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Constable Evans #8
Evan's Gate
When Constable Evan Evans discovers a beautiful shepard's cottage in the mountains of Llanfair, Wales, he and his fiancée are thrilled. It's only months before their wedding and they are eager to begin their new life together. The cottage is in need of renovation so Evan wastes no time before he begins making much-needed repairs.But it turns out that Evan's discovery extends far beyond the beauties of a mountain-top view and a cozy dream-house when Evan finds the skeleton of a child buried in the front yard. His professional inclinations soon get the best of him and he cannot rest until he discovers the identity of the child.The skeleton is decades old, but the discovery eerily coincides with the case of a present-day missing girl. Although discouraged by his fellow detectives, Evan dives into the mystery of both missing children. He soon realizes that if he can solve the decades-old death, he just might find a crucial insight into the whereabouts of the child missing in the present day. Rhys Bowen's newest spell-binding addition to her critically acclaimed cozy series will win the hearts of fans and newcomers alike.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2004
218 people are currently reading
807 people want to read
About the author
Rhys Bowen
121 books9,532 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
December 28, 2023
The eighth book in the series and sadly that means 0nly two left for me to read.
At last Evan has managed a promotion and he is now Detective Constable Evan Evans. This means he is liable to be suddenly called into work whenever a crime occurs, so when a five-year-old girl goes missing from a caravan park he is on the case.
When Evan does get a bit of time off he works on the hillside cottage he is restoring to live in with Bronwen after they are married. It is a shock when a young girl's skeleton is dug up in the garden. It is an old burial but there seem to be connections still to the current case.
Having read all the books up to this point the characters are old friends to me now and I always enjoy the opportunity to spend some time in the beautiful Welsh hills with Evan and the rest.
At last Evan has managed a promotion and he is now Detective Constable Evan Evans. This means he is liable to be suddenly called into work whenever a crime occurs, so when a five-year-old girl goes missing from a caravan park he is on the case.
When Evan does get a bit of time off he works on the hillside cottage he is restoring to live in with Bronwen after they are married. It is a shock when a young girl's skeleton is dug up in the garden. It is an old burial but there seem to be connections still to the current case.
Having read all the books up to this point the characters are old friends to me now and I always enjoy the opportunity to spend some time in the beautiful Welsh hills with Evan and the rest.
June 28, 2025
The old cottage that Constable Evan Evans was preparing to renovate so he and his fiance Bronwyn could live in it after their marriage, revealed the skeleton of a young girl, under the earth where he was digging to the pipes. Calling in DCI Watkins, and the forensic pathologist, Evan soon realised it was Sarah, a five year old he used to play with twenty five years prior. She'd gone missing and had never been located, nor had whoever had abducted her. Now Evan had a chance at solving the mystery of the disappearance of his young friend. But at the same time another young girl went missing. Five year old Ashley had been snatched from the beach, and her mother was distraught. Was there any connection between the two cases? Would they find Ashley alive? Or had she been abducted by her Russian father, and taken back to his homeland?
Evan's Gate is the 8th in the Constable Evans series by Rhys Bowen and it was another fun and entertaining read in the series. Evan is always a determined young policeman, and often disobeyed his superiors to follow a hunch. Clever he is, and mostly always right. It's always fun to catch up with the characters, and I'm looking forward to the next. Recommended.
Evan's Gate is the 8th in the Constable Evans series by Rhys Bowen and it was another fun and entertaining read in the series. Evan is always a determined young policeman, and often disobeyed his superiors to follow a hunch. Clever he is, and mostly always right. It's always fun to catch up with the characters, and I'm looking forward to the next. Recommended.
August 5, 2024
One of my favorites of the series so far! Reminded me of an episode of Shetland or something.
April 13, 2022
Big changes are in store for Constable Evan Evans. He has recently been accepted into the plainclothes division of the force and he's making preparations to marry Bronwen and make a home in shepherd's cottage that needs renovation. But he's just started working on getting the building clearances when Evans is called in to help with a missing child case. A five-year-old little girl has disappeared from the seaside caravan park where her mother had brought her for health reasons. The prime suspect is the little girl's estranged father, but an extensive campaign fails to find him...and exhaustive searches in the area fail to find any trace of the girl.
