A review by sharkybookshelf
The Talented Mr. Varg by Alexander McCall Smith

funny lighthearted

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

4.0

Detective Ulf Varg continues to investigate unusual cases, while pondering the oddities of human nature and navigating internal police bureaucracy.

Much like the first book in the series, this is very much about the characters and their mild eccentricities, which McCall Smith is so good at writing. The plot meanders along as Varg gets distracted and goes off on thought tangents - a gripping, fast-paced detective novel this is not - but this is part of the charm, except the Anna subplot which rapidly became tedious. This isn’t McCall Smith’s strongest series, but it’s still a perfectly comforting read - it’s exactly what I expected, and ideal for reading in the middle of the night while feeding a newborn. A slow-paced comfort read which highlights the little oddities of human nature while gently poking fun at police dramas, best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a biscuit.