Inspector Hobbes and the Bones

A thoroughly enjoyable read! Hobbes and Andy remind me of Hercule Poroit and Hastings, with Andy being much more incompetent. However, he often attempts to be heroic, ignoring his inner voice urging him to be cautious, which makes me like him even more. This is the fourth entry in this series, and I read it without reading any of the previous ones. Although I think it would be preferable to read them in sequence, and I intend to read the others, I found that I could follow along in this book without feeling that I had missed too much background.

The mystery was interesting, and the characters fun. I will definitely be reading more of this series.

I was provided this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh deary, deary me, I've gone against everything I believe in. The Order of Which One Should Read a Series.

'Call me an ambulance'. 'You're an ambulance'.

Inspector Hobbes and the Bones is book 4, and I never start off in the middle of a series, let alone at the end of one. (Although, I'd hope that Wilkie Martin is penning another!)

Anyway, seeing this on NetGalley, (albeit, last year, me bad, sorry NG, I'm on it) I have to own up, it was the cover that inially intrigued me. The artwork was zingy and eye~catching, the blurb sounded like an easy~going, light read, and daft humour tickles me pink if the mood takes, and this is exactly what I fancied this week.

I'm not a Cozy Mysteries kinda girl, and I don't really do Fantasy either, but this is a Cozy Crazy Crime Fantasy Comedy Mystery (CCCFCM for short) which just kept me entertained from start to finish.

It was extremely British, with puns galore, slapstick~style action, and dog characters!! Yes dogs!! Well, there are humans and the.....ummm, unhumans as well. But my favourite characters were definitely Dregs and Mimi. To see an animal relationship blossom is something I've never read about before and it was so lovely. And very funny.

The characters and place names!!! From pubs, to shops and street names, I sighed, whispered 'oh dear' to myself, and quietly smiled with cheesy, guilty pleasure.

One of the two MC's is Andy Caplet. A hapless, clumsy, wally of a man, who's pretty much outta luck all the time it seems. And, of course, Hobbes, a police Inspector of questionable age and ethics, whose character I'd like to know more about. He has strange abilities and strength. I, for one cannot drink scalding hot tea or break a padlock with my bare hands. Reading book 1 will hopefully give him some background to answer a few of my questions. Who or, what is he?

It was all a bit silly, but the silliness was balanced with a nice little mystery that was cute and clever. Unlike poor Andy.

Every character was superbly written, you do get some funny types in these small English villages, I can tell you. Anyway, I need silly sometimes. There comes a time when reading this stuff suits me just fine.

So, on finishing this, I've learned two things, one, I need to read books 1~3 when my next non~serious urges arrive. And two, crime and dodgy shenanigans can always wait whilst there's a good hearty meal to be had. Who could possibly solve anything on an empty stomach?

Wilkie Martin has my kind of humour, and his style certainly won't be for everyone, but I loved it. A proper bonkers CCCFCM. I'm off to make that a new Goodreads shelf.

I'd like to thank the author, Wilkie Martin, the publisher, The Witcherley Book Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lightweight detective mystery with some fantasy characters including the eponymous Inspector Hobbes.
Andy Caplet's wife has gone away for a while and he gets made homeless following a storm. He ends up staying with his friend Inspector Hobbes and gets caught up in an investigation into some bones.
I really struggled with this book. The main problem was the humour. The humour was not clever but rather the book was liberally dotted with puns and slapstick. Andy is very clumsy so we are provided with a very slapstick selection of prat falls and trips with supposedly humourous results. I felt the author tried far too hard to introduce this throughout the book. The puns and corny jokes are prolific at the start which irritated me and left me wanting to give up after approximately three chapters. I did persevere and it did calm down a bit but I never found it funny, merely irritating.
The story itself is basic. In fact there is very little depth throughout the book. The solution all seemed to lie with a selection of fantasy characters about which we are told very little. To be fair, however, this is the first book in the series that I have read so it is possible that these characters were explained in a previous book.
Andy Caplet is a rather stupid and unfunny character. He never seems to have any idea what is going on around him, never does as he is told and shows a distinct disregard for other people. Quite how he is married is beyond me! None of the characters are really explored in depth leaving a rather cardboard plot with cardboard characters.
I couldn't bring myself to give this book two stars - yes it was unfunny and cardboard but not horrendous. However, it is not quite a three star either - more of a 2.5.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

I was bemused and not amused. A very lightweight unfunny book. I guess if your a fan of the earlier books you'll like this one.
Humour as they say is a funny thing and I'm afraid this did not tickle my funny bone at all. The whimpering Watson to Hobbes's Sherlock was the most irritating character.
The two stars is because whilst the subject was dire the writing was quite good and if I'd enjoyed the genre I would have looked out the other three for light holiday reading.

There’s going to be trouble. Andy Caplet’s wife goes away, someone is out to get him, and he loses nearly everything in a storm. Amazing both himself and his unhuman friend Inspector Hobbes, he heroically rescues flood victims and uncovers something shocking. Is Andy being set up for blackmail by the apparently charming young woman who attempts to seduce him, or is something even more sinister afoot? Hobbes certainly believes so, and he’s getting worried.
Typically I read this book first, which is the second in the series. But it didn’t really matter as explanations were made as the book went along, or should I say raced along as fast as the flood water! What a delicious book, humorous, odd, heart-warming, with a few ghostly/paranormal bits thrown in. A book of typically British humour and an absolute delight!

I really wanted to love this book, and from the description I thought I would. Sadly, that was not the case. You MUST have read the first installment in this series in order to not be totally lost trying to read this one. It starts charmingly enough, with our narrarator Andy having a n altercation with a man he doesn't know for a reason he can't fathom. But even so, we don't learn Andy's name until several pages in. And although he introduces the enigmatic Inspector Hobbes and his surreal housekeeper, Mrs Goodfellow, almost immediately, we learn nothing about their history. Andy is constantly alluding to Hobbes extreme age and strength or Mrs Goodfellows prowess with whipping up a meal out of a recently deceased moose, but we are never given an explanation of these facts. And as charming as Andy started out, he quickly devolved into the most annoying thing about this whole book. His constant (and I mean in every fricking sentence) "ummm......" is beyond annoying and his thought process and ensuing actions border on stupid. By the end I was hoping HE was the culprit and would dispatched by Hobbes, never to appear in another book. Sadly , that was not the case.

If you like Sherlock Holmes, you will love Inspector Hobbes. It is similar to Sherlock Holmes but with new, fantastic things.

somehow I just couldn't get into this book. I have tried to read it several times, and find myself floundering half way through the first chapter.

Inspector Hobbes isn’t quite human; that’s not a spoiler. Even readers, like myself, who are new to the series will figure out soon enough that Hobbes is centuries old and more intelligent that we mere humans. Just as Sherlock Holmes has his Dr. John Watson, Hobbes has his Andy Caplet, an accident-prone newspaperman just one notch above imbecile. The novel begins with someone making several attempts on Caplet’s life. When a storm ruins Caplet’s apartment, he moves back in with Hobbes, which leads to even more mayhem.

Inspector Hobbes and the Bones is a light-hearted, humorous cozy. Caplet and the groan-worthy puns and jokes proved annoying at first, as if author Wilkie Martin were trying too hard, but, once Hobbes came on the scene, I really warmed to the novel — much more than I thought I would. If you’re not turned off by the riddles in the Bazooka Bubble Gum, you’ll like this series; if not, definitely steer clear, as Bazooka Joe’s humor can be more sophisticated than Hobbes’ and Caplet’s.

Although Inspector Hobbes and the Bones is the fourth in this series and the first I’ve read, I never felt at a loss. Even readers, like myself, new to the series will do fine.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and The Witcherley Book Company in exchange for an honest review.

A very nice premise, which is why I chose this book, but the execution was poor. There were a lot of plot balls being juggled but none of them went anywhere, the central mystery being lost among them. Andy was cartoonishly bumbling and inept, and his relationship with his wife could not be more unrealistic; even various characters being immortal creatures felt more believable. The writing was plodding and I found that I forcing myself to read the book, until I finally gave up on it.

This is my first Inspector Hobbs book and I loved it. There were several times when I had to stop reading and just laugh. I can't wait to go back and catch up on the past books that I have missed! Thank you, Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book and introducing me to this hilarious series. And thank you to Wilkie Martin for having such a great sense of humor and imagination.

This is the fourth book in a series of cosy crime mysteries, and unfortunately my first adventure with the unhuman Inspector Hobbes and his friend Andy Caplet.

It's certainly cosy and a light and easy read, but I simply wasn't pulled into the story quite as much as I wanted. For the first quarter of the book I was just turning pages without any real desire to, other than to get to the end. Once you're used to the setting, I think any book in a cosy series can take the scenic route in getting to the point, but this took a little too long for me. The mystery didn't seduce me, what can I say.

It is funny, with several laugh-out-loud moments, and the characters are well-drawn. I did enjoy the writing, so I'll come back, but to book number one next time.

Very fresh read. Great story, original and memorable. This author will do well

‘I was grateful for having been born human’
There’s going to be trouble. Andy Caplet’s wife goes away, someone is out to get him, and he loses nearly everything in a storm. Amazing both himself and his unhuman friend Inspector Hobbes, he heroically rescues flood victims and uncovers something shocking.

Is Andy being set up for blackmail by the apparently charming young woman who attempts to seduce him, or is something even more sinister afoot? Hobbes certainly believes so, and he’s getting worried.

This is the fourth in Wilkie Martin’s unhuman series of standalone cozy comedy crime fantasies.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I had never heard of this writer before. As I am very keen to discover both writers I've never come across before and new talent, I was really interested in this book.

The characters are ever so slightly strange at first, especially if this is the first book of the series that you have read. The people in the story are all very eccentric. I was particularly fond of Billy the ninja dwarf. He was great.

It was a little bit hard to wrap my head around the character and place/street names at first. However, the more I realised that that was all a part of the story's central themes of difference and eccentricity.

The story line was good and there were several plot twists and turns. It was also rather comical in places. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised. An excellent story.

A four out of five star read.

I am profoundly grateful to NetGalley and The Witcherley book company for my copy.

The fourth book in the series and as funny, unique and satisfying as it's predecessors.

You do not need to have read the first three, although like most good series it helps engage with the characters.

Be prepared to suspend expectations of reality and go with the flow as it is well worth it.

This is a really different & exciting read. Great storyline with a perfect blend of humour and mystery. 100% recommended, totally loved it & in a class of it's own - fabulous!

It is a fantasy detective series set in the Cotswolds, narrated in the first person by one Andy Caplet, the victim of "an unfortunate set of calamities" - a food critic and friend of the titles character - inspector Hobbes. There are all the elements of detective fiction - murder, blackmail, quirky characters, natural disasters - all of which add to the mystery. Its a light read.

Not having read any of the books in the series prior to this one, I found it a little hard to follow the premise of an "otherworldly" inspector. I may have to source the first three tomes and come back to this one.

I felt I didn't read to read the previous 2 books to appreciate this rather unusual mystery tale.

Inspector Hobbes is not quite human and thus he and his friend tend to encounter criminals who are also not quite human. The Inspector's long suffering housekeeper knows exactly what to do when he is stumped - hence the bones.

One is never quite certain what the Inspector looks like, but we do know he is very strong and has a strange appetite. He is also very clever and has been a member of the police force for rather too long for a normal person.

In a funny way, I rather enjoyed this book and have debated over what I would rate it. as i am not inclined to read any more of this series I am grading it a 3. A 4 would have meant looking for more to read and I didn't like it quite that much.

I came to this book new not having read or heard anything about Andy or Hobbs. I approached it as a normal crime novel but was soon chuckling over inept Andy. If anything could go wrong or given a choice Andy would make the wrong decision then it would.

As the tale unfolded I got used to the unlikely slap-stick humour and settled down to a good read. Of course the further in to the tale the greater the move towards unhumanness and the actions of the weird characters.

I enjoyed the book which was not in the usual genre that I read and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a quirky tale. I have only awarded 4 stars though as I would not buy further books.

I haven't read the earlier books in the series and so I didn't really get the characters or the set up and the constant punning got on my nerves. It's a bit like a supernatural Elsie and Ethelred crossed with Mal Peet's Murdstone Trilogy. I think if you started from the beginning it would be fine.

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.

have not read any of the other books in this series but I will be picking up the other books in the series.

The story follows hapless Andy whose wife Daphane has just left to do a dig in Egypt and he is feeling out of sorts. After some strange occurances he ends up going to stay with his friend Hobbes, Mrs Goodfellow the housekeeper and Dreggs the dog. We follow Andy and Hobbes through their adventures where they meet a boar, some mystical creatures and a dog. I enjoyed this book its a nice cosy mystery and I look forward to reading more by this author.

“Cosy” murder mystery among the unhumans – not for me

The fourth novel in this series, this mystery thriller takes place in a Cotswold town with the annoying narrator, a clumsy fool called Andy Caplet (the type of humour which permeates this book), aiding Inspector Hobbes, a “unhuman”.

The story involves all sorts of supernatural goings-on with two murders to solve. The style is humorous and light but I did not enjoy it much. There are many attempts at humour, some of which work, and it helps to have a good knowledge of British popular culture.

Quite entertaining but I'm starting to think that “cosy” murder stories are not really my thing.

I did not get on with Hobbes and Andy - partially I think this volume is depending on a previous one, and so the personality of Hobbes, a burly protective detective , a saviour for all, is not fleshed out enough for us to find him as appealing as Andy does. Andy's wife is off on a dig in Egypt and all sorts of calamities befall him. With feeble wit he staves off attacks and heads for Hobbes' home to assist him and for food and eventually (when a tree falls onto his flat - don't ask) he moves back in - it is assumed we somehow realise he'd lived there before. A blackmail attempt and shenanigans with a photographer and an editor he writes restaurant reviews for just did not liven this up for me. It's just feeble as are the baddish jokes throughout. A little too cozy and unfleshed out during bad flooding that they must take on too.

Easy to read, with some neat turns of phrase, but not as funny as it thinks it is and I lost interest halfway through.

With many thanks to The Witcherley Book Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

There’s going to be trouble. Andy Caplet’s wife goes away, someone is out to get him, and he loses nearly everything in a storm. Amazing both himself and his unhuman friend Inspector Hobbes, he heroically rescues flood victims and uncovers something shocking.

Is Andy being set up for blackmail by the apparently charming young woman who attempts to seduce him, or is something even more sinister afoot? Hobbes certainly believes so, and he’s getting worried.

This is the fourth in Wilkie Martin’s unhuman series of cosy comedy crime fantasies.

An absolutely fabulous book (as all the previous ones are) - full of wit and humour. Well recommended.

This book is so charming, from the setting to the characters, and it's just good fun. I was almost overwhelmed by the charming, cosy feel to this book. It's a mystery but it's not dark and edgy, unlike the other mysteries that have dominated for the past couple of years, instead it's almost comforting and I really enjoyed this aspect of the book.

The writer's style is also very easy-going and it feels very natural to read. My only problem with the writing was the seemingly constant use of the word 'loping' to describe how Inspector Hobbes moves but that's such a small aspect of the book that it didn't annoy me too much. Also, there were a few run-on sentences but I haven't read the final version of the book so I'd imagine they've been sorted. Also, they're a natural part of writing. This would have been an incredibly quick read if life (aka, work) didn't get in the way. I could easily see myself curling up with this book, or maybe one of the others in the series, in front of the fire on a cold winter's evening.

I really liked most of the characters. They're all odd and some are not quite human but I enjoyed Andy's character the most. Andy is human and was a failed journalist but now he's a successful food critic for his local paper. However, life is not smooth sailing for Andy as he's just hit with disaster after disaster within the book. Whenever Andy tries to do something good there's an inevitable misunderstanding and he seems to be on the receiving end of rather a lot of hatred in this book. That being said, Andy makes an excellent human sidekick to Inspector Hobbes and their relationship reminded me of the Holmes-Watson dynamic at first.

I enjoyed the plot and the interwoven mysteries that need solving by Hobbes and Andy were well thought out. On NetGalley there is a note saying that 'it is not necessary to have read the previous books in the series' but I kind of disagree with that. I think that it works well as a standalone book but I think the experience of reading this book could be enriched by reading at least the first book in the series, Inspector Hobbes and the Blood. However, I haven't read any of the books in the series so that's just my opinion formed on the reviews I've read of the first book and the summary of the first book.

I would definitely recommend this book because it's just really fun and lighthearted and I love the fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously but it's still a very good mystery at the same time. It's currently on my Amazon wishlist so that I remember to buy it when I have the chance.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars as a rating because it's fun and very different to what I've read lately. I just enjoyed it a lot.

Full disclosure, i received this book free from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
I do enjoy the Hobbes books, this one picks up a couple of years after the last one in the series. Andy is married, his restaurant column is going well, and is going to be syndicated, he's even managed to stay out of hospital. Until his wife goes off to Egypt on an archaeological dig, his flat gets destroyed by a falling tree, and he ends up back living with Hobbes. As well as getting dragged into a murder mystery, he's got to cope with the village flooding, and a mystery person who's got a grudge against him as he get shot with an airgun, beaten up, and even snogged by a strange beautiful woman. Through all this Andy slowly but surely becomes the klutz we remember from the first 3 books, although he shows flashes of real courage. Hobbes and Mrs Goodfellow haven't changed at all, and unfortunately there's not much of the back story of either of them expanding. I'm hopeful at some point in the future we will find out more about both of them.
Wilkie Martin is one of the few writers doing good humorous fantasy, long may it continue.

Trying too hard to be funny and failing for my liking.. Couldn't identify with the key characters and didn't finish the book..

Inspector Hobbes and the Bones is marketed as “This is the fourth in Wilkie Martin’s unhuman series of standalone cosy comedy crime fantasies” and that it’s not necessary to read the other books in the series and I’m sorry to say I disagree slightly. While it isn’t 100% necessary to read the preceding books as the narrative from Andy Caplet – a slightly eccentric and clumsy reporter – does give insight into the previous escapades of Inspector Hobbes and Andy Caplet, it isn’t brimming with information to explain them – little bits here and there that give you the general jist of the antics.

I will say that this book had the comedic value I was looking forward to and it came from various characters and situations – Inspector Hobbes and Mrs Goodfellow have a distinct sense of sarcastic humour that I quite liked, Featherlight another “unhuman” was also quite comedic but I don’t think it was supposed to be intentional.

One thing that wasn’t really explained in the book was what the term “unhuman” actually covered. There’s a vampire, a dwarf, some sort of nature fae and the sly ones and then there’s Hobbes himself who appears to be some sort of werewolf/shape changer creature but you don’t see him actually change his shape, only hear of him feasting on several raw bones when he’s feeling particularly agitated. Mrs Goodfellow is also an oddity with what appears to be the ability to appear at will, immense cooking skills and the strength of 10 men not to mention the fact that she appears to be immortal.

All kinds of mishaps happen to Andy in this book – his wife goes on an archaeological dig in Egypt, he almost gets hit by a car, he gets kissed by his saviour, he’s shot, his flat gets totally destroyed, he gets beaten up the list goes on. There’s so much happening to this dude that there isn’t really much of a story line to go on – my opinions are based on the overwhelming amount of bad things happening to one character that it (and his crazy need to eat and describe everything he eats) kind of detract from the actual story.

The plot includes a flood (believable though it is) and the subsequent mishaps of a flood followed by the discovery of some bones and thus we come to our title. Old bones mixed in with new bones because there happened to be an ancient ossuary in the area near a culvert where the new bodies were thrown whose blockage apparently caused the flooding – not quite as believable when you consider that this one culvert flooded the entire town.

Anyway, a storm that caused the flood destroyed poor Andy’s house so he moves back in with Hobbes and this is where his entire life goes to hell and he disregards his responsibilities to go gallivanting off with Hobbes and a precocious dog named Dregs. From there the book gets a little less comedic and a touch more serious but still with the underlying comedy value which was good.

The ending of this book made the beginning and middle make more sense than it originally did, a lot of what happened to Andy and what he went through was because of the fae, which was quite nifty because he didn’t even realise it until Hobbes told him otherwise. I didn’t think much of Andy, he thought too much about food and not his actual important things.

Despite the niggles and the relatively unexplained situations from previous books, I quite enjoyed this book for its comedic value and the writing style not necessarily the content it contained.

Love this series picked it up last year and was happy to be given the opportunity to read this new novel.
This is a continuation of Andy and his ongoing life and funny situations he gets himself into.
His wife goes to work away and in the space of a day he loses his flat in a storm and ends up back with Inspector Hobbes and Mrs Goodfellow.
Helping Hobbes with the flood victims he unwittingly finds bodies and it escalates from there.
If you enjoy comedy and a bit of action you'll enjoy this book and series.

3 and ½ Stars

Although the book was amusing in parts and well written, it’s not my cup of tea.

I haven’t read any of the Inspector Hobbes books before and thought I’d give it a try. It is an engaging and interesting story. Inspector Hobbes and Andy go on all kinds of adventures, with Andy getting into trouble most of the time. In fact that’s when I got a little annoyed with Andy. His sophomoric humor and accident proneness got to me in the end.

I want to thank Netgalley and The Witcherly Book Company for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I loved this book the humour brought a smile to my face. The book was well written and captured my imagination in the first chapter. The main characters are Inspector Hobbes and a very accident prone Andy Caplet who muddles his way through the investigations. This book is a good read and I would recommend it to a friend.

Interesting read, a cross between a cosy Agatha Cristie and a supernatural tale. Well written and a satisfying read with great characters, including the main narrator, who is perhaps, just a little too hapless and accident prone. Very funny in places and the food descriptions made me hungry. This is, I believe, the third book in the series, and although I won't go back to the first two, I will certainly read the next book in the series.

Andy Caplet is feeling lonely as his wife has left for a job. He is shot by an air rifle, almost hit by a car, a beautiful girl seduced him and a picture of the incident is taken. If that is not enough, a major storm occurs that night and a large tree crashed into his apartment. He survived and went to stay with Inspector Hobbs. The storm continues and the river begins to flood. While rescuing those trap in the water, Inspector Hobbs discovers bones blocking the flow of the water. Andy is shown a strange object and he shows to Hobbs who becomes worried. Why is the Inspector concern? Who are these strange individuals that Andy encounters? Andy must find and answer before he is no more.
This the fourth book in this exceptional fantasy but can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend this book and the series.

Disclosure: I received a free copy from Witcherley Book Company for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.

Book #4 in the Unhuman series. I loved catching up with Andy, Hobbes, and Mrs Goodfellow. We've moved on a bit from the last book and Andy is now a married man. His wife has gone to Egypt on a dig and Andy is left on his own till she returns... What could possibly go wrong? Well it's Andy, so absolutely everything. I love these books, and did laugh out loud in the Doctors waiting room a few times. 5*

Great funny, witty book within a mystery plot. This is my first book from this author and would read the other books as well. A recommend read!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. It was a very good book, not what I was expecting at all . Good story very funny also, it was hard to put this down. Would recommend this book to anyone.

Instantly reminded me, of course, of Sherlock Holmes. Was quite surprised that this book contained a side of the 'supernatural' but found it quite a funny read, as 'Andy' is a rather funny narrator.

First up was Wilkie Martin's fourth instalment of the hapless Andy Caplet and formidable Inspector Hobbes. When we left Andy he was had unwittingly helped to solve a crime and netted himself a job and a girlfriend in the process. Book 4 - Inspector Hobbes and the Bones - is set two years later and finds Andy at a loose end. His wife has gone to Egypt on an archaeological dig leaving him to his own devices. Unfortunately, terrible floods have hit the area which leaves Andy homeless and back living on Black Dog street with Hobbes and Mrs. Goodfellow. It's not long before Andy becomes embroiled in a new case when a local resident ends up dead. Andy and Hobbes (well mostly Hobbes) are back on the case in between eating Mrs. Goodfellow's sumptuous food.

I really enjoy this series and Inspector Hobbes and the Bones was no exception. Andy is as accident prone and unlucky as ever. He seems to get himself into one pickle after another and there is one 'predicament' that Andy finds himself in that is especially funny. Poor Andy. I was certain that the last book was the final one and while I would have been happy with that I still really enjoyed this latest adventure. Martin stays true to his characters and yet delivers another intricately woven plot. I think you could read this as a stand alone but why would you want to miss books 1-3? Too fun to miss.

Thanks netgalley for this ARC.


Always enjoyable and fun series!

Amazing cozy mystery/urban fantasy
I loved this book. As a cozy mystery, it had the typical food stories, romance, dogs, and murder. But that is where any similarly to other cozy mysteries ends for this cozy is also urban fantasy with monsters and inhumans. And puns. Lot’s of puns. Author Wilkie Martin successfully blends the two genres into a great story. This is the fourth book of the series but the first one I read. Martin manages to explain everything on the run so the book works well as a stand alone. I recommend this book for fans of either genre. Readers of the Discworld series may also enjoy this series as Martin writes similarly to Sir Terry Pratchett.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary cop of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.

On the face of it, this is a detective procedural with two protagonists in a Holmes/Watson-type relationship. This familiar base is, however, overlaid with punning humour (which I rather like) and the kind of understated supernaturalism one finds in the works of Paul Magrs. It's not what I would call deep reading, but it is funny, easy entertainment perfect for a rainy day indoors. I'd dearly love to know what exactly makes Hobbes "unhuman" though!

What a fantastic read! Being a big fan of Terry Pratchett's humour and Ben Aaronovitch's 'PC Grant' series, I am thrilled to have found this new Unhuman series. Obviously, I'm late to the party as Book 4 is the first one I had heard of or read but I will definitely be going back to read the previous three. The titular Inspector Hobbes is mysterious and unflappingly heroic and he (?) is, well sort of, capably supported by Andy, who gets more book time than the lead but is well worth it. Full of witty one liners and laugh out loud imagery and story lines, I can't wait to read the first three, and hope there will be a fifth really soon.

This is the fourth in the series - I read the first as a Kindle daily deal. It started out well, and seemed promising if not the most original thing I'd ever seen. But the more I read, the more I felt like I'd read it before... Unfortunately, this fourth book continues in exactly that vein... I will admit that I have not read all of the previous three. Despite the fact that I have a rather obsessive thing about reading series books in order. After finishing the first, I dutifully moved on to the second (the Kindle deal was a three-pack), because I knew I had this fourth title in my NetGalley queue. Unfortunately, by the middle of the second, I was losing interest rather more rapidly than I had hoped... I set that one aside and, in a burst of out-of-character decision-making, moved on to this one so I could complete the promised review.

There are some things casually throw into the opening pages of this one that are wild departures from where I left things in the mid-second book. But after adjusting for those, honestly, it felt like I was reading the same thing over again - and that's the problem. The story was not literally repetitive - rather, it was structurally so. And that is a big problem for me... This series feels like a slower-going version of the Ben Aaronovitch Rivers of London series, with a similar construct - a sad-sack regular guy who becomes enmeshed rather against his will in the world-within-a-world finds himself under the tutelage of an older and wiser mentor who turns out to be way more than he appears. However, unlike the Aaronovitch with its construct of the rivers (which is truly original), and its snark and quirks, this one offers nothing comparably unique... It's not bad, it's just not grabbing me because it feels like something I've read before. And the trouble Andy finds himself in (repeatedly) is starting to feel ridiculous. I realize that's partly the point - this is billed as "comedy crime fantasy", after all - but it just isn't holding me. Instead I'm finding it's making me roll my eyes - and not in the good way.

A story of murder and mayhem in the Cotswolds with the almost unimaginable trio of Inspector Hobbes, the inept Andy and Dregs the dog. A real comedy from beginning to end with some serious bits in between. A really amusing story, well you couldn't really take it seriously!!

There are unexpected pleasures in store, when you discover a new series, but start reading several books in. The characters are more developed and believable, with detailed substantial back stories and individual quirks. I havent yet read any of the earlier novels in the Inspector Hobbes sequence, but really enjoyed this one.

The tone is a nice mix between the mundane and the bizarre, with slight references to strange events dropped almost in passing. I love this style, which reminds me of a more restrained Robert Rankin, or more weird P.G.Wodehouse. There are plenty of puns, though they don't feel forced, as they often are with many writers, and there is plenty of fun for those who enjoy reading between the lines.

Fabulous read! I will definitely look for more by this author.

I got this book because I really like Wilkie Collins' stories and the premise sounded wonderfully quirky. Let's just say that I'm allergic to certain types of language, and the dialogue in this book was limp and couldn't draw me into the story. I know this isn't because it's from across the pond. It's just that the writing did not appeal to me as a reader nor as an editor. I'm sure this must be because I didn't read any of the first 3 in the series. But on the other hand, I just couldn't get into the story. So much happened to poor Andy that I found I didn't really care about Andy. Any he's not like Mr. Bean who funny in the mishaps. Just didn't click for me, but I see that it does for most of those who reviewed it. Guess I'm the one out in the cold :)

Downloaded from Netgalley in exchange for an hones review.

The laugh out loud, puzzling, kind of funny.

This book is genuinely hilarious. We meet Hobbes, an Inspector infamous for his ability to solve strange mystery cases and with him, we meet Andy an amateur detective but really, just an average common man. Old friends. With Andy's wife setting out for Egypt, it is likely Andy won't manage on his own, and with a fun, but mostly bizarre, turn of events he manages to stay over at Hobbes and re-lives their days together, fighting crime.

You can't not enjoy this book, Andy was clumsily hilarious and Hobbes, the mysterious super hero. With the witty writing, the stupid characters and the messed up action, you have to love it. It really couldn't have been written better. Featherlight was my favourite!

I received this book through NetGalley. Made it to my favourites!

Thoughtful, funny, and action packed without a lot of violence. This is the first book from this author and series I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I cannot wait to get the rest of the series to enjoy. Quirky, hilarious and spellbinding.

I really enjoyed this book.
I do wonder if it would benefit from having read other books in the series first.
I will be searching out the other books to buy to see iff this helps my comprehension of the story line.

As most of my regular readers know, I absolutely hate getting a book to review and finding out that it is 2nd, 3rd, or 4th book in a series. 9 out of 10 times, I get so lost that I just want to put the book down and DNF it. But, I usually push through the book and I usually am totally confused about what is going on. Luckily, with the last few books that I got and were part of a series, they were pretty easy to follow and gave information about the earlier books in a way that didn’t underwhelm or overwhelm the current book. Happily, I can group Inspector Hobbes and the Bones in with them.

Now, this is a book that is set completely in England and there is a ton of dry English humor (which I love) and a lot of English vocabulary. Luckily, my Kindle’s English (not American English, English English…lol) dictionary was downloaded because I had to use it a few time. Not that it took away from the story but it did add some time to my reading. Not complaining, though, because I did learn some new words.

This book is a paranormal mystery. Now, if I hadn’t of read the blurb, I wouldn’t have believed the paranormal part of the book. Trust me, it’s in there but the author chose to focus more on the mystery part of the book with the paranormal part really not coming into play until the last half of the book. There are paranormal elements in the book (the vampire and Hobbes’s habit of eating bones are two) but the focus is on the many mysteries that Andy and Hobbes happen upon.

Now speaking of the mystery part of the book, I loved that the author was able to handle a few mysteries at once and then was able to merge them with the main storyline. I have read other mysteries that attempted to do that and then they just lose track of the sub-storylines and those are never resolved or merged with the main storyline. Again, something else I really liked about this book.

Andy came across as an idiot. I mean, how can someone get into that many predicaments and how can someone be that unaware of their surroundings? Plus, he also had a huge knack for ticking people off and just plain doing/saying the wrong thing. I mean, who would pack chocolate in their wife’s luggage when she was going to a dessert and then wonder why she was so upset because ants bit her and her clothes were ruined. His bumbling antics really didn’t do it for me in the story and I was truly waiting to see if he was going to get knocked off.

Hobbes, however, I was fascinated with and I really wish that more was revealed about him other than he policed the supernatural. I mean, he ate bones and according to Andy, he had a ferocious temper, unlike anything that he (Andy) had ever seen before. Also, he never seemed to age. So what is he? Now, this is where I wish I had read the first 3 books. I am sure that more insights to who/what he is in there.

The secondary characters were written awesomely too. From the little person who moonlighted as a ninja (OMG, did I die laughing during that scene) to the bar owner who had a temper and liked to fight to the vampire banker to Hobbes housekeeper and dog to the literal man killer and her cousins…..I absolutely loved them. Honestly, a good book has excellent secondary characters and this book definitely did.

I will say that the end of the book did surprise me and the mysteries were solved. There were really no twists, which for once was refreshing. I also liked that while those storylines ended, the book was left open for potentially a 5th book.

How many stars will I give Inspector Hobbes and the Bones: 4

Why: This was a great mystery with paranormal elements. I was genuinely kept guessing about who killed the bodies that Andy and Hobbes found. I was also guessing that the other sub-storylines.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Older teen

Why: Mild violence and some adult themes/jokes

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

I absolutely loved the humour, and the characters-- a fun, fast paced, engaging read,