Evan and Elle (Constable Evan Evans Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Rhys Bowen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Constable Evan Evans Mysteries | Publication Date: February 14, 2000

There is both excitement and dismay in Llanfair when a new French restaurant opens. The glamorous owner, Madame Yvette, tries to win over the locals, and everything seems to be going well until a string of fires plagues the town. One night the restaurant burns down, and a body is found in the rubble.

Constable Evans joins Sergeant Watkins to follow a trail of clues that leads them to the South of England and then to France, and finally to the conclusion that a dangerous killer is loose in Llanfair.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Madame Yvette, a seductive widow, opens a French restaurant in Llanfair, in northern Wales, her blend of haute cuisine and traditional Welsh fare soon wins over the locals, including Constable Evan Evans, the village's lone policeman and the hero of three previous outings in this appealing series (Evanly Choir, etc.). Ever true to his girlfriend, schoolteacher Bronwen Price, Evans resists Madame Yvette's attempt to make him more than just a culinary conquest, but he's ready to be of service when she really needs him--after her restaurant burns down, the latest target in a string of recent arson attacks in the area. Or is it? While at first the fire seems the work of Welsh extremists, the discovery of a corpse in the restaurant's ruins puts this crime into a different category altogether. In the ensuing investigation, Evans retains his modesty and good humor as he deals with a condescending English arson expert, a flirtatious female constable and a host of lively locals. The trail leads to the South Coast of England, where Madame Yvette and her late husband previously lost a restaurant to fire, and to France, where Evans and his colleague Sergeant Watkins uncover a startling secret about her past. Bowen keeps the reader guessing as to the actual menace that awaits Constable Evans in the hills above Llanfair on his return. This is a light confection of a mystery, sweetened with the author's obvious affection for her characters, as well as for all things Welsh. (Feb.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Constable Evans and Sgt. Watkins investigate arson and murder in the Welsh village of Llanfair after a body is found in the rubble of a torched French restaurant. A pleasant evening's entertainment.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (February 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312252447
• ISBN-13: 978-0312252441
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 3.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #875,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rhys Bowen's books have been nominated for every major mystery award and she has won thirteen of them to date. She currently writes two historical mystery series, each very different in tone. The Molly Murphy mysteries feature an Irish immigrant woman in turn-of-the-century New York City. These books are multi-layered, complex stories with a strong sense of time and place and have won many awards including Agatha and Anthony. There are 10 book so far in this series plus the free Kindle story, The Amersham Rubies--a great way to introduce new readers to Molly's spunky personality.

Then there is Lady Georgie, Rhys's latest,and very popular, heroine. She's 34th in line to the throne of England, but she's flat broke and struggling to survive in the Great Depression. These books are lighter and funnier than Molly's adventures. They poke gentle fun at the British class system--about which Rhys knonws a lot, having married into an upper class family rather like Georgie's, with cousins with silly nicknames,family ghosts and stately homes. The fifth book, Naughty in Nice, is in stores now, and watch out for a big Christmas book in time for the 2012 holidays.
This year the series received the Readers Hoice Award for favorite mystery series.

Rhys was born in Bath, England and spent a lot of time growing up in Wales with her Welsh relatives. Those childhood experiences colored her first mystery series, about Constable Evans in the mountains of Snowdonia. 10 books including the Edgar nominee Evan's Gate. She has lived in Austria, Germany and Australia, but has called California her home for many years. She now escapes to a condo in Arizona during those cold California winters. When she's not writing she loves to travel, sing, hike and play the Celtic harp.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A quaint cozy, January 13, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Evan and Elle (Constable Evan Evans Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Although Constable Evan Evans years to be a detective on an official murder investigation, overall he is content with being assigned to the small village of Llanfair. The townsfolk are proud of their heritage and resent any foreign intrusion including the new French restaurant owned and operated by Madame Yvette Bouchard. Adding to the locals' disfavor of her establishment dubbed the "den of iniquity" by the local clergy is that Yvette is open for business on the Sabbath.

The xenophobia turns ugly when someone torches the cottage of an English couple followed by the arson destruction of a foreign-owned inn. The authorities believe an extremist group is behind the attacks. When Yvette's restaurant is burned down next, it appears to be the same organization behind the first two fires. However, this time, a murdered body is found amidst the ruins. Evan joins the inquiries that lead him and others to England and France in a quest to uncover a clever killer.

The fourth installment of the Constable Evans mysteries is as good as the previous three novels. EVAN AND ELLE showcases the beauty, culture, and politics of a small Welsh village. The numerous subplots merge into the main story line in an expeditious way that demonstrates the abilities of Rhys Bowen to take his audience on several sidebars that add depth to the tale. Fans of police procedurals in exotic locales will enjoy this charming novel and the other colorful books in this warm series.

Harriet Klausner

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this latest visit to Llanfair exceedingly., March 11, 2000

By 

Mary Collette List (Kalamazoo, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Evan and Elle (Constable Evan Evans Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I just read this last night, and I must say that I enjoyed it in the extreme. Evan really had his hands full here. Once more there was a "fo- reigner" woman who is trying to make a play for our hero, much to the disapproval of Evan's "main ladies":Bronwen&Betsy. I think this was Ms.Bowen's best yet.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arson in Llanfair, April 3, 2003

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Evan and Elle (Constable Evan Evans Mysteries) (Hardcover)

A serial arsonist is loose in the Welsh mountains. He seems to be targeting properties owned by foreigners. Is there a connection to some of the nationalist groups? Village constable Evan Evans thinks so. Meanwhile, the owner of the new French restaurant just down the mountain is receiving threatening notes. But when her place goes up in flame, a body is found in the rubble. Who is it? And who is setting the fires? Meanwhile, Evan is thinking about applying for a promotion that would take him out of Llanfair.

Rhys Bowen offers yet another charming tale of life in a small Welsh village. Llanfair grows more familiar and fun with every visit. This is probably the best plot to date. While I suspected the direction this book was going, it took several twists along the way to the satisfying conclusion.

With this, the fourth book in the series, these people have become friends. I'm already looking forward to my next visit.