Varg Vuem

The Varg Vuem series is a set of novels by Norwegian detective crime fiction author, Gunnar Staalesen. With 20 titles, the first of the compelling crime thrillers was released in 1977 with the twentieth published in 2016. The novels feature Varg Vuem a private detective as the lead character. When we are introduced to the chief protagonist, he is living and working in the city of Bergen on the Norwegian West Coast. Most of his work is done in and around the city of Bergen, where most of his cases involve unraveling dark mysteries. The name Varg in Old Norse stands for Wolf, while his full name literally translates to Wolf-in-a-holy-place. As a private detective that for the most part likes to work his cases alone, there is no better name for Varg Vuem, the best of the best among private eyes. As compared to other modern day fiction detectives, the author says Vuem is more like a Philip Marlowe than a Sam Spade. He always makes his job harder, particularly when dealing with other investigative colleagues since he adopts unconventional techniques. Often laughed at during his investigations, in most instances, he has the last laugh as he cracks more cases than any other detective in Bergen, private or otherwise. A man in his mid-forties, he has dark blonde hair, which is graying a bit around the ears and on his temples. Vuem dresses casually, preferring jeans and tweed jackets, and a tartan tie on a light shirt, and could easily pass for a pension or life insurance salesperson.