Evans snatches time when he can to make progress on his cottage. One of the tasks is to did a new water line. And when he digs he finds the skeleton of another child. It appears to be about 20-25 years old and Evans remembers another little girl who went missing on the mountain. A little girl by the name of Sarah who looked a lot like the current missing child--small, fragile, blonde, and very pretty. When he finds out Sarah's family is back in the area--celebrating the birthday of an aged grandfather, he wonders if the two incidents are connected. He's had hunches in the past that panned out and he hopes that if he can find some clues from the past that it just might help solve the current case as well.
I first started reading the Evan Evans mysteries back in the late 90s/early 2000s when they were published. I found them charming, enjoyed the Welsh characters, and the descriptions of the Welsh countryside. And then other books caught my attention (as so often happens) and I wandered off and didn't read this one (that I had picked up at the library's used bookstore) or any later installments. Returning to the series, I still enjoy the Welsh setting and find the characters interesting--though there are fewer appearances of the locals than I remember in earlier stories. The mystery is decent, though the solution to the two cases is a bit dissatisfying--I had hoped they would tie up differently and I thought the explanation of Sarah's death and place of burial to be anti-climactic. I realize that this is a more cozy police procedural, but the answer really was a bit of a let-down. ★★★ for setting, characters, and interesting set-up. Would have been higher had the ending been stronger.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
Evans snatches time when he can to make progress on his cottage. One of the tasks is to did a new water line. And when he digs he finds the skeleton of another child. It appears to be about 20-25 years old and Evans remembers another little girl who went missing on the mountain. A little girl by the name of Sarah who looked a lot like the current missing child--small, fragile, blonde, and very pretty. When he finds out Sarah's family is back in the area--celebrating the birthday of an aged grandfather, he wonders if the two incidents are connected. He's had hunches in the past that panned out and he hopes that if he can find some clues from the past that it just might help solve the current case as well.
I first started reading the Evan Evans mysteries back in the late 90s/early 2000s when they were published. I found them charming, enjoyed the Welsh characters, and the descriptions of the Welsh countryside. And then other books caught my attention (as so often happens) and I wandered off and didn't read this one (that I had picked up at the library's used bookstore) or any later installments. Returning to the series, I still enjoy the Welsh setting and find the characters interesting--though there are fewer appearances of the locals than I remember in earlier stories. The mystery is decent, though the solution to the two cases is a bit dissatisfying--I had hoped they would tie up differently and I thought the explanation of Sarah's death and place of burial to be anti-climactic. I realize that this is a more cozy police procedural, but the answer really was a bit of a let-down. ★★★ for setting, characters, and interesting set-up. Would have been higher had the ending been stronger.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
November 12, 2022
3 stars
Although I did enjoy this one, there were a few things that missed the mark. Some procedural police investigation techniques that didn't make sense like taking the mom's word as gospel without questioning it for one moment.
Nevertheless a good read.
Although I did enjoy this one, there were a few things that missed the mark. Some procedural police investigation techniques that didn't make sense like taking the mom's word as gospel without questioning it for one moment.
Nevertheless a good read.
August 26, 2018
Evan's Gate by Rhys Bowen is book 6 of the Constable Evan Evans mystery series set in a fictitious small mountain village in contemporary North Wales. Evan is finally a plain-clothes detective. He's proud to achieved his dream, yet disgruntled that he can no longer count on having time off. When a crime requires investigation, he's called on to the case, regardless of his personal plans.
A date with Bronwen is pre-empted by an investigation for a missing girl; Bronwen copes well (an absolute must for a detective's future wife). Evan goes to the seaside travel-trailer to interview the girl's mother. She was outside, with her daughter playing on the beach, just stepped inside for 30 seconds to grab a cigarette, and her daughter was gone when she returned. There is no evidence of foul play on the beach; Evan sees no evidence any child had played there recently, either. The mother is convinced her ex-husband seized the girl and will flee the country. The police put out bulletins to stop him from leaving the country. Evan is assigned to follow up any sightings of possible suspects.
