Inspector Hobbes and the Blood

Publisher's Summary

Set in a small Cotswold town, Inspector Hobbes and the Blood is a fast-paced comedy cozy mystery fantasy about the adventures of Andy, an incompetent reporter, when he is reluctantly working with Inspector Hobbes, a police detective with a reputation. Andy soon finds himself immersed in a world where not everyone is human, and a late-night visit to a churchyard nearly results in grave consequences, and a ghoulish outcome. An accidental fire leads to Andy having to doss in Hobbes's spare room.

Contending with a wave of murder, suicide, and robbery, as well as Hobbes's weirdness, is the just the start; he must also get to grips with Mrs. Goodfellow, Hobbes's housekeeper, who collects teeth. Although they are mostly from humans, she also claims to have some vampire specimens. However, Andy soon finds her wonderful cooking compensates for her eccentricities. Despite Andy believing he is coping, he is nearly unhinged by horror when a stressed Hobbes's concealed nature reveals itself in an orgy of bone-crunching. Yet, coming through unscathed, Andy develops respect and admiration for his host, even when he uses weird, occasionally brutal, methods to begin unravelling the mystery, which would appear to link The Order of the Dragon and Vlad Tepes, the original Dracula, to the crime wave.

When Hobbes goes missing, Andy, with the dubious assistance of Dregs, Hobbes's big, bad dog, and armed with a leg of lamb, searches for him. Will he triumph over crazed blood lust and human sacrifice?

Can Andy with Hobbes's friends, a binge-drinking dwarf and a troll who looks uncannily human, save the day? And can Andy catch vampirism from false teeth?

These and other questions may be answered in Inspector Hobbes and the Blood.

©2013 The Witcherley Book Company (P)2017 The Witcherley Book Company

A more realistic and mundane supernatural story

At first I was really thrown for a loop with the first chapter and wasn't sure I was going to continue, but I'm all the happier that I did now that I finished it.


First I thought I was listening to a Victorian novel and didn't realize that it was modern-day till they mentioned cars. as an American who has spent most of his life reading books by European authors I have to admit that to me this is the most English novel I've ever listened to and I love it for that because it enthralled me in ways I didn't think a book could.

The one the thing I find most compelling about this novel is that the other took time to show that the non-human characters where just like everyone else and there non human nature can be covered up as little foibles and eccentricities that you see in people around you everyday. I have never seen it done so well most authors will have their characters put on normalcy like a paper mask that disappears so quickly that you wonder why the author even bothered. while in this one by the end of the novel you wonder except for a few notable exceptions if all these events are actually just mundane and you're making them out to be much more than they are.
the only things I disliked in this novel was that it took too long for the main character to get over the scaredy-cat poor me stage end the authors inconsistency with the main character's priorities.

overall I give it a Solid 4 out of 5 stars.

22 of 22 people found this review helpful

Unlikable main character, good supporting cast

it is an engrossing listen. well plotted with cliffhangers and drawing questions throughout. but in the end the main character's unlikability nearly ruined the book for me.

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

Nope

There are some good things about this book, but the author goes for the low-hanging fruit when crafting just about everything. Mind-numbing banal. I couldn’t finish it.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Wilkie Martin writes a clever crime mystery

Andy Caplet is a struggling reporter who is socially awkward and easily frightened.  Only because the normal reporter for the crime beat was injured by being thrown from a speeding car (implied that he had been gambling or a mafia encounter …) Andy is given the assignment to work with Inspector Hobbes.  From that moment onward, Andy is caught in a whirlwind of mystery and intrigue.  Of course, it does not help that Andy’s imagination runs away with him – he’s seeing trolls, ghouls, witches, and vampires at every turn. Then again, considering he finds himself in a freshly dug grave conversing with two ghouls and the inspector enjoys raw meat and bones, and then there is the housekeeper that collects teeth …  perhaps his imagination is NOT running wild… and it seems that perhaps Inspector Hobbes has a secret of some sort.

They have to work together to solve the mysteries and unusual circumstances surrounding the robberies and a murder that are occurring throughout the town.

Wilkie Martin writes a clever crime mystery with comedy and a good deal of fantasy mixed in.  One cannot help but laugh out loud at some of the antics Andy finds himself in!  This is the perfect pair of crime solvers and partners in law!  One cannot help but be charmed by the story and the characters.

