Inspector Hobbes and the Blood / Inspector Hobbes and the Curse / Inspector Hobbes and the Gold Diggers

Unhuman #1-3

by Wilkie Martin

'Madcap Tales', 'cult following for his whacky books', 'as inventive as they are entertaining' (Cotswold Life).

Escapism and crazy, quirky adventures in Wilkie Martin's unhuman series. If you are looking for a new fantasy series or a light, funny holiday read, then this unhuman bundle or collection will show why Wilkie has a cult following for his cozy crime fantasies. Set in the English Cotswolds, the series includes:

Inspector Hobbes and the Blood - unhuman I (in which Inspector Hobbes and his hapless side-kick, Andy Caplet, together with the eccentric Mrs Goodfellow, and the deviant dog, Dregs, come together to foil a wannabee vampire);

Inspector Hobbes and the Curse – unhuman II (in which Andy unexpectedly finds love with a dangerously beautiful woman, while Hobbes investigates big cat and werewolf sightings);

Inspector Hobbes and the Gold Diggers – unhuman III (in which Andy finds new love and a skeleton, while Hobbes pursues gold robbers after they hit a vampire-run bank).

Genres: Mystery, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Humor, Amazon

886 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 6, 2015

About the author

Wilkie Martin sets his Unhuman series of novels in the Cotswolds, where he lives. He introduces readers to a close-knit, small-town community filled with quirky and occasionally dangerous inhabitants, and an ‘unhuman’ policeman who maintains law and order.
Read/listen to samples of his books with these Nielsen widgets:

Inspector Hobbes and the Blood - unhuman I - http://book2look.com/vBook.aspx?id=ZrFHGPVxgR

Inspector Hobbes and the Blood was shortlisted for the Impress Prize for New Writers 2012

Inspector Hobbes and the Blood audiobook narrated by Tim Campbell was nominee for Audiobook Reviewer Listener Awards 2018 Mystery, Fantasy, Humor

Inspector Hobbes and the Curse - unhuman II - http://book2look.com/book/NqlwpcMhNm

Inspector Hobbes and the Gold Diggers - unhuman III - http://www.book2look.co.uk/vBook.aspx?id=o8I6rbXQPo

Inspector Hobbes and the Bones - unhuman IV
- http://www.book2look.com/book/6EJ4xgUg5Z

Inspector Hobbes and the Bones audiobook narrated by Tim Campbell won Independent Audiobook Fantasy 2019 and was a nominne for VoiceArts Award Fantasy 2019


Razor - https://b2l.bz/qPxBBc


Wilkie Martin Website
twitter @wilkiewrites

Reviews

[Katie J Dvorak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun in a British way

You need to read this on a kindle so you can look up the English phrases. They are quite fun to learn and add so much to the story. I hate there were only 3 because the main characters are so witty, weird, unexpected, and friendly.
I enjoyed the mingle of syfy, fantasy, mystery, and comedy. As Andy might say, "This is love in a crust" but I'd say love in a book. Great fun. I'll be rereading and laugh my way through again. British humor is my cuppa.

[Starla · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is yet more proof that any book that has to tell readers it is humorous in the title is usually...not. The humor is ham-handed and low brow. If you like fat jokes, you're in luck. If you want intelligent humor, it's best to look elsewhere.

I also don't really understand the penchant for glorifying the directionless, underachieving, self-entitled (oh, my word SO self-entitled), whining, self-professed cowardly slackard. If you have a great fondness for those characters, you'll probably love the narrator.

I didn't write this review to be "mean," but to inform. If you are thinking about the e-book, I suggest downloading a free chapter and seeing if it is your cup of tea before purchasing.

[Chuck Byers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun read!

I was truly surprised by this. The "mystery" parts are a blast, knowing whodunit doesn't take away from the rest of the story at all. I actually laughed out loud several times, in fact one of the scenes set off a giggling fit I almost couldn't stop.
I was expecting a quick, light read, and instead Mr Martin now has an enthusiastic new fan.
Worth the time for those that like quirky fun.

[Sumayyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unhuman

Andy Caplet has bad luck. And it is this bad luck that leads to interview and shadow one Inspector Hobbs. In quick succession, Andy almost gets arrested, loses his job, his flat, and his dignity, amongst other things. Thankfully, this Hobbs fellow he was supposed to write about doesn't seem too bad, even if he does seem a bit...unhuman.

[Colin Murtagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so my sort of book. Or books if you prefer being a trilogy. I'm often moaning about the lack of decent humour books nowadays, and this is the perfect panacea.
Set in the English Cotswolds, we start by meeting Andy Caplet, cub reporter on the local paper as he is assigned to follow Police Inspector Hobbes around. Andy is the ultimate klutz, constantly getting into trouble, or causing accidents. Hobbes is the ultimate detective. the only problem is, he's not quite human. We're not entirely sure what he is during the first two books, but I picture him as a shaved gorilla, with the manner of a late 19th century gentleman. Strong, fast, big and quite scary, he never less has a sense of what's right and wrong, and is the stalwart of the Sorenchester police force.
Sorenchester itself is a bit of a strange place. Over the course of the 3 books, we come across vampires, werewolves, werecats, trolls, mountain folk, elves and dwarfs, all living side by side. However most of what we know about these characters isn't quite correct, as Hobbes points out.
The recurring characters are wonderfully drawn, especially the house keeper, Mrs Goodfellow, and old woman, who teaches martial and marital arts, along with the ability to cook like no one else can.
There are wonderfully funny touches throughout the book. There were several times I found myself sitting giggling, not just at some of the descriptions, and action, but at some wonderfully funny one liners.
This is probably the best humorous fantasy book I've read in a long time. Highly recommended

[Dave Stone · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 35%
This book has a few fine points. The plot had me curious as to what might happen next. The world building was clearly "borrowed" from several of my favorites. and I did very much like the character of chief inspector Hobbes. for these things I tried to keep going but I realized how much work and effort I was putting into it, so I quit.
What killed it for me?
The Main Character Andy.
The whole book is meant to be funny. it isn't.
The MC Andy is also meant to be funny as a bumbling every-man, lovable loser like Arthur Dent, (Hitchhikers Guide) or even Rinsewind (Diskworld). Except he isn't lovable. The MC is a bitter, mean spirited A**hole. He's list of shortcomings cold fill a book, they do, it's this book. There is nothing to like about this prick, I couldn't wait to get away from him, so I did.
Secondly- The jokes and puns in this book all fall flat. I might have loved them as an 8 year old, but since I've seen all the episodes of the Muppet Show & most all of the Marx Bro's movies I've heard all these lame old gags a few dozen times before. Example: "He stated the engine with a roar. Why he roared I'll never know". Did you laugh reading that? can you stand venal haters who plan to backstab people who are helping them out of a bad situation that they created themselves? Than this is the book for you.
I will say the the jokes are non-stop. Wilkie Martin keeps em' come hot and fast. That I did admire, shame 99 out of 100 were duds.

[Johan Duinkerken]

After buying and reading the first book, 'Inspector Hobbes and the Blood', I couldn't do anything else but buy the Unhuman Bundle. All three books made me laugh out loud more than once, something which only happened before when reading the first Discworld and Bytarend books.

* spoiler alert *

Will there be more books about Inspector Hobbes? I really hope so, but a lot of plot lines seem to be wrapped up in 'Inspector Hobbes and the Gold Diggers'. Let's hope Wilkie Martin still has some more stories up his sleeve about Inspector Hobbes, Mrs. G and of course Andy!

[Dawn Amato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me laugh out loud

I truly enjoyed this bundle of books and hope for more in this series. Andy was great as the viewpoint character. He was neurotic, myopic, seemingly bi-polar, totally clueless half the time and he made me laugh out loud throughout the book. Mrs. Longfellow was charming and Hobbes is not anything like a hobbit! Ha! A fun and funny read in the urban fantasy genre.

[Jamie Eastman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down

I don't very often give five star review's ...but I'm sad that the book has come to an end...I had a hard time putting it down, loved the characters, they seem so life like, they aren't over done or dramatic, they're just regular people, even the non humans are just regular people...really enjoyed it, I hope there's more.

[Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable series. Although British, it's humor translated very well most of the time. The depiction of the one American is typical of a British writer, to include missing one particular Americanism in word usage, but very good book overall. This would only add to the humor for an American reader. Recommend it.

[Pieter V Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Though it's called a trilogy it really is one long story, it is better if you read them in order since you would miss the cumulative weirdness otherwise. It's a good choice for people that enjoy slapstick and puns.

[Michael A. Whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. Hope to see more of Inspectoer Hobbes in the future.

Very good read. I enjoyed all three books in this series and hope Wilkie is not through. Until the next one.

[K BESANT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully different

A wonderfully different approach to the genre. The characters are full of life, the story exciting and enthralling. Absolutely love the Hobbes character, a really enjoyable read. Would definitely recommend to all and would love to read more.

[Elinor W. Wilburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing and unusual characters - a fun read!

Can't wait for the next installment. I hope Hobbes and Andy continue their misadventures for some time to come. I miss them already!

[Puna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and smart, heartwarming and entertaining, these books are the tops. Also surprisingly punny. One bit of warning however, don't read them on an empty stomach.

[Julian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing comedy is difficult - more so when one is doing so in a genre that might be regarded as 'serious'. Pratchett managed it, famously - and Gaiman seems able to do so as well; I have found other names less enjoyable (Douglas Adams, for one). I started this tome with the sinking feeling that it was more likely to be Adams rather than Pratchett but I was pleasantly surprised. As the athor worked his way into the writing he became funnier - in a slightly offhand way the puns (and there are a lot of them) are not trowelled in and in fact sveral require some afterthought.

It helps that the somewhat inept protagonist (Andy Caplet) is both clumsy as well as inept - and for a putative journalist (read: failed) is not overly felicitous with his explanations when he is busy making a mess of things. He also has a tendency to take things at face value - which allows the essentially serious Inspector Hobbes to spin the most outrageous tales which Andy laps up, initially. Eventually he works out that Hobbes is winding him up - or is he? Why do supernatural beings (ghouls, vampires, werewolves - and werepanthers!) seem to be so common in Sorenchester? How long will Hobbes allow Andy to live in his house where he is fêted by an eccentric housekeeper (but an excellent cook) and tolerated by the dog Dregs?

Over the three novels in this collection Andy grows (and matures) as the author masters his craft. A splendid start to the series.

[Dasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy Ben Aaronovitch's Peter Grant series, or Matthew Hughes' To Hell and Back trilogy, you may well enjoy this. I do. Yes, the humor often turns on words that mean what they say, rather than what we usually intend them to mean, but if you like that sort of thing (again, I do) they're sly little digs which you take pleasure in catching. I'm halfway through the second volume, straight after finishing the first one (some series I only like well enough after taking a bit of a break, but this one is keeping my continued interest).

Having said that, the author also has a fondness for rather convoluted sentences beginning with an incomplete clause, which sometimes means you (I) need to slow down and pay a bit more attention to the verb tenses. Upon discovering that this is the case, you can see it as an overused habit, or you can consider it a feature (as I now do) -- his personal style, that enhances the story as much as the descriptions of well-prepared, mouth-watering meals provided by a most unusual housekeeper. He also, it should be said, uses a lot of commas, contrary to the modern tendency to treat them as arbitrary -- and as commas are for the benefit of the reader, I appreciate his efforts.

[Marcia Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books require a stronger level of self-control than I normally possess. Instead of hoarding them and miserly reading them a little bit of a time, I burned through all 4 in less than a week, plus joined the author's reading page. I read when I'm stressed...what can I say?

These books are so much fun they've upped my standards. What's rare is the level of character growth and perception. In the first book there are characters in there that you'd as soon toss into a washing machine as look at them, much less carry any faith in their abilities. But...as time passes you see how they become understandable, relatable...and they themselves grow with the main characters. The protagonist is the ultimate You hiding in the closet--clumsy and the incurable poster child of 'good intentions make disaster' his one redeeming feature is he discovers he actually has a moral ground and he won't compromise them. From there he matures, changes, and gets quite a bit smarter...but as for figuring out what species his housekeeper is...maybe Book 5 will give us some hints. I sure hope so.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the cozy Cotswolds, this quirky, fantasy-crime series is perfectly paced and charmingly filled, with a delightful cast.

Andy Caplet is perhaps the most useless hero in the history of novels. His dim-witted narration lends the Unhuman books a topsy-turvy tone. Tagging along with W. Hobbes, a most peculiar Inspector, Andy finds danger around every corner in (what he thought was) his sleepy, boring town of Sorenchester. It's also home to unscrupulous villains and the most accomodating and affectionate trolls, gnomes, vampires, and mountain people.

As the series finds its legs, with each new mystery introducing new characters and increasing our affection for the homely Inspector Hobbes, Andy uncovers his addiction for adventure while also finding himself.

The dry, British humor may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you like the works of Terry Pratchett, Ben Aaronovitch, or Christopher Moore, then the Unhuman series is one you should add to your reading list.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good! Unexpected, engrossing, entertaining...

Full of the details that create nuances of character and setting that other authors ignore, these Unhuman books are well worth the read. The improbable becomes probable with crazy, good-natured characters and a crazy, bad-natured characters, too. I felt like I could see, hear, taste, and smell the world of Andy and Hobbes. I loved the absence of judgment from a narrator—the reader is allowed to wonder at the behavior of the characters, and to just accept them for who they are without any attempt by the author to moralize for the sake of a cliché. Andy is imperfect, happy-go-lucky, a loser, a hero, a moocher, a friend, a shallow-thinker, insightful, thoughtful, brave, fearful, helpful, hopeful, and completely lacking in angst. So refreshing!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great read with with interesting and intriguing characters. Filled with a delightful bit of suspense and intrigue.

I loved the character development, particularly Andy. When it seems that he’s completely hopeless the next thing you know he’s becoming a wee bit more human. Hobbes and Mrs. Goodfellow are wonderfully enriching characters and learning a bit more about them as you traverse the series provides more depth and interest. The twists and turns of the cases are delightfully surprising. The books are a brilliant read. I’d recommend to anyone. I think there’s a bit of something for anyone.

[Patrick Chadd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable overall but could be better - and Andy is barely tolerable.

I like the series because of Hobbes and Mrs. Goodfellow as well as the other cast of characters and I love that it's in British English with a British sensibility and perspective.

I found it enjoyable in spite of Andy who is just a miserable git with very few redeeming qualities.

Too clumsy, too dull, too self-centered and just too uninteresting overall. But for his narration, he's expendable. The jokes are cute to cringing but tolerable but I can't say that it's raucously funny.

I read all 5 books and will read the 6th in spite of Andy...and all for Hobbes and the rest of the crew.

5 stars but for Andy...

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is any easy read. I like it quite a bit because the characters are enjoyably quirky and well-developed, the story line is original, and the gorgeous descriptions of Mrs. Goodfellows’ food make me want to cook. (Historically, nothing makes me want to cook.) There is nothing inappropriate in it to disturb my Mormon sensibilities. (Some English swearing, but since I’m American, it doesn’t phase me.) The characters are endearing enough that I am missing them already. Not “Great Literature,” but thoroughly enjoyable.

[Harry J · Rating 5 out of 5]

An urban fantasy/mystery

The title of my review is a little misleading as the story is more humorous mystery than fantasy. Unlike most of the urban fantasy I have read, the fantasy aspects remain plausibly subtle in the background world, rare, discreet, even though the plot hinges on them and the title character is undeniably "unhuman".
I liked the mystery and the puns. While I found the main character somewhat unlikable at first, his personal growth character arc had me cheering for him by the end.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Book 1 of 3 ... 3 stars. Quirky. Written from the point of view of an enormously, irritatingly incompetent boob as he is drawn into and caught up in the story of Hobbes. Narrator bumbles around moronically yet somehow saves everyone. Interesting idea, to tell the story this way, though I'd not wish to read it through the eyes of the idiot observer again. Here's hoping Books 2 and 3 use a different storytelling device.

[Liz Warwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, funny, well written. Don't stop writing please.

The most useless hero in the history of novels, the strangest copper I've ever read about (& I've read a few), with a pantheon of oddkins & villains Terry Pratchett would be proud of, this is a must read. Having just finished smiling, chuckling (& groaning over the puns), I am now off to hunt for more of Wilkie's works.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad I bought the bundle; I just kept reading more and more and could honestly not put them down. The humor, the story, the characters...everything is here in spades. The mystery is fun, and getting to know Andy, Hobbes and Mrs G was a bit like falling in love. Wilkie Martin has a great writing style, the kind that sucks you in and doesn’t let go. A+ plus storytelling and mystery writing with a bit of a supernatural flair. And they’re also just a lot of fun!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventures and Puns

This is a lovely romp with a bumbling underdog and police detective who isn't quite what he seems. The adventures that present in Sorenchester keep Hobbes busy and Andy in a number of odd and funny adventures. The jewel of this series are the puns that pop up at the oddest moments creating groans and appreciation for a turn of phrase. I loved these stories and wish there were more.

[George Goodall · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover was appealing so I picked it up! I have a thing for supernatural hard boiled and this comes close. Our narrator is a failed journalist in a quaint English town. Through a series of unlikely events he ends up working closely with DI Hobbes, who has a bit of supernatural taint to him.

Overall, light and entertaining. Think Arthur Dent appearing in Jasper Fford's attempt to write like PD James.

[Karen Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly brilliant

A completely different way of looking at other firms of humanity to any other book. This will make you laugh out loud but also you will realise that vampires and the like are, to a large extent, the victim of centuries of fear and exaggeration. I really enjoyed this set of books and sincerely hope that there will be many more to come. It is a pity that other writers can't treat people in the same way this author does.