What do you think?
Rate this book
Constable Evans #5
Evan Can Wait
Listening Time = 8h 37m
Constable Evan Evans, sole police officer in the charming Welsh village of Llanfair, is assigned to assist an expedition to raise a World War II German bomber plane from a lake. The whole venture is being filmed for a documentary on World War II and Evans tries to assist the film crew by finding them local people with stories to tell. Little does he realize that resurrecting the past can sometimes mean opening old wounds. After some unhappy confrontations, it is not just the villagers who are upset by the filmmakers. Evans' own life is thrown into turmoil as he discovers his girlfriend Bronwen's past relationship with someone from the film crew.
Tensions build until one of the filmmakers disappears and is eventually found dead in a nearby slate mine. The case grows more complex as Evans slowly uncovers evidence that the victim had many enemies. In the process Evans also exposes an elaborate World War II scheme to hide paintings from the National Gallery. Do these paintings have something to do with the filmmaker's disappearance? How could he be connected to events that took place over half a century ago?
With this fifth addition to her critically acclaimed series, Rhys Bowen creates a colorful, page-turning mystery set in two eras against the backdrop of a uniquely appealing small town filled with unforgettable characters.
Constable Evan Evans, sole police officer in the charming Welsh village of Llanfair, is assigned to assist an expedition to raise a World War II German bomber plane from a lake. The whole venture is being filmed for a documentary on World War II and Evans tries to assist the film crew by finding them local people with stories to tell. Little does he realize that resurrecting the past can sometimes mean opening old wounds. After some unhappy confrontations, it is not just the villagers who are upset by the filmmakers. Evans' own life is thrown into turmoil as he discovers his girlfriend Bronwen's past relationship with someone from the film crew.
Tensions build until one of the filmmakers disappears and is eventually found dead in a nearby slate mine. The case grows more complex as Evans slowly uncovers evidence that the victim had many enemies. In the process Evans also exposes an elaborate World War II scheme to hide paintings from the National Gallery. Do these paintings have something to do with the filmmaker's disappearance? How could he be connected to events that took place over half a century ago?
With this fifth addition to her critically acclaimed series, Rhys Bowen creates a colorful, page-turning mystery set in two eras against the backdrop of a uniquely appealing small town filled with unforgettable characters.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2001
About the author
Rhys Bowen
117 books9,034 followersI'm a New York Times bestselling mystery author, winner of both Agatha and Anthony awards for my Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1902 New York City.
I have recently published four internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, and the Tuscan Child selling almost a million copies to date. In Farleigh Field won three major awards and was nominated for an Edgar. My other stand-alone novels are The Victory Garden, about land girls in WWI and Above the Bay of Angels, featuring a young woman who becomes chef for Queen Victoria.
April 2021 will mark the publication of THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK--another sweeping historical novel of love, loss and intrigue.
My books are currently translated into 29 languages and I have fans worldwide.
I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series one year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my award-winning short stories.
I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
Series:
* Constable Evan Mystery
* Molly Murphy Mysteries
* Her Royal Spyness Mysteries
Awards:
Agatha Award
◊ Best Novel (2001): Murphy's Law
Reviewer's Choice Award
◊ Historical Mystery (2001): Murphy's Law
I have recently published four internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, and the Tuscan Child selling almost a million copies to date. In Farleigh Field won three major awards and was nominated for an Edgar. My other stand-alone novels are The Victory Garden, about land girls in WWI and Above the Bay of Angels, featuring a young woman who becomes chef for Queen Victoria.
April 2021 will mark the publication of THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK--another sweeping historical novel of love, loss and intrigue.
My books are currently translated into 29 languages and I have fans worldwide.
I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series one year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my award-winning short stories.
I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
Series:
* Constable Evan Mystery
* Molly Murphy Mysteries
* Her Royal Spyness Mysteries
Awards:
Agatha Award
◊ Best Novel (2001): Murphy's Law
Reviewer's Choice Award
◊ Historical Mystery (2001): Murphy's Law
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
July 17, 2023
The fifth adventure with Evan Evans, police officer in the tiny town of Llanfair in Wales. This time he is sent to provide security for a film company who are trying to raise a WW2 German Bomber from the bottom of a very deep lake.
Initially this sounds an easy job, but the people involved have some major issues, and worse one of them has history with Bronwyn. Eventually of course there is a murder and Evan finds himself involved again.
The author makes full use in these books of the countryside and the history of Wales. I felt like a tourist as I accompanied Evan up and down the hills, rode on the historic steam train, went underground in a slate mine and visited various small towns. It was not a long book but it was packed with facts, excellent characters and a good mystery. Five stars.
Initially this sounds an easy job, but the people involved have some major issues, and worse one of them has history with Bronwyn. Eventually of course there is a murder and Evan finds himself involved again.
The author makes full use in these books of the countryside and the history of Wales. I felt like a tourist as I accompanied Evan up and down the hills, rode on the historic steam train, went underground in a slate mine and visited various small towns. It was not a long book but it was packed with facts, excellent characters and a good mystery. Five stars.
August 12, 2024
The small Welsh village of Llanfair saw sole police officer, Constable Evan Evans instructed to keep an eye on a film crew that was coordinating the safe retrieval of a German WWII bomber which had crashed into their nearby lake. The documentary would only be sixty minutes long, but much film was to be taken and edited. Evan didn't particularly like the people involved; one in particular, Grantley Smith, had a tendency to rub everyone he came in contact with, up the wrong way. But when he went missing a couple of days into their quest, it was up to Evan to find him. And eventually he did - but he was dead...
Evan Can Wait is the 5th in the Constable Evan Evans series by Rhys Bowen and I quite enjoyed it. Not as action packed as usual - only toward the end - but once again Evan seemed to be working with his hands tied behind his back. His superiors still believed he was "only" a village cop, even though he'd solved several murders for them. At least Watkins was still on his side. Recommended.
Evan Can Wait is the 5th in the Constable Evan Evans series by Rhys Bowen and I quite enjoyed it. Not as action packed as usual - only toward the end - but once again Evan seemed to be working with his hands tied behind his back. His superiors still believed he was "only" a village cop, even though he'd solved several murders for them. At least Watkins was still on his side. Recommended.
May 28, 2018
Evan Can Wait by Rhys Bowen is the 5th book of the Constable Evan Evans mystery series set in 20th-century Wales. Evan Evans is a mild-mannered young man who loves tiny Llanfair nestled in the mountains. He loves to be outdoors hiking the peaks. He boards with a kindly woman who fusses over him and provides his meals. He's attracted to the village schoolteacher, but hesitates to make a full commitment and change his life. He has solved several murder cases, enjoys following clues, and wonders if he might be happy as "a real detective" in a large city.
Evan is assigned "baby-sitting" duty for a documentary film crew. They're planning to film as they raise a WWII bomber from a mountain lake. Crew members are difficult, arrogant, moody, at odds with one another. Unpleasant & egotistical Grantley wants to add footage of a slate mine where National Gallery paintings were hidden during WWII. When Grantley goes missing, Evan must investigate.
Evan's dream of an idyllic future in a mountain cottage with Bronwen seems jeopardized when Evan sees how comfortably she interacts with the film crew, displaying style and sophistication she hadn't shown before in Llanfair. When she begs Evan to prove a crew member's innocence, he's torn between his duty vs. the perceived threat of a rival.
Interspersed with modern plot events is a memoir of romance and crime during WWII. The consequences eventually dovetail with Evan's murder investigation, and put him in great peril.
Recommend reading the series in order for best enjoyment, as there are a few passing references to people and events from previous books.
Evan is assigned "baby-sitting" duty for a documentary film crew. They're planning to film as they raise a WWII bomber from a mountain lake. Crew members are difficult, arrogant, moody, at odds with one another. Unpleasant & egotistical Grantley wants to add footage of a slate mine where National Gallery paintings were hidden during WWII. When Grantley goes missing, Evan must investigate.
Evan's dream of an idyllic future in a mountain cottage with Bronwen seems jeopardized when Evan sees how comfortably she interacts with the film crew, displaying style and sophistication she hadn't shown before in Llanfair. When she begs Evan to prove a crew member's innocence, he's torn between his duty vs. the perceived threat of a rival.
Interspersed with modern plot events is a memoir of romance and crime during WWII. The consequences eventually dovetail with Evan's murder investigation, and put him in great peril.
Recommend reading the series in order for best enjoyment, as there are a few passing references to people and events from previous books.
May 17, 2024
Another fun installment, I liked how this one dragged Bronwyn into the pool of suspects. Shakes things up a bit.
September 21, 2021
This was another great read in this series. PC Evans saves the day and catches the killer
November 9, 2022
4.25 stars
This series is getting better and better and I honestly don't want it to end.
I hope Rhys B will continue it as it's such a great one.
This book is centred on a filming crew and mysterious murder and World War II. I love how Evan is doing thoroughly his job investigating every avenue and discovering in time all the clues.
A great read!
This series is getting better and better and I honestly don't want it to end.
I hope Rhys B will continue it as it's such a great one.
This book is centred on a filming crew and mysterious murder and World War II. I love how Evan is doing thoroughly his job investigating every avenue and discovering in time all the clues.
A great read!
August 14, 2019
Buchmeinung zu Rhys Bowen – Tod nach Regie
„Tod nach Regie“ ist ein Kriminalroman von Rhys Bowen, der 2019 bei dp DIGITAL PUBLISHERS in der Übersetzung von Lennart Janson erschienen ist. Der Titel der englischen Originalausgabe lautet „Evan Can Wait“ und ist 2001 erschienen. Dies ist der fünfte Band um Constable Evan Evans.
Zum Autor:
Rhys Bowen wurde in Bath, England, geboren, studierte an der London University, heiratete in eine Familie mit historischen königlichen Verbindungen und verbringt nun ihre Zeit im Norden von Kalifornien und Arizona. Rhys Bowen ist die Bestseller-Autorin von mehr als dreißig Krimis. Zu ihren Werken gehören die Molly Murphy-Krimis, die in New York City um 1900 spielen, und die leichteren Royal Spyness-Romane über eine Adlige im England der Dreißigerjahre. Sie schrieb auch die Constable Evans-Krimis über einen Police Constabler im heutigen Wales.
Klappentext:
Constable Evan Evans, der einzige Polizist in dem walisischen Dörfchen Llanfair, soll eine Expedition unterstützen, die einen deutschen Bomber aus dem Zweiten Weltkrieg bergen will. Das Vorhaben wird für eine Dokumentation aufgezeichnet und Evan versucht der Filmcrew zu assistieren.
Nach einigen unglücklichen Geschehnissen regen sich nicht nur die Dorfbewohner über die Filmemacher auf. Auch Evans Leben steht Kopf als er von der früheren Beziehung seiner Freundin Bronwen mit einem Mitglied der Filmcrew erfährt.
Die Spannungen verstärken sich – bis einer der Filmemacher verschwindet und schließlich tot aufgefunden wird. Da Evan nach und nach herausfindet, wie viele Feinde das Opfer eigentlich hatte, wird der Fall zunehmend komplizierter ... Doch wer hat ihn umgebracht und wieso?
Meine Meinung:
Bisher kannte ich die sympathische Hauptfigur Evan Evans als den Frauenheld schlechthin. Diesmal bereitet ihm der Umgang mit dem weiblichen Geschlecht weit mehr Schwierigkeiten. Wie gewohnt wird der größte Teil der Geschichte aus der Perspektive des Polizisten erzählt. Es gibt aber einen zweiten Erzählstrang, der im zweiten Weltkrieg spielt. Dieser ist weitaus stringenter erzählt als der in der Jetztzeit spielende. Evan wirkt zerstreuter wie sonst, auch weil Bronwen eine überraschende Vergangenheit enthüllt. Auch wirken die Figuren durchweg etwas dunkler als in den Vorgängern. Auch die humorigen Stellen, insbesondere wenn Betty beteiligt war, wirkten leicht gezwungen. Lange Zeit war das Erzähltempo gemütlich und die dörflichen Figuren waren liebevoll gezeichnet. Im letzten Drittel wurde es deutlich turbulenter und Evan zeigte ungeahnte Eigenschaften. Auch wenn alles aufgeklärt wurde fand ich das Ende überzogen und nicht recht passend. Evan agiert einfach ruhig am überzeugendsten. Insgesamt konnte mich dieser Teil weniger überzeugen als die Vorgänger.
Fazit:
Ein Cosy-Krimi, dem ein wenig seine üblichen Stärken abhandengekommen sind. Sowohl die Figuren als auch der Plot waren nicht in Bestform. So gibt es diesmal nur drei von fünf Sternen (60 von 100 Punkten).
„Tod nach Regie“ ist ein Kriminalroman von Rhys Bowen, der 2019 bei dp DIGITAL PUBLISHERS in der Übersetzung von Lennart Janson erschienen ist. Der Titel der englischen Originalausgabe lautet „Evan Can Wait“ und ist 2001 erschienen. Dies ist der fünfte Band um Constable Evan Evans.
Zum Autor:
Rhys Bowen wurde in Bath, England, geboren, studierte an der London University, heiratete in eine Familie mit historischen königlichen Verbindungen und verbringt nun ihre Zeit im Norden von Kalifornien und Arizona. Rhys Bowen ist die Bestseller-Autorin von mehr als dreißig Krimis. Zu ihren Werken gehören die Molly Murphy-Krimis, die in New York City um 1900 spielen, und die leichteren Royal Spyness-Romane über eine Adlige im England der Dreißigerjahre. Sie schrieb auch die Constable Evans-Krimis über einen Police Constabler im heutigen Wales.
Klappentext:
Constable Evan Evans, der einzige Polizist in dem walisischen Dörfchen Llanfair, soll eine Expedition unterstützen, die einen deutschen Bomber aus dem Zweiten Weltkrieg bergen will. Das Vorhaben wird für eine Dokumentation aufgezeichnet und Evan versucht der Filmcrew zu assistieren.
Nach einigen unglücklichen Geschehnissen regen sich nicht nur die Dorfbewohner über die Filmemacher auf. Auch Evans Leben steht Kopf als er von der früheren Beziehung seiner Freundin Bronwen mit einem Mitglied der Filmcrew erfährt.
Die Spannungen verstärken sich – bis einer der Filmemacher verschwindet und schließlich tot aufgefunden wird. Da Evan nach und nach herausfindet, wie viele Feinde das Opfer eigentlich hatte, wird der Fall zunehmend komplizierter ... Doch wer hat ihn umgebracht und wieso?
Meine Meinung:
Bisher kannte ich die sympathische Hauptfigur Evan Evans als den Frauenheld schlechthin. Diesmal bereitet ihm der Umgang mit dem weiblichen Geschlecht weit mehr Schwierigkeiten. Wie gewohnt wird der größte Teil der Geschichte aus der Perspektive des Polizisten erzählt. Es gibt aber einen zweiten Erzählstrang, der im zweiten Weltkrieg spielt. Dieser ist weitaus stringenter erzählt als der in der Jetztzeit spielende. Evan wirkt zerstreuter wie sonst, auch weil Bronwen eine überraschende Vergangenheit enthüllt. Auch wirken die Figuren durchweg etwas dunkler als in den Vorgängern. Auch die humorigen Stellen, insbesondere wenn Betty beteiligt war, wirkten leicht gezwungen. Lange Zeit war das Erzähltempo gemütlich und die dörflichen Figuren waren liebevoll gezeichnet. Im letzten Drittel wurde es deutlich turbulenter und Evan zeigte ungeahnte Eigenschaften. Auch wenn alles aufgeklärt wurde fand ich das Ende überzogen und nicht recht passend. Evan agiert einfach ruhig am überzeugendsten. Insgesamt konnte mich dieser Teil weniger überzeugen als die Vorgänger.
Fazit:
Ein Cosy-Krimi, dem ein wenig seine üblichen Stärken abhandengekommen sind. Sowohl die Figuren als auch der Plot waren nicht in Bestform. So gibt es diesmal nur drei von fünf Sternen (60 von 100 Punkten).
January 29, 2020
2020 bk 40. Bronwyn's past comes back to haunt her as her (now divorced) husband shows up with a film crew in Llanfair. They are there to raise a WWII German plane from the depths of a lake and to film a documentary about it. The problem is that the producer lives to stir up trouble - or is that dies because he stirs up trouble? Several different historical mysteries are at play in this volume.
November 22, 2022
Die Bücher dieser Reihe steigern sich mit jedem Band. Obwohl immer noch Cosy-Crime ist die Spannung schon prickelnd und hält schöne Überraschungen bereit.
December 11, 2021
Just the past catching up with the present in so many layers... in more ways than one and in just about as confusing as when one gets caught up with the mists on Llanfair's mountain peaks. Relationships... love, all sorts... lusts especially young lust... the root of this evil. Good well~thought of adventure... murder and some funny moments... the usual fare to be expected from a Constable Evan Evans Mystery.
December 31, 2024
Rated 3 stars. My last read of 2024. #5 Constable Evans contemporary mystery set in Wales. Read on Libby Kindle. Always enjoy spending "book" time with Constable Evans and his charming, quirky friends.
April 29, 2023
Lovely, quirky characters in a quaint Welsh village. Did I mention murder?
November 7, 2020
Evan Evans, a likeable constable in the charming Welsh village of Llanfair, is given the task of assisting a documentary team planning to raise a World War II German plane. Not what Evan wants since one of the team is the former husband of his current girlfriend. Even more troublesome, she asks Evan to help prove the spouse's innocence when one of the team is found dead in a mine.
April 25, 2018
I really enjoyed the historical elements of this book; I loved reading the firsthand account of the events surrounding WWII. I also loved the little Welsh village, and I thought the world-building was very good. I really felt like I was there. The mystery itself was well done--it kept me guessing for a while, though having read many mysteries I thought it was pretty obvious that those who were set up as having the means and motivation to commit the murder, would not actually end up being the murderer. I did find the characters to be a little flat. The dialogue felt forced to me, at times, and the characters were either too exaggerated to feel real, or too similar to each other to stand out. This was my first venture into this series, so I gather Evan's relationship with Bronwen is a big part of it, but I felt nothing at all for Bronwen and wasn't invested in their relationship. We're told they have a relationship, but that's about it; the mere fact of their having a relationship wasn't enough to make me feel it. All in all, the book is charming, and if I come across another in the series, I will pick it up. I do think a little more attention to the characters' depth could have made this a much more interesting read. That being said, I may not be the target audience; it's possible I was looking for something I shouldn't have expected.
July 9, 2019
Zum Buch:
In einem kleinen walisischen Örtchen soll ein Film gedreht werden. Die Einwohner sind aus dem Häuschen. So viel neuer Klatsch und Tratsch kommt ihnen gerade recht. Evan Evans ist mittendrin und muss Bodyguard für die Filmcrew und deren Ausrüstung spielen. Plötzlich verschwindet einer der Filmleute spurlos und wird wenig später in der nahegelegenen Schiefermine tot aufgefunden. Endlich gibt es für Evans mehr zu tun, als nervige Touristen zu begleiten.
Meine Meinung:
Cosy-Crime ist für mich ein ganz neues Terrain. Daher könnte ich unvoreingenommen an dieses Buch gehen. Ich bin wirklich positiv überrascht, denn die Autorin schafft es, trotz aller Belanglosigkeiten eine unglaubliche Spannung aufzubauen. Und, was viel wichtiger ist, diese auch noch zu halten. Das ganze Buch über hatte man nie das Gefühl, es passiert nichts, wobei eigentlich doch nichts passierte. Einen großen Teil trugen dazu aber auch die Charaktere bei. Schrullig, nervig, eingebildet, naiv und doch sympathisch. Eine typische Dorfatmosphäre, wie es sie wohl nicht nur in Wales gibt.
Ich empfehle dieses Buch absolut weiter. Nicht nur Krimifans kommen hier auf ihre Kosten, auch Freunde leichter Lektüre dürften hieran Gefallen finden.
In einem kleinen walisischen Örtchen soll ein Film gedreht werden. Die Einwohner sind aus dem Häuschen. So viel neuer Klatsch und Tratsch kommt ihnen gerade recht. Evan Evans ist mittendrin und muss Bodyguard für die Filmcrew und deren Ausrüstung spielen. Plötzlich verschwindet einer der Filmleute spurlos und wird wenig später in der nahegelegenen Schiefermine tot aufgefunden. Endlich gibt es für Evans mehr zu tun, als nervige Touristen zu begleiten.
Meine Meinung:
Cosy-Crime ist für mich ein ganz neues Terrain. Daher könnte ich unvoreingenommen an dieses Buch gehen. Ich bin wirklich positiv überrascht, denn die Autorin schafft es, trotz aller Belanglosigkeiten eine unglaubliche Spannung aufzubauen. Und, was viel wichtiger ist, diese auch noch zu halten. Das ganze Buch über hatte man nie das Gefühl, es passiert nichts, wobei eigentlich doch nichts passierte. Einen großen Teil trugen dazu aber auch die Charaktere bei. Schrullig, nervig, eingebildet, naiv und doch sympathisch. Eine typische Dorfatmosphäre, wie es sie wohl nicht nur in Wales gibt.
Ich empfehle dieses Buch absolut weiter. Nicht nur Krimifans kommen hier auf ihre Kosten, auch Freunde leichter Lektüre dürften hieran Gefallen finden.
January 29, 2015
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
June 21, 2018
I’ve been reading the Constable Evans books in order and this one was absolute stupendous! The bit of back and forth between what happened in the past and what was happening in the future was ingenious and kept me gripped to my chair.
And finally (finally!) Evan admits to Bronwen how he feels. It only took him five books but it was nice and you just know what a wonderful relationship they will have in the future.
Can’t wait for the next book to see what happens in the little “quiet” village.
And finally (finally!) Evan admits to Bronwen how he feels. It only took him five books but it was nice and you just know what a wonderful relationship they will have in the future.
Can’t wait for the next book to see what happens in the little “quiet” village.
March 9, 2019
Excellent reading! Captivated me and I couldn’t put the book down.
I try understood Trefor’s conscience I understood how he felt and and how he thought. Rhys Bowen wrote it that clearly and precisely. I was there in the story the whole time. I could see how the land and country side looked and the wind in my face. I love how she writes! There are many complicated layers to this story. She pulls it all together nicely and ties up all loose ends. I can’t put the book down I till I have finished it!
I try understood Trefor’s conscience I understood how he felt and and how he thought. Rhys Bowen wrote it that clearly and precisely. I was there in the story the whole time. I could see how the land and country side looked and the wind in my face. I love how she writes! There are many complicated layers to this story. She pulls it all together nicely and ties up all loose ends. I can’t put the book down I till I have finished it!
March 14, 2020
Constable Evans babysits a Hollywood film crew
These colors continue to delight me. I find some cozy mysteries cookie cut - same formula, thoughts and pattern.
With the Evans series, the reader gets the same comfortable pattern of a tiny, Northern Wales village with quirky side-characters. But, the mystery itself is always clever and detecting always different.
I had my suspect 2\3rd through. I was delightfully wrong.
These colors continue to delight me. I find some cozy mysteries cookie cut - same formula, thoughts and pattern.
With the Evans series, the reader gets the same comfortable pattern of a tiny, Northern Wales village with quirky side-characters. But, the mystery itself is always clever and detecting always different.
I had my suspect 2\3rd through. I was delightfully wrong.
March 14, 2016
Really interesting characters and WW2 in Wales history. Thought I had the mystery figured out but the end surprised me.
October 31, 2016
VERY slow start to the book, but ended up better than the rest that I have read so far.
February 20, 2018
I'd love to know Evan - and most the village characters. A fun series!
September 21, 2020
Love this series, and this one does NOT disappoint. The audio production is excellent. I am so glad to see there are more in the series ready and waiting for me on Audible!
July 17, 2023
EVAN CAN WAIT is bk5 in Rhys Bowan’s Constable Evans Wales Cozy Mystery series.
MY RATING GUIDE: Nearly 4 Stars. I was more captivated by this title than the 2 previous ones.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I ENJOYED THIS; 4= I liked this a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
Approaching Christmas, Llanfair, Snowdonia, Wales ~
A small documentary film crew arrives in Llanfair led by a producer who seems to thrive on controversy, conflict and causing volatile emotions. Within days he manages to disrupt the local community by intruding into their private lives soliciting personal information for his film - whether or not the people are willing participants.
The production crew is scheduled to film in Llanfair for several weeks and Constable Evan Evans’ superior assigns Evan crowd control duty for the duration. It is Evan’s assignment to keep the villagers from interfering with the crew, to shuffle the crew around town and to remain on site during the filming of the documentary. The original novelty of having a film crew in Llanfair soon becomes mixed with emotions. Nor is Constable Evans thrilled.
Comments ~
1) Although this is the 5th book in this series, I believe it is possible to jump in at this point without having read the previous books.
2) EVAN CAN WAIT includes flashbacks, in journal form, from 50 yrs earlier - a certain character’s memories of before and during WWII. This aspect of the book is different than others in this series, providing a historic feel (as well as present time). The mystery (and ending) seemed more complex with the dual time lines.
3) I recommend EVAN CAN WAIT to readers who enjoy Cozy Mysteries and British (Welsh) Mysteries. ECW was a pretty quick and easy read. I enjoy reading this series between longer books and/or different genres.
READER CAUTION ~
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used infrequently.
VIOLENCE - PG. This is a Cozy Mystery. Not dark or graphic but death(s) do occur.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Liaisons briefly in passing (in the journals) but nowhere else.
MY RATING GUIDE: Nearly 4 Stars. I was more captivated by this title than the 2 previous ones.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I ENJOYED THIS; 4= I liked this a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
Approaching Christmas, Llanfair, Snowdonia, Wales ~
A small documentary film crew arrives in Llanfair led by a producer who seems to thrive on controversy, conflict and causing volatile emotions. Within days he manages to disrupt the local community by intruding into their private lives soliciting personal information for his film - whether or not the people are willing participants.
The production crew is scheduled to film in Llanfair for several weeks and Constable Evan Evans’ superior assigns Evan crowd control duty for the duration. It is Evan’s assignment to keep the villagers from interfering with the crew, to shuffle the crew around town and to remain on site during the filming of the documentary. The original novelty of having a film crew in Llanfair soon becomes mixed with emotions. Nor is Constable Evans thrilled.
Comments ~
1) Although this is the 5th book in this series, I believe it is possible to jump in at this point without having read the previous books.
2) EVAN CAN WAIT includes flashbacks, in journal form, from 50 yrs earlier - a certain character’s memories of before and during WWII. This aspect of the book is different than others in this series, providing a historic feel (as well as present time). The mystery (and ending) seemed more complex with the dual time lines.
3) I recommend EVAN CAN WAIT to readers who enjoy Cozy Mysteries and British (Welsh) Mysteries. ECW was a pretty quick and easy read. I enjoy reading this series between longer books and/or different genres.
READER CAUTION ~
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used infrequently.
VIOLENCE - PG. This is a Cozy Mystery. Not dark or graphic but death(s) do occur.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Liaisons briefly in passing (in the journals) but nowhere else.
December 4, 2022
Ich finde Constable Evan Evans kann einem irgendwie leidtut. Zwar hat er schon einige Mordfälle aufgeklärt, wird aber dennoch nicht ernst genommen. So muss er diesmal nicht nur den Laufburschen für eine Filmcrew spielen, im Dorf recherchieren, wer von den Bewohnern die Dokumentation durch ein Interview bereichern könnte, sondern auch noch aufpassen, dass die Filmcrew bei ihren Filmaufnahmen ungestört bleibt. So wird auch vor allem mal wieder Evans Gutmütigkeit und Hilfsbereitschaft ausgenutzt. Ich würde mir für ihn wirklich wünschen, dass er lernt, sich mehr durchzusetzen und an seine eigenen Fähigkeiten zu glaubt.
Interessant fand ich es, etwas mehr über Bronwens Vergangenheit zu erfahren. Man merkt, wie sehr Evan all die neuen Informationen zusetzen und an sich zweifeln lassen. Ich konnte seinen Zwiespalt, seine Unsicherheit und Bedenken verstehen, auch wenn ich sie für unbegründet hielt. Denn Bronwen fühlt sich dort, wo sie ist, wohl und das merkt man.
Was den Fall angeht, in dem Evan ermittelt, gibt es einige Verdächtige, von denen man bis zum Schluss keinen wirklich ausschließen kann. Denn immer wieder erfährt man etwas Neues über diese, ebenso wie über das Opfer Grantley Smith. Zudem ist Grantley kein netter Mensch, sondern provoziert andere Menschen gern und das bis zu deren Schmerzensgrenze. Aus dem Grund ist für Spannung gesorgt und ich habe die ganze Zeit mitgerätselt, wer hinter der Tat stecken und welches Motiv die Verdächtige oder der Verdächtige haben könnte.
Wieder begegnet man einigen der bereits bekannten Dorfbewohner, die mir irgendwie alle mit ihrer ganz eigenen Art und ihren kleinen und großen Marotten ans Herz gewachsen sind. Zudem versuchen die Pfarrersfrauen sich natürlich weiterhin gegenseitig zu übertreffen. Mrs. Powell-Jones will Evan gerne mit in diesen Streit und Wettkampf hineinziehen und beschwert sich nicht nur einmal über ihre Gegnerin. Zudem sind die Dorfbewohner mal wieder über alles bestens informiert, wollen am liebsten wie selbstverständlich in Evans Ermittlungen involviert werden und Informationen aus erster Hand erhalten. Natürlich bleiben sie auch nicht vom Drehort weg, allen voran Betsy, was alles für einige lustige Situationen gesorgt hat.
Fazit:
Ein spannender Krimi, in dem Constable Evan Evans in seinem nächsten Fall ermittelt, als einer aus der Filmcrew, die er notgedrungen betreuen muss, ermordet wird. Da das Opfer Grantley Smith eine Person ist, die andere Menschen gern provoziert, gibt es einige Verdächtige, von denen man bis zum Schluss keinen ausschließen kann. Aus dem Grund ist die ganze Zeit für Spannung gesorgt.
February 13, 2013
Oh Welsh, what a difficult language you are! The Constable Evans series has made me a very confused American.
This review is going to be partially a review of this book, and partially of the whole series so far. I haven’t read book 4 yet due to it being unavailable at the library, so my generalizations of the series only apply to books 1-3 and 5.
The parts in italics that are woven through the novel, which turn out to be Trefor Thomas’s recital of his experience during WWII, were a bit disconcerting at first. I thought each section was going to be a different person’s story, since Grantley announces early on his intentions of interviewing a lot of people for his documentary, but like just about everything else he starts, he doesn’t follow through. Once Thomas is brought into the main part of the novel, in the present day, his story starts to make a whole lot more sense.
The mystery is pretty solid, in my opinion, and I didn’t have any unanswered questions or notice any loose ends, except maybe that I found the historical background intriguing – trying to raise a WWII bomber that’s been sunk in a lake up in the Welsh mountains for over 50 years (and yes, the idea of the decomposed bodies of the pilots still being in the plane is gross), and the other story of all the paintings being brought up from London and stored in the mine throughout most of the war. I was pretty satisfied with the ending,
Throughout this series, I’ve had a hard time telling whether the inhabitants of Llanfair, and some of the other North Wales towns, are speaking English or Welsh, since of course everything is written in English, except for the odd word sprinkled here and there. Sometimes I’m led to believe that the villagers speak Welsh most of the time, but it was mentioned (in book 1, I think) that they speak English and switch to Welsh whenever “foreigners” come into the pub or the other shops. Sergeant Watkins finds a couple opportunities in each book to mention how he needs Evans for an interpreter, as his Welsh isn’t that good, and there is no indication that he is English. I don’t know how he gets by on an everyday basis without a translator, then, and at some point (in book 3 maybe) it is mentioned that people in North Wales speak English just as well as they do Welsh. Finally book 5 gives a clue that most people in North Wales speak Welsh as well as English, but South Walesians mostly speak just English. I’ve decided that I don’t really care what language they’re speaking, and to get through the rest of the series without an anxiety attack, I’ll just believe whatever I’m told. Speaking of language, what’s up with the word “boyo?” It was used A LOT in book 5 (17 times that I counted), and not at all in the first three books. Did this work suddenly become trendy in the UK around the year 2000? I don’t know why, but the frequent use of this word annoyed me. It wasn’t like just one character was using it as a sort of catchphrase – Evans, Constable Morgan and Sergeant Watkins all used it that I noticed.
I was glad to see that Evans didn’t find himself staring down the barrel of a load gun, like in the first three books. For crying out loud, you’d think he had no police training at all. It’s ridiculous that the village constables aren’t allowed to carry guns, but this should make Evans even more cautious, instead of running off to confront suspected murderers all the time. He clearly doesn’t learn from his mistakes. I know this creates suspense, but it also makes him look like an idiot. His behavior is that of the female characters, usually written by female authors, who are housewives or some non-law enforcement career, who just happen to fall over dead bodies every few months, and then find themselves in the hands of the killer, but always manage to get away with minor injuries. Yes, they should all know better, but someone with police training should especially know better! I’m aware that I’m being sexist and offending myself in saying this, but Evans’ acting like a silly little girl just bothers me.
Finally, there’s Betsy. Boy, is she daft. We know Evans is incapable of being rude in response to her sexual advances, but you’d think she’d get the idea by now. Instead, she comes off as being kind of slutty, but in this book she crosses over into a total clown. She is not even believable as a three-dimensional character anymore. No matter how many times Evans says “documentary” to her, she is still convinced that this ragtag movie crew will discover her talent (read: body) and she will be on the next plane to Hollywood. First she tries to convince them she’s sunbathing in a bikini in November, then she dresses up as “Granny Jones” to give them her made-up account of life during WWII (based on her description here, she might actually be able to make it in Hollywood as a make-up artist), and finally she nearly gives herself pneumonia by somehow hiding submerged in the lake and popping up when the plane finally comes to the surface as the Lady of the Lake with the sword Excalibur. She must know how to hold her breath for hours.
Clearly I think there are some major flaws with this series, but I have found it amusing so far, as well as lighthearted despite all the dead bodies. I still like the series well enough to finish it – I’m no quitter!
This review is going to be partially a review of this book, and partially of the whole series so far. I haven’t read book 4 yet due to it being unavailable at the library, so my generalizations of the series only apply to books 1-3 and 5.
The parts in italics that are woven through the novel, which turn out to be Trefor Thomas’s recital of his experience during WWII, were a bit disconcerting at first. I thought each section was going to be a different person’s story, since Grantley announces early on his intentions of interviewing a lot of people for his documentary, but like just about everything else he starts, he doesn’t follow through. Once Thomas is brought into the main part of the novel, in the present day, his story starts to make a whole lot more sense.
The mystery is pretty solid, in my opinion, and I didn’t have any unanswered questions or notice any loose ends, except maybe that I found the historical background intriguing – trying to raise a WWII bomber that’s been sunk in a lake up in the Welsh mountains for over 50 years (and yes, the idea of the decomposed bodies of the pilots still being in the plane is gross), and the other story of all the paintings being brought up from London and stored in the mine throughout most of the war. I was pretty satisfied with the ending,
Throughout this series, I’ve had a hard time telling whether the inhabitants of Llanfair, and some of the other North Wales towns, are speaking English or Welsh, since of course everything is written in English, except for the odd word sprinkled here and there. Sometimes I’m led to believe that the villagers speak Welsh most of the time, but it was mentioned (in book 1, I think) that they speak English and switch to Welsh whenever “foreigners” come into the pub or the other shops. Sergeant Watkins finds a couple opportunities in each book to mention how he needs Evans for an interpreter, as his Welsh isn’t that good, and there is no indication that he is English. I don’t know how he gets by on an everyday basis without a translator, then, and at some point (in book 3 maybe) it is mentioned that people in North Wales speak English just as well as they do Welsh. Finally book 5 gives a clue that most people in North Wales speak Welsh as well as English, but South Walesians mostly speak just English. I’ve decided that I don’t really care what language they’re speaking, and to get through the rest of the series without an anxiety attack, I’ll just believe whatever I’m told. Speaking of language, what’s up with the word “boyo?” It was used A LOT in book 5 (17 times that I counted), and not at all in the first three books. Did this work suddenly become trendy in the UK around the year 2000? I don’t know why, but the frequent use of this word annoyed me. It wasn’t like just one character was using it as a sort of catchphrase – Evans, Constable Morgan and Sergeant Watkins all used it that I noticed.
I was glad to see that Evans didn’t find himself staring down the barrel of a load gun, like in the first three books. For crying out loud, you’d think he had no police training at all. It’s ridiculous that the village constables aren’t allowed to carry guns, but this should make Evans even more cautious, instead of running off to confront suspected murderers all the time. He clearly doesn’t learn from his mistakes. I know this creates suspense, but it also makes him look like an idiot. His behavior is that of the female characters, usually written by female authors, who are housewives or some non-law enforcement career, who just happen to fall over dead bodies every few months, and then find themselves in the hands of the killer, but always manage to get away with minor injuries. Yes, they should all know better, but someone with police training should especially know better! I’m aware that I’m being sexist and offending myself in saying this, but Evans’ acting like a silly little girl just bothers me.
Finally, there’s Betsy. Boy, is she daft. We know Evans is incapable of being rude in response to her sexual advances, but you’d think she’d get the idea by now. Instead, she comes off as being kind of slutty, but in this book she crosses over into a total clown. She is not even believable as a three-dimensional character anymore. No matter how many times Evans says “documentary” to her, she is still convinced that this ragtag movie crew will discover her talent (read: body) and she will be on the next plane to Hollywood. First she tries to convince them she’s sunbathing in a bikini in November, then she dresses up as “Granny Jones” to give them her made-up account of life during WWII (based on her description here, she might actually be able to make it in Hollywood as a make-up artist), and finally she nearly gives herself pneumonia by somehow hiding submerged in the lake and popping up when the plane finally comes to the surface as the Lady of the Lake with the sword Excalibur. She must know how to hold her breath for hours.
Clearly I think there are some major flaws with this series, but I have found it amusing so far, as well as lighthearted despite all the dead bodies. I still like the series well enough to finish it – I’m no quitter!
July 9, 2022
(3.5 stars) This is the 5th book in the series and I listened to the Audible version. Constable Evans has been assigned to provide security for a documentary filming the extraction of a German WWII plane from a local lake. He is frustrated by the local onlookers, including Betsy, who takes a particularly brazen approach to get on film. In conjunction, he is asked to help find additional stories about that time period locally and acts as translator when necessary. One tale is the use of the local mine to store priceless paintings from the National Gallery. The story flashes back to one of the miners who had a love for painting and art and his involvement in the project. When one of the filmmakers ends up dead in the mine, the constable must try to fit the pieces together to help solve the mystery.
March 26, 2021
3.5 stars. I liked that this book integrated WWII historical events. The book centered around Constable Evans keeping control of a site where a German WWII plane was to be raised from a lake and a documentary crew was prepared to film the event. A member of the crew was looking for local stories to round out the documentary and became aware of the story about the slate mine in Wales that was used to hide artwork from the National Gallery in London.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-483...
One of the characters was a teenager at the time and his story is integral to the book. I think the killer in this book was more obvious than other books in series, but there were a few surprise twists in the end. And the usual ongoing relationships among the locals.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-483...
One of the characters was a teenager at the time and his story is integral to the book. I think the killer in this book was more obvious than other books in series, but there were a few surprise twists in the end. And the usual ongoing relationships among the locals.
November 15, 2021
Tod nach Regie/Band 5
Rhys Bowen
KRIMINALROMAN
REZIEXEMPLAR
Der Verlag hat ein Cover ausgewählt was passt und auch schön anzusehen ist.
In diesem Band hat sich die Autorin ganz schön was einfallen lassen. Hier ist Fiktion und Wirklichkeit aufeinander getroffen. Heraus kam ein KRIMINALROMAN der total spannend war und einen nicht los lässt. Constable Evans wird das erste Mal eifersüchtig. Ich hab förmlich mit dem Mann mitgelitten. Die Story ist gewieft aufgebaut, die Mördersuche nicht einfach, obwohl alles vor der Nase war. Ich wäre nie darauf gekommen wer es war.
Die Protagonisten allesamt total sympathisch und man fiebert mit. Ausserdem möchte man von den einen oder anderen wissen, wie sie sich weiterentwickeln. Man hat hier Lesefreude pur!
Rhys Bowen
KRIMINALROMAN
REZIEXEMPLAR
Der Verlag hat ein Cover ausgewählt was passt und auch schön anzusehen ist.
In diesem Band hat sich die Autorin ganz schön was einfallen lassen. Hier ist Fiktion und Wirklichkeit aufeinander getroffen. Heraus kam ein KRIMINALROMAN der total spannend war und einen nicht los lässt. Constable Evans wird das erste Mal eifersüchtig. Ich hab förmlich mit dem Mann mitgelitten. Die Story ist gewieft aufgebaut, die Mördersuche nicht einfach, obwohl alles vor der Nase war. Ich wäre nie darauf gekommen wer es war.
Die Protagonisten allesamt total sympathisch und man fiebert mit. Ausserdem möchte man von den einen oder anderen wissen, wie sie sich weiterentwickeln. Man hat hier Lesefreude pur!
June 1, 2022
Evan Can Wait is the 5th book of a (I believe) ten book series. Published in 2001, it is a little dated but still charming. Evan Evans is a young constable in a small village in Northern Wales. He is a very likable guy, and he will tell you that it is pure luck that he solves the village mysteries.
The characters in this book are all very interesting and entertaining. All except for the murder victim, whom I was rooting for his demise! The story is told with ingenious flashbacks to World War II that tie the past to the present and move the story very well. Wales is now on my bucket list of countries to visit, and the author brings it to life!
A very enjoyable visit to another time and place, with a very good mystery to solve!
The characters in this book are all very interesting and entertaining. All except for the murder victim, whom I was rooting for his demise! The story is told with ingenious flashbacks to World War II that tie the past to the present and move the story very well. Wales is now on my bucket list of countries to visit, and the author brings it to life!
A very enjoyable visit to another time and place, with a very good mystery to solve!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews