Inspector Hobbes and the Common People: Comedy Crime Fantasy

Unhuman #5

by Wilkie Martin

No stranger to fear since meeting the unhuman Inspector Hobbes, Andy Caplet fears getting fired from his reporting job (again). His main concern, though, is a shady property developer who has designs on Sorenchester Common, and more annoyingly on his wife.

Perhaps a trip to the mountains will help him relax, but this proves even more perilous with foul weather, inedible food, brigands, and a terrifying cruise. Fortunately, mountain leopards, yetis and Flossy, the yak, take a shine to Andy.

Back in the Cotswolds, a child gets murdered and a new detective takes on the case. When Hobbes returns, he (with Andy’s dubious assistance) is relegated to hunting an enormous bird with killer feet. Meanwhile, Andy still worries about the common and the reclusive Common People (surely not yetis?), who will lose their homes if the housing development goes ahead.

This standalone novel is the fifth in Wilkie Martin’s unhuman series of cozy comedy crime fantasies.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Humor

297 pages, Hardcover

Published July 28, 2021

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

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I. . . liked this but I won't rave about it to other readers. It was readable but not amazing. The title leads you to believe it's about the primitive common people who live in stone-age communities in the unpopulated lands around human settlements. But we barely interact with these people. There's more spent on the interaction with the Yeti peoples that Hobbes and Andy's wife Daphne visited for some secret and never disclosed government reason. The whole book is somewhat disjointed and meandering. I've enjoyed the series and this won't turn me off any next book, I just wasn't thrilled.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this isn't my favorite book of the series, I still enjoyed it! I liked seeing how Andy and Daphne's marriage really is a good thing ... somehow! And as always Hobbes and his household are awesome!

[Todd Glaeser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been excitedly waiting for a new book in this series!

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable adventure with Inspector Hobbes and the usual suspects. The plot is split between a trip to (maybe) the Himalayan mountains and an investigation in Sorenchester surrounding the killing of a young boy and a controversial housing development.

Narrator Andy isn't as annoying and sometimes ragingly idiotic as in some of the previous novels and although he is still prone to accidents and bad luck, not each and every of his actions ends in near catastrophy. What is still very much annoying though is his insane jealousy, his wife Daphne can't even talk to another man without Andy becoming cranky and afraid she might leave him, while he himself fantasises about every beautiful woman he sees. Said jealousy is also about the only reason lazy and homely Andy joins the aforementioned expedition to the mountains and as you can expect, it doesn't go well for him.

Now, I get that this is supposed to be funny and Andy is about the most harmless guy you can imagine, but as someone who has experienced extreme jealousy in a relationship and has friends who also had to deal with this, I know that this can lead to extremely unpleasant situations to the point of mental and physical harm. So yeah, that part made me a bit uncomfortable as a means of lighthearted comic relief and I wish Wilkie Martin would stick to something else when it comes to making Andy look like an idiot.

Apart from that, this is yet another very fun read and probably Andy's least annoying outing yet. The highlights are as always Inspector Hobbes, his landlady Mrs Goodfellow, Dregs the dog and all the other quirky inhabitants of Sorenchester and the surrounding area. Also, Mr Pierce Twilly! If you want a quick and cozy trip to smalltown Britain with a dash of mystery and the supernatural, this is once again for you. If you expect a deep supernatural crime thriller, this still won't be your cup of tea.

[Audiobookreviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andy Caplet finds himself smack dab in the middle of a mystery again! This time he, his wife, Daphne, and Inspector Hobbes travel to the mountains on a “secret mission.” While there, Andy manages to trip over the mountain only to be rescued by a tribe of Yeti. If that wasn’t bad enough, he returns home to find a slippery housing developer with designs on the town AND his wife! And he’s in fear of losing his job …. again! The fun just gets more intense with each passing moment!

I have enjoyed each of the Inspector Hobbes books in the series so when the fifth was submitted, I cheered! I love the antics of Andy and the wit of Inspector Hobbes. This is a pair of engaging characters that make the listener laugh out loud! Like the others, this book is told from Andy’s point of view which is perfect as it keeps things fresh and with a slightly twisted view.

The author, Wilkie Martin, has done an excellent job of creating characters, places, and situations that engage the audience. This book is a delightfully fun book! The story plot was well written, and each character’s personality was entertaining and fit perfectly into the story.

The narrator, Tim Campbell, once again delivers a wonderful performance. He projected the characters perfectly providing rich unique voices that reflect the personalities perfectly. Campbell is an excellent choice for the characters in this book especially Andy!

I would say the only downside to this book is that it had to end! If you enjoy fun books with a bit of the supernatural, non-human characters, and lots of fun then this is the perfect series for you!

The Audiobook Reviewer’s Choice Award is a prestigious award presented to the author of the book whose story is believed to deserve higher than the standard 5 Star Rating. This is one of those rare books!

There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook.

Disclaimer: This Audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-bias, honest review.

[Marina E Michaels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decently written

An okay read. Writing is good. I love the premise and a world with room for the unexplained.

And I don't like leaving anything less than top reviews.

However.

I couldn't like the protagonist, even though I think the reader is supposed to. He isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer and has an unpleasant personality. He whines, feels sorry for himself, has weak ethics, is unreasonably jealous of his long-suffering wife (though he enjoys the thought of causing her pain by making her jealous), and is, in movie parlance, little more than a sexy lamp. He has no agency and the story could be told equally well without him in it. I can't think of any action he takes that affects the story in the slightest. He's repeatedly careless with secrets he's been asked to keep secret.

The author's painful attempts at humor (a woman dies in the collapse of a yarn factory, summed up as "She died in the wool") didn't help.

I suspect the author is going for a Three Men in a Boat vibe, but he hasn't reached it. Long ago, I read his first three books in this series and remember enjoying them. Maybe my sensibilities have changed. Maybe this volume was just off. Maybe a bit of both.

Eventually I skipped to the end of the book to find out how the story came out. I often do that to see if a book is worth my time. If it is, I'll go back and read the entire story. In this case, it wasn't.

I've read much worse and it's clear the author cares about his stories. But I won't be reading any more by this author.

[Samantha Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book. No compensation was received other than the chance to read and and give an honest review.

I loved reading this book from start to finish. It kept a steady pace throughout and was an easy read.

If you have watched the BBC Sherlock and loved it your going to love this book. This story made me think of that show many times and I could even envision what was going on throughout it. There were multiple comical points along with not knowing what was going to come next.

I did not read the other 4 books in the series that preceded this one and that wasn't a problem. There was just enough information throughout to know what was going on even if you didn't read the others. I will be reading the others very soon and I think this may become one of my favorite series this year.

[Jennifer Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all the books in the unhuman series

I have recommended these books to all my family and friends. I have truly enjoyed reading this series and I was really bummed out when I read the last page of the last book. I was a little disappointed though with the last book in the series only because it was more about Andy and not enough about Hobbs. Also the comedy was more slap stick and got tiring with all of Andy's bumbling around. Andy seemed to get more clumsy, Andy needs to grow a bit more, keep some of his comedy but not to the extent that he is just an idiot who can't seem to be able to walk and talk with out falling down. Keep this series going I can't wait for the next book. Thank you for bringing a smile and a laugh at this difficult time. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again.

[Timothy VanderWall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilkie Martin did it again - another totally fun Inspector Hobbes story

Like the other novels in the Inspector Hobbes series, this one is filed with lots of adventure and fun (with a bit of mystery too). It also has its share of unhuman folks, including Yeti. There were actually two adventures going on in this yarn - a secret mission to the mountains of Asia and a new housing development right there in Sorenchester (which didn't seem to be exactly on the up-and-up). And don't worry; Andy and his lovely wife, Daphne, are in the thick of things.
If you have enjoyed the other Inspector Hobbes stories, you will not be disappointed with this one.

[Pam Keevil · Rating 5 out of 5]

As comedy crime goes, the stories of Inspector Hobbes, Andy Caplet, Dregs the dog and the other character of Sorenchester, are fabulous reads. All have great humour, intriguing plots and a cracking pace. Book Five has the added dimension of a far away setting for some of the narrative and there is an underlying theme about the destruction of common land and the power of developers to get their way.
I admire the way the author drops in references to past stories so the books can be read as stand alone novels.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!

A police procedural series set on England, but these are procedures you are unlikely to see when they involve Inspector Hobbes. His methods are unorthodox, involving actions somewhat unhuman, which is why the Series is subtitled Unhuman. There's a lot of fun as it's told through the experiences of Andy, his sidekick, who bumbles through the investigations missing most clues and managing to avoid death although we wonder how. A lot of fun with great characters. Probably best to start at the beginning of the series, but not necessary.

[Christopher Everest · Rating 5 out of 5]

English humour

An escaped Rhea named Dai.
Call me an ambulance! You sir, are am ambulance.
If you've never met Andy and Hobbes, Dregs the dog and Mrs Goodfellow you have a fantastic treat to look forward to. The series is brilliant. It definitely needs to be filmed. It's the kind of book you read out to your missus because you think it's so funny and she just looks at you like you're weird.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read from Willie Martin.

Mr. Martin has given us another gem of a story, featuring the amazing, mystical Hobbes, the acutely clumsy Andy and his fantastically patient , (and equally understanding) wife Daphne, plus the usual mix of unusual residents of Sorenchester. This is the fifth of the unhuman series, but can be read as a standalone book. Try this series, you won't regret it. Oh, and look out for flying puns and groaners in this comedy mystery.

[David Grieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another thoroughly enjoyable chapter in the series. Gentle comedy, some laugh out loud moments and self-deprecating humour throughout with a cast of cartoonish semi-believable characters. I spend most of the time smiling to myself when I read these stories. The plots are simple and the enjoyment is through the characters and dialogue. If you like a bit of humorous magic reality/fantasy then these could be for you.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find these stories delightful. They are very tongue in cheek. The narrator is a clumsy man that has been friends with Hobbes for years and though he often finds himself in the funniest trouble, it often ends in help for the Inspector. I was happy to see a new book to the series. It was a fun read and loved the ending. One does need to read the previous books to understand Inspector Hobbes along with Mrs Goodfellow, Andy and Daphne.

[Laurel B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun fantasy detective story

Unusual entry into the police procedural genre. Interesting characters, including the dog Dregs and the "unhuman" police inspector Hobbes. Lots of fun, lame puns, physical comedy, and good food.
I do wish Martin had had a professional copy editor. Too many errors, like commas separating subject and verb, and myriad misspellings of "all right." There's no such word as "alright."

[Stephanie Cleaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

A jolly jape of a latest installment

These books are such an easy read, they are great fun! Do start from the first one to really understand the characters (I'm not sure it will make much sense if you don't), but they are all worth it.

Just knocking this one a star because Andy was just a little too over stereotyped as a character for much of the beginning of the book, and it just didn't hold me quite as completely as previous books. That is a minor criticism, though.

[Dottie Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The AMAZING INSPECTO R HOBBES

I have read all of the inspector Hobbes books. They are amazingly funny. When I start reading one of the books I can't put it down. Andy gets in so much trouble, or I should say misadventures. Wilkie Martin is a wonderful writer I can't wait for his next book.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea

It's always tricky to recommend comedy, I find. I hoped for something more like Christopher Fowler, and inspector Hobbes is nothing like that. The series seems to be very popular. There's an endearing dog, a good cook, an inspector and a sidekick and British folklore, so I'm not sure why I'm not in love.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book, lovely series

I need Wilkie Martin to write more in this series. And quickly!

The descriptions of the food are *chef’s kiss* and the stories themselves are engaging, entertaining, and funny. I love all the characters I’m supposed to love and I’m annoyed at all the characters I’m supposed to be annoyed at. The author is a master at his craft. Cheers!

[Shirley Mckenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

All’s well that ends well

Another great story told in style that’s magical. Quintessential English and fantastical at the same time. I highly recommend this and the previous three books.

[shirley scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

This is one of a series of books which are all amazing. The hapless Andy, and the unhuman Hobbes are a joy. This book has Monks, Yetis, Not Yetis and more. Funny, can’t putdown able, joyous reading.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best one yet.

Well worth the wait for this one, Martin Wilkie has written a wonderful book again about Andy and Hobbes adventures.

Very enjoyable.

Highly recommended to all of my Goodreads friends who read fantasy.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read like the rest of the series.

I always look forward to new Hobbes books. They are lighthearted and fun. Always good for some laughs. I’ll probably check out the audible edition as well because the narration is great.

[Junell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Winning Inspector Hobbes Book!

Once again another great foray into the world of the unhuman realm with Inspector Hobbes at the lead. Read Wilkie Martin fans- you won't be disappointed. I am looking forward to the next novel.

[Paul]

Another fine installment

Yet again wilkie Martin comes up trumps . This outing for the team is if anything better than the previous books . I look forward to the next chapter with anticipation of a further feast

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition in the Unhuman Series

It’s been a while since I’ve had the pleasure of being transported to the little Cotswold village with Mr Hobbs, Andy Caplet & the other familiar characters. It was a great read.

[Karen Cotton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homeless Common People

As a redevelopment of the nearby common (to the misfortune of the common people),Andy and Hobbes return to help.New bosses, a young boy shot and adventure to the mountains - where will the adventure end?

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like these books. I didn't give this book 4 stars because there wasn't enough content about The Common People in my opinion. Andy is marginally more competent here in book five than he was in book one, but that's part of the humor. Keep em coming Mr. Martin!

[Amy Villarreal · Rating 5 out of 5]

in love with Hobbes

I have finished these books too quickly. I miss the characters already. The British dad jokes are wonderfully painful. If you are in the mood for a Cosy fantastical comedic horror mystery, this is the one!