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Gobbelino London, PI #2
Gobbelino London & A Contagion of Zombies
"Zombies don't exist. You told me they don't exist."
"There's a corpse clawing its way out of a grave over there. I'm open to the possibility that I may have been wrong."
I see dead people.
And I'm not the only one. They're even on Facebook.
The dead are rising, and if we don't stop them before the infection spreads any further, we're going to be knee-deep in the zombie apocalypse before you can say mmm, brains.
The only problem is, we don't know why they're rising, who started it, or how to stop them.
But G & C London, Private Investigators, are on the case. Just as soon as we get through dealing with disapproving reapers, irate magicians, zombie-fied chickens, and a small internal case of undeadness.
Trust us.
This is the second book in the Gobbelino London, PI urban fantasy series, centred around the adventures of a mercenary feline PI and his human sidekick. It contains snarky cats and other gods, many bad jokes and terrible puns, plus a large serving of mythological and real creatures behaving badly. It will appeal to anyone who likes their fantasy funny, modern, and filled with friendship rather than romance - and also to those who suspect their cat may be living a great and secret life when they're not looking.
A Contagion of Zombies contains some violence, particularly toward the already dead, but none of it is graphic. It contains no sex and only mild language. It does, however, contain blasphemy.
"There's a corpse clawing its way out of a grave over there. I'm open to the possibility that I may have been wrong."
I see dead people.
And I'm not the only one. They're even on Facebook.
The dead are rising, and if we don't stop them before the infection spreads any further, we're going to be knee-deep in the zombie apocalypse before you can say mmm, brains.
The only problem is, we don't know why they're rising, who started it, or how to stop them.
But G & C London, Private Investigators, are on the case. Just as soon as we get through dealing with disapproving reapers, irate magicians, zombie-fied chickens, and a small internal case of undeadness.
Trust us.
This is the second book in the Gobbelino London, PI urban fantasy series, centred around the adventures of a mercenary feline PI and his human sidekick. It contains snarky cats and other gods, many bad jokes and terrible puns, plus a large serving of mythological and real creatures behaving badly. It will appeal to anyone who likes their fantasy funny, modern, and filled with friendship rather than romance - and also to those who suspect their cat may be living a great and secret life when they're not looking.
A Contagion of Zombies contains some violence, particularly toward the already dead, but none of it is graphic. It contains no sex and only mild language. It does, however, contain blasphemy.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 2020
143 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Kim M. Watt
42 books335 followersHello lovely people!
I’m Kim (as you may have guessed, given that you're on the author page for Kim). I write funny fantasies and off-beat cosy (or cozy, depending where you're from) mysteries set in a world not so dissimilar to ours - and in fact sharing many locations.
And in this not-dissimilar world you'll find mystery-solving dragons with a strong affection for barbecues and scones, and snarky feline PIs with human sidekicks. You'll run across baking-obsessed reapers running petting cafes stocked with baby ghouls, Apocalyptic riders on Vespas, and women of a certain age Getting Things Done. There may even be the odd born-again troll redefining troll-ness for the modern age about the place.
You'll find myth and reality clashing in small and spectacular ways, and discover the healing magic of tea and a really good lemon drizzle cake.
But, most of all, there will be friendship, and loyalty, and people of all species looking out for one another. Because these, above all things, are magic.
And you can find me rambling on about all this (and more) over on my website, or join me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for bad puns and many, many cat memes. Many.
Come join me!
I’m Kim (as you may have guessed, given that you're on the author page for Kim). I write funny fantasies and off-beat cosy (or cozy, depending where you're from) mysteries set in a world not so dissimilar to ours - and in fact sharing many locations.
And in this not-dissimilar world you'll find mystery-solving dragons with a strong affection for barbecues and scones, and snarky feline PIs with human sidekicks. You'll run across baking-obsessed reapers running petting cafes stocked with baby ghouls, Apocalyptic riders on Vespas, and women of a certain age Getting Things Done. There may even be the odd born-again troll redefining troll-ness for the modern age about the place.
You'll find myth and reality clashing in small and spectacular ways, and discover the healing magic of tea and a really good lemon drizzle cake.
But, most of all, there will be friendship, and loyalty, and people of all species looking out for one another. Because these, above all things, are magic.
And you can find me rambling on about all this (and more) over on my website, or join me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for bad puns and many, many cat memes. Many.
Come join me!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
July 21, 2023
A Zombie Apocalypse?
Gobbelino and Callum are meandering in a cemetery after a funeral when a dog wanders over to them with a hand and arm in its mouth.
That is the beginning of the story and the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, that builds up slowly, but then eventually it becomes a nightmare.
Gobbelino wants nothing to do with it. They don’t get paid for investigating the outbreak and how it occurred. But still something is fishy about it.
They decide to make a nighttime appearance at the neighborhood cemetery to see if they can see anything suspicious. And they do!
Gobbelino London and Callum London are two P.I.’s who are definitely on the case.
A lot of fun. Four stars. ✨✨✨✨
Gobbelino and Callum are meandering in a cemetery after a funeral when a dog wanders over to them with a hand and arm in its mouth.
That is the beginning of the story and the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, that builds up slowly, but then eventually it becomes a nightmare.
Gobbelino wants nothing to do with it. They don’t get paid for investigating the outbreak and how it occurred. But still something is fishy about it.
They decide to make a nighttime appearance at the neighborhood cemetery to see if they can see anything suspicious. And they do!
Gobbelino London and Callum London are two P.I.’s who are definitely on the case.
A lot of fun. Four stars. ✨✨✨✨
October 14, 2024
“I’m not braining some poor woman who may or may not be a zombie.” We both looked at her. She bared her teeth, and a worm fell out of her nose. I glared up at Callum. “Okay,” he admitted. “She is quite zombie-ish. But she mightn’t be dangerous. We’re not exactly zombie experts.”So. This slightly hilarious installment is about:
Three-legged mongrels with slightly whiffy body parts that don't belong to them (don't ask), batty snacks, holly soggy Weetabixes, taking life advice from a cat, Gertrude aka Reaper Leeds, dramatic differences in zombie functionality, sacrificial goldfish, shedding threats, souls that go all squidgy, being severely hampered by one's ethics, Departed Human Logistics aka DHL, glossy beards and warm toes, lightly sautéed cerebellum, mad mortician alerts, arguing with naked cats, zombie chickens, and small problems with body parts.
