The Long Shoe: The new novel from multi-million selling author

by Bob Mortimer

The brand new novel from number one bestselling author Bob Mortimer.

"With a long shoe you can poke about in the darkest crannies" Eric Mozzarella

Coming 2025.

Praise for Bob

'As a comedian, Bob Mortimer spins a shaggy-dog story like nobody else' The Guardian

‘Mortimer’s verbal specificity and off-kilter humour will keep his fans chuckling’ The Times

'There is a sweetness to his worldview that makes his writing gently poignant... Like Spike Milligan, the only vintage comic whose fiction is still read, Mortimer has managed to use a novel as a vehicle for his distinctive comedic voice' The Telegraph

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery, Humor, Comedy, Thriller, Crime

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2025

About the author

Robert Renwick Mortimer is an English comedian, podcast presenter and actor. He is known for his work with Vic Reeves as part of their Vic and Bob comedy double act, and more recently the Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing series with comedian Paul Whitehouse. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Mor...]

Reviews

[Hollie Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very pleased with what it achieved for me.

[Mathilda Murakami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Bob, if you happen to read this, please just sit down and write more books. Many, many more.

[Nathan Lord · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s so Bob. So, so Bob. Delightfully Bob. Encouragingly Bob. Presumably Bob.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was disappointing to me. I’m a big fan of Bob Mortimer’s last two books, but this one fell flat. The first 20% was funny and had his usual dry tone, but at some point the humor all fell away and it was a fairly boring story. The charm and silliness of the main character just stopped and it seemed like a weird story that shouldn’t be a book.
I didn’t find the GF’s perspective to add anything—she wasn’t funny.
I also didn’t find the “crazy friend’s” perspective to add anything—she seemed more heartless than funny. I mean, why is that even a subtheme, that she strategically tries to break up couples? I didn’t follow why that was funny or even interesting.
I listened to this one vs reading like I did the prior two Bob Mortimer mysteries. I don’t think that was what made the difference, though.
An extremely ho hum story.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I was very entertained.
Hilarious, clever, what a bunch of characters.
Bob’s done it again!
Am I right?

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this audiobook especially as it’s narrated by Bob. And co. The humour really comes through especially in the sarcasm of the characters and the way they speak.
I adored the quirky characters and liked the way their personalities progressed as the story continued. I enjoyed the mystery which kept me guessing all the way through.
A great lighthearted, fun, feel good story which fans of Bob”s books and basically anyone who likes humour will enjoy.

[Steven McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The shoe was indeed frighteningly long

[Stewart Cotterill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very Bob Mortimer book! The introduction of Goodmonson. Faint traces of theft and shrubbery. A long shoe. A fun read. Lovely to be inside Bob’s head for 4 days.

[Tommy K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Diminishing returns. I don't often read celeb-authored books, but I make the exception for Bob. The first one, The Satsuma Complex, took me by surprise due to my own low expectations. The following two haven't quite achieved the same. It's still funny and packed to the rafters with Mortimerisms and the boiler-plate absurdity that is his style, but for me the novelty is wearing off. Glad I listened on audio as I'd have probably dnf'd if it wasn't for Bob's narration.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book . easy to read

[Lisa - *OwlBeSatReading* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no words to express how much I enjoyed reading ‘The Long Shoe’ because Bob stole them all to write this book.

[Adam Murfet · Rating 5 out of 5]

GENUINE REVIEW- READ ON DAY OF RELEASE.


Fans of the Satsuma Complex and The Hotel Avocado will absolutely love this quirky, funny, brilliant page turner by the wonderful Bob Mortimer.

I laughed out loud and couldn’t put it down. Absolutely brilliant. Matt is a brilliant character and I hope there is a sequel.

The characters and the whole story was genius. Genuinely one of the best books I’ve read all year.

[holli · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny and weird. there was indeed a long shoe!

[Lucy Marley Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobooked this one and it didn’t disappoint. Thank you Bob for the chuckles

[Eleanor Masters · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ I fear Bob has one writing style, it’s very lighthearted but not much more.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A short, skinny man wearing jeans and a green Barbour jacket accompanied him. He was older, mid-fifties, and wore his thinning hair in a desperate centre parting. His facial features were small and crowded, and his fixed expression reminded me of a stoat experiencing its very first vinegar crisp."

Bob Mortimer has a unique way with words. His books are genuinely funny and he exudes quirk.

Quirk is a running theme of this book, as are talking animals and extremely violent characters. I am not sure I detected much of a plot though. Wonder and delight at the way BM writes can only carry you so far.

Jobless drifter loses girlfriend and cat in quick succession, then lands a "job" snooping on others for a shady property developer. The job comes with a luxury flat thrown in. But what if the others in the block realise he is a spy? Where is his cat? And his girlfriend?

Overall an enjoyable read but not a must read.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always fun, a.ways a laugh from Bob Mortimer.i love that narrates his own books too.

[Jeremy Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like Bob Mortimer, but this didn't really work for me. He excels at improv comedy, but it doesn't translate well to this medium.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very meh. Some parts were funny, but the story was just weird.

Listened on audible and would rather have spent my credit on something else.

[George Nickerson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book club book#10. Not for me. Tries too hard to be both funny and have an interesting plot but as a result achieves neither of these things.

[Louis Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really lovely and funny, makes me want to read more Bob. Feels like the book is just an excuse for Bob to tell a very Bob style tale, which I really enjoyed.

[Mila Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟 What a character Carol is! Very readable and fun

[Alex Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrible marketing. It's much more like an elongated shoe, if you ask me.

The Long Shoe is Bob Mortimer being Bob Mortimer.

Do yourself a favour and listen to the audiobook. Bob narrates it, and has guest appearances from Diane Morgan and Arabella Weir. Both who are also fabulous.

After reading/listening to both the Satsuma Complex and the Hotel Avocado, I found them reasonably enjoyable, with a good enough amount of Bob-isms to get through and not have me too disappointed.

The Long Shoe, however, feels far more naturally Bob.

If you know his humour and style, you'll know what I mean, and know that the tall tales, the obscure characters, "Mister Hotdog" as an example, are all going to be right up your alley.

It's a good little thriller, with a solid plot, good characters, and it's packed with humour - that I don't think will have your sides splitting - but will have you never getting bored.

4.0/5.0

I don't think it's a 4/5, but it's definitely not a 3.5/5 so it's as close to a four, without being a four, as is possible.

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt is a bathroom salesman who has recently lost his job and spends his time mooching about instead of finding a new apartment to live in. His girlfriend Harriet leaves him when the deadline on their lease expiry approaches and Matt still hasn't taken any action. Deciding to turn things around, Matt accepts an offer of a flat at Satsuma Heights, but there's just one small catch.

"I don't like to call it spying. Think of it as residential intelligence gathering." Page 64

Yep, Matt is asked to spy on his neighbours for the eccentric owner of the building and he's quickly pulled into their lives as a result. Soon there's a missing person case to solve and it's unclear if Matt will succeed in getting his life together.

In The Long Shoe, Bob Mortimer creates terrific characters and Hot Dog was a clear standout for me and I just loved his nickname for Matt; Jigsaw! Carol the flirty cougar was an unlikeable character so perfectly depicted that I could hear her grating voice and almost smell her perfume darling!

Mortimer's signature humour is back in full effect and I enjoyed his observations of the mundane, like when Matt asks if a character's vape is vanilla and potato when it's actually raspberry and coconut.

The Long Shoe by Bob Mortimer is part of a series that began with The Satsuma Complex and continued with The Hotel Avocado. I loved The Satsuma Complex - giving it 5 stars in my review - in 2023 but somehow missed reading The Hotel Avocado. While each of the three books are set in the same world or Mortimer universe, The Long Shoe can easily be read as a standalone.

The Long Shoe by Bob Mortimer is a chuckle-worthy and entertaining mystery with compelling characters and yes, even a very long shoe. I hope the author continues this cozy crime series in the future.

* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster *

[Felix · Rating 3 out of 5]

the wind up bird chronicle for middle aged british men. listened to the audiobook of this whilst cleaning and packing my flat because my mum recommended it to me. it was fine! semi-interesting story leading to a rather unsatisfying conclusion. he learnt the concept of a red herring and ran with it too far. but it was fun, and sweet, and as someone in persistent unemployment i’d rather like someone to do that for me

[Judy Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. A really good plot that kept you guessing, and enjoyed the narrative device of filling in with the squirrel and pigeon voices.
Highly recommend, but read the satsuma complex first. You can certainly hear Bob telling the story, love him so that was fine.

[Julie Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

another brilliant read from Bob. I got the signed version so will be keeping this. I love that he's changed the characters this time and I love Matt as a character. Carol is funny, her ought to bring her back in the next one. A thriller that is funny before it is thrilling!

[Melanie O'Neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love Bob Mortimer? He certainly can write!
His books are funny (no surprise there), warm, witty and very engaging. This is his third book and I enjoyed it immensely. Written with his unique humour, it was certainly a winner for me.
Read on my free Kindle BotrowBox Library App

[Jake Knapper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went in and knew what I was expecting with Bob's mayhem and book antics, right up my street. I actually like the who dunnit vibe and fair play, had me going for most of the book. nice easy read and plenty of phrases, names and scenarios that tickled my pickle.

[Oliver Sworn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, if you’re a fan of Mortimer then you’ll enjoy the comedic style it’s written in but it also stands up as a great modern mystery/noir style novel with a uniquely British voice.