Welcome to Litsy!

Themes: Quirky humor, “Gentle Mystery”, Book 1 in a series

On a whim I decided to give this book a try because I wanted a series to dive into. This was a fun read, it held my attention and I‘ll definitely read the next book when I‘m in need of a good book 👍

As always with Alexander McCall Smith the plot line is almost incidental to the very feel and writing of the book. Yet another good book and possibly series that leaves you feeling you‘ve had a great reading experience. Great for anyone wanting a book set in Sweden. Loved the characterisations.

Book 3 for February.

Started listening to he first book in the Detective Varg Series.

I finished the book and made progress on my hat knitting project.
I love Alexander McCall Smith‘s writing. I liked this book, but not as much as his books from the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. This is book one of the Detective Varg series. I enjoyed the light moments of humor in the book.

I used to enjoy his books but went “ off” them a while back. Decided to give this a go as it is a newer series of his. Set in Sweden, it has his usual unusual facts and spattering of philosophy . Seems I am over him for the moment.
Would probably be a good plane read but as that isn‘t about to happen for a while I won‘t be reading anymore.😊.
#joysbooks2021
@MrsMalaprop

A light and gentle and meandering read that describes itself as ‘Scandi Blanc‘. There‘s no grisly murders or tortured detectives. Instead a philosophical detective potters around Malmö and solves quirky crimes while being nice to people. It shouldn‘t have worked but it did, and it was a perfect way to spend a slow, sunny Saturday afternoon. #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

I wish I had found another McCall series that I can get invested in, unfortunately this one is not it.

So, I am a fan of the Author despite his tendency to lecture the reader. I picked up this new series, because there is nothing new in the 44 Scotland Street series.

A couple of chapters in, I am a little annoyed about the Dad Jokes, let's see if things improve.

Not loving the book, but it has some great quotes, like this one about Ulf‘s therapist.

Love this.

"Being Swedish was not always easy, but you had to do your best, and hope that you didn't slip, and become...well Mediterranean in outlook."

Pointless. The audiobook was nice, though. Very soothing narrator.

#CurrentlyListening on #RBdigital — charmingly written but really, really lightweight. There‘s very little point to the whole thing. Will probably finish it, though.

I think this author may just not be for me. While I really got into the writing style and the word choices, I just felt like not enough happened. I guess I like my mysteries to be a little... grittier? Higher stakes? There was nothing remotely mysterious (or in my mind interesting) about the 3 crimes this police department solved. It all just seemed a little too “lite.” Though again, charming writing.

I‘m a big fan of two other series by McCall Smith - No. 1 Ladies‘ Detective Agency and Isabel Dalhousie - so this series seemed a natural to me. I was very disappointed. I expected that it might feature a mystery since the protagonist is a Detective, but I wouldn‘t call any of the three cases to be actual mysteries. I didn‘t find any of the characters sympathetic and the deaf depressed dog who lip reads was too much. 3.0/5.0⭐️ #2019 (more below)

Friday night reading and relaxing

Finished up the last couple of pages in the salon chair. Definitely has all the human insight and quirky humor we‘ve come to expect from Alexander. 😁 Didn‘t enjoy it quite as much as Maa Romatswe, but that isn‘t fair since those characters are sooooo well developed and loved now.

This was a bookful week for me!! For my birthday, I received the books on the right from @wanderer15 and a bookstore gift certificate from @BennettBookworm which I used to buy some of the ones in the middle. I celebrated Independent Bookstore Day by visiting my local indie plus a new-to-me one (Firefly Books in Kutztown, PA) and bought the tote and the remaining books pictured.

Now I‘m just fantasizing about taking a week off to read! 🤔

Anyone who works in higher education, let‘s all sigh together........🙄

I love it when nonreaders think readers are bored and just need to be introduced to more entertaining activities. 😂

A weekend getaway is underway. Good food, an adorable café & the quirkiest bookshop have been on the list of stops. Today, we‘re headed to a vintage market at the local fairgrounds. I think we might make another stop at the café before we head home, so I can keep reading Alexander McCall Smith‘s latest, ‘The Department of Sensitive Crimes‘. I love several of his other series, and so far this doesn‘t disappoint!

I am so excited to get to this being a total fan girl of #1 Ladies Detective Agency Series. I hope my expectations aren‘t too high. 😳

3.5 ⭐️
Ulf Varg heads up a police department that covers unusual & delicate crimes. Like who stabs a man at the knees. And what to do about a group of women losing their minds over a made-up boyfriend. Not to mention reports of lycanthropy.
This starts slow. But by the second case, you‘ll be enamored of Ulf & his crew, & wanting to spend time with them.
My thanks to Penguin for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.