Detective Varg Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path for Detective Varg

If you are ready to step into the quiet, eccentric world of Malmö's Sensitive Crimes Department, the best way to experience the series is by following the publication order of the main novels. Starting with the first full-length novel allows you to be introduced to the department, the main characters, and the quirky tone of the series exactly as the author intended.

While there are several short stories and digital-first prequels that exist in the timeline before the first novel, we recommend skipping them initially. Begin with The Department of Sensitive Crimes (2019) to get a proper sense of the characters and their workplace dynamics. Once you are familiar with the team—including Ulf Varg, his colleague Anna, and Martin the lip-reading dog—you can easily go back to read the prequel short stories to appreciate the extra character details they provide.

Detective Varg Books in Publication Order

Alexander McCall Smith has structured the series around four core novels and a handful of supplementary short stories. Below is the list of books in their official publication order, based on the series' release history:

• Varg in Love (2013) – A short story introducing Detective Ulf Varg and his unique approach to solving mysteries on Valentine's Day.
• The Department of Sensitive Crimes (2019) – The first full-length novel in the series, launching the Malmö Sensitive Crimes Department.
• The Talented Mr. Varg (2020) – The second main novel, following Ulf as he investigates blackmail and wolf-related fraud.
• The Man with the Silver Saab (2021) – The third main novel, focusing on art fraud, a bizarre park incident, and Ulf's personal life.
• The Discreet Charm of the Big Bad Wolf (2023) – The fourth main novel, centering on a stolen cabin and Ulf's ethical reflections.

Understanding the Chronological Order and Prequel Stories

For readers who want to follow the exact timeline of Ulf Varg's career, the chronological order differs slightly from the publication order due to a few digital-only short stories that serve as prequels. These shorter pieces were written to give fans a quick glimpse of the characters or to celebrate special events like Valentine's Day.

The chronological order of the entire Detective Varg universe is as follows:

1. Varg in Love (Book 0.5) – This digital-only short story is the earliest chronological introduction to Detective Varg.
2. Scandinavian Noir in Twelve Chapters (Book 0.6) – Originally released as a free serialized story on the author's website in 2018, this very short piece gives readers an early look at Malmö and Ulf Varg's team.
3. The Strange Case of the Moderate Extremists (Book 0.8) – A digital-first novella published in early 2019 that focuses on a case involving Ulf's own family.
4. The Department of Sensitive Crimes (Book 1)
5. The Talented Mr. Varg (Book 2)
6. The Man with the Silver Saab (Book 3)
7. The Discreet Charm of the Big Bad Wolf (Book 4)

Please note that the short stories are completely optional. The main novels contain all the character development and overarching plot points needed to fully enjoy the series, and the stories can be read at any point without spoiling major mysteries.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Malmö's oddest investigations, it is helpful to understand the unique genre of this series. Alexander McCall Smith famously coined the term "Scandi Blanc" to describe these books, creating a deliberate contrast to the dark, violent, and gritty style of traditional "Nordic Noir" (such as the works of Jo Nesbø or Stieg Larsson). Instead of bloody crime scenes and deep conspiracies, Detective Varg deals with minor, highly unusual infractions—what the department calls "sensitive crimes." These include missing imaginary boyfriends, a stabbed knee, and a stolen cabin.

The series is less about high-stakes detective work and more about philosophical musings, human relationships, and the minor struggles of everyday life. The main character, Ulf Varg (whose name humorously translates to "Wolf Wolf" in Swedish), is a thoughtful and sensitive detective who regularly attends therapy, drives a silver Saab, and spends much of his time worrying about his colleagues. Another fan-favorite element of the books is Martin, Ulf's dog, who is famously the only dog in Sweden capable of lip-reading.

Practical Reading Guidance: Standalone vs. Continuity

A common question among readers is whether the Detective Varg books can be read as standalones. The answer is a mix of yes and no. Each novel features self-contained mysteries that are resolved by the end of the book, meaning you won't be left hanging with an unsolved crime. However, the personal relationships and office politics among the staff—particularly the slow-burning romantic tension between Ulf and his married colleague, Anna—develop continuously from book to book. For this reason, we highly recommend reading the four main novels in order to fully appreciate the character growth and emotional beats.

There are no co-authored books or major spin-offs to worry about in this series. Unlike some of Alexander McCall Smith's larger, ongoing series like The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, the Detective Varg series is a tight, self-contained set of books that is easy to catch up on and perfect for a cozy weekend read.