Martin develops his characters fully, with a depth that enables the listeners to connect with them.  Martin is also vivid in his descriptions placing the listener into the book.

Tim Campbell, the narrator, was equally awesome in his talented reading.  Campbell became immersed in the book to the point that it was difficult to tell where he left off and the characters began.  His ability to give the appropriate voice and personality to the characters was spot on; I loved hearing how his voice would become squeaky whenever Andy found himself in hot water and how confident Hobbes sounded.

If you enjoy mystery and some fantasy characters, then this is the book for you.

I encountered no audio issues and the production of this audiobook was smooth.

Audiobook was provided for review by the publisher.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog.

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29 of 33 people found this review helpful

Very entertaining read

One of the most entertaining and enjoyable books I have read this year! Kept me up till dawn finishing it. Amusing & interesting storyline .i shall look forward to the rest of the series and adventures of inspector Hobbs and company . I highly recommend the read I assure of s fun read ! Lovely narration .thank you so much!

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

Returning - 1.5 hrs in and haven't laughed once

This book is listed under Fiction - Humor. Which sets up an expectation of some LOL moments. I downloaded this book and then left the house with my iPod on. I gave the book an hour and a half to give it a chance, but the humor falls flat. Is it the writing or the narration? I can't tell. I did wonder what someone like Luke Daniels would do with the same sentences, but am not certain if there would be any laughter.

The description makes the book seem something like the Peter Grant series, which does at least bring out some smiles and chuckles. But since this book is listed under Humor, it should at least do the same. But, it doesn't.

The writing could be better - needs more descriptions, sensory descriptions, something interesting in the plot . . . and more. The obvious attempts at humor that didn't make me laugh just made it worse.

For laughter-inducing audio books, try the Cabin Pressure series or some books by Patrick McManus that are narrated by Norman Dietz.

How bad was this? I gave up, so switched the iPod to The Power of One, which is not a humor book. But the writing is so good, describing the human condition, that even amongst the drama of that book the writer got me to laugh at points. And, The Power of One is not listed under Humor.

Now that I am home, I am returning this book. I see it has some good reviews, so maybe it just isn't for me.

15 of 17 people found this review helpful

Annoyingly incompetent sidekick

Andy is a putz. He's a loser. You know he's going to come good in the end but getting there was pretty much more than I could take. Sorry, but reading (hearing) about useless whining characters with no redeeming qualities for the entire book is NOT entertaining. Inspector Hobbes is good, the other characters are good but Andy is terrible.
I can't bear to listen to another one, and guys, save yourselves the torment buy something else.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Writing this Review to Save You A Credit

The only reason I didn’t return this book was so that I could write this review to warn others and save other readers a credit.

I just absolutely couldn’t stomach Andy Caplet, the main character. He is the least liked main character I’ve ever encountered. Cowardice can sometimes be comic relief, but this character is such a simpering wimp it was disgusting. This is a problem since he is in more than 3/4 of the book. Seriously, he is the most spineless, teeth chattering, knee knocking, jumping at shadows, nearly pants wetting, self pitying, incompetent, unabashed, COWARD I’ve ever met. I got tired of him cringing, and whining, and being afraid of the most subtle things. I got tired of him whining about things were so unfair to him. Just ugh.

Why did I keep listening? (1) Inspector Hobbes. He was interesting enough to keep me reading. I REALLY want to find out more about him, but I can’t stomach any more of Andy’s simpering cowardice to continue. (2) Mrs. Goodfellow. She is another curiosity i want to more about, but again I can’t stomach any more of Andy to continue. (3) I kept hoping that Andy would develop into someone better. He did show *some* signs of having an *actual* spine near the end, but not enough to give me any desire to continue with the series. Even when so called saving the day, he was still afraid. Of. Every. Bloody. Thing.

I want to learn more about “unhumans”, but I can’t stomach any more of Andy. I just can’t. If they removed him from the story, someone let me know. Maybe they could just scare him to death.

If you really want to read about a detective who deals with the paranormal and magical community I absolutely BEG you to read the Rivers of London (Peter Grant series) by Ben Aaronovich. The plot, description of magic, humor, and narration are all AMAZING.

I have no idea how people are finding this book enjoyable. There were times that i did laugh, but they were not enough to make up for the pathetic main character. The narrator is talented, but it can’t save this book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A bit odd but very enjoyable.

Unlike any other book I have listened to. A very fun listen with a great narrator. I look forward to listening to the next book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

May get better but I lost the will to care.

I am about 2 hours into the set up but no story yet and it just keeps getting less interesting. Maybe it has a strong finish.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

Not for me.

The narration is so annoying that even if the book had been great, I would have struggled to enjoy it. The voice is far too posh for the character described, and the pronunciation extremely peculiar - like someone’s imagined idea of what an Englishman might sound like. There are a number of references to “harry hands” and “brikfist”, and on one occasion, Hobbes squats on his “honches”. I struggled through 3 chapters wanting to dig my ears out, then wondered why I was torturing myself and gave up.

...So, I can’t comment on the whole of the book. But judging on the first 3 chapters, the jokes were laboured and lame, the main character irritating and I couldn’t bring myself to care what happened next. Not a good start, and ‘difinitely nit my cip of tea’

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Great performance & story - but not quite British

The story is great - plenty of twists and you feel that you’re experiencing each twist with ‘Andy’. The characters are well built and interesting and I will happily listen to the rest of the series.....
The narrator does a great job giving distinct voices for each of the characters and it is well paced and clear to listen to.
However! Whilst Tim Campbell might sound authentically British a lot of the time - he does have some very odd pronunciations - that almost hurt! Andy’s voice is written as less posh than it is read and I found this a little jarring too.

15 of 16 people found this review helpful

Odd Pronunciations Put Me Off...Couldn't Finish

Any additional comments?

The story itself is great, as is the writing and the characters. Initially I really liked the narrator too but then I noticed his odd pronunciations on certain words, 'thot' instead of 'thought' was the worst one, it came up a lot and once I had noticed it, it was like a little annoying poke each time, then other words like 'brek-fest' 'reck-ed' (record) just as two examples. It really spoiled it for me and I stopped listening, going to buy the physical book instead so I can finish the story!

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

What a find!

Have had this book recommended for a while by the auto suggestions on audible but never took the bait until now. The book is great dealing with the supernatural in a humourous way, going straight to the the others in the series now...

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Escapism at it's best.

Not laugh out loud but very comical. Read book before listening so I knew what was about to occur but the narrator bought the characters to life. Well worth a read and listen.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Fabulous

Really love these stories their great fun, make me chuckle and the guy that reads them is great

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Fantastic book, appalling narration

This is a great book ruined by the narrator. British book by a British author, read by an American pretending, very badly, to be English.

Do yourself a favour and read the books instead.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Really good fun!!

If you could sum up Inspector Hobbes and the Blood in three words, what would they be?

funny, appealing ,different

What did you like best about this story?

The gentle humour, which although a little obvious at times is great fun nevertheless.

What does Tim Campbell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Once you get used to his sometimes idiosyncratic pronunciation it seems to suit the storyline. All in all a very enjoyable listen which led me to listen to the rest of the series so (far)

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A monstrously funny offering.

Any additional comments?

A wonderfully funny series, hope there is much more to come!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Will listen to these many times

Where does Inspector Hobbes and the Blood rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Alongside the Terry Pratchett books, always near the top in this household.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Inspector Hobbes, alongside Mrs Goodfellow.

Have you listened to any of Tim Campbell’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Probably, I don't usually take much notice of the reader. If the reader holds my interest I enjoy it. If not, I rarely finish the audiobook and pick up an ebook version. This one held my interest, bringing new life to the characters I'd already enjoyed in ebook. I was quite surprised to find out how "posh" the hapless Andy is. I didn't get that from the ebook version, but having listened to the reading it fits perfectly.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If only I had enough time.

Any additional comments?

Both readers in this household love this series and hope the author will write more Inspector Hobbes books.
Disclaimer: This review follows a promotional gift from the author having entered a competition from his newsletter. However, we would have bought the audio versions in any event.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Irritating narrator.

The narrator's pronunciation became so bizarre it started to feel like he was deliberately trying to wind me up. A bit like the policeman in 'Ello 'Ello (look it up).
Shame, because I'm sure I could have enjoyed the story.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful