Evan Help Us (Constable Evans Mystery) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "COLONEL ARBUTHNOT STRODE OUT OVER the springy turf, his cheeks puffed out as trombone-like sounds popped from his pursed lips..." (more)
Key Phrases: holiday bungalows, longest name, old bloke, Ted Morgan, Sergeant Watkins, Parry Davies (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The pseudymous Bowen, a veteran English mystery author, continues the estimable cozy series starring Constable Evan Evans (Evans Above, 1997). Llanfair, North Wales, has suddenly become a hotbed of change: a single woman and her daughter move into the village; Colonel Arbuthnot, a yearly visitor from London, discovers a ruin in the nearby hills he claims is the relic of Camelot; and native Ted Morgan returns to his hometown with grandiose plans to turn an abandoned mine into a theme park. That the Colonel dies after he has sown visions of fame and plenty among Llanfair residents raises suspicions of homicide in Evans. When Morgan is found shot to death, Evans is convinced that the two incidents are related. With the help of Sergeant Watkins, he attempts to establish a connection between the prodigal former resident, the beautiful young woman and the elderly visitor. The only apparent link seems to rest in London, prompting the intrepid Welshmen to brave the metropolis and solve the case. In the course of tracking down the killer, Evans becomes the object of desire for the new woman, a turn of events that jeopardizes his relationship with a local teacher. Bowen's quiet humor and her appreciation for rural village life make this a jewel of a story.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

In the ineffably quaint and impossibly charming village of Llanfair in North Wales, Evan Evans is into his second year as local constable: his landlady spoils him, the buxom barmaid flirts with him, and the golden-haired schoolteacher with the cornflower-blue eyes helps clear his mind but muddles his heart. Two murders in quick succession stun the town: an elderly retired colonel whom everyone liked and a returning local, who announces plans for a haunted slate-mine theme park (!) just before being dispatched. Evans-the-Law (to distinguish him from Evans-the-Meat, the butcher, and Evans-the-Milk, the dairyman) is sure there is a connection, and it may have to do with the colonel's discovery of some possibly ancient ruins or the strong feelings that run for and against the tourists that Morgan's plans would bring to Llanfair. Satisfying as a Guinness pint. GraceAnne A. DeCandido --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425172619
• ISBN-13: 978-0425172612
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #620,102 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 2 in The Constable Evan Evans Mystery Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A talent on the rise, October 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Evan Help Us (Constable Evan Evans Mysteries) (Hardcover)

When he becomes constable of the small Welsh village of Llanfair, Evan thought he had a quiet, tranquil job. However, recently there has been an alleged archeological find in the nearby hills that has brought outsiders to the area and kindled the feud between the villagers of Llanfair and the nearby hamlet of Beddgelert.

Evan soon finds himself embroiled in a deadly who-done-it when annual visitor Colonel Arbuthnot, the discover of the so-called Camelot artifact, is killed. Ted Morgan, a native son with development plans, is also murdered. Convinced that the two deaths are linked, Evan finds a tenuous connection that takes him to the perilous streets of London in order to ferret out the identity of a killer.

EVAN HELP US, the second novel in the elegant Evans English cozy, is a fabulous entry in a warm series. The eccentric support cast brings alive life in small town Wales and the mystery is fun to follow. However, this book really takes off when Evans finds himself as a total misfit in the big city, even though he continues his search. This novel and Rhys Bowen's first entry (EVANS ABOVE) are must reading for sub-genre fans because these are witty, charming stories.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second Book as Great as the First, August 7, 2002

By	Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Life in Llanfair is about to get another jolt. Colonel Arbuthnot is hit over the head and killed right after discovering an ancient ruin on the nearby mountains. Meanwhile, tensions build in the town when Evans-the-Meat announces a plan to put the village on the map and returning resident Ted Morgan announces plans to turn the old slate mine into an amusement park. Then a second body turns up. Constable Evan Evans finds himself overwhelmed with events and trying to find the pieces to make sense of it all. But if that's not complication enough, there's a new female resident in town, and she also has her eye on the eligible lawman.

I just discovered this series last month, and I've already read two of them. The characters and setting are charming. The author's obvious love of them comes through on every page. The plot is great as well. While I had some things figured out, there were still enough twists to keep me surprised until the end.

Anyone looking for a relaxing cozy mystery would do well to book some time in Llanfair. I'm hooked and look forward to many happy visits with Evan and his neighbors.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book made me want to visit Wales, August 25, 2004

By	M. C. Crammer (Decatur, GA USA) - See all my reviews

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That's surprising given I've been to Wales and it was very foggy and damp -- but the Wales described in this book is a wonderful place indeed -- beautiful and filled with kind, caring people (who unfortunately for any outsider speak Welsh!)

This is the second book in the series -- I'm reading them in order -- and I think I liked it better than the first. I thought at first I had everything all figured out, and was disappointed, but as it turned out, I wasn't even close. That's a great mystery. Add to that a wonderful world you enter when you read this book...

The plot involves a summer resident (a retired Colonel living on a pension who comes to this tiny village in Wales every year for a holiday) who is found dead right after he's discovered some ruins. The local constable, Evan Evans, immediately believes he was murdered, but the police higher up the chain of command try to insist it's an accident. Then there is another death -- made to look like a suicide. Is there one killer or two? Evans gets involved in trying to find the connection between these two deaths as the key to discovering what happened.

All in all, a great book to curl up with when you have the time to read uninterrupted -- it creates a wonderful mood.