There's also the refreshingly refreshing UK setting, a scrumptiously scrumptious cast of characters, and HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA everything. All in all, I guess you could say this second opus of Gobs and Callum's adventures is most entertaining indeed. Yes, I guess you could say that.
· Book 1: Gobbelino London & a Scourge of Pleasantries ★★★★
· Book 3: Gobbelino London & a Complication of Unicorns ★★★★
· Book 4: Gobbelino London & a Melee of Mages ★★★★
· Book 5: Gobbelino London & a Worry of Weres ★★★★
February 7, 2023
Cats, by nature, are not superstitious. That's for humans. They get all freaky about throwing salt over their shoulders to spite the devil, and not stepping on cracks, and never walking widdershins around a faery circle, but all that gets you is a salty floor, problems on old pavements, and ... actually, the faery circle one's good advice, but the rest are rubbish.
Superstitious or not, though, when it comes to zombies, Gobbelino London knows damn well that nothing good comes of the walking dead. Along with human sidekick Callum, this PI is prepared to go to any length to prevent the end of custard as we know it (for the non-feline among us, this is the cat's eye view of the zombie apocalypse).
And along the way they pick up a few new friends - all of whom can definitely stay, Kim Watt writes great characters. They're quirky and individual without feeling like they shouting about how unique they are. There's a great sense of humour to these books, while keeping the supernatural solidly threatening - I haven't seen it so well-balanced since Rivers of London, but as much as I liked that series, I'm getting much more attached to Gobbelino and Callum.
Definitely one I'll continue!
Superstitious or not, though, when it comes to zombies, Gobbelino London knows damn well that nothing good comes of the walking dead. Along with human sidekick Callum, this PI is prepared to go to any length to prevent the end of custard as we know it (for the non-feline among us, this is the cat's eye view of the zombie apocalypse).
And along the way they pick up a few new friends - all of whom can definitely stay, Kim Watt writes great characters. They're quirky and individual without feeling like they shouting about how unique they are. There's a great sense of humour to these books, while keeping the supernatural solidly threatening - I haven't seen it so well-balanced since Rivers of London, but as much as I liked that series, I'm getting much more attached to Gobbelino and Callum.
Definitely one I'll continue!
October 22, 2025
IN A NUTSHELL
Filled with larger-than-life characters, lots of beautifully choreographed action scenes, gentle humour and a sense that, even with zombies rising, there are people in the world who are born to help others – they’re just not the people you might have expectd to fill that slot and quite a few of them are not human.
I enjoyed this book more than the first one. It fleshed out the relationship between Gobbelino and Callum and introduced characters that I think provide the foundation for a fun series.
I enjoyed ‘Gobbelino London and a Scourge of Pleasanties‘, but I didn’t get why so many of the people I know who are reading Kim Watt’s series have this series as a favourite. I think I get it now. I found this story much more engaging, not just because it was about zombies rising rather than Lovecraftian tentacles rending spacetime, but because I got to see more of how Gobbelino London think and I got a better understanding of his relationship with his human.
In the first book, I wasn't sure how Gobbelino felt about Callum. I mean, Gobbelino's a cat. It's always difficult to know what a cat is feeling about its human. Gobbelino is telling the story, so he's not always open about his feelings. It's not the cat way. In the first book, I thought he perhaps felt indebted to Callum for having saved his life but, I wasn't sure there was more to it than that. In this book, it's clear Gobbelino will do whatever is necessary to protect Callum and that Callum feels the same way about Gobbelino. I liked that one of the things that binds them together is that each recognises that the other has been damaged by past traumas, which neither of them asks about.
I admire Kim Watt's ability to create a zombie apocalypse that was tense, full of action, and threaded with gentle humour that increased my empathy with the main characters as well as making me smile. The action scenes were beautifully choreographed, allowing a large cast of characters to enter the fray without any loss of focus or tension.
What I liked most about this book was that, as well as fleshing out the relationship between Gobbelino and Callum, it introduced an ensemble cast of larger-than-life characters who added zest and variety to the story. I enjoyed learning more about the sorceress from the last book. Seeing her on her motorbike made me reassess her completely. I loved meeting the reaper and her partner. They were both full of energy and charisma. That they spent their time running 'The Dead Good Café' with the reaper doing the baking amused me. I also liked Pru, the hairless cat from 'The Sphinx Café', She and Gobbelino worked well together. I hope to see more of her.
This book has encouraged me to read more of the series. I'll be adding 'Gobbelino London & a Complication of Unicorns' to my shelves.
Filled with larger-than-life characters, lots of beautifully choreographed action scenes, gentle humour and a sense that, even with zombies rising, there are people in the world who are born to help others – they’re just not the people you might have expectd to fill that slot and quite a few of them are not human.
I enjoyed this book more than the first one. It fleshed out the relationship between Gobbelino and Callum and introduced characters that I think provide the foundation for a fun series.
I enjoyed ‘Gobbelino London and a Scourge of Pleasanties‘, but I didn’t get why so many of the people I know who are reading Kim Watt’s series have this series as a favourite. I think I get it now. I found this story much more engaging, not just because it was about zombies rising rather than Lovecraftian tentacles rending spacetime, but because I got to see more of how Gobbelino London think and I got a better understanding of his relationship with his human.
In the first book, I wasn't sure how Gobbelino felt about Callum. I mean, Gobbelino's a cat. It's always difficult to know what a cat is feeling about its human. Gobbelino is telling the story, so he's not always open about his feelings. It's not the cat way. In the first book, I thought he perhaps felt indebted to Callum for having saved his life but, I wasn't sure there was more to it than that. In this book, it's clear Gobbelino will do whatever is necessary to protect Callum and that Callum feels the same way about Gobbelino. I liked that one of the things that binds them together is that each recognises that the other has been damaged by past traumas, which neither of them asks about.
I admire Kim Watt's ability to create a zombie apocalypse that was tense, full of action, and threaded with gentle humour that increased my empathy with the main characters as well as making me smile. The action scenes were beautifully choreographed, allowing a large cast of characters to enter the fray without any loss of focus or tension.
What I liked most about this book was that, as well as fleshing out the relationship between Gobbelino and Callum, it introduced an ensemble cast of larger-than-life characters who added zest and variety to the story. I enjoyed learning more about the sorceress from the last book. Seeing her on her motorbike made me reassess her completely. I loved meeting the reaper and her partner. They were both full of energy and charisma. That they spent their time running 'The Dead Good Café' with the reaper doing the baking amused me. I also liked Pru, the hairless cat from 'The Sphinx Café', She and Gobbelino worked well together. I hope to see more of her.
This book has encouraged me to read more of the series. I'll be adding 'Gobbelino London & a Complication of Unicorns' to my shelves.
January 14, 2023
Book 2
Oh my gosh this series is so much fun. Last night I was trying to keep my giggling inaudible while my husband was sleeping, but I wasn't always successful 😂. Gobbelino and Callum have some hilarious madcap scenes throughout. I almost skipped this one, too, since I never was a fan of zombies, but I didn't...yay, me!
It's not all a riot, though. The author tossed in some snapshots of the backgrounds of some of the characters that really caused me to understand their motivations and like them even more. She accomplished a terrific balancing act between the serious and the comedic scenes.
I can't recommend this highly enough!
Oh my gosh this series is so much fun. Last night I was trying to keep my giggling inaudible while my husband was sleeping, but I wasn't always successful 😂. Gobbelino and Callum have some hilarious madcap scenes throughout. I almost skipped this one, too, since I never was a fan of zombies, but I didn't...yay, me!
It's not all a riot, though. The author tossed in some snapshots of the backgrounds of some of the characters that really caused me to understand their motivations and like them even more. She accomplished a terrific balancing act between the serious and the comedic scenes.
I can't recommend this highly enough!
January 7, 2025
It's celery.
I'll eat anything but celery. I don't know why I hate it, I just do. In the literary world, I dislike whodunnits and most mysteries - again for reasons unknown to me.
Here I was thinking this was another interesting zombie story narrated by a talking cat, but it wasn't. Well...the cat part was true. Zombies don't seem to feature much at all. It's a mystery story about who made the zombies. Blah. I had to slog my way through a slow-moving first 50% of the book before I thought, "Damn. This book is putting me to sleep". I gave up, and I couldn't care less about the answer to the mystery. I didn't even skip to the end to find out.
I'll eat anything but celery. I don't know why I hate it, I just do. In the literary world, I dislike whodunnits and most mysteries - again for reasons unknown to me.
Here I was thinking this was another interesting zombie story narrated by a talking cat, but it wasn't. Well...the cat part was true. Zombies don't seem to feature much at all. It's a mystery story about who made the zombies. Blah. I had to slog my way through a slow-moving first 50% of the book before I thought, "Damn. This book is putting me to sleep". I gave up, and I couldn't care less about the answer to the mystery. I didn't even skip to the end to find out.
May 11, 2020
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Feline PI Gobbelino London and his human partner Callum return for a second adventure and this time they need to find who is responsible for unleashing a plague of zombies in Leeds as the dead start to rise from their graves.
First off, let me say that I'm not personally a fan of anything 'Zombie', so if this was a book by an author who's work I didn't already know and love I probably wouldn't have picked it up. Even if it was the first in a series by an author I did like, I might have hesitated. Despite my reservations the author tackles the subject matter with her usual charm, wit and humour without getting macabre or disgustingly gory as zombie tales tend to do (although there definitely are moments when you have to wrinkle your nose and go 'ew, gross').
Like the first book the 'mystery' part of this cosy mystery is fairly obvious to figure out from quite early on, but like the first book the mystery's not really the point. This isn't a book you read for the thrill of finding out where it goes but for the pleasure of finding out how it gets there. The journey is warm, humorous and somehow quintessentially British. The characters are real and sometimes quirky with a strong bond of friendship. Overall this is a cosy and comforting read despite the zombies and is filled with snarky felines, mad scientists (sorry, mad morticians) zombie chickens, naked cats and copious quantities of tea. What more could you ask for (apart from dragons of course!).
Feline PI Gobbelino London and his human partner Callum return for a second adventure and this time they need to find who is responsible for unleashing a plague of zombies in Leeds as the dead start to rise from their graves.
First off, let me say that I'm not personally a fan of anything 'Zombie', so if this was a book by an author who's work I didn't already know and love I probably wouldn't have picked it up. Even if it was the first in a series by an author I did like, I might have hesitated. Despite my reservations the author tackles the subject matter with her usual charm, wit and humour without getting macabre or disgustingly gory as zombie tales tend to do (although there definitely are moments when you have to wrinkle your nose and go 'ew, gross').
Like the first book the 'mystery' part of this cosy mystery is fairly obvious to figure out from quite early on, but like the first book the mystery's not really the point. This isn't a book you read for the thrill of finding out where it goes but for the pleasure of finding out how it gets there. The journey is warm, humorous and somehow quintessentially British. The characters are real and sometimes quirky with a strong bond of friendship. Overall this is a cosy and comforting read despite the zombies and is filled with snarky felines, mad scientists (sorry, mad morticians) zombie chickens, naked cats and copious quantities of tea. What more could you ask for (apart from dragons of course!).
January 12, 2023
This was zany! Still, Watt fills the reader in on human failings in a fun sort of way. There is much to read between the lines. To say anything about the story-line would be to spoil the plot, if one can call it a plot.
Characters from the first book of this series appear again, though it reads almost as a stand alone tale. That may be what Kim M. Watt intends. I do believe there may be more merging of the "Private Investigators" in future books. For now, I will rest this series.
Characters from the first book of this series appear again, though it reads almost as a stand alone tale. That may be what Kim M. Watt intends. I do believe there may be more merging of the "Private Investigators" in future books. For now, I will rest this series.
September 17, 2023
My favorite feline PI and his trusty human sidekick are back in Gobbelino London & a Contagion of Zombies, the second entry in the Gobbelino London, PI series by Kim M. Watt. The story opens with Gobbelino and Callum walking through a local cemetery when a dog wanders over carrying an arm in it's mouth like a stick, looking to play. Callum wants to investigate where the recently unearthed limb has come from and return it to the owner while Gobbelino thinks taking a job without pay is a bad idea. Bad idea or not, it's not long before the detective duo are immersed in a problem with slightly whiffy body parts that don't belong to them and going to any lengths to prevent the end of custard as we know it. It's a cat thing.
This follow up to Scourge of Pleasantries is just as enjoyable as the first. While I'm not normally a big fan of zombie stories, Callum and Gobs make solving the problem so darn fun that I didn't mind all the highly questionable meal choices. Gobs continued inability to get human idioms correct, as well as his unique view of the world, are a delight. I may have to start using his saying of "no baby goats" haha! Adding to the enjoyment factor are the new characters Callum and Gobs meet along the way. I hope Gertrude becomes a recurring character in the series. Gobs needs to keep his flow of super tasty cat treats flowing.
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Initial thoughts: A fun zombie caper. I enjoyed meeting new people and broadening my knowledge of this alternate universe Gobs and Callum live in. With that hint at the end of something grander happening in the background, this opens the series up for so many directions to go. Also, more snarky talking cats! What's not to love.
This follow up to Scourge of Pleasantries is just as enjoyable as the first. While I'm not normally a big fan of zombie stories, Callum and Gobs make solving the problem so darn fun that I didn't mind all the highly questionable meal choices. Gobs continued inability to get human idioms correct, as well as his unique view of the world, are a delight. I may have to start using his saying of "no baby goats" haha! Adding to the enjoyment factor are the new characters Callum and Gobs meet along the way. I hope Gertrude becomes a recurring character in the series. Gobs needs to keep his flow of super tasty cat treats flowing.
---------
Initial thoughts: A fun zombie caper. I enjoyed meeting new people and broadening my knowledge of this alternate universe Gobs and Callum live in. With that hint at the end of something grander happening in the background, this opens the series up for so many directions to go. Also, more snarky talking cats! What's not to love.
October 27, 2024
A warning: do not read this when you feel that you need to giggle aloud when you're at work, commuting, when someone's sleeping...But the giggles just need to find a way out and then you say: 'Hairballs'! Yes, Gobbelino learned me some new swear words, like: 'no kidding' and that results into Callum saying in the book: 'no baby goats'. I just love their word games. This second book in the series was a delight to read, something you want to finish fast or read on when you're having a bad time. Gobs and Calum are there to cheer you up. The stoy begins when dead bodies turn out not to be so dead at all with a huge zombie apocalypse near the end. It looked like The Walking Dead, but the fun version of it with Gertrude The Reaper and Emma, both baking - and cat - crazy, Ms. Jones (very fond of Dr. Martens),Claudia from the Watch and Pru (a Sphynx cat were Gobs has trouble getting used to in the beginning, no fur, you know). One of the fun moments was a zombie - version of the Chicken Run with headless zombie chickens running around. There were some more emotional moments in the book where you read between and in the lines that Callum means a lot to Gobs, even when they bicker a lot. Loosing Callum would be Gob's worst nightmare. Every character that Kim M. Watt creates is great and special and have their own quirkiness. I'm hoping to see more of Gertrude and Emma in the following books. The humor scenes are alternating with some more serious scenes, like the reason why Jan was making the 'zombie - virus'. And I'm curious how the meddling of the Watch fits in the zombie apocalypse.
Well, it turned all out good in the end, but I crave for - no, not brains! - but for the next book!
Well, it turned all out good in the end, but I crave for - no, not brains! - but for the next book!
October 24, 2022
I liked the first so much, I fully anticipated just as fun of a ride. Maybe that mind set makes a book fall even harder when it just isn’t that great. I wanted to love it and just ended up slogging through. The humor was gone for me with this one. Zombies weren’t funny nor was the bakery. News flash! If your main characters are on a stake out and board, so is your audience. Lots of characters just waiting for something to happen, so I felt like I was just waiting to get this book over with. I found my self skimming through zombie/cat/human fights. They were so boring; since there was no threat of anything actually going wrong, I just found my self not caring. Zombies to work need the sense of inevitability of being trapped and hopeless. This book held none of that and just fell flat. I’m in the minority by far with my review but I hold to it. This is a dull book.
April 4, 2023
This was about 1/3 too long, just repeating the same fights. I got bored. Still funny, I still like the characters and the concept, but it needed some judicious weeding.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2022
Gobbelino and Callum London are hanging out in a cemetery (for social, not work purposes). It's all going swimmingly until a dog chases a stick and fetches an arm. From then on, Gobs and Callum are in a (hah!) cat and mouse game with the living dead. They need to find out who's creating zombies and how to stop them.
This was a lot of fun, I like Gobbelino's snarky tone. He acts all mercenary but he wouldn't really walk away from someone in need. Not when Callum would spend the rest of the week giving him those big puppy eyes, anyway. We have several returning characters in this volume, as well as a number of new ones, the best of whom is Gertrude (aka Grim Reaper Leeds) who, when not reaping the souls of the dead, runs a pet café featuring baby ghouls with her partner Emma.
There's a surprising amount of action in the book, especially the big sequence where the zombies overrun the market towards the end of the book which was tenser than I was expecting! We also get a glimpse into Callum's history. Not much, but enough to contrast well with who he is now and to pull us into the story.
Also, if I distrusted the Watch in the first book, I out and out loathe them now. Claudia might be okay (for a peeler) but the rest of them are a good example of why we need to abolish the police!
Watt writes deliberately upbeat and cheerful stories. This is a great example of doing that really well, keeping a tight plot and exciting action at the same time. Just what I needed after a whole collection of really miserablist Rachel Swirsky stories!
This was a lot of fun, I like Gobbelino's snarky tone. He acts all mercenary but he wouldn't really walk away from someone in need. Not when Callum would spend the rest of the week giving him those big puppy eyes, anyway. We have several returning characters in this volume, as well as a number of new ones, the best of whom is Gertrude (aka Grim Reaper Leeds) who, when not reaping the souls of the dead, runs a pet café featuring baby ghouls with her partner Emma.
There's a surprising amount of action in the book, especially the big sequence where the zombies overrun the market towards the end of the book which was tenser than I was expecting! We also get a glimpse into Callum's history. Not much, but enough to contrast well with who he is now and to pull us into the story.
Also, if I distrusted the Watch in the first book, I out and out loathe them now. Claudia might be okay (for a peeler) but the rest of them are a good example of why we need to abolish the police!
Watt writes deliberately upbeat and cheerful stories. This is a great example of doing that really well, keeping a tight plot and exciting action at the same time. Just what I needed after a whole collection of really miserablist Rachel Swirsky stories!
May 11, 2020
What's not to like about this second book about Gobbelino, the talking cat private investigator and his human sidekick, Callum. You've got cats, magic and zombies in one extravagant adventure with lots of laughs on the way. Gobbelino and Callum are still in a slummy office with a shortage of work and a small green snake who appeared in the magic chaos of the first novel. While visiting a cemetery they become aware of disturbances in the graveyard which eventually leads to what might be termed a zombie invasion of Leeds market. The descriptions of Leeds and the market in particular are vivid and provide a clear balance for the reader between normal life(plus other world Folk) and manic zombies. The characters are taking on more depth with the second in the series and there is a nice collection of oddballs who are inhabiting Gobbelino's world, like the Reaper who has too many kitten-themed accessories and the unnerving sorcerer, Ms Jones.
This is a book that kept me enthralled and I am considering taking up one of Gobbelino's remarks: "No baby goats"
This is a book that kept me enthralled and I am considering taking up one of Gobbelino's remarks: "No baby goats"
May 15, 2020
I like PI stories. I like grumpy heroes, with a chip on their shoulder, who are sailing close to the dividing line between law-abiding and lawless.
I have a soft spot for cats (and dogs), I like to read fantasy, and I am an addict to a certain sense of humor.
Gobelino London and his sidekick Callum, both Private Investigators and residents of every rainy Leeds fill the ticket nicely.
The Private Investigators stumble from one adventure into the next.
In this new adventure the two heroes are suddenly confronted with a Contagion of Zombies.
Gobelino has to find out why there are suddenly Zombies infesting Leeds, the town of everlasting rain.
Even though Gobelino knows for sure, that Zombies don’t exist anymore. But on the other hand: what looks like a zombie, behaves like a zombie, might be…
Unfortunately in the process of investigation Callum gets bitten and starts to turn as well into a living dead.
So Gobelino, a somewhat catty character has to work together with some interesting – let’s call them – persons to try and stem the increasing tide of living dead, which is swamping Leeds.
Mrs Watts has written an entertaining story, which kept me up a whole night. So be careful: reading might be contagious too.
In this time of Corona infestation somehow the infestation of Zombies brings on the laughter, but while reading, I did wonder a little bit, and sometimes the laughter sounded a little bit hollow.
Anyway: I can fully recommend the second adventure of Gobelino and Callum and am looking forward to no. 3.
I have a soft spot for cats (and dogs), I like to read fantasy, and I am an addict to a certain sense of humor.
Gobelino London and his sidekick Callum, both Private Investigators and residents of every rainy Leeds fill the ticket nicely.
The Private Investigators stumble from one adventure into the next.
In this new adventure the two heroes are suddenly confronted with a Contagion of Zombies.
Gobelino has to find out why there are suddenly Zombies infesting Leeds, the town of everlasting rain.
Even though Gobelino knows for sure, that Zombies don’t exist anymore. But on the other hand: what looks like a zombie, behaves like a zombie, might be…
Unfortunately in the process of investigation Callum gets bitten and starts to turn as well into a living dead.
So Gobelino, a somewhat catty character has to work together with some interesting – let’s call them – persons to try and stem the increasing tide of living dead, which is swamping Leeds.
Mrs Watts has written an entertaining story, which kept me up a whole night. So be careful: reading might be contagious too.
In this time of Corona infestation somehow the infestation of Zombies brings on the laughter, but while reading, I did wonder a little bit, and sometimes the laughter sounded a little bit hollow.
Anyway: I can fully recommend the second adventure of Gobelino and Callum and am looking forward to no. 3.
June 5, 2020
I loved this second edition in the lives of Callum and Gobbelino London as much as the first and maybe somewhat more.
If you've read Kim Watt's other books you know she doesn't do "average", she does extraordinary.
The heroes staunchly refuse the titles despite the evidence to the contrary, and they are certainly not what might be considered heroic by some folks (talking stereotypes here) but I know (and hope we eventually get to see) that these two partners are more than them seem. And I hope more is revealed along the way of how they wound up who and where they are.
Kim Watt is on my list of pre-order without a second thought and I highly recommend her works. The only downside is the wait for the next book in any of her series (trying not to sound whiny and needy here!). Can't wait for the next outing!
If you've read Kim Watt's other books you know she doesn't do "average", she does extraordinary.
The heroes staunchly refuse the titles despite the evidence to the contrary, and they are certainly not what might be considered heroic by some folks (talking stereotypes here) but I know (and hope we eventually get to see) that these two partners are more than them seem. And I hope more is revealed along the way of how they wound up who and where they are.
Kim Watt is on my list of pre-order without a second thought and I highly recommend her works. The only downside is the wait for the next book in any of her series (trying not to sound whiny and needy here!). Can't wait for the next outing!
May 14, 2020
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the second installment of the adverntures of Gobbelino and Callum, and found it even better than the first one. This time the PI duo must stop a sudden plague of zombies, and avert the zombie apocalypse! With a full supporting cast of magic cats, rats and a cake-baking Reaper, and lots of laughs.
Full of quirkiness, snarky comments and genuine friendship, this is a paranormal mystery that should delight anyone who loves mysteries and/or the paranormal. The mystery itself though, is only part of the story and it is very much the journey and not the destination which is so highly enjoyable in this story
Ms Watt’s writing style is flowing and easy-going and never drags or becomes repetitive. I also really like it that she doesn’t have real romance in her stories, neither in Gobbelino or her wonderful Beaufort Scales dragon mysteries. Too often these cozy paranormal mysteries get sunk by gushy romances (I am not a fan of cozy mysteries in general, but Kim M Watt’s stories are special and beautiful).
Definitely recommended and can’t wait for the next one!
I loved the second installment of the adverntures of Gobbelino and Callum, and found it even better than the first one. This time the PI duo must stop a sudden plague of zombies, and avert the zombie apocalypse! With a full supporting cast of magic cats, rats and a cake-baking Reaper, and lots of laughs.
Full of quirkiness, snarky comments and genuine friendship, this is a paranormal mystery that should delight anyone who loves mysteries and/or the paranormal. The mystery itself though, is only part of the story and it is very much the journey and not the destination which is so highly enjoyable in this story
Ms Watt’s writing style is flowing and easy-going and never drags or becomes repetitive. I also really like it that she doesn’t have real romance in her stories, neither in Gobbelino or her wonderful Beaufort Scales dragon mysteries. Too often these cozy paranormal mysteries get sunk by gushy romances (I am not a fan of cozy mysteries in general, but Kim M Watt’s stories are special and beautiful).
Definitely recommended and can’t wait for the next one!
June 1, 2020
Another adventure for snarky cat detective Gobbelino and his hapless human sidekick Calum. This time they're investigating a possible zombie outbreak. Of course, zombies don't exist. Do they?
Funny, a little bit scary, and full of interesting characters, human and otherwise. And cake.
Nicely set up at the end for more books in the series, which I'm greatly looking forward to reading, hopefully in the not-too-distant future.
Funny, a little bit scary, and full of interesting characters, human and otherwise. And cake.
Nicely set up at the end for more books in the series, which I'm greatly looking forward to reading, hopefully in the not-too-distant future.
May 8, 2020
(ARC supplied in return for an honest review)
A PI who is also a cat isn't going to have normal cases like missing dogs and unfaithful partners. Especially not the dogs. Gobbelino London and his human partner Callum tend to get involved in more esoteric affairs ... like an outbreak of zombies. Sort of.
It's another fun and exciting romp through the busy streets of Leeds as our intrepid pair try to avert the zombie apocalypse. We discover some interesting things about Callum's history, suffer from Gobbelino's less than perfect grasp of human idiom, and meet a Reaper who bakes cakes. How's that for a slice of fried gold?
A PI who is also a cat isn't going to have normal cases like missing dogs and unfaithful partners. Especially not the dogs. Gobbelino London and his human partner Callum tend to get involved in more esoteric affairs ... like an outbreak of zombies. Sort of.
It's another fun and exciting romp through the busy streets of Leeds as our intrepid pair try to avert the zombie apocalypse. We discover some interesting things about Callum's history, suffer from Gobbelino's less than perfect grasp of human idiom, and meet a Reaper who bakes cakes. How's that for a slice of fried gold?
May 10, 2020
I am not a "Zombie" fan, and Kim is one of a very few who could get me to read a book about zombies! That said, I enjoyed the story. There were lots of zombie attacks but it was a different take on zombies! Humorous, and a mystery, and talking cats! Even a really good reason for the zombies to exist! Another great book by this fun (and funny) author
August 11, 2021
Zombies are not my thing (no interest in Walking Dead, none) and I almost skipped this and went to book 3. After thinking about it, (I did enjoy the magical silliness of the prior book) I decided go ahead mainly because the author really managed to make me care about Callum and Gobbelino. If she did as well in book 2 then I would be missing out on some great character development. I made the right decision. While there wasn't as much of the magical silliness in this story, although within a Reaper running a bakery with baby ghouls might you might argue otherwise, if I skipped it I'd have missed out on better understanding and appreciating the relationship Callum and Gobbelino share.
November 4, 2024
I didn't get on with this one as well as some of the author's other books - but then, I'm not really a fan of the zombie genre. Still, it introduced some fun new characters, who I hope we see more of. Maybe one day, they'll cross over with DI Adams.
June 11, 2020
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review - but don't let that bother you. Believe me, if I don't like a book, getting it for free isn't going to change that.
I loved this book! It's the second book in the Gobbelino London, PI series, and I confess I did not read book one, but that's good because it allows me to tell you that this book stands alone as its own story. It has enough references to the first book to make me want to read it, without relying too heavily on it. And while this one does hint at future adventures, it also wraps up its own story in a satisfying, non-cliffhangery way (which is very good, because I truly despise the current fad of gimmicky cliffhanger endings).
There are a few minor typos; nowhere near enough to drive me mad though, so thank the Old Ones for that. The writing style is smooth and colorful and truly a pleasure to follow. I won't write much about the plot - no spoilers! - other than to say that it goes deeper than one might think.
Be aware that there is some violence because, you know, zombies. Personally, I thought the violent scenes were as well written as the rest of the book, and they added to the development of several characters, but take the violence or leave it, that's up to you.
I liked the way magic and science blended in this book. It's clear that a lot of thought went into how the circumstances might come about, without getting overly technical.
Where this story really shines is in its characters. Especially Gobbelino. He is such a cat! All the cats in the book remind me of various felines I've had the pleasure of knowing; I could easily imagine them saying the things these cats say, if only I could understand them. Not to pick on other writers, but sometimes I'll read a book that's supposed to be from an animal's perspective and, disappointingly, it's just a human being's sensibilities in animal form. Not these cats. They think and move and emote like felines. Their values are different from human values. I find them wonderfully believable. The humans and... other... characters are nicely done, too.
Lots of laughs; high stakes; believable magic; wonderful characters, including one who I very much wanted to smack... yes, I really enjoyed this book. I'm going to go read the first one, and I'll be looking forward to more adventures with Gobbelino London, PI!
I loved this book! It's the second book in the Gobbelino London, PI series, and I confess I did not read book one, but that's good because it allows me to tell you that this book stands alone as its own story. It has enough references to the first book to make me want to read it, without relying too heavily on it. And while this one does hint at future adventures, it also wraps up its own story in a satisfying, non-cliffhangery way (which is very good, because I truly despise the current fad of gimmicky cliffhanger endings).
There are a few minor typos; nowhere near enough to drive me mad though, so thank the Old Ones for that. The writing style is smooth and colorful and truly a pleasure to follow. I won't write much about the plot - no spoilers! - other than to say that it goes deeper than one might think.
Be aware that there is some violence because, you know, zombies. Personally, I thought the violent scenes were as well written as the rest of the book, and they added to the development of several characters, but take the violence or leave it, that's up to you.
I liked the way magic and science blended in this book. It's clear that a lot of thought went into how the circumstances might come about, without getting overly technical.
Where this story really shines is in its characters. Especially Gobbelino. He is such a cat! All the cats in the book remind me of various felines I've had the pleasure of knowing; I could easily imagine them saying the things these cats say, if only I could understand them. Not to pick on other writers, but sometimes I'll read a book that's supposed to be from an animal's perspective and, disappointingly, it's just a human being's sensibilities in animal form. Not these cats. They think and move and emote like felines. Their values are different from human values. I find them wonderfully believable. The humans and... other... characters are nicely done, too.
Lots of laughs; high stakes; believable magic; wonderful characters, including one who I very much wanted to smack... yes, I really enjoyed this book. I'm going to go read the first one, and I'll be looking forward to more adventures with Gobbelino London, PI!
May 18, 2025
What a delight of a book. I almost yelped when I realized the POV was a . I wanted to, but I didn't My Shepherd/Husky would have had something to say about my yelp and you never know where those conversations can go.
It has everything. Funnier than hell, perspective on the human condition (and other conditions.) Some of my favorites:
True.
Then there are things like this, which get depressing if you think too hard.
I want to think, "You know, I could do something about this." Then, "Nope. I have been shouting in the wind for a very long time.
We do get our small victories. Like finding a book that almost makes me yelp I like it so much. Like bringing a dog home that has suffered tremendous neglect but not lost her soul, and who found. out what love looked like before she let go.
A reminder that you can't set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm:
Good book.
It has everything. Funnier than hell, perspective on the human condition (and other conditions.) Some of my favorites:
True.
Then there are things like this, which get depressing if you think too hard.
I want to think, "You know, I could do something about this." Then, "Nope. I have been shouting in the wind for a very long time.
We do get our small victories. Like finding a book that almost makes me yelp I like it so much. Like bringing a dog home that has suffered tremendous neglect but not lost her soul, and who found. out what love looked like before she let go.
A reminder that you can't set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm:
Good book.
June 14, 2020
I'm not normally one for reading fantasy or comedy, but every now and then I feel like a change and let's be honest, with the current state of the world, sometimes the best thing you can do is lose yourself in a light-hearted book. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the first book in the series, A Scourge of Pleasantries, but it was the characters that really did it for me. The story itself, like this one, is fast-paced, funny, full of twists and turns, magic, disaster and intrigue, but to make all of that work you need believable, likable characters, and the author has achieved this and then some. The series is narrated by a cat, Gobbelino, one half of a Private Investigator partnership. Scruffy and solemn Callum makes up the other half of the duo and I might be a bit in love with them both. I'm not sure why; maybe it's the set-up, a talking, magical cat and a loner solving mysteries together, maybe it's the witty dialogue between them, the hints at their past lives that make you want to know more, or the obvious love and respect they have for each other. Maybe it's all those things! As I already said, on the surface this is not the type of book I generally look out for, but I am so glad I gave this series a go. In this book the pair run into zombies and have to figure out how, why and who is behind it. They bundle from one scrape to another and with the help of an eclectic and fascinating collection of secondary characters, they manage to save the day. If you need to smile, to laugh, to feel good about people, to get invested in some characters you are really going to care about, then do give this series and this author a go. You won't regret it and the world will seem just a bit brighter afterwards too.
June 17, 2022
It's been too long since I've had a book I couldn't put down.
Zombies don't exist, right? Well, tell that to the dead crawling out of their graves and hungering for flesh.
Gobs and Callum may be slightly in over their heads with this one. The only magic Gobs can think of that could raise the dead are Necromancers, but they were all killed hundreds of years ago since they tried to wipe out Folk and enslave humanity. However, thats the funny thing, the zombies dont smell like magic, they don't smell of anything except the dead, but what else could it be? They need to work out how to stop it before all of humanity become zombies, but how can you stop something when you don't know the cause of it?
I loved this book, no other way to put it. It was interesting and slightly plot twisty, along with being hillarious. I couldn't stop laughing for the last half. Watt has this way of building tension and making a scene exciting, as well as funny. That would be the well written snarky cat. Even fighting a zombie horde and trying to save humanity as we know it with a reaper and a sorcerer, Gobs still finds opportunities to be sarcastic, or to state the obvious, causing me to burst out laughing. Watt just has Gobs personality perfect, exactly how you'd expect a cat to be, including the secretly caring about Callum but never admitting it.
The first book was good, but this was better. Hopefully the series continues with this pattern and just keeps getting better. They're just such a light fast read; funny, entertaining and a decent amount of snark. What more could you want?
Zombies don't exist, right? Well, tell that to the dead crawling out of their graves and hungering for flesh.
Gobs and Callum may be slightly in over their heads with this one. The only magic Gobs can think of that could raise the dead are Necromancers, but they were all killed hundreds of years ago since they tried to wipe out Folk and enslave humanity. However, thats the funny thing, the zombies dont smell like magic, they don't smell of anything except the dead, but what else could it be? They need to work out how to stop it before all of humanity become zombies, but how can you stop something when you don't know the cause of it?
I loved this book, no other way to put it. It was interesting and slightly plot twisty, along with being hillarious. I couldn't stop laughing for the last half. Watt has this way of building tension and making a scene exciting, as well as funny. That would be the well written snarky cat. Even fighting a zombie horde and trying to save humanity as we know it with a reaper and a sorcerer, Gobs still finds opportunities to be sarcastic, or to state the obvious, causing me to burst out laughing. Watt just has Gobs personality perfect, exactly how you'd expect a cat to be, including the secretly caring about Callum but never admitting it.
The first book was good, but this was better. Hopefully the series continues with this pattern and just keeps getting better. They're just such a light fast read; funny, entertaining and a decent amount of snark. What more could you want?
June 17, 2020
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4,5/5 stars
Synopsis:
Callum and Gobbelino just take a nice stroll through the city and the cemetery, where they meet a friend of theirs and her dog. Who happily brings an arm to them.
My thoughts:
There was lots of suspense in this book, keeping you on your toes and many crazy situations. I love the end and the hint at bigger things to come! It took a little bit to gain traction, but then this book really was a rollercoaster of emotions!
I love Gobs and his somewhat softer side and his relationship with Callum. They’re just adorable. Pru was nice, but Gertrude stole the show! She was hilarious and I really hope we will see her again in another book. The villain was a bit “potato-ish” to quote the characters, but that didn’t really bother me a lot.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the city and its market and all the Zombies running around.
Gobs is snarky as always, the situations he finds himself in are crazy as always. It`s fascinating how much I can sympathise with his feelings, even though he is a cat. A talking one, but still.
All in all, I would give it 4,5 stars.
Rating: 4,5/5 stars
Synopsis:
Callum and Gobbelino just take a nice stroll through the city and the cemetery, where they meet a friend of theirs and her dog. Who happily brings an arm to them.
My thoughts:
There was lots of suspense in this book, keeping you on your toes and many crazy situations. I love the end and the hint at bigger things to come! It took a little bit to gain traction, but then this book really was a rollercoaster of emotions!
I love Gobs and his somewhat softer side and his relationship with Callum. They’re just adorable. Pru was nice, but Gertrude stole the show! She was hilarious and I really hope we will see her again in another book. The villain was a bit “potato-ish” to quote the characters, but that didn’t really bother me a lot.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the city and its market and all the Zombies running around.
Gobs is snarky as always, the situations he finds himself in are crazy as always. It`s fascinating how much I can sympathise with his feelings, even though he is a cat. A talking one, but still.
All in all, I would give it 4,5 stars.
May 25, 2020
“Zombies don’t exist. You told me they don’t exist.”
“There’s a corpse clawing its way out of a grave over there. I’m open to the possibility that I may have been wrong.”
I see dead people.
And I’m not the only one. They’re even on Facebook.
The dead are rising, and if we don’t stop them before the infection spreads any further, we’re going to be knee-deep in the zombie apocalypse before you can say mmm, brains.
The only problem is, we don’t know why they’re rising, who started it, or how to stop them.
But G & C London, Private Investigators, are on the case. Just as soon as we get through dealing with disapproving reapers, irate magicians, zombie-fied chickens, and a small internal case of undeadness.
Trust us.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review
“There’s a corpse clawing its way out of a grave over there. I’m open to the possibility that I may have been wrong.”
I see dead people.
And I’m not the only one. They’re even on Facebook.
The dead are rising, and if we don’t stop them before the infection spreads any further, we’re going to be knee-deep in the zombie apocalypse before you can say mmm, brains.
The only problem is, we don’t know why they’re rising, who started it, or how to stop them.
But G & C London, Private Investigators, are on the case. Just as soon as we get through dealing with disapproving reapers, irate magicians, zombie-fied chickens, and a small internal case of undeadness.
Trust us.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review
January 30, 2021
Certainly up to the standard of the first book. Gobbelino and Callum meet a friend in a cemetery and the friend's large bouncy dog turns up with a partially rotted human arm complete with jewellery. Callum undertakes to re-bury it for her and that leads to Gobbelino and Callum discovering that some of the dead in the graveyard are being reanimated, and in true zombie fashion are chasing living people wanting to eat them.
The start investigating the cause, meet the remarkably dangerous sorcerer Ms Jones from book 1 again and meet new people magical folk and cats. I particularly liked Gertrude the reaper who helps souls over to the other side and is not at all pleased by zombies - she and her partner run a rather unusual sort of goth cafe and Gertrude adores baking and making cakes.
There is a really good final knock out drag down showdown at the end.
The reader learns a bit more about the Watch - the organisation of cats that polices magic and the magical - and what they consider important. Will be reading the sequel at some point.
The start investigating the cause, meet the remarkably dangerous sorcerer Ms Jones from book 1 again and meet new people magical folk and cats. I particularly liked Gertrude the reaper who helps souls over to the other side and is not at all pleased by zombies - she and her partner run a rather unusual sort of goth cafe and Gertrude adores baking and making cakes.
There is a really good final knock out drag down showdown at the end.
The reader learns a bit more about the Watch - the organisation of cats that polices magic and the magical - and what they consider important. Will be reading the sequel at some point.
October 13, 2022
I love this series. Gobbelino London is a cat, and he's the narrator. He's also rather shady. As is his human, Callum. At least, they both seem to have dark pasts. But they're making up for it now with their paranormal detective agency.
This book involves an outbreak of zombie-ism, including some headless chickens!?
There is a real mystery in why there are zombies, and what on earth are the pair going to do about them? "No baby goats!"
Witty banter bursts off the pages along with snarky comments (mostly from Gobs). The side characters are amazingly fun. I adore Big Ted who challenges those with preconceived notions of the homeless. And maybe I like sphynx cats a little bit more now - but still, I prefer my cats with fur.
All of this manic action takes place in the murkier depths of Leeds. An unusual setting, but I love it.
Although full of tension, this book manages to not be overly scary; a great achievement for a zombie book!
Go on, grab this book - no tricks, just treats.
4.5*
This book involves an outbreak of zombie-ism, including some headless chickens!?
There is a real mystery in why there are zombies, and what on earth are the pair going to do about them? "No baby goats!"
Witty banter bursts off the pages along with snarky comments (mostly from Gobs). The side characters are amazingly fun. I adore Big Ted who challenges those with preconceived notions of the homeless. And maybe I like sphynx cats a little bit more now - but still, I prefer my cats with fur.
All of this manic action takes place in the murkier depths of Leeds. An unusual setting, but I love it.
Although full of tension, this book manages to not be overly scary; a great achievement for a zombie book!
Go on, grab this book - no tricks, just treats.
4.5*
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