The Man with the Silver Saab

Detective Varg #3

by Alexander McCall Smith

In the hilarious new novel in the best-selling Detective Varg series, an eminent art historian is framed and the ace investigators of the department of sensitive crimes are on the case.

Detective Ulf Varg is a man of refined tastes and quite familiar with the art scene in Malmö. So when art historian Anders Kindgren visits the Department of Sensitive Crimes to report a series of bizarre acts that have been committed against him, Ulf and his team swing into action. Fish stuffed into the vents of Kindgren's car and a manipulated footnote in a recent publication would be cause enough for an investigation, but when a painting Kindgren had confidently appraised as genuine is later declared to be a fake, it's clear that someone is out to tarnish his reputation.

Meanwhile, Ulf is also weathering personal issues, which quickly spiral out of control. When his lip-reading dog, Martin, engages in a contretemps with a squirrel that results in a grievous wound, Ulf must rush Martin to the veterinarian and weigh the merits of cosmetic surgery for animals. And later, when Martin's blood is found in the back of Ulf's classic Saab, Ulf finds himself the subject of a departmental investigation.

In the end, Ulf will have to muster all his detective skills and bureaucratic cunning to restore Kindgren's reputation--as well as his own.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Audiobook, Crime, Sweden, Scandinavian Literature

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2021

About the author

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the international phenomenon The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie Series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series, and the 44 Scotland Street series. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and has served on many national and international bodies concerned with bioethics. He was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and he was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He lives in Scotland. Visit him online at www.alexandermccallsmith.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am pretty sure that this is the first time this author has ever made me feel uncomfortable while reading one of his many books. Okay I often want to reach out to Bertie when Irene is on his case, but in this book it is a little dog with hearing loss being maimed by a feral squirrel. Poor Martin - blood and stitches are involved, and an overnight stay at the vet's. McCall Smith rarely gets so physical.

You will be glad to know that Martin recovers, if in an odd way, and the book proceeds in a fashion more in keeping with this author's style. Detective Varg becomes involved in an art fraud appropriate for his Department of Sensitive Cases, and he calls upon Blomquist to assist, largely because he feels sorry for him. This leads to a lot of very funny dialogue between the pair. There is a romantic development for Ulf plus the usual meandering philosophical thoughts on anything and everything.

I am looking forward to the next episode in the lives of Ulf and Martin and am hoping for more romance and fewer squirrels.

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man in the Silver Saab refers to Detective Varg, head of the Department of Sensitive Crimes in Malmo, Sweden. This is the third book in this delightful series and is just one of Alexander McCall Smith's various continuous series. Although each set of books is set in various countries and locations, they share their character's inner thoughts and brilliant observations to live the best and kindest life possible. They are witty and contain a gentle, quiet philosophy of life and behaviour with thought-provoking, humorous conversations. They focus on the character's hearts, souls, and minds.

Although set in Sweden, do not expect dark crimes and murders, as is the mark of Scandi-Noir. The Department of Sensitive Crimes involves non-violent cases that must be resolved with much discretion and sensitivity.

Detective Varg is a kind, polite, quiet man. His beloved deaf dog, Martin, is attacked by a squirrel on their daily walk in the park. His face is badly cut, and the dog's nose is almost severed. Varg hurries Martin to the vet, with the dog bleeding copiously on the back seat of the Saab. Because of traffic, Varg decides to use the light on top of the car in his rush to the vets. After the dog's face is stitched, Varg discovers that Martin's nose has been sewn on upsidedown. Being polite and sensitive to the vet's feelings, he pays his bill and accepts the mistake. He faces discipline for using the light atop the car when not in pursuit of a criminal and is suspected of transporting a body when Martin's blood is observed on the backseat of his car. He is constantly yearning for a coworker he secretly loves but is too kind to disrupt her marriage by declaring his feelings.

