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Wilkie Martin
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Inspector Hobbes and the Curse: Comedy Crime Fantasy (Unhuman Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Wilkie Martin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,680 ratings

Dead sheep. Massive cats. A superhuman detective’s sidekick has no clue…

Andy Caplet’s life may be cursed. After all, his only job between cases involves cooking terrible food for the unhuman Inspector Hobbes. Desperate to be of more use, Andy joins the bone-munching sleuth to investigate the brutal murder of innocent sheep.

Hunting down the livestock lunatic, Andy meets and loses his heart to the rich, stunning Violet King. Aside from a bit of Andy’s vomit in her shoes, all goes well until a fancy date ends with someone’s throat getting torn out…

Will Andy’s obsession make him and the inspector the next course on the murder menu?

Inspector Hobbes and the Curse is the second standalone novel in the Unhuman comedy crime fantasy series. If you like quirky characters, crazy crimes, and supernatural sleuths, then you’ll love Wilkie Martin’s page-turning whodunit.

Buy Inspector Hobbes and the Curse to rip an unnatural crime to shreds today!

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  1. Book 2 of 5
    Unhuman
  2. Print length
    587 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 28, 2013
  5. File size
    1.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 5 books in this series.

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From the Publisher

1 - Inspector Hobbes and the Blood
2 - Inspector Hobbes and the Curse
3 - Inspector Hobbes and the Gold Diggers
4 - Inspector Hobbes and the Bones
5 - Inspector Hobbes and the Common People
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Customer Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars 2,750
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,680
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,859
4.4 out of 5 stars 2,198
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,476
Price $1.99 $3.99 $3.99 $3.99 $3.99
Inspector Hobbes, Andy Caplet, Mrs Goodfellow, Dregs ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Billy Shawcroft (dwarf), Featherlight (landlord) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Rocky ✓ no data ✓ no data no data
Les Bashem, Bernie Bulimore (werewolves) no data ✓ ✓ no data no data
Violet King, Felix King (werecats) no data ✓ no data no data no data
Kathleen Johnson (daughter?) no data no data ✓ no data no data
Daphne Duckworth no data no data ✓ ✓ ✓
Sid Sharples (vampire) no data no data ✓ ✓ ✓
Alvin Elwes, Aubrey Elwes, Hilda Elwes, Matilda Kielder, Solomon Slugg (elves) no data no data no data ✓ no data
Yetis, Not Yetis no data no data no data no data ✓

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Inspector Hobbes and the Curse is very much the funny mans Sherlock Holmes' Scarlet Aingeal Booklikes, Scarlet Aingeal 'Far out fantasy full of odd characters and action' The Book Faerie, Jo Ann Hakola 'An amusing fantasy take-off on Sherlock Holmes and Watson' Nancy Famolari's Author Spotlight, Nancy Famolari 'Oh, the puns! The puns!' Book Reviews forevermore, Carol Siewert 'Classic whodunit with a fantasy twist' Koeur's Book Reviews, Anders Mikkelsen

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00G9MXDZ2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Witcherley Book Company (October 28, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 587 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 1,680 ratings

About the author

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Wilkie Martin

Wilkie Martin

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Wilkie Martin is a bestselling comedy and cozy mystery writer. He lives in the Cotswolds, UK with his partner in a town remarkably similar to the fictional Sorenchester of his unhuman series, although he has never come across a policeman there like Inspector Hobbes.

He loves cooking, especially curries which is why his characters tend to like things spicy and despite living as far away from the coast as is possible in the UK, he is a qualified scuba diving instructor.

Wilkie's latest book is a comedy crime fantasy story - Inspector Hobbes and the Common People.

There are now 5 books in his unhuman series of comedy cozy mystery fantasy novels, described by Cotswold Life magazine as 'odd, inventive and genuinely very funny indeed':

I - Inspector Hobbes and the Blood

II - Inspector Hobbes and the Curse

III - Inspector Hobbes and the Gold Diggers

IV - Inspector Hobbes and the Bones

V - Inspector Hobbes and the Common People

They can be read standalone but are best read in order. They are available on kindle, paperback, large print paperback, hardback and audiobooks.

Find the first 3 unhuman books together in his ebook bundle - First Ever Unhuman Bundle.

Find the first 4 unhuman books in the Hobbes omnibus (paperback, hardback and audiobook).

He also has a fantasy thriller - Razor

an a little book of silly verse - Relative Disasters - that chronicles the various humorous but fatal mishaps that happen to family members.

Children's books are written as Wilkie J. Martin, and a cookbook as his character A.C. Caplet.

For an update on when the next book is available visit his website http://www.wilkiemartin.com and signup for his newsletter.

Awards:

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

Inspector Hobbes and the Blood audiobook was a nominee for Audiobook Reviewer (ABR) Listener Award 2018 in Fantasy, Mystery, Humor.

Inspector Hobbes and the Bones audiobook WINNER of Indpendent Audiobook Award Fantasy 2019.

Inspector Hobbes and the Bones audiobook nominee VoiceArts Award Fantasy 2019.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,680 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this comedy crime fantasy book entertaining and humorous, particularly appreciating its absurdly humorous mystery elements and unexpected plot twists. They enjoy the characters, describing them as misfit characters, and praise the writing quality, noting it's good English supernatural cozy reading. Customers like the pacing, with one review highlighting its neat combination of Terry Pratchett-style elements.

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52 customers mention "Readability"52 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and engaging, with one describing it as a page-turner.

"Fun, exciting and thought provoking. Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? Or are there shades of gray?..." Read more

"...It's a pleasant light read, at a great price, and I plan to buy the rest in the series...." Read more

"...The worldbuilding is very nice and intricate. We learn, but slowly, like Andy. Andy is downright unwilling to learn some things...." Read more

"...Very satisfying. And so Funny. Cake & eat it too." Read more

34 customers mention "Humor"24 positive10 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, describing it as an absurdly humorous mystery novel filled with puns.

"...uses clever words and apt descriptions to weave a tail 😀 that is both humorous and full of character...." Read more

"...Or bloody awful. There are plenty of insider jokes, and running jokes. The worldbuilding is very nice and intricate...." Read more

"...Very satisfying. And so Funny. Cake & eat it too." Read more

"...The puns are still outrageous, the characters are still odd, Andy's become a bit less annoying...." Read more

27 customers mention "Character development"22 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, particularly appreciating the misfit and bumbling personalities.

"...and apt descriptions to weave a tail 😀 that is both humorous and full of character...." Read more

"I liked that the timbre of storytelling us contining, what I was lookjng firwRd to was there...." Read more

"...Lots of fun characters, some uniquely English humor and a great read. Not unlike Christopher Moore and that's praise, indeed." Read more

"...disliked the guy...and still do; however, the rest of the characters are amazing and wonderful, from Inspector Hobbes..." Read more

27 customers mention "Suspenseful story"24 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful story, describing it as a fun supernatural mystery with lots of unexpected plot twists.

"Fun, exciting and thought provoking. Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? Or are there shades of gray?..." Read more

"The author seems to be improving. I found this book held my interest more than the first, and had better jokes...." Read more

"Better than the first book in the series, I had a lot of fun reading about the mysterious but loveable Inspector Hobbes and his endearing..." Read more

"...Just enough of a puzzle to keep it interesting. Going for book 3 hoping the Andy character gets a little better but so far the 2 books were fun read." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing quality"13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, describing it as excellent and good English supernatural cozy reading, with one customer noting the author's improvement throughout the series.

"The author seems to be improving. I found this book held my interest more than the first, and had better jokes...." Read more

"Very unique writing and story lines. Nothing like any other writer in my experience reading mysteries over 50 years...." Read more

"...Really enjoying the characters and word play." Read more

"These books make good English supernatural cosy reading, although the supernatural elements are about as natural as they come...." Read more

11 customers mention "Likability"11 positive0 negative

Customers find Inspector Hobbes endearing, with one customer noting he's as charming as in the first book, while another describes him as pure poetry of enjoyment.

"...Or are there shades of gray? Again Mr. Martin uses clever words and apt descriptions to weave a tail 😀 that is both humorous and full of character...." Read more

"...series, I had a lot of fun reading about the mysterious but loveable Inspector Hobbes and his endearing housekeeper and chef extraordinaire, Mrs..." Read more

"...Andy, as annoying as the little bastard is, can be quite endearing and his continued discoveries that the world isn't what we think it is punctuated..." Read more

"...The narrator, Andy, is a likable fellow, clumsy and a bit cowardly, and Hobbes is a terrific whatever he is...." Read more

5 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one customer noting its neat combination of Terry Pratchett's style, while another describes it as a great mix of fantastic elements.

"...The worldbuilding is very nice and intricate. We learn, but slowly, like Andy. Andy is downright unwilling to learn some things...." Read more

"...I enjoy the off-hand blend of fantastic and utterly ordinary people and adventures." Read more

"...More adventures with Andy, Inspector Hobbes and the lass. Mix eccentric locals, strange newcomers, a mystery, mythical (maybe) creatures and a..." Read more

"Just a fun read. A neat combination of Terry Pratchett and Agatha Christie that makes for a good Sunday read." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Jessica
    5.0 out of 5 stars But is it really a curse?
    Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Fun, exciting and thought provoking. Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? Or are there shades of gray? Again Mr. Martin uses clever words and apt descriptions to weave a tail 😀 that is both humorous and full of character.
    Helpful
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  • Scottro
    4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely buying the rest of the series
    Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    The author seems to be improving. I found this book held my interest more than the first, and had better jokes. The puns are still outrageous, the characters are still odd, Andy's become a bit less annoying.
    The humor may not be to everyone's taste--I love outrageous puns, and there are always plenty. I am still, even after two books, not quite sure how to describe this. It's a pleasant light read, at a great price, and I plan to buy the rest in the series.
    With many books, you can say, If like such and such, you'll like this. However, this one, while having various urban fantasy type critters is far more lighthearted than most. I'd say try the first one which is only 99 cents, and see if you like it.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Barrestwin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Alas! Andy has suffered a relapse...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    At the end of the first book, he had gotten much better under the tender, loving care of Hobbes, Mrs Goodfellow, not to mention the dog, Dregs. Now they have to start over. Well, not all the way.
    Andy is, unfourtunately, a Dork. And accident prone. But he is not unintelligent. He is educated, and he has a way with words...
    So has Mr Martin. The puns are good and subtle. Or bloody awful. There are plenty of insider jokes, and running jokes.
    The worldbuilding is very nice and intricate. We learn, but slowly, like Andy. Andy is downright unwilling to learn some things. Who could blame him?
    There is a mystery, that, to an experienced reader of urban fantasy doesn't seem so hard... But there is more to it than meets the eye at first. No doubt to be continued.
    At the end, Andy is a better personality. He will probably backslide, but Hobbes, Mrs Goodfellow and Dregs will have his back. And maybe we will learn why he is the way he is?
    Helpful
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  • Jingizu
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Better than the first book in the series, I had a lot of fun reading about the mysterious but loveable Inspector Hobbes and his endearing housekeeper and chef extraordinaire, Mrs G.

    Andy is still selfish and aimless, although he is not quite as annoying as in the first book. He does seem to be learning a bit, though I would really like to see more character development for him.

    The plot was good, though not that surprising, especially for one whose been reading supernatural mysteries for years. Pacing a bit slow maybe, as we meander through Andy's thoughts, but still fine for me. I don't mind slower stories.

    Hobbes and Mrs G continues to steal the show of course! And I love the foodie descriptions of Mrs G's wonderful cooking!

    On to the next one!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer CoCo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book 2:: LOVELY !
    Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I liked that the timbre of storytelling us contining, what I was lookjng firwRd to was there. And ALL the characters are growing, but not so fast their quirks become normal --ohNo! They get quirkier and more Important and still I get to actually chuckle out loud ! It feels so good to laugh out loud.
    The Humanity of the Unhuman is why I want to keep listenig, and to listen well so as not to miss delicious nuances and hidden puns.
    And to realize most situations in the story Smell a lot like situations on/in this time/place in our NOW.
    Injustices abound--but atbleast herr there is understanding, explanation, resolutions and cognizant consequences.
    Very satisfying. And so Funny.
    Cake & eat it too.
    One person found this helpful
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  • TAL
    3.0 out of 5 stars Main Character Is Losing His Charm
    Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I had really enjoyed the first book in this series and while Andy, the main character and narrator of these books could be a little self-centered, pathetic and annoying at times he seemed to redeem himself in the end.

    Based on how much fun I had with the first book, I thought would move on to the second. While this book was OK, I have to say that Andy's character grated my nerves after a while. I was hoping after Andy’s slight redemption in the first book he would continue to move towards being a better person. I was wrong. It was/is hard for me to understand why he seems to have no ambition, self-respect or just plain decency to be anything more than a freeloader. He has moments where he understands what he is doing is not right and for a split second feels bad but, in the end, he does not seem to care enough to do anything about his situation.

    Andy's selfishness aside, this book was also completely predictable. If there was supposed to be “mystery” in this book, it failed miserably. It was obvious from the outset. There were times I could not believe the characters could not see what was happening right in front of them and how they could not pick up the clues right away like I had. I as the reader had no more information than they did, but I was able to see things clearly from the beginning.

    Even with all of this book’s faults, I am giving the third book a try. But, in all honesty, if there is no character growth for Andy and he continues down the path of free-loader I may have to give up on this series. It is hard to read a book where the main character seems to have no redeeming qualities. I mainly gave this book three stars because I really enjoy the rest of the characters and I think the author has created an interesting world. I just think that if he is going to continue with these books there needs to be character growth for the main character and a little more “mystery” to the mysteries.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Bror
    4.0 out of 5 stars Quirky and a great read
    Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I'm only going to review one of these four books as my opinion works for all of them.
    This is a great premise, very entertaining and definitely a unique idea. There is a main protagonist, Andy, who I either like or detest, spending on which page I'm on but the real story is Inspector Hobbes, I'm not going to give nothing's away, you have to read it for yourself!
    It's quite important to read the books in sequence as you don't want to know what's coming ahead of time. There's a continuing thread and the four books a really one long story.
    Lots of fun characters, some uniquely English humor and a great read. Not unlike Christopher Moore and that's praise, indeed.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • M. Wilkinson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Rollicking good fun
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    if you like clearly drawn, eccentric, characters, a dark, mysterious but quaintly English world, good writing, and the occasional excruciating, "so bad it's good" pun, this is the series of books for you. It's fantasy, comedy, occasionally horror, and a fun detective story, but it's also a story about the relationships between some odd but very likeable people. You will find yourself laughing at them but also caring about them. Recommended.
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  • Lightfk
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of gentle fun
    Reviewed in Australia on April 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Simultaneously a gentle english countryside mystery and a quirky paranormal adventure, this book is marvelously entertaining. The accident-prone cheerfully inept Andy is an excellent foil to the ultra-capable unhuman Hobbes, whose lovely live and let be odd attitude is a splended antidote to the cares of the real world.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars If you liked the first book the second doesn’t disappoint
    Reviewed in Australia on April 14, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    If you liked the first book the second doesn’t disappoint. Only took a star off for that classic trap of it being so obvious who the bad guys where and the book charecters not catching on quicker!!! Don’t let that stop you from reading it. Oh. And we find out what’s behind the door!! Absolutely horrifying!!!!!
    Report
  • bennie
    3.0 out of 5 stars Reads a little like the first book
    Reviewed in Canada on February 25, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Reads a little like the first book, and gets somewhat tiresome while getting to the conclusion. Not sure I want to read anymore.
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  • Polly
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good humour crime novel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    After reading inspector Hobbs and the blood had to read this different from other crime novels brilliant read
    Report

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