Something about this series has proven to be a perfect little in-betweener, amusing reads that go down smoothly without late nights or missed appointments. The third in a series about Inspector Hobbes and the hapless Andy, Inspector Hobbes and the Gold Diggers details the adventures of the two as they go on holiday and investigate a bank robbery. For those who have yet to read the series, this installment can stand alone. However, there is background mystery to a couple of characters revealed here, as well as interesting character growth from the first, all the more satisfying with the build.

Can I confess? I was on the lookout for the puns. This one had me giggling, probably because it was so unexpected:

“‘Hardly, old boy, I’ve slowed down with age.’
‘Age?’ said Hobbes, looking severe. ‘More like your drunken life style.’
‘Drunken? I haven’t touched a drop since 1950.’
‘Since it’s only ten-past eight, now,’ said Hobbes, ‘you’ve lasted all of twenty minutes.’“

There’s an extended one based on Shakespeare that had me chuckling–and groaning. But don’t worry; it’s not all puns. There’s some straight-forward humor as well:

“‘I banged my head on the windscreen, but I’ll be alright in a moment.’
‘Yes,’ said Hobbes, ‘I saw that. What have I told you about seatbelts?’
‘Umm… seatbelts are for wimps?’
‘No… well, I may have said it once, but I also said that you should wear one.’“

In all seriousness though, Martin did a nice job of keeping within the structure of his world and character set-up and still managing to surprise me. Hobbes and Andy follow the Hobbes-Watson dynamic, with Inspector Hobbes is similar to his namesake; clever, observant and multi-talented, although with a penchant for cracking marrow bones over taking cocaine. Like Watson, Andy is usually two steps behind, frequently distracted by good food and a pretty face. As usual, Hobbes–and the reader–solve the mystery before Andy, so part of the enjoyment is seeing how it all unfolds. I also appreciate the development of Andy’s character. Although Andy plays the role of fool, the laughter around him is more from fondness than mocking, and that Andy is learning to appreciate the humor in it as well.

All in all, this installment tied up a number of interesting background threads as well as a lovely sunset montage that would be a satisfying series ending.

“It was worth hanging in there because I’d seen so many things I wouldn’t have otherwise. It was true some of them gave me nightmares, but it was great to have a life and to be building up a store of memories.“

Another fast-paced, chuckle-packed mystery from Wilkie Martin. His quirky, off-beat characters, twisting plot, unique settings and splashes of humor throughout put the Inspector Hobbes stories among my very favorite reads!

Delightful. Had me laughing out loud by the second page.

This is a really entertaining book and the latest in the Inspector Hobbes series, but, the first one I have read. I want to rate it 4 1/2 stars, actually, but, I can't give that rating here.

The world of Inspector Hobbes and his side-kick, Andy Caplet, is a fantastical place filled with unsuspecting humans, other-worldly folk, vampires and lots of mythical and unusual creatures, all living together in rural England. Hobbes is a policeman and has super-human strength and power beyond any ordinary man. He is a kind and caring man and takes the hapless Andy under his wing when he loses his job as a reporter. Living in Hobbes's house with his housekeeper, Mrs Goodfellow, Andy often helps Hobbes with cases he is working on, very often, causing more confusion along the way!

I loved this book from the first page. Andy is the narrator and is such a self-depreciating character that it is hard not to like him whilst feeling a little sorry for him, at the same time. The world built by Wilkie Martin is really unusual and is teaming with all kinds of creatures living together, but, seemingly unbeknown to most humans. It is amusing from the start and a really enjoyable read. Whilst this book does stand alone and the characters are easy to pick up with, I do think I would have benefitted from reading the series from the beginning, even if only to get the full back story on why Andy lost his job and ended up living with Hobbes and Mrs Goodfellow, in the first place.

If you like to read light-hearted, enjoyable books with a twist of the unusual about them, then I can highly recommend the Inspector Hobbes books.

Laughter abounds in the third unhuman adventure

Inspector Hobbes and the Gold Diggers

Description:

Receiving unwanted attention after foiling an armed robbery, the unhuman Inspector Hobbes takes a long-overdue camping holiday, with Andy, his accident-prone friend, and Dregs, the delinquent dog. In the bleak and dangerous Blacker Mountains, Andy stumbles across something shocking, before falling for an attractive widow, while Hobbes wonders why an old gold mine has reopened. On their return to the sleepy Cotswold town of Sorenchester, Hobbes is dumbfounded when Kathy, a reminder of his hippy days, turns up on the doorstep with her baggage. Since Hobbes has to solve a gold robbery and contemplate some perfectly ordinary rocks, Andy must entertain Kathy while trying to protect his new love from a monstrous opponent working for the sinister Sir Gerald Payne. Despite his usual blunderings and an inability to throw straight, Andy displays genuine courage.

Can Andy survive dinner with a vampire? Can Hobbes recover the gold? And what is Kathy’s relationship to Hobbes?

Review:

This is the third humorous adventure involving the unhuman Inspector Hobbes and his friend Andy. As in the previous novels, Andy is a well meaning and affable, if accident-prone and somewhat cowardly narrator. In this installment, more unique characters are introduced, including Sid, the soup loving Vampire. Favorites from previous novels are also present including Dregs, the dog, Mrs Goodfellow, the tooth-collecting housekeeper, and Billy, the hearse-driving dwarf.

A trip to the Blacker Mountains results in some of Inspector Hobbes mysterious past being revealed, and a woman arrives in Sorenchester claiming to be Hobbe's daughter.

Wilkie Martin reminds the reader not to make judgments based on appearances and preconceived notions. Vampires, werewolves and others are simply individuals with unique quirks, some good, some bad.

The unhuman novels are filled to the brim with memorable characters, humorous incidents, and not a few groan worthy puns. The writing is clever and light. These books are certain to appeal to fans of humorous fantasy who enjoy writers such as Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett.

I enjoyed the book immensely and feel it can be read by fantasy lovers of any age.

I received a copy of this book from The Witcherly Book Company and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

absolutely brilliant - read it in one sitting