There are two cases featured in the book. One is a deranged man who frightens women by jumping out of the bushes and yelling, "cucumber." The other case involves a renowned art appraiser and critic who is the victim of a devious attack on his reputation. He has been falsely accused of validating a fake copy of a painting as a genuine masterpiece. Varg and his partner must figure out who is behind this attempt to destroy the man's livelihood. Varg's partner is the most annoying man in the department, but he feels sorry for him and endures this boring, endless chatter. Out of kindness, he praises his partner and makes him feel wanted. When given a chance to have the man transferred and replaced by a highly competent detective, he resists this temptation.

Life is looking up for Varg at the ending, as he gets up the courage to ask the vet assistant on a successful date.

An engaging book involving life, love, kindness and friendship that is witty and philosophical.

[Sharon Albanese · Rating 4 out of 5]

The knack of AMS books, (well, one of them), is that whichever series I happen to be reading always ends up being my favourite at the time. This one has a bunch of immensely likeable characters with wonderful quirks and interesting names, who solve unusual crimes which require a delicate touch in Malmo Sweden. Throw in some gentle humour and a few plots twists. What's not to love? I really love this series and look forward to more adventures from the Department of Sensitive Crimes.

[Daniel Shindler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexander McCall Smith has the uncanny ability to juxtapose the ordinary, the arcane and the esoteric.In so doing, he produces observations that make one smile and contemplate how to live a life of civility and kindness. His third entry in the Detective Varg series sparkles with these elements and pushes forward the story of the protagonist.

Ulf Varg is a detective whose world is not defined by violence and brutality.He is head of the Department of Sensitive Crimes in Malmo,investigating situations that involve moral ambiguities and philosophical dilemmas. These cases are best resolved by logic and quiet inference.Ulf is a calm, introspective man who often places the feelings of others ahead of his own.He is a widower who lives with his deaf, lip reading dog Martin.He also struggles with an unvoiced and unrequited love for one of his work colleagues.

Currently Ulf has a surfeit of quandaries that he has to resolve.On the personal side, his dog Martin has been attacked by an aggressive squirrel who has detached Martin’s nose. When the nose is repaired, it is reattached upside down.Professionally, Ulf faces a potential suspension for improper use of a police light while rushing Martin to the vet.Furthermore, Martin’s bloodstains on the back seat of Ulf’s beloved Saab prompt an inquiry into foul play.On the professional front, there is a troublesome case involving a man who frightens women in the park by brandishing a phallically symbolic cucumber. Additionally, Ulf has to unravel a puzzling case of a fraudulent authentication of a valuable painting.

Our protagonist navigates these cases with grace, discretion and aplomb. He is courteous to his eccentric coworkers and forbearing of his potential suspects, considering all points of view carefully.Throughout these encounters,Ulf displays a gentle kindness that is a roadmap showing how to live and interact with other people.

Ulf’s internal musings and his external dialogues examine a number of cultural touchstones, shibboleths and assumptions that focus our attention on friendship, love and loyalty.By the conclusion of Detective Varg’s investigations, a sense of genteelness and civility had worked its way into my pores.I vowed to brew a pot of chamomile tea to accompany me during my next encounter with this interesting man.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook with Simon. Detective Varg's dog has a nasty encounter with a squirrel, which ends up with a rather amusing and perplexing episode with his vet. It provided quite the topic of conversation for Simon and I!

Quotes:

The vet "was applying his stethoscope to a feline bundle of opposition."

"The world's borders were now more porous and that the walls of distance that protected people from others had been irretrievably breached. We were inhabitants now of a single rock in a sea of suffering and need."

"That perhaps was the uncomfortable truth to which people needed to adjust, yet they would still hanker for lost days when the intimacy of a homogenous society and the personal ties that bound one to another in such smaller worlds meant that crime was on the whole rather rare."

"There is a certain nobility in statements that are both kind and true."

