The second book in Alexander McCall Smith's new DETECTIVE VARG series . . .'Reading the novel
feels like a form of meditation . . . There is much to enjoy' ScotsmanSpring is coming slowly
to Sweden - though not quite as slowly as Detective Ulf Varg's promised promotion at the
Department of Sensitive Crimes. For Varg referred by his psychoanalyst to group therapy at
Malmö's Wholeness Centre life now seems mostly a circle of self-examination something which
may or may not be useful when it comes to the nature of his profession and the particularly
sensitive cases that have recently come to light.All in a day's work for Detective Varg except
that one of his new investigations involves fellow detective Anna it will require every ounce
of self-discipline he has in order to remain professional. The other more curious case is
centred around internationally successful novelist Nils Personn-Cederström. According to his
girlfriend Cederström is being blackmailed - but by whom and for what reason?Accompanied by
his irritating but kindly colleague Blomquist Varg begins his enquiries and soon the answers
fall neatly into place. Nothing and no one is ever that simple however and not for the first
time he learns as much about his own emotional and moral landscape as he does about the motives
of others. Now Varg must make a possibly life-changing decision. Will he choose his own
happiness over that of his heart's desire?
