Evans to Betsy (Constable Evans Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Rhys Bowen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Constable Evans Mysteries | Publication Date: March 14, 2002

The charming village of Llanfair, the setting for Rhys Bowen's beloved Constable Evans mysteries, sits amid lush, rolling Welsh meadows populated with quaint cottages and is considered by many of its colorful locals to be a kind of paradise. Unfortunately, there aren't many opportunities for young people in Llanfair, so when an exciting and glamorous American woman breezes into town talking of dormant psychic powers and important social research, barmaid Betsy Edwards is quick to take her up on an offer of employment at the recently opened Sacred Grove New Age center not far away. Of course the locals, including the village constable, Evan Evans, think Betsy has gone around the bend, not to mention the nutty American who dragged her off to be "tested." Betsy, though, is dazzled at the possibility of exploring her own sixth sense. And she's only a little surprised when her new powers are put to a real-life test; when the center's flamboyant director goes missing, clues to his fate mysteriously appear in Betsy's dreams.

It's a tantalizing mystery for lonely Betsy, who can't help doing a little investigating on her own. But Constable Evans has been involved with Sacred Grove before-looking for a missing American college student who was lured there by Druid worship. As Betsy does her own sleuthing on the spot, Evan comes to realize that there is nothing straightforward about this case and that Betsy has no idea at all of the terrible danger she is in.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his sixth appealing outing (after 2001's Evan Cat Wait), likable Welsh village bobby Evan Evans takes on a case with New Age overtones. Betsy the barmaid has long been desperate for recognition, and she may have found her ticket to fame when a visiting American graduate student named Emmy encourages her to develop her abilities as a psychic. Emmy claims she's looking for pure-blood Celts because the Celts are renowned for such abilities, and Betsy soon follows her new mentor to the Sacred Grove, situated for fictional purposes on the site of the actual Portmeirion. Sacred Grove has become the home to a center for New Age spirituality, complete with resident guru, Randy Wunderlich, the famous American psychic. Backed by his wife, Lady Annabel, owner of the property, Wunderlich seems set to establish a New Age empire in Wales. But Evans is suspicious that Betsy is the object of some kind of scam, plus he's on the trail of a missing American coed, whose trail leads to the Sacred Grove and Wunderlich himself. When Betsy dreams that Wunderlich is dead in a cave, her dream proves all too real. While Evans works to prove Betsy's innocence, he must cope with changes in his personal life (he's finally moved into his own place) as well as with the serious, unaccountable illness of his beloved, Bronwen. Bowen deftly and humorously weaves the various plot threads into an entertaining whole. This is a series that consistently charms. (Mar. 18)series with an Irish heroine (Forecasts, Sept. 3)
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The Welsh town of Llanfair's own Betsy the barmaid finds some kind of renown after testing by a spirituality center verifies her psychic powers. And it's her "vision" that reveals where the center's murdered director will be found. Constable Evan Evans (Evan Can Wait), who covers the case, warns her of danger. A welcome addition to a charming series.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (March 14, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312286457
• ISBN-13: 978-0312286453
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,006,434 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

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars colorful and thoroughly enjoyable Evan Evans mystery, March 3, 2002

By 

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

This review is from: Evans to Betsy (Constable Evans Mysteries) (Hardcover)

In the heart of North Wales lies the small bucolic village of Llanfair, a quiet quaint place where everyone knows everyone else and crime is practically non-existent. However when a murder does occur, it is local constable Evan Evans rather than CID who always solves the case. The town is peaceful now but events are happening at the nearby Grove Center for Healing Arts and Celtic Spirituality that will draw Evan into the biggest case of his career.

It begins when an American girl, last seen working at the Sacred Grove is reported missing by her frantic parents. When Evan starts asking questions he's told that the girl quit and took off with almost no notice. Then the director of the center, a famous American psychic married to the owner of the property, is murdered. Evan is asked by the CID team to help out, which he gladly does though his main concern is a local girl named Betsy who quit her local job as a bartender to work at the cushy center. He senses she's in danger but by the time he figures out who the killer is, Betsy is already in the perp's clutches.

The Evan Evans mystery series is quaint, colorful and thoroughly enjoyable reading, so much so that one can hope this series never ends. The mystery is cleverly crafted with many sub-plots tying neatly into the main story line but it is the hero and recurring characters that make EVANS TO BETSY a very special novel. Each in his or her own way makes an indelible impression so that the reader feels as if old friends have come for a visit.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A cozy with a sense of humour, August 20, 2003

By 

Valerie Adolph "Coast Journal" (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Evans to Betsy (Constable Evans Mysteries) (Paperback)

Do you remember M.C. Beaton's "Hamish" series? If you enjoyed that, you will enjoy Rhys Bowen's "Evans" series. Like Hamish, Evans is a policeman in an out-of-the way village (this one in Wales) who has a sharp eye, an even sharper mind and an intuitive understanding of human strengths and frailties. He is not without his own frailties, either - confusion about the opposite sex being one of them, and his misadventures in this area add colour to the story.

The writer handles the setting deftly, managing to blend the ancient Druid culture, the recent history and current feelings in Wales with the immediacy of the New Age centre where much of the action takes place.

This is an easy read. Visiting with Evans and Bronwen and Betsy is like a weekend in the country - you kick back and relax. The main plot and sub-plots fit together neatly and the rivalry between the two chapels (which has nothing to do with anything except getting the feeling of place spot on) brings back fond memories of a stay in Wales.

There isn't a huge amount of dramatic tension here - you wouldn't expect it in a cozy - and I enjoyed the one dramatic climax when our hero, at great personal risk, manages to rescue, not the free world, not life as we know it, not even the maiden in distress, but a rabbit. Lovely!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming As Always, April 21, 2004

By 

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

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Evans to Betsy (Constable Evans Mysteries) (Paperback)

It's a slow afternoon in the Red Dragon when American Emmy Court walks in. She's an American working on her doctoral degree on psychic powers in the Celts. After a few minutes conversation, she believes that Betsy, the barmaid, is a perfect candidate and takes her off to the Sacred Grove, a nearby New Age center, to be tested.

Constable Evan Evans, meanwhile, is trying to prove to himself and Bronwen that he can survive on his own and has moved across the street from Mrs. Williams. At work, a search for a missing American college student takes him to the Sacred Grove. Something doesn't feel right. He doesn't believe in Betsy's new found powers, either. Until she shows up at his house in the middle of the night claiming to have a vision - that leads to a very dead body. Does Betsy have powers? More importantly, who committed the murder?

I've come to rely on these books for a comforting trip to a simple village that holds lots of mystery and intrigue. This book was no exception. Ms. Bowen is still at the top of her game, with a book that twists all over the place. I had no clue where this book was going until near the end, and couldn't put it down. The characters are fun, and the numerous sub-plots keep things moving quickly. I especially enjoyed Evans-the-Post and his new motorbike. Naturally, Betsy gets developed quite a bit here, and it's nice to see one of the secondary characters get a bit of the spotlight.

If you enjoy a very charming setting and characters with intriguing plots, this series is for you. Pick up the first, EVANS ABOVE, and sit back and enjoy.