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third in the series featuring Detective Varg of the Sensitive Crimes Division, meaning this is made with AMS's trademark wit and twinkle. It's refreshing to read these novels in which the crimes carry a large dose of humor and human nature.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Man with the Silver Saab is the third book in the Detective Varg series by popular British author, Alexander McCall-Smith. The audio version is narrated by Saul Reichlin. Never in his wildest imagination could Detective Ulf Varg of the Department of Sensitive Crimes in Malmo, Sweden, have predicted that a walk in the park with his dog, Martin (the only lip-reading dog in Sweden) would result in his suspension.

But a nasty encounter with a squirrel sets in motion an emergency dash to the vet with Martin bleeding copiously on the leather seats of his reliable old silver Saab. When his car is later confiscated by two uniformed police, Ulf is a little irritated, but not really worried. His suspension, though, is an unpleasant surprise.

In this installment, our ever-thoughtful and unfailingly kind Swedish detective looks into incidents that seem to be aimed at the destruction of the professional reputation of an art historian. He has the assistance of the enthusiastic Blomquist, with his talent for tangents and digressions during conversation, although “This was typical of Blomquist – there would be any amount of irrelevant detail, and then suddenly there would be a gem of insight or information.”

As usual, Varg is plagued by his fraternal relationship to the leader of the Moderate Extremists Party. His kindly neighbour’s antipathy for Russians is again raised, threats by cucumber-wielding assailant make the news, and there is an incident of vigilantism in the park.

Varg has plenty of interesting discussions with his colleagues, on topics as varied as the mechanics of arrest or incarceration where only one of conjoined twins is guilty, and how to distinguish between mental patient who talk to themselves and people with earbuds on mobile phone calls. Blomquist offers a very old joke about original sin.

Ulf continues to make generalisations, only to hastily note exceptions. And finally, with the matter of his ongoing, unuttered, unrequited love for his married colleague, there is a development. As always, the philosophy laced with plenty of silliness, irony and not a few turns in the plot. Occasionally poignant and often laugh-out-loud funny, this is, as expected. a very entertaining read.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Man with the Silver Saab is the third book in the Detective Varg series by popular British author, Alexander McCall-Smith. Never in his wildest imagination could Detective Ulf Varg of the Department of Sensitive Crimes in Malmo, Sweden, have predicted that a walk in the park with his dog, Martin (the only lip-reading dog in Sweden) would result in his suspension.

But a nasty encounter with a squirrel sets in motion an emergency dash to the vet with Martin bleeding copiously on the leather seats of his reliable old silver Saab. When his car is later confiscated by two uniformed police, Ulf is a little irritated, but not really worried. His suspension, though, is an unpleasant surprise.

In this installment, our ever-thoughtful and unfailingly kind Swedish detective looks into incidents that seem to be aimed at the destruction of the professional reputation of an art historian. He has the assistance of the enthusiastic Blomquist, with his talent for tangents and digressions during conversation, although “This was typical of Blomquist – there would be any amount of irrelevant detail, and then suddenly there would be a gem of insight or information.”

As usual, Varg is plagued by his fraternal relationship to the leader of the Moderate Extremists Party. His kindly neighbour’s antipathy for Russians is again raised, threats by cucumber-wielding assailant make the news, and there is an incident of vigilantism in the park.

Varg has plenty of interesting discussions with his colleagues, on topics as varied as the mechanics of arrest or incarceration where only one of conjoined twins is guilty, and how to distinguish between mental patient who talk to themselves and people with earbuds on mobile phone calls. Blomquist offers a very old joke about original sin.

Ulf continues to make generalisations, only to hastily note exceptions. And finally, with the matter of his ongoing, unuttered, unrequited love for his married colleague, there is a development. As always, the philosophy laced with plenty of silliness, irony and not a few turns in the plot. Occasionally poignant and often laugh-out-loud funny, this is, as expected. a very entertaining read.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. The right balance of humour, character development , plot, and a bit of philosophy on life. Some may think the storyline weak. For me it was more about the characters than plot and it worked. It was a delightful read. The best book of the series.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Although this isn't my favourite in the series so far, I did like it, particularly events near the end of the book (leave you hanging a bit, but not much more so than some of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective books do.

Ulf Varg (his name means Wolf Wolf, and yes it comes up at times) is the head of the Department of Sensitive Crimes. The book starts when his deaf dog Martin, whom he has taught to read lips, has the tip of his nose nearly bit off by a squirrel so he takes Martin to the vet. Later that day he begins to work on a case where an expert first authenticated a painting, but later when it was time to be sold it was a fake (assume nothing, just read the book to see what's what). He is also reviewing his long unrequited love for a happily married woman on his team (he won't break up a good marriage so she has no idea.) We don't see much of her this time, because he is accompanied by the garrulous Detective Blomgren.

There is humour here, of course, and I plan to read the next one (I hope that ending isn't supposed to be left to our imaginations but that there will be another in this series.)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this in a fever haze two days ago, remember virtually nothing. A fraudulent painting? Something about Martin's nose? Any vets want to chime in about the feasibility of the surgery that potentially required follow-up plastic surgery?

This is why you don't read with a Pfizer headache.

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

2021 bk 263. Sigh. I wanted to like this as much as the first two. Those had multiple plot lines that were tied up by the end of the book in clever ways. In this one, well I still don't quite know the purpose of the man with the cucumber, who took the school resource job, and other small items. That said, for those who have seen the recent twizzler commercials - the ones where people are savoring their twizzer and thinking about those questions that perturb them but that everyone else thinks is ordinary. This book reminded me from the first about this. "Why would a squirrel attack Martin?, Why did the vet sew a dog's nose on upside down- and was so nonchalant about it? would happen if one of a pair of Siamese twins committed a crime?" You get the feeling - lots of questions to ponder and comparatively few answers. Heavy sigh.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable series that always brings smiles and one or two loud laughs from me. This one involves art controversy, a new employee Varg must accommodate, a new love interest, a traumatic incident with Varg's deaf dog, a threatening man in the park involving cucumbers and many other hilarious incidents.


Library Loan

[LInda L · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I gave it one star because I did not like the 60 or so pages I read. What happened to the man who wrote the Precious Ramotse books? I loved all of those. In the few pages I got through, it was so apparent that he never uses 10 words whenever he can use 1000. Sorry, Alex.

[Reagan Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally wanted to rate this 3/5 stars, but because of how enjoyable the writing and humor was, i bumped it up to 4/5 stars

This was a bizarre read - most detective mysteries involve a mystery (shocker) with you finding out little odds and ends about the detective as the story unfolds. However, contrastingly, this story was just ABOUT a detective and involved a mystery only in odds and ends.

While the writing style was eclectic, I did enjoy the humorous focus without making the jokes corny. Lots of dry wit throughout.

Not much of a mystery or a nail biter, but a fun read nonetheless. Blomquist is a great character. The whole book felt like a good made-for-tv film.

All in all, 4 stars

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a detective in the Department of Sensitive Crimes Ulf Varg doesn’t have to deal with the urgency of issues such as kidnapping and serial killers, and so he has the leisure of indulging his philosophical side. Which he does to an extent that is sometimes irritating, sometimes illuminating and always entertaining. Occasionally laugh out loud entertaining. He always gets his man – or woman – in the end and doesn’t allow the distractions of his brother’s political ambitions in the Moderate Extremist Party, his dog’s close and frightening encounter with a rabid squirrel or reports of a “cucumber man” terrorizing women in the park to deter him from his goal.

[Graeme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silly, human, funny, and wise. I love McCall Smith's delicate sensibility, though I guess that many would not.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look, as a man with a silver Saab, it seemed impossible NOT to read this book. This was a sort of comic mystery - it seemed almost like a parody of the Scandinavian noir genre - grumpy detective, quirky characters, a Saab, and a nosy neighbor. It was enjoyable and yes, there was a Saab.

[Susan Bray DeLong · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is like a comfortable pair of slippers to read a new book by Alexander McCall Smith. The title, The Man With the Silver Saab, grabbed me immediately, because I had the pleasure of driving a silver Saab. Albeit a lot more modern than that driven by our delightful hero detective Ulf Varg, of the Swedish Malmö Department of Sensitive Crimes.

