Questions About The Department of Sensitive Crimes (Detective Varg, #1)

by Alexander McCall Smith (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (5)

Why is there an umlaut over the A in Alexander McCall Smith on the cover of this book, do you suppose? Seems like a subtle joke...

Welven Wofford Yes seems to only be a joke to me. It made me chuckle when I got the book. I believe that was the only purpose.

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I don't suppose it's available on audiobook?

Don Goncalves It is.
CD - unabridged. Audio (6 discs)
Product Number: C05577
Released: Apr 17, 2019
ISBN: #9781980031581
Narrator/s: David Rintoul
Publisher: Recorded Bo…moreIt is.
CD - unabridged. Audio (6 discs)
Product Number: C05577
Released: Apr 17, 2019
ISBN: #9781980031581
Narrator/s: David Rintoul
Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.(less)

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What was the deal with the French chalk??? Was it every resolved?

George Sort of.

In the debris in the alley behind the victim's tent there is a shopping list for "potatoes, vitamin pill, kitchen towels, French chalk". At th…moreSort of.

In the debris in the alley behind the victim's tent there is a shopping list for "potatoes, vitamin pill, kitchen towels, French chalk". At the next occurrence, when Ulf notes its the use on Humpas's studio floor, he wonders where he's seen the words, and the same again later. If he had remembered, it would have meant nothing. Any connection to the other three items, or of those items to Humpas or anyone else, is unilluminating.

I remembered only because I'd never met the term before. I am sure this is another of McCall-Smith's small jokes. In a wholly serious mystery, the connection would have told the astute reader something that would have eventually occurred to the detective.(less)

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Why do you think Martin became depressed? I was convinced it was going to be because he could read lips and didn't like 'listening' to his caretaker during the day.

George There's no indication Martin doesn't like being with his day-caretaker. So I believe it's just another small unsolved mystery. We really cannot take t…moreThere's no indication Martin doesn't like being with his day-caretaker. So I believe it's just another small unsolved mystery. We really cannot take this Scandi-Blanc novel any more seriously than we do the publisher's blurb for it.(less)

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Are there more Detective Varg books coming?

George The publisher's blurb says it's a series.…moreThe publisher's blurb says it's a series.(less)

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