and Carl (who apparently never leaves the office, but whose unexplained absence wasn’t acknowledge in the novella). The department is tasked with solving bizarre and often insignificant crimes, such as the one that Ulf and Anna work to solve in this story: the case of the ginger tomcat from the wrong side of the tracks, who has an unwelcome liaison with a purebred Burmese. It’s a scandal, but was it sabotage?
Outside of work, Ulf also has to deal with his politician brother who realizes that there’s a snitch within his Moderate Extremists party that’s leaking important ideas to the opposing Extreme Moderates.
The story touches upon the fickleness of humans with a good dose of Scandinavian charm and comedy. Although I felt that the writing style in this meandered slightly and the storyline was honestly a little anticlimactic, the wholesome, quirky characters and their interactions made it an enjoyable read. If all of Smith’s novels are like this, I’d be keen on reading them all, though I’ll definitely be picking up the new series on The Department of Sensitive Crimes when it also comes out later this year!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The book is scheduled for release on 26 February 2019.
This novella introduces us to the characters of the Malmo Police Department of Sensitive Crimes, which is composed of Ulf Varg, Anna Bengsdottor and Carl (who apparently never leaves the office, but whose unexplained absence wasn’t acknowledge in the novella). The department is tasked with solving bizarre and often insignificant crimes, such as the one that Ulf and Anna work to solve in this story: the case of the ginger tomcat from the wrong side of the tracks, who has an unwelcome liaison with a purebred Burmese. It’s a scandal, but was it sabotage?
Outside of work, Ulf also has to deal with his politician brother who realizes that there’s a snitch within his Moderate Extremists party that’s leaking important ideas to the opposing Extreme Moderates.
The story touches upon the fickleness of humans with a good dose of Scandinavian charm and comedy. Although I felt that the writing style in this meandered slightly and the storyline was honestly a little anticlimactic, the wholesome, quirky characters and their interactions made it an enjoyable read. If all of Smith’s novels are like this, I’d be keen on reading them all, though I’ll definitely be picking up the new series on The Department of Sensitive Crimes when it also comes out later this year!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The book is scheduled for release on 26 February 2019.