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Simon Grave Mystery #2
Simon Grave and the Curious Incident of the Cat in the Daytime
“Boswell continues his genre-defying series in this ambitious adventure…” –PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY
Murder rocks the seaside town of Crab Cove, but to solve the crime, Detective Simon Grave must first deal with the curious incident of the cat in the daytime.
Murder has come yet again to the seaside town of Crab Cove, testing the mettle of Detective Simon Grave, his “almost invisible” partner, Sergeant Barry Blunt, and his new assistant, Charlize, a simdroid (an android lookalike of a famous person) who fancies herself a match for Sherlock Holmes, in the simulated body of Charlize Theron.
When a body is discovered on a deserted beach, alongside a deactivated Betty White simdroid, the game is afoot. Grave must not only deal with the murder, but also come to grips with a deadly prognosis for his retired detective father. The murder and his father’s illness take them on a tour of local cemeteries, including a new graveyard that features multiscreen videos celebrating the lives of the deceased.
They soon discover that the only way to solve the murder is to first deal with the curious incident of the cat in the daytime.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 7, 2019
296 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 9, 2020
Lighthearted, slightly science fiction, slightly cozy mystery, slightly supernatural, totally irreverent, this book likes fun at all three genres.The second book in the Simon Grave series, while not as fast paced as the first one delivers the goods.
I enjoyed the audio book version, read by Mark Milroy.
I enjoyed the audio book version, read by Mark Milroy.
March 18, 2019
A Terrifically Funny Satire Wrapped in a Murder Mystery
Len Boswell is a gifted comic writer and no time is he funnier than when he’s writing about Simon Grave and the crimes in the tacky tourist town Crab Cove. The second in his detective series, Simon Grave and the Curious Incident of the Cat in the Daytime hurtles the story into a disturbing, if highly amusing, not-too-distant future. That future is marked by the advanced simdroid robots whose various skills and programming are presented by Boswell in highly imaginative ways. Yes, the old gang from A Grave Misunderstanding returns, including Simon’s cantankerous father and the nearly invisible Sergeant Blunt, joined by his equally cloudy yet prominently pregnant wife. But the introduction of simdroid Charlize adds an entire layer of hijinks to the story and new characters like the fortune teller Ida Notion (Boswell is a hoot with names) inject humorous moments throughout.
As far as the plot, an unreasonable number of Crab Cove residents are receiving terminal diagnoses and dying at an abnormally high rate. The investigations lead to the Crab Cove Cinema Cemetery, a funeral business centering on entertainment and advertising. Without giving too much away, let’s just say that Boswell’s satiric treatment our present-day perceptions of death are brilliant. Because these depictions are offered with such grounded characters, the comedy works and the murder investigation tumbles forward with all the police procedural elements keeping the reader in suspense as the story steadily unfolds.
I slowed down reading because one of the novel’s pleasures comes from Boswell’s sly, disarming style. “At times, Grave thought the house was smarter than he was and out to get him, particularly his toaster, which created blackened toast regardless of setting.” Simon Grave and the Curious Incident of the Cat in the Daytime is loads of fun. It remains a darn good mystery even as the humor flows on every page. It is a rare experience to be in suspense about what will happen next even as I am laughing out loud. I can’t wait for the next installment.
Len Boswell is a gifted comic writer and no time is he funnier than when he’s writing about Simon Grave and the crimes in the tacky tourist town Crab Cove. The second in his detective series, Simon Grave and the Curious Incident of the Cat in the Daytime hurtles the story into a disturbing, if highly amusing, not-too-distant future. That future is marked by the advanced simdroid robots whose various skills and programming are presented by Boswell in highly imaginative ways. Yes, the old gang from A Grave Misunderstanding returns, including Simon’s cantankerous father and the nearly invisible Sergeant Blunt, joined by his equally cloudy yet prominently pregnant wife. But the introduction of simdroid Charlize adds an entire layer of hijinks to the story and new characters like the fortune teller Ida Notion (Boswell is a hoot with names) inject humorous moments throughout.
As far as the plot, an unreasonable number of Crab Cove residents are receiving terminal diagnoses and dying at an abnormally high rate. The investigations lead to the Crab Cove Cinema Cemetery, a funeral business centering on entertainment and advertising. Without giving too much away, let’s just say that Boswell’s satiric treatment our present-day perceptions of death are brilliant. Because these depictions are offered with such grounded characters, the comedy works and the murder investigation tumbles forward with all the police procedural elements keeping the reader in suspense as the story steadily unfolds.
I slowed down reading because one of the novel’s pleasures comes from Boswell’s sly, disarming style. “At times, Grave thought the house was smarter than he was and out to get him, particularly his toaster, which created blackened toast regardless of setting.” Simon Grave and the Curious Incident of the Cat in the Daytime is loads of fun. It remains a darn good mystery even as the humor flows on every page. It is a rare experience to be in suspense about what will happen next even as I am laughing out loud. I can’t wait for the next installment.
August 8, 2019
I picked up an advance copy of Simon Grave and the Curious Incident of the Cat in the Daytime by Len Boswell from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
And honestly – while this is my first Simon Grave book – I loved it. A wonderful combination of mystery and crime novel, with more than a generous helping of dark humor. Detective Simon Grave is called away from the Crab Cove Conference on Crime (C4) to a possible murder just outside the conference center. The body belongs to a man recently diagnosed with an incurable brain cancer. Is this just a natural death, or is there something else going on? As Grave and his nearly invisible partner, Sergeant Blunt, begin their investigation they learn that deaths in Crab Cove have been on the increase. Is their case really a murder, or is there just a statistical blip in deaths in Crab Cove? When Grave’s father tells him he’s been diagnosed with an incurable cancer as well, and is planning out is final rest at the Crab Cove Cinema Cemetery (C4), Simon must balance his father’s insistence on preparing for his inevitable demise while trying to figure out who may or may not have killed the man on the beach.
Simon Grave and the Curious Incident of the Cat in the Daytime blends subtle humor, and a whimsical setting, with a good mystery. While I was able to deduce who the killer was, for me that wasn’t as important as being able to enjoy the world that Len Boswell has created and the colorful characters that inhabit it. I really enjoyed the idea of the Crab Cover Cinema Cemetery where the dead have looping video highlights of their life playing at their graveside, complete with paid ads, and the need to have their video lives approved of through likes – social media of the dead. The population of droids all made to look like famous people (mostly actors, but a few others like politicians) ads an interesting backdrop through which the humans interact.
I recommend the Curious Incident of the Cat in the Daytime for anybody who loves to blend they mystery with a good dose of humor (often dark).
And honestly – while this is my first Simon Grave book – I loved it. A wonderful combination of mystery and crime novel, with more than a generous helping of dark humor. Detective Simon Grave is called away from the Crab Cove Conference on Crime (C4) to a possible murder just outside the conference center. The body belongs to a man recently diagnosed with an incurable brain cancer. Is this just a natural death, or is there something else going on? As Grave and his nearly invisible partner, Sergeant Blunt, begin their investigation they learn that deaths in Crab Cove have been on the increase. Is their case really a murder, or is there just a statistical blip in deaths in Crab Cove? When Grave’s father tells him he’s been diagnosed with an incurable cancer as well, and is planning out is final rest at the Crab Cove Cinema Cemetery (C4), Simon must balance his father’s insistence on preparing for his inevitable demise while trying to figure out who may or may not have killed the man on the beach.
Simon Grave and the Curious Incident of the Cat in the Daytime blends subtle humor, and a whimsical setting, with a good mystery. While I was able to deduce who the killer was, for me that wasn’t as important as being able to enjoy the world that Len Boswell has created and the colorful characters that inhabit it. I really enjoyed the idea of the Crab Cover Cinema Cemetery where the dead have looping video highlights of their life playing at their graveside, complete with paid ads, and the need to have their video lives approved of through likes – social media of the dead. The population of droids all made to look like famous people (mostly actors, but a few others like politicians) ads an interesting backdrop through which the humans interact.
I recommend the Curious Incident of the Cat in the Daytime for anybody who loves to blend they mystery with a good dose of humor (often dark).
August 6, 2021
Like any respectable mystery, this one starts out with a expectantly stone-cold corpse…prone on a beach, lying next to a weirdly androidal doppelganger gizmo/creature, which immediately gives you an idea in which direction this entertaining tale is headed.
This book, written with wry gumshoe humor, spits on the traditional police procedural crime genre like a parched Phillip Marlow searching for phlegm at a seedy L.A. saloon.
I heartily recommend Boswell’s second in his series of tall tales set in the town of Crab Cove, not just because of its world-weary main character Simon Grave (great name) or his sidekick, the barely visible and metaphorically camouflaged Sergeant Blunt (an even better name), but because it gives you no page-by-page expectations in terms of action, plot or character development.
The rewarding surprises come in increments both small and large in this quirky and farcical who-done-it filled with delightful weirdos, not the least of which are the “simdroid” robot duplicates of famous celebrities.
August 15, 2020
This book is brilliant! I came across it by accident and bought it because of the title, it's a play on the Sherlock Holmes quote ' The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime'.
Set in the not too distant future, it's a murder mystery that has you smiling all the way through. Simon Grave is a police detective in an era when a lot of jobs have been taken over by 'simdroids', robots made to look like famous people of the past. Half the police force is made up of Morgan Freeman lookalikes and there's a hospice nurse that looks like Betty White from the Golden Girls! Near the end there are two that you're left to guess, but it's not difficult! I haven't yet read the first in the series but I will be doing.
Also, there were no spelling and grammar mistakes to annoy me (odd ones don't bother me, after all I'm from Yorkshire where we have our own language), it's just that during lockdown I've read quite a few American cosy mysteries that are littered with spelling and grammar mistakes every few sentences ( I don't mean American spellings, I can cope with those), it's as if they don't know how to use a spellchecker and can't be bothered to proofread them. This made a delightful change.
Set in the not too distant future, it's a murder mystery that has you smiling all the way through. Simon Grave is a police detective in an era when a lot of jobs have been taken over by 'simdroids', robots made to look like famous people of the past. Half the police force is made up of Morgan Freeman lookalikes and there's a hospice nurse that looks like Betty White from the Golden Girls! Near the end there are two that you're left to guess, but it's not difficult! I haven't yet read the first in the series but I will be doing.
Also, there were no spelling and grammar mistakes to annoy me (odd ones don't bother me, after all I'm from Yorkshire where we have our own language), it's just that during lockdown I've read quite a few American cosy mysteries that are littered with spelling and grammar mistakes every few sentences ( I don't mean American spellings, I can cope with those), it's as if they don't know how to use a spellchecker and can't be bothered to proofread them. This made a delightful change.
September 2, 2019
I decided to read this book because I had enjoyed the first one in the series so much. The initial book A Grave Misunderstanding was enjoyable because Len Boswell created two unique and quirky characters, which even though inept at their jobs, were highly amusing. This was achieved by exaggerating certain aspects of the characters and in the first book it was done very well.
Unfortunately in the second book a bit too much reliance was placed on this technique and as a consequence the plot suffered. Now don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed the book, but what I had found amusing the first time round just became tedious and I found my interest waning. Additional to this was the fact that the villains were quite obvious. Whether this was deliberate or not I can’t say but the book became a laboured endeavour.
On the positives was the continued development of Blunt and his wife June. Their interaction still retained its zing and the introduction of Charlize, a simdroid that assisted Blunt and was probably more lifelike than he was.
I would recommend this novel to readers of the first book, but be prepared for a rehash of the same formula as the first.
Unfortunately in the second book a bit too much reliance was placed on this technique and as a consequence the plot suffered. Now don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed the book, but what I had found amusing the first time round just became tedious and I found my interest waning. Additional to this was the fact that the villains were quite obvious. Whether this was deliberate or not I can’t say but the book became a laboured endeavour.
On the positives was the continued development of Blunt and his wife June. Their interaction still retained its zing and the introduction of Charlize, a simdroid that assisted Blunt and was probably more lifelike than he was.
I would recommend this novel to readers of the first book, but be prepared for a rehash of the same formula as the first.
April 10, 2019
I received a free advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is a fun satirical murder mystery that takes place in a town called Crab Cove. The book opens when Mr. Potz is found dead on a beach. He was found with his respite simdroid nearby. I should mention, the book takes place in the near future where simdroids are all the rage, but they are also stealing jobs from humans left and right.
Detective Simon Grave is on the job to solve the murder with the help of his simdroid Charlize.
I love the irony in the names of this book. For example, the head of the detectives is Captain Morgan. One of the other officers that Grave works with is Barry Blunt. Blunt and his wife June are more like clouds than people, so you can't really see them. Nothing like a cloud with blunt edges, right?
Mr. Winter runs one of the graveyards in town.
Ida Notion is the town psychic.
If you are looking for a fun read with a little mystery and a little humor, this is the perfect book!
This is a fun satirical murder mystery that takes place in a town called Crab Cove. The book opens when Mr. Potz is found dead on a beach. He was found with his respite simdroid nearby. I should mention, the book takes place in the near future where simdroids are all the rage, but they are also stealing jobs from humans left and right.
Detective Simon Grave is on the job to solve the murder with the help of his simdroid Charlize.
I love the irony in the names of this book. For example, the head of the detectives is Captain Morgan. One of the other officers that Grave works with is Barry Blunt. Blunt and his wife June are more like clouds than people, so you can't really see them. Nothing like a cloud with blunt edges, right?
Mr. Winter runs one of the graveyards in town.
Ida Notion is the town psychic.
If you are looking for a fun read with a little mystery and a little humor, this is the perfect book!
April 21, 2019
Wow
I received this book free from one of the book sites. I do not remember which one! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Okay, this is a new type of mystery for me. Global warming is in full effect. Simdroids, I believe are supposed to be a combo of androids & some type of robotics, are in many households. Robotic lawnmowers, simdroid crab pickers, and simdroid police officers known as Larrys abound.
In Crab Cove, people are dying in higher numbers. This, despite being the healthiest time on Earth. All major disease has been eradicated, except pancreatic & brain cancers. There seems to be a lot of people diagnosed with these 2 cancers & Detective Grave's father is one.
Make sure you stop by at the Crab Cove Cinema Cemetery & watch the photo & video montages playing each night. Sound strange? Yes, but also witty, sarcastic, and irreverent! Highly recommended.
I received this book free from one of the book sites. I do not remember which one! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Okay, this is a new type of mystery for me. Global warming is in full effect. Simdroids, I believe are supposed to be a combo of androids & some type of robotics, are in many households. Robotic lawnmowers, simdroid crab pickers, and simdroid police officers known as Larrys abound.
In Crab Cove, people are dying in higher numbers. This, despite being the healthiest time on Earth. All major disease has been eradicated, except pancreatic & brain cancers. There seems to be a lot of people diagnosed with these 2 cancers & Detective Grave's father is one.
Make sure you stop by at the Crab Cove Cinema Cemetery & watch the photo & video montages playing each night. Sound strange? Yes, but also witty, sarcastic, and irreverent! Highly recommended.
February 26, 2023
A good follow up to the first book in this futuristic detective series. Brilliant cop Simon Grave and his partner Barry Blunt are back on the case. There is also Charlize, a simdroid with the likeness of Charlize Theron but the personality of Sherlock Holmes. They come across a murder scene, where a deactivated simdroid of Betty White is found next to a dead body. Not only is Grave deep in the middle of a murder investigation but dealing with his retired detective father's fatal illness. It's interesting to see him searching for the killer as well as visiting funeral homes and graveyards with his father. There's also a solid connection between the current murders and old case that his father was involved years ago. An intriguing and entertaining read to look into.
March 12, 2019
The premise of this mystery is really fun, and there's some amusing wordplay – the writing style reminded me of Jasper Fforde. I don't think I had complete buy-in on part of the ending ... perhaps I was hindered by not having read the first book in the series, although that shouldn't matter. I also would've liked to see the characters become more than quirky pastiches; the main character's good, but his supporting cast didn't feel as loved. They've definitely got promise. Overall, this is a diverting, easy read.
August 16, 2020
A cozy little SF mystery
And when I said "cozy" above I meant it in the "cozy" story genre.
This is a light cozy read - not a deep philosophical tale of the changes that come to all parts of the world eventually, but an enjoyable romp through a small fishing town in the midst of those changes.
The people here are enjoyable characters, though as is for the cozy genre some are painted with a broad brush.
All in all a very satisfying tale.
Disclosure: I received a copy from a book giveaway.
And when I said "cozy" above I meant it in the "cozy" story genre.
This is a light cozy read - not a deep philosophical tale of the changes that come to all parts of the world eventually, but an enjoyable romp through a small fishing town in the midst of those changes.
The people here are enjoyable characters, though as is for the cozy genre some are painted with a broad brush.
All in all a very satisfying tale.
Disclosure: I received a copy from a book giveaway.
August 18, 2020
Police procedural
A farcical romp, styled as a police procedural set in late twenty-first century in a coastal crabbing town. Humorous, improbable, clownish characters and plot abound. Short enough novel that I didn't abandon.
As I am a gatherer of books, I collect books and ebooks from a variety of sources: Goodreads wins, BookBub, BookFunnel, Riffle, Prolific Works, emails from authors and publishers, and others. I do lose track of their sources. But, as a reader, I feel I should give an honest, unencumbered review for all I read.
A farcical romp, styled as a police procedural set in late twenty-first century in a coastal crabbing town. Humorous, improbable, clownish characters and plot abound. Short enough novel that I didn't abandon.
As I am a gatherer of books, I collect books and ebooks from a variety of sources: Goodreads wins, BookBub, BookFunnel, Riffle, Prolific Works, emails from authors and publishers, and others. I do lose track of their sources. But, as a reader, I feel I should give an honest, unencumbered review for all I read.
December 28, 2020
Simon Grave and the Curious Incident of the Cat in the Daytime
This mystery was as far from a normal story as I’ve read in a long time. It has a fantasy/ sci-fi cast of characters as well as humans.
I enjoyed the storyline it has enough action to keep your attention and enough confusion to let you try out different several theories.
I will look forward to another book with Simon Graves and his sidekick.
This mystery was as far from a normal story as I’ve read in a long time. It has a fantasy/ sci-fi cast of characters as well as humans.
I enjoyed the storyline it has enough action to keep your attention and enough confusion to let you try out different several theories.
I will look forward to another book with Simon Graves and his sidekick.
February 2, 2021
Mel Brooks and Peter Sellers got together with P G Wodehouse and...
This book is a positive laugh riot! I had to read it twice because I was laughing so hard I couldn't assimilate the police work! The characters are a hoot and the slightest thing I can say about it is that is is a fantastic cure for the Covid doldrums!
Mark Milroy is the accomplished voice actor who manages not to laugh his sox off while doing the audio interpretation.
This book is a positive laugh riot! I had to read it twice because I was laughing so hard I couldn't assimilate the police work! The characters are a hoot and the slightest thing I can say about it is that is is a fantastic cure for the Covid doldrums!
Mark Milroy is the accomplished voice actor who manages not to laugh his sox off while doing the audio interpretation.
October 26, 2021
I read historical cozy mysteries as an escape—turns out the future is also not the present! Humorous literary sci-fi cozy police procedural pastiche, if I were making up a genre, but enjoyable, light, and fast. Love the characters, too, even without much development. I started with this, which is the second book, as it was free on Kindle, but will be going back for the first, and continuing the series.
January 2, 2020
So-so
The book came highlighted and I really couldn't undo it.
I read this book as a follow-up and wasn't impressed. It's just too out there, and I have been a "Trekkie" since the series began.
The book came highlighted and I really couldn't undo it.
I read this book as a follow-up and wasn't impressed. It's just too out there, and I have been a "Trekkie" since the series began.
September 4, 2020
SciFi, mystery and humor all rolled into one.
A curious story that l found entertaining. A great story with very interesting characters. My only concern was that the ending came too soon.
A curious story that l found entertaining. A great story with very interesting characters. My only concern was that the ending came too soon.
October 29, 2020
Spoof Science Fiction
This was a fun, light read. You need to read it in fast mode. Going slowly means you think to much. Then it gets silly and boring. But quickly it is a stew of murder mystery, robot, romance, and dry wit. Good desserts after a suspense novel.
This was a fun, light read. You need to read it in fast mode. Going slowly means you think to much. Then it gets silly and boring. But quickly it is a stew of murder mystery, robot, romance, and dry wit. Good desserts after a suspense novel.
November 8, 2020
Still laughing
Len Boswell is the most imaginative, funny and entertaining author whose works have I have read in a long time. Love the simdroids and the simcats and the ghosts and the bumbling Simon Grave. Just join us in the Sprite for a gospel-singing ride.
Len Boswell is the most imaginative, funny and entertaining author whose works have I have read in a long time. Love the simdroids and the simcats and the ghosts and the bumbling Simon Grave. Just join us in the Sprite for a gospel-singing ride.
May 18, 2019
Cemetery Mystery
I really enjoyed this novel. A different twist to the characters and behavior. I highly recommend reading this and I am going on to the next one.
I really enjoyed this novel. A different twist to the characters and behavior. I highly recommend reading this and I am going on to the next one.
December 19, 2019
I enjoyed the first book of this series and the second didn't disappoint. Held my interest throughout, look forward to the author's next book.
August 5, 2020
Well written
Unique blend of humor and imagination. Plot flows glue ntly. Quirks of future are intertwined with expansion of charming characters
Unique blend of humor and imagination. Plot flows glue ntly. Quirks of future are intertwined with expansion of charming characters
August 7, 2020
Cure for being grabby
So so clever and tongue in cheek. This book will be difficult to put down, once you start so, you better be ready.
So so clever and tongue in cheek. This book will be difficult to put down, once you start so, you better be ready.
August 7, 2020
I liked the mystery part of this and the futuristic angle but the ghost bit seemed superfluous in this particular book. Maybe it was laying the groundwork for future books. Humorous.
August 10, 2020
Good read
Good read . I enjoyed this book. The characters I must say were interesting and different. I recommend this book.
Good read . I enjoyed this book. The characters I must say were interesting and different. I recommend this book.
September 8, 2020
Well that was different! Fun. Really fun, but different.
May have to find the first book now
May have to find the first book now
September 13, 2020
Interesting
It’s a good story with lots of imagination and character twists and turns. The writing isn’t brilliant but just the story merits full marks
It’s a good story with lots of imagination and character twists and turns. The writing isn’t brilliant but just the story merits full marks
October 6, 2020
Enjoyable, inventive, tongue in cheek.
January 13, 2021
A police procedural like no other and a fun read!
July 20, 2021
A Murder Mystery with a Sense of Humor
This was a quick read and very entertaining. The lead character is likable and I will be looking for the other books in the series next.
This was a quick read and very entertaining. The lead character is likable and I will be looking for the other books in the series next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews