Evan Help Us

Book two in the Constable Evans series has Evan looking into two seemingly unrelated deaths. Colonel Arbuthnot has wandered the area around the village for some time and, an amateur archeologist, he’s come across what he believes to be a credible ruin that could bring great attention to the village. After boasting to one and all at the pub one night, he leaves to go to his lodging house, but he never makes it home. He’s found the next day in the river; apparently having slipped off the footbridge while inebriated and drowned. A few nights later prodigal son Ted Morgan, who’s returned to the village from a successful career as a real estate developer in London, is found dead in his study, an apparent suicide. But both deaths are show more eventually deemed to be murder. There is no obvious connection between the two of them, so does this mean there are two murderous persons about in the small Welsh village?

I like Constable Evans, but this one dragged a little. Still, I enjoy spending time with the colorful residents of Llanfair. CP Evans’ slow-burn relationship with Bronwen is ever-so-slowly inching along. But Betsy the bar maid isn’t about to give up hope for a romance with him either. show less

First of all, I love this series. I have read about 5 books counting this one. The setting and characters are interesting and I always pick up a new Welsh phrase or two. Several parts made me laugh out loud, I was truly saddened by the death of the first victim and concerned about several other characters' welfare. I was certain that I had solved the mystery early on but Ms. Bowen threw a few more twists into the plot than I had counted on. The ending was pretty predictable but satisfying nonetheless. I look forward to finding more "Evan" mysteries and learning more about the quirky inhabitants of Llanfair.

I enjoy that this author can continue to write about the same characters without repeating the stories. She kept my interest until the end of the book and I didn't "solve" the mystery myself.

These are such comfortable cozies if a little simple in that it's always going to be the outsiders who did it in such a small town

This is the second in the series and I really enjoyed it; however, I would recommend reading the hardback or paperback, not the large print. It was filled with typographical errors. It took away from the reading.

I missed the first book of the series but this novel has a good cast of characters and a beautiful setting but the plot suffers from too many coincidental strangers involved in a small village mystery.

Cast Of Characters

Colonel Arbuthnot - vistor boarding with Mrs Owens

Evans the Post
Evans the Meat
Evans the Milk

Constable Evan Evans boards with Mrs Williams

Taff Morgan - farmer
Ted Morgan - his son

Browen Price - school teacher

Reverend Parry Davis
Reverend Powell-Jones

Annie Pigeon
Jenny - her daughter

Betsy - barmaid

This book was so very disappointing. She did write it a long time ago, and it shows. Weak plot, poor clues, stupid actions. And the editing of the large print was so bad that the typos interfered with my enjoyment. Back to the library w/ye!