He is a sensitive, quite good looking man, in his forty’s, who lives widowed with only his deaf dog, Martin, for companionship. He has cleverly taught this adoring mutt to lip read, which impresses friends when the dog is told to sit and obligingly complies.

Our story begins while walking Martin off leash in the park. Martin has an unfortunate run in with a vicious angry squirrel who bites the poor dog’s nose almost off and lacerates his muzzle with it’s sharp teeth. Ulf puts the injured dog on the leather back seat where he bleeds copiously. Frantic to get his injured dog pain relief `Ulf uses his blue light to hasten through the traffic. This usage was frowned upon by his commissioner unless a life and death emergency.

At the vets Martin was treated and his nose was inadvertently sewn on upside down. But Ulf being the kind man he is couldn’t make a big fuss about this and paid his bill.

There are all sorts of crimes that he has to investigate. The most intriguing concerns a man who amused himself jumping out at women and threatening them with a cucumber. A cucumber being the most phallic of vegetables. Another case concerned the reputation of an art critic. This cerebral man made his living providing the sign of authentication to valuable paintings. If the painting was judged to be by one of the masters then it’s value shot up. But if a painting was judged a copy then the owner lost a lot of money. He had come to Ulf to help him regain his reputation.

Unfortunately this art critic had said a painting was original and the auction house had publicised this in it’s catalogue, but a copy was sent in it’s place and a French expert had declared it worthless. It was the scandal of the art world and the poor man was distraught.

We follow Ulf and his annoying colleague as they interview witnesses until they come to a shocking conclusion.

Even tho Ulf secretly loves his married work colleague the reader will be delighted that this dear man has a chance to find love when Martin returns to the vet’s office to have his nose stitches and Elizabethan collar removed.

Every book by Alexander McCall Smith is a delight as he provides page after page of brilliant descriptions of his characters and their inner most feelings.

I look forward to reading more about detective Varg and his dog Martin with the upside down nose.
Stay away from squirrels tho Martin!

[Rhonda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am usually an Alexander McCall Smith superfan, attested by 5 star reviews across the board. Previously I liked this series as well, but this specific book is really objectionable in its sexism. This in regards to the crime being solved because of a sexist stereotype and in the workplace reviews where a female character is given a mild reprimand not because she deserves it but instead to camouflage her supervisor‘s love of her. That is outrageous! Once again a woman is required to take responsibility for a man’s feelings toward her. It’s fine that he has the feelings but keeps them to himself, but it is not fine to have her accept a cobbled together blemish on her record in order to hide his feelings from his own superiors. It’s also not okay that the example is put forth that her finally accepting it when she understands the reason is an act of grace on her part. It is an example of a woman allowing her own reputation to be tarnished in order to protect a man’s because she has “enticed” feelings in him! Shameful, outdated, & ridiculous thinking! I can’t believe this was written by the same author who created Precious Ramotswe and Isabel Dalhousie. Surely some reader or editor could have pointed out these issues before publication?!?!? They could have been removed without altering the otherwise interesting story and charmingly quirky characters. This is really unfortunate and taints the Department of Sensitive Crimes series. Very, very upsetting.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly delightful continuation of the Inspector Varg series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cucumber is the most phallic of vegetables. Take that, Citizens of the Internet, with your eggplant emoji. AMS has spoken.

The charm of this series comes from the conversations that stray so far from the original topic that I find myself laughing. Nothing funny has been said, but the seriousness with which the characters discuss the random topics is itself hilarious. Blomquist is a treasure. I wouldn't want to work with him-- or even have coffee with him-- but I hope he never leaves the Department of Sensitive Crimes.

