OverBOOKed to Read: The Department of Sensitive Crimes by Alexander McCall Smith

The Department of Sensitive Crimes by Alexander McCall Smith

Nordic Noir is a subgenre of the thriller, Scandinavian crime fiction marked by gritty writing with dark plots set in bleak landscapes, and it has enjoyed a surge in popularity over the last few years. You may have heard of authors like Jo Nesbø, Stieg Larsson, and Karin Fossum, who write about worn, flawed characters who are sometimes far from heroic.

And then there is Detective Inspector Ulf Varg. Ulf "the Wolf" Varg is keenly observant and possesses a philosophical turn of mind. Like any Nordic Noir detective, he has his share of personal problems that he must deal with as he uncovers clues to various crimes. He is unlucky in love and, distressingly, his dog Martin appears to be depressed. It could be Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), but it is summer, so something else must be going on.

Obviously, this is not your usual Nordic Noir. Instead, Varg and his team in the Department of Sensitive Crimes investigate cases that are... well, complicated. For instance, there is the case of the former motorcycle mechanic who now sells cashmere and was stabbed in the back of the knee. Who could have committed such an attack and why? Next, a young woman's boyfriend suddenly goes missing. The investigation becomes more complex when it turns out that her boyfriend is imaginary. How does one locate an imaginary missing boyfriend?

It turns out that Ulf Varg and his associates possess an attention to detail and a high tolerance for rambling conversation that enables them to navigate the odd crimes and quirky characters that come to the Department of Sensitive Crimes. Readers will find it to be a delightful experience.

Check out the book now and join the overBOOKed book club on Thursday, December 16 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cumming Library.

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Melissa
Information Specialist
Cumming Library
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