He is in the process of getting bureaucratic approval to restore the small sheepherder cottage high on the mountain above Llanfair that he hopes to share with Bronwen. The latest stuffy inspector insists that Evan also check if the property is "listed", as in historic (ridiculous because it's a complete ruin). While waiting for yet another official inspector visit, Evan decides to dig the trenches for water lines he will add. While digging, Evan finds a body. He thinks he recognizes the shoe. When the forensic expert agrees the body was a young girl, and may have been buried 25 years, Evan is pretty sure he has finally found the little girl he was mesmerized by as a young boy.
The girl long ago was petite and blonde, like the latest missing girl. Evan wonders if there is a connection, especially when he learns the family is back for the first time in 25 years.
Evan follows orders (stick to the latest case), yet he cannot stop investigating the past either. As usual, all mysteries and subplots are resolved by the story's end, due to Evan's intuition and courage.
The scenery described throughout the series sounds so beautiful, I wish Masterpiece Theater would create an Evan Evans film series.
A date with Bronwen is pre-empted by an investigation for a missing girl; Bronwen copes well (an absolute must for a detective's future wife). Evan goes to the seaside travel-trailer to interview the girl's mother. She was outside, with her daughter playing on the beach, just stepped inside for 30 seconds to grab a cigarette, and her daughter was gone when she returned. There is no evidence of foul play on the beach; Evan sees no evidence any child had played there recently, either. The mother is convinced her ex-husband seized the girl and will flee the country. The police put out bulletins to stop him from leaving the country. Evan is assigned to follow up any sightings of possible suspects.
He is in the process of getting bureaucratic approval to restore the small sheepherder cottage high on the mountain above Llanfair that he hopes to share with Bronwen. The latest stuffy inspector insists that Evan also check if the property is "listed", as in historic (ridiculous because it's a complete ruin). While waiting for yet another official inspector visit, Evan decides to dig the trenches for water lines he will add. While digging, Evan finds a body. He thinks he recognizes the shoe. When the forensic expert agrees the body was a young girl, and may have been buried 25 years, Evan is pretty sure he has finally found the little girl he was mesmerized by as a young boy.
The girl long ago was petite and blonde, like the latest missing girl. Evan wonders if there is a connection, especially when he learns the family is back for the first time in 25 years.
Evan follows orders (stick to the latest case), yet he cannot stop investigating the past either. As usual, all mysteries and subplots are resolved by the story's end, due to Evan's intuition and courage.
The scenery described throughout the series sounds so beautiful, I wish Masterpiece Theater would create an Evan Evans film series.
July 14, 2007
Now Detective Constable Evan Evans, North Wales, he is no longer the local policeman for Llanfair, so he is a plain clothesman. The story involves the disappearance of a 5 year old from a beach caravan park and, as Evans works on the case, it takes him back 25 years to the disappearance of another 5 year old who Evans knew. The story revolves around solving the two disappearances.
With Evans no longer the "village bobby," there is less of the Llanfair locals from earlier novels which reduces the local charm of the stories as well as much of the humor present in earlier stories. The local characters are pretty much replaced by Evans interactions with other members of the North Wales police force.
With Evans no longer the "village bobby," there is less of the Llanfair locals from earlier novels which reduces the local charm of the stories as well as much of the humor present in earlier stories. The local characters are pretty much replaced by Evans interactions with other members of the North Wales police force.
January 4, 2021
This is my favorite so far. Evan travels to London and Leeds and several other places, and for some reason I found it fascinating. The story starts with a child abduction, and then Evan finds a skeleton of a little girl in front of the cottage he plans to rebuild. He is finally engaged and plans to be married. He once again solves the crime. I just so enjoy reading about Wales. Only 2 more to go and I will be sorry to see it end.
May 10, 2021
Evan is in the process of trying to get approval to fix up an old shepherd's cottage for himself and his fiancee, Bronwen, when he gets a call about a missing little girl. Did the child wander off, or was she abducted by her father? While pursuing multiple possibilities, Evan stumbles across the body of another little girl, and possibly a further complication to his ongoing missing child case.
I first started this series many years ago and by all rights should have finished it by now. It's only ten books long, and I've generally enjoyed each book I've read. It's got a nice sense of place, and Evan is generally likeable. But for some reason I only dip my toes into this series once every few years, and I've been doing it all out of order. I've read the first, fifth, and tenth books. It's a bit of shame, since one of the appeals of this series is that Bowen actually allows Evan's life to change from one book to the next, instead of forcing him to wallow in an unending love triangle for all eternity (while I like M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth books, the eternal love triangle is part of the reason why it's been years since I last read one of them).
In this book, Evan is engaged to Bronwen and is still mentally adjusting to the idea that he's going to be married soon. He also has new responsibilities at work and is still adjusting to the effect that this has on his personal life and overall free time.
Evan gets a bit emotionally knotted up over the connections he sees between the current missing child case and the little girl who went missing 25 years ago, who he was friends with and used to play with. He can't shake the idea that the two cases are related, and the personal connection makes it harder for him to be objective.
I didn't think Evan handled things as well as he could have, which would have been fine if there had been actual consequences for some of his actions. Even he was aware that his focus on the potential connection between the two cases was pushing him to do stuff his boss wouldn't necessarily approve of, and his actions near the end of the book could have gotten him killed. At the very least, he should have gotten a reprimand.
The ending wasn't very satisfying. To be fair, I don't think it was meant to be -
All in all, it was an okay read and I'm sure I'll pick up another Constable Evans mystery at some point, but I wasn't left feeling like I absolutely needed to read another book in the series right now. This really is more of a "comfortable occasional reading" series for me than anything, I guess.
Oh, and don't get too excited about the dog on the cover. Although there is indeed a dog in the story, it only appears maybe once or twice and doesn't play an important part.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
I first started this series many years ago and by all rights should have finished it by now. It's only ten books long, and I've generally enjoyed each book I've read. It's got a nice sense of place, and Evan is generally likeable. But for some reason I only dip my toes into this series once every few years, and I've been doing it all out of order. I've read the first, fifth, and tenth books. It's a bit of shame, since one of the appeals of this series is that Bowen actually allows Evan's life to change from one book to the next, instead of forcing him to wallow in an unending love triangle for all eternity (while I like M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth books, the eternal love triangle is part of the reason why it's been years since I last read one of them).
In this book, Evan is engaged to Bronwen and is still mentally adjusting to the idea that he's going to be married soon. He also has new responsibilities at work and is still adjusting to the effect that this has on his personal life and overall free time.
Evan gets a bit emotionally knotted up over the connections he sees between the current missing child case and the little girl who went missing 25 years ago, who he was friends with and used to play with. He can't shake the idea that the two cases are related, and the personal connection makes it harder for him to be objective.
I didn't think Evan handled things as well as he could have, which would have been fine if there had been actual consequences for some of his actions. Even he was aware that his focus on the potential connection between the two cases was pushing him to do stuff his boss wouldn't necessarily approve of, and his actions near the end of the book could have gotten him killed. At the very least, he should have gotten a reprimand.
The ending wasn't very satisfying. To be fair, I don't think it was meant to be -
All in all, it was an okay read and I'm sure I'll pick up another Constable Evans mystery at some point, but I wasn't left feeling like I absolutely needed to read another book in the series right now. This really is more of a "comfortable occasional reading" series for me than anything, I guess.
Oh, and don't get too excited about the dog on the cover. Although there is indeed a dog in the story, it only appears maybe once or twice and doesn't play an important part.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
August 8, 2024
I haven’t visited this series in years, and it felt great to check in with the almost-married Welch policeman and his lovely fiancé. Bowen writes this in such a way that these characters are never far from your mind no matter how many years it’s been since you last visited.
In this installment of the series, Betsy, the barmaid at the local pub, has a new man, and the newly engaged Evan is glad she has finally stopped pursuing him.
There’s a bit of an uproar in town because a little girl who recently had a heart transplant is missing and believed kidnapped. Initially, the cops figure it’s the estranged dad who took the child, But Constable Evans isn’t so sure.
While digging a new sewer line at a cottage he and his fiancé plan to occupy soon, he finds the skeleton of what turns out to be a little girl. He believes it to be Sarah Thomas, a playmate of his when he was six. He voices the belief that Sarah’s disappearance a quarter century earlier connects to the currently missing child. The others on the force refuse to believe him, but Evan refuses to give up.
Members of the Thomas family are back in town for a birthday celebration having been away for years. Evan wonders whether their presence in town links to the disappearance of the current missing girl.
Since I’ve dipped in and out of this series out of order and at will, I’d be a hypocrite if I advised you to read the books in order. I didn’t; you needn’t to enjoy this book.
In this installment of the series, Betsy, the barmaid at the local pub, has a new man, and the newly engaged Evan is glad she has finally stopped pursuing him.
There’s a bit of an uproar in town because a little girl who recently had a heart transplant is missing and believed kidnapped. Initially, the cops figure it’s the estranged dad who took the child, But Constable Evans isn’t so sure.
While digging a new sewer line at a cottage he and his fiancé plan to occupy soon, he finds the skeleton of what turns out to be a little girl. He believes it to be Sarah Thomas, a playmate of his when he was six. He voices the belief that Sarah’s disappearance a quarter century earlier connects to the currently missing child. The others on the force refuse to believe him, but Evan refuses to give up.
Members of the Thomas family are back in town for a birthday celebration having been away for years. Evan wonders whether their presence in town links to the disappearance of the current missing girl.
Since I’ve dipped in and out of this series out of order and at will, I’d be a hypocrite if I advised you to read the books in order. I didn’t; you needn’t to enjoy this book.
February 25, 2023
This series never disappoints.
A young girl disappears from a beach near Porthmadog, and a skeleton of a child is found. Can these two events be linked?
Recently appointed a DC, Evan Evans chases clues across Britain, and at times, putting himself in danger.
This fabulous series by Rhys Bowen is always entertaining to read, with excellent characters and locations; I am a little sad that there is only one left for me to read.
Highly recommended for lovers of a good who-dunnit.
A young girl disappears from a beach near Porthmadog, and a skeleton of a child is found. Can these two events be linked?
Recently appointed a DC, Evan Evans chases clues across Britain, and at times, putting himself in danger.
This fabulous series by Rhys Bowen is always entertaining to read, with excellent characters and locations; I am a little sad that there is only one left for me to read.
Highly recommended for lovers of a good who-dunnit.
April 19, 2024
a tad of terrifying
July 29, 2019
Another fun book. A little blonde girl goes missing, and Detective Constable Evans is on the case, now as a Detective!
September 21, 2019
I liked it.
September 29, 2020
Light hearted mystery series. Enjoyable.
October 17, 2019
Und wieder einmal hat mich Rhys Bowen mit ihrem spannenden Krimi "Cottage mit Mord "super unterhalten. Ein weitere Fall von Constable Evan Evans mit seinem walisischem Charme.
Obwohl er hier ja gleich zwei Fälle auf einmal gelöst hat,die am Anfang den Anschein gemacht haben,zusammen zu hängen.
Aber Evan hat mit fleissiger und gründlicher Ermittlungsarbeit wieder ein tolles Gespür bewiesen.
Mir hat es wahnsinnig Spass gemacht,diesen tollen Krimi zu lesen.Evan ist ein symphatischer Constable,der sehr menschlich und fair rüber kommt.
Der Schreibstil ist wie gewohnt flüssig,klar und gut geschrieben,ich konnte oft miträtseln,aber das Ende war überraschend gut,wie gesagt die gründliche Ermittlungsarbeit hat mich positiv überrascht,ein Rätsel eines verschwundenen Mädchens wurde endlich aufgeklärt.
Da Cover passt absolut zum ganzen,die Beschreibungen der Autorin sieht man hier deutlich wieder.
Ein Mädchen verschwindet spurlos,niemand will was gesehen haben an einem einsamen Strand.
Die Mutter ist ausser sich,verschweigt aber wichtige Informationen und beschuldigt ihren Mann,die gemeinsame Tochter entführt zu haben.
Kurze Zeit später verlässt sie den Tatort und kehrt zurück nach Hause,ohne Evan Bescheid zu geben.
Zur gleichen Zeit findet ein grosses Fest einer Familie statt.
Vor 25 Jahren erlitt die Familie einen grossen Verlust,die kleine Sarah ist spurlos verschwunden und nie wurde der Fall geklärt.
Niemand hat noch damit gerechnet,dass sie lebt,obwohl nie eine Leiche gefunden wurde.
Als Evan an seinem neuen Cottage Buddelarbeiten ausführt,entdeckt er plötzlich Knochen.
Viele Erinnerungen spüren ihn auf,der Krimi hat mich die ganze Zeit mitgerissen.
Absolut empfehlenswert!!!!
Obwohl er hier ja gleich zwei Fälle auf einmal gelöst hat,die am Anfang den Anschein gemacht haben,zusammen zu hängen.
Aber Evan hat mit fleissiger und gründlicher Ermittlungsarbeit wieder ein tolles Gespür bewiesen.
Mir hat es wahnsinnig Spass gemacht,diesen tollen Krimi zu lesen.Evan ist ein symphatischer Constable,der sehr menschlich und fair rüber kommt.
Der Schreibstil ist wie gewohnt flüssig,klar und gut geschrieben,ich konnte oft miträtseln,aber das Ende war überraschend gut,wie gesagt die gründliche Ermittlungsarbeit hat mich positiv überrascht,ein Rätsel eines verschwundenen Mädchens wurde endlich aufgeklärt.
Da Cover passt absolut zum ganzen,die Beschreibungen der Autorin sieht man hier deutlich wieder.
Ein Mädchen verschwindet spurlos,niemand will was gesehen haben an einem einsamen Strand.
Die Mutter ist ausser sich,verschweigt aber wichtige Informationen und beschuldigt ihren Mann,die gemeinsame Tochter entführt zu haben.
Kurze Zeit später verlässt sie den Tatort und kehrt zurück nach Hause,ohne Evan Bescheid zu geben.
Zur gleichen Zeit findet ein grosses Fest einer Familie statt.
Vor 25 Jahren erlitt die Familie einen grossen Verlust,die kleine Sarah ist spurlos verschwunden und nie wurde der Fall geklärt.
Niemand hat noch damit gerechnet,dass sie lebt,obwohl nie eine Leiche gefunden wurde.
Als Evan an seinem neuen Cottage Buddelarbeiten ausführt,entdeckt er plötzlich Knochen.
Viele Erinnerungen spüren ihn auf,der Krimi hat mich die ganze Zeit mitgerissen.
Absolut empfehlenswert!!!!
October 28, 2019
Wiedermal ein gelungener Constable Evans Krimi.
Der Schreibstil ist super, leicht zu lesen und sehr fesselnd.
Ich war gleich von der ersten Zeile an in der Geschichte gefangen.
Evan ist sehr sympathisch und authentisch, ich finde ihn als Charakter einfach spitze.
Auch das Zusammenspiel zwischen Ihm und seiner Verlobten ist toll.
Die beiden Charaktere haben so viel Charme und Sympathie, man muss sie einfach mögen.
Das Dorf mit seinem ganzen walisischen Charme kommt wieder gut zur Geltung und die Dorfbewohner sind einfach zum Lachen und Schmunzeln.
In diesem Band verstrickt sich Evans in zwei Fälle, die den Anschein erwecken das sie zusammenhängen.
Die beiden Fälle waren unheimlich spannend und unvorhersehbar, ich habe richtig mitgefiebert und gerätselt.
Ein wirklich unglaublich toller Krimi, ich freue mich schon auf den nächsten Band.
Unglaublich toll und spannend geschriebenes Buch mit so viel walisischem Charme und tollen Charakteren.
Der Schreibstil ist super, leicht zu lesen und sehr fesselnd.
Ich war gleich von der ersten Zeile an in der Geschichte gefangen.
Evan ist sehr sympathisch und authentisch, ich finde ihn als Charakter einfach spitze.
Auch das Zusammenspiel zwischen Ihm und seiner Verlobten ist toll.
Die beiden Charaktere haben so viel Charme und Sympathie, man muss sie einfach mögen.
Das Dorf mit seinem ganzen walisischen Charme kommt wieder gut zur Geltung und die Dorfbewohner sind einfach zum Lachen und Schmunzeln.
In diesem Band verstrickt sich Evans in zwei Fälle, die den Anschein erwecken das sie zusammenhängen.
Die beiden Fälle waren unheimlich spannend und unvorhersehbar, ich habe richtig mitgefiebert und gerätselt.
Ein wirklich unglaublich toller Krimi, ich freue mich schon auf den nächsten Band.
Unglaublich toll und spannend geschriebenes Buch mit so viel walisischem Charme und tollen Charakteren.
July 31, 2020
Wales, a country most of us know nothing about, is the setting for this Constable Evan Evan's series, making the descriptions of the country as fascinating to me as the mystery itself. Although it is number 8, it is the first one I've read, and liked it enough to go back to number one and read the entire series. I am already reading the author's Lady Georgina and Molly Murphy series, which shows how highly I regard her work.
EVAN'S GATE is the gate in front of the shepherd's cottage that he hopes to rebuild and move into with his future bride. While digging up the water line by his gate, he uncovers the skeletal remains of a child. At the same time, he is investigating the disappearance of a little girl from a seaside camp. The two child mysteries have some odd similarities, and yet is it merely a coincidence that there are these commonalities?
RHYS BOWEN continues to provide quality mysteries.
EVAN'S GATE is the gate in front of the shepherd's cottage that he hopes to rebuild and move into with his future bride. While digging up the water line by his gate, he uncovers the skeletal remains of a child. At the same time, he is investigating the disappearance of a little girl from a seaside camp. The two child mysteries have some odd similarities, and yet is it merely a coincidence that there are these commonalities?
RHYS BOWEN continues to provide quality mysteries.
January 30, 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.
October 17, 2023
this is another good mystery in the series. am sad that there are only 2 more in the series. liked this one better than the previous entry. evan evans is restoring an old stone shepherd's cottage on the side of snowdon. he finds bones - could they be connected with a friend of his who disappeared when they were children - and is there a connection with another little girl who has gone missing, of similar appearance?
June 24, 2014
Good story, however I prefer Ms. Bowen's Royal Spyness ad Molly Murphy series.
April 4, 2023
Constable Evan Evans ist nun bei den Zivilfahndern und darf somit endlich offiziell an einem Fall mitarbeiten. Dieser hat es in sich, als auf einem Campingplatz ein Mädchen verschwindet und Evan wenig später bei Grabungsarbeiten an seinem Haus ein Skelett eines Kindes findet.
Ich find man merkt Evan an, wie sehr es in freut, nun endlich offiziell an einem Fall mitarbeiten zu können und das auch noch unter der Leitung von Detective Inspector Watkins, der Evan zuvor immer unterstützt hat. Dennoch merkt man aber auch, dass nun mehr von Evan erwartet wird. So auch, dass er im Team arbeitet, die Anweisung von Detective Inspector Watkins befolgt und keine Alleingänge macht. Gerade nicht mehr eigenständig ermitteln zu sollen und seinem Instinkt zu trauen, fällt Evan schwer, was man immer wieder merkt. Denn Evan geht natürlich nach wie vor seinen Gefühlen nach und ist zusehends darüber frustriert, dass Watkins seinem Instinkt nicht mehr vorbehaltlos folgt und vertraut. Ich bin gespannt, wie Evan es schaffen wird, sich zum einen selbst treu zu bleiben, aber dennoch in seinen neuen Posten reinzuwachsen.
Die Ermittlungen mit Evan waren spannend und ich habe ihn wieder gerne auf diese begleitet. Zumal man merkt, wie nahe ihm beide Fälle, aber natürlich vor allem der um das gefundene Kinderskelett gehen. Das lässt ihn umso verbissener an die Ermittlungen gehen. Da man bei einigen der Beteiligten nicht so recht weiß, ob sie etwas verbergen und wenn was das ist, ist für Spannung gesorgt. Zumal sich die ganze Zeit über die Frage stellt, ob die beiden Fälle zusammenhängen. Außerdem hat es die Autorin geschafft, mich mit einigen Wendungen zu überraschen, da ich mit diesen nicht gerechnet habe.
Die Handