Reviews

The Talented Mr. Varg by Alexander McCall Smith

handy17's review against another edition

mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

extraaardvark's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

menniemenace's review against another edition

4.0

4.5/5


This book is so smooth. It's not particularly genius but it's smooth. It's so light and simplistic. Nothing to fret about.
I really really love Ulf Varg.

catherineneeds's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

daniela_g's review against another edition

informative lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

letmesleep's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.0

aliilman's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

3.5

danielmbensen's review against another edition

4.0

I read this one in the rocking chair in my parents' living room, chuckling to myself. Ulf Varg continues to try to be a good man in a ridiculous world. His dog is still depressed and his dates don't go very well at all. But at least Blomquist likes him! Go, Blomquist!

alysonemery's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

2.25

I loved the previous book, and I loved parts of this book, but overall it left me feeling a bit “meh” about the whole thing. Most of the pieces I liked on their own, but all together it just felt ramble-y.

kmg365's review against another edition

4.0

Just when I thought Ulf Varg was the perfect, incorruptible cop, this outing focuses on his foibles, whether it be accepting a gift from a grateful citizen, a small act of retaliation on an annoying co-worker, or failing to return an unneeded dog collar to the supply department, which happens to be waging passive aggressive war on the Department of Sensitive Crimes by insisting that items can only be ordered by their order number, yet failing to provide a key to what items are assigned to which codes. Chiefly, we see Ulf examining his own moral code when he agrees to help co-worker Anna, with whom he is secretly in love, discover whether or not her husband is cheating on her.

I found more food for thought here than in the other Detective Varg books, and even in Smith's novels in general (not that I've read anywhere near all of them). This is a sweet series that occasionally makes you think about your smallest, most mundane interactions with humankind.