Reviews

The Talented Mr. Varg by Alexander McCall Smith

susie_reads's review

funny mysterious relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

cleverruhs's review against another edition

3.0

3.5.
Entertaining and wonderfully low-key.

mayarelmahdy'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.

carlamum's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious 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? N/A

4.0

ronald_schoedel's review against another edition

5.0

Detective Ulf Varg has become one of my favorite McCall Smith characters. The second installment is full of the things his novels are generally loved for: humanity, offbeat humor, kindness, forgiveness, and characters who generally try their best but remain quite human. A fun nod to the Stewart car theft matter from 44 Scotland Street makes an appearance here.

bookwormbev17's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

laurap's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

spookyemily's review against another edition

funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

3.0

yvonne_aaf's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious reflective 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? Yes

3.5

An enjoyable addition to the Detective Varg series. Book 1 & 1.5 set up the main cast of characters, and in contrast to them, The Talented Mr Varg is a lot more focused on Ulf. I didn’t mind this, but I would have loved to see more of the office dynamics present in the earlier novels, the witty dialogue between the co-workers added so much dimension to those books.

I loved seeing the relationship between Blomquist and Ulf develop, the therapist scenes were entertaining, and being in Ulf’s head so much allowed for some really funny observations. The mysteries were interesting enough to follow, but I wasn’t incredibly invested in them.

I do wish Anna had been a bit more present in the story - this book explores Ulf’s feelings for her in a lot more depth, but despite that she slightly felt like a passive character, her own voice absent from the narrative.

I also didn’t particularly love the outcome of her & Jo’s case, but I understand Ulf’s reasoning for what he did, and it was believable considering his character.

linda_edwards's review against another edition

4.0

Not quite as good as the Ladies Detective series or the Scotland Street one but still enjoyable. A lovely little read which made me chuckle in places.