I enjoyed this book a great deal, but I almost didn't make it beyond the first chapter, because of an injury to Martin, Ulf's beloved dog. I stabbed the skip forward button about 10 times, until Ulf got him to the vet. The leisurely pace and meandering thoughts are amusing until an innocent pup is bleeding in the back seat, at which point everyone needs to stop dithering and get him some help. (He makes a full recovery.) While there was nothing funny about the injury, it does set in motion two other plot threads with rewarding payoffs.

There are a few events in the book that make me wonder if the series is going to be continued. I hope so. There's nothing else out there quite like it.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

McCall Smith excels at putting the average person in unusual situations & then philosophizing about what happens, which usually turns out to be laugh-out-loud funny. Ulf Varg has an interesting job as a detective in charge of the Dept. of Sensitive Crimes, which means that unusual, odd, high-profile, or unwanted cases end up on their desks. In this one, they become embroiled in art theft & forgery, which is fascinating for the art lover, Ulf. He deals with his interesting colleagues, works on his love life, takes care of his deaf dog, & visits his psychotherapist. All in all, Sweden's most fascinating detective.

[John Pehle · Rating 5 out of 5]

At once dubious and optimistic about the state of the world, Ulf Varg's world view is punctuated with polite observations of things that are ever so close to being over the line. The subtle wit and social critique buried in Alexander McCall Smith's writing make reading the Detective Varg series a delight. Again, as in the other two volumes, there were passages that caused me to laugh out loud; sometimes because of the humor, sometimes because I saw myself so clearly mocked. If you have been reading the previous two books, you recognize that nothing much seems to get resolved but much is explored and I look forward to #4, whenever it reaches publication.

[Michele Dancer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best of this series so far, the central mystery takes place in the art world, which holds a special interest for our hero, Ulf Varg. As is typical of any book by McCall Smith, the mystery itself is not accompanied by violence or death but serves as the catalyst for myriad philosophical discussions about motives, behavior, and life in general. This may not sound like fun, but I always comes away from a book by this author feeling like this world, with these people, is one I would love to live in.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so reminiscent of his Isabel Dalhousie series, very contemplative and slow to evolve. Unfortunately Varg (wolf wolf) is a detective in Malmo Sweden, in The Department of Sensitive crimes.
The book begins with his deaf dog the loser in a fight with a squirrel. The ramifications of this are many and bring him to a few strange discussions. Then he actually gets a case about an art authenticator that gets solved in the very last pages, with the help of chatterbox Blomquist. This book, as in most of AMS's books, is a character study of many characters, and the slow moving mystery is just the means to this end. I look forward to the next one.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really glad that I persevered with this series. I think it really came into its own during this installment. I'm now quite fond of Ulf and his Russian-hating neighbor lady and dear Martin, his deaf dog. As with some of AMS's other series, these stories coming out of the Department of Sensitive Crimes don't deal with messy murders or high-stakes intrigue. It's all much quieter, more civilized, more based on human interactions. I appreciate the way that Ulf finds the connections while pondering something else.

Just a general observation: AMS is excellent at writing about loneliness and the lack of love in a life, and that sad but strong desire to look for it. Let's see if Mrs. Hogfors is right, if Ulf is ready and open for love.

Genuinely looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were many clues in the case of harrassment of Anders, art critics. Except for one red herring, Margaret, all information is relevant. Besides the author, who'd ever wonder about crimes committed by Siamese twins? This book really started to big down. That's because all loose ends needed to be tied together. But one wasn't settled, the matter of coworker, long winded Borg. I read all of his books, good or bad.

[Jennifer Mugrage · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't my favorite Alexander McCall Smith book I ever read, but I have read so many good ones.

As usual, literally every page contains warm, humanistic, often funny observations about human nature -- and canine nature -- that would make great quotes. McCall Smith books are like a smoothie for your mind -- sweet, comforting, go down quickly, and also good for you.

[Jill Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank goodness Alexander McCall Smith has not deserted us. It hurt me to give very few stars to the last two Botswana books, but here, in Sweden, he has returned to his quirky philosophical form, even if not quite to the top. Suspend judgement about some plot lines, let a few loose ends go untied, and enjoy the characters and their musings.