The “unhuman” Inspector Hobbes and his hapless reporter companion Andy are back for another supernatural adventure that is guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face.  Some chefs take simple ingredients and the result is “meh” while others create masterpieces of delight.  This novel is one such masterpiece of delight, far different from the standard urban fantasy/paranormal mystery fare.  What makes it special?  The unusual characters are so varied and likable - even Featherlight, the curmudgeonly bartender with a dubious grip on hygiene.  Animal lovers will adore Dregs, with his vibrant personality (reminded me a bit of Scooby Doo, but far more fun and with a touch more Casanova).  Andy, the narrator, is an affable, easy going guy with a talent for getting himself injured and into various forms of trouble.  And Hobbes is Hobbes, ageless, gruff, uniquely unhuman and always able to bring out the best in people while protecting his town from natural and supernatural disorder.  

In Inspector Hobbes and the Bones, the town is flooding and many are losing their homes - including Andy whose beloved Daphne is in Egypt on a dig.  Naturally Andy ends up back with his old friend Inspector Hobbes.  While dealing with the results of the storm, they discover human remains, some old but others far newer.  Andy eagerly helps Inspector Hobbes investigate the murders, while struggling to understand why someone is trying to blackmail him.

This simple sketch does little to encompass the entire story, the various weird and hilarious happenings and the over the top antics of the various characters.  Inspector Hobbes and the Bones is a book you can easily enjoy with your family - even the youngest members.  It has adventure, comedy, fantasy and romance, as well as a touch of mystery - something for everyone whether you are 15 or 50.

I highly recommend Inspector Hobbes and the Bones, as well as Wilkie Martin’s other Inspector Hobbes novels.  They are unique, charming and enjoyable regardless of how old you are.

5/5

I received a copy of Inspector Hobbes and the Bones from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

—Crittermom

Princess Fuzzypants here:
Oh dear! Andy Caplet is a hapless sad sack who stumbles from one pratfall to another. When his wife Daphne goes to Egypt on a dig, it is as the gods of mischief put a bullseye on his back. After his flat is demolished by a tree in a freak storm, it is a good thing he has Inspector Hobbes who can offer him room and board.
Inspector Hobbes is, to say the least, unusual. Andy calls him unhuman and with all the other unhuman creatures inhabiting his town, who am I to question this. As he follows Hobbes around he spends almost as much time flat on his back or unconscious as he does upright. Between natural floods and unnatural enchanters, his dance card is full.
Suspend all sense of reality and just go with the fun. It is funny and fast moving and very engaging. Andy is the "normal" foil around which all sorts of mayhem and highjinx ensue.
Needless to say, this has a resounding five purrs and two very definite paws up.

thanks you.
enjoyed it.
will get copies for family and friends.

I had not read any of the previous Inspector Hobbes books and found myself totally lost at times.
I thought the humour was puerile and just did not enjoy the story at all.

I wasn't sure this was my kind of book but decided to give it a read. I am glad I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was fun getting in to the characters!

I enjoyed the distraction of Inspector Hobbes and the Bones but feel I might have missed key elements of the overarching story by jumping into this series midstream. There's quite a lot that passed me by having none of the previous books to rely on for intelligence. Saying that, there is a warm charm between all the principle characters that one cannot help but find delightful. Mrs. Goodfellow, specifically, is a real gem though I don't know the story behind her intriguing abilities. She carried the story, I would say. Well, with the help of Hobbes and Dregs, of course. Those two are a crime comedy duo of great strength. Good stuff.

One point that did detract, and even annoyed me to a certain extent, is the level of Andy's bumbling. There wasn't much of it initially but it seemed to have changed course partway and was ramped up to a painful level. I find him the weakest character though he might have more redeeming qualities on offer with his wife's return? We shall see.

Inspector Hobbes and the Bones is good fun but if you are looking for a light cosy mystery I would suggest reading this series from the start to get the full impact.

Sorry, I assumed this was an ordinary crime story but now realise it has a non human in it. Therefore, it is not my sort of thing so won't be reading it. I'm sure it's fine for those who like that sort of thing! Apologies again.

A light read ideal for curling up on the sofa on a cold, miserable, winter's day. The lead characters are far from stereotypes but, at least, one can be assured that by the end Inspector Bones will have restored peace and calm.

Sometimes you find the right series at the right time. For me, Wilkie Martin’s Inspector Hobbes series was one of those. This light urban fantasy in the vein of Scott Meyer meets Ben Aaronovitch was just the escape I needed. I picked up the first in series, Inspector Hobbes and the Blood, on sale and surprised myself by buying the next two immediately. Then saw that his most recent was available on NetGalley. So I read the entire four book series in a week :)

Although each book in the series can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading them in order, if only to note the development of the narrator, Andy. My surprise at how much I enjoyed the series came from the fact in the first book he seemed childish and not so much a bumbling “Watson” but actually cursed. He improves over each book and his misadventures are somewhat muted. Here he seems merely klutzy and inept :) The mystery is a little more mysterious than prior books which is also a plus. There is also an abundance of really bad puns early in the book. How much you enjoy that will depend on your taste.

Overall, if you are looking for light, escapist reading I recommend the Inspector Hobbes series.