This is the first of the series, and the first of Rhys Bowen’s three series. I discovered her third series first, then the second, and now while I’m trying to collect all the books in the second, I decided to try the first. Did not know what to expect with a male protagonist, a village constable in Wales. I must say, from my reading of the first book, that this series is just as delightful (not a term usually associated with male cops) as the other two. In this book readers are right there in Wales, along with all the frustrations, the odd goings on, and the variety of characters. Add to that a puzzling plot and a wind-up that pulls an amazing host of events together.
I’d like to quote from the publisher’s description — Evan Evans, a young police constable, has traded city life for that of Llanfair — an idyllic Welsh village. Nestling in the Snowdonia mountain range, Llanfair looks to Evans like a town forgotten by time, but he quickly learns that even the bucolic countryside has its share of eccentric — and deadly — characters. Evans’s new neighbors include two competitive ministers vying for the souls of their flock, one lascivious barmaid, and three other Evanses: Evans-the-Meat; Evans-the-Milk and Evans-the-Post (whose favorite hobby is to read the mail before he delivers it).
Before Evans has time to sort through the complicated relationships and rivalries of his new home, he’s called to the scene of a crime as brutal and fearsome as any he encountered in the big city. Two hikers have been murdered on the trails of the local mountain, and Evans must hunt down a vicious killer — who may or may not be linked to the mysterious destruction of Mrs. Powell-Jones’ prize-winning tomatoes.
Most of this series is available as e‑books only. I’ve gotten them as used books through the resellers on Amazon since my husband enjoys them too, and he hasn’t converted to e‑book reading. I do wish they were more widely available.
Since I mentioned the rarity of books published even as late as 2005, I wonder, do you have a favorite series that is out of print?
I’ve read Rhys Bowen’s other two series, but I haven’t tried Evan yet. It sounds like I’d like this series, too. Thank you for sharing information about it. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of a series I’ve enjoyed that’s ended, other than if the author has passed away.
I got the first Evans books at B&N in paperback. It had been republished, but they didn’t continue. Guess the first one didn’t sell enough. But my husband likes them too, so we track them down from resellers since he doesn’t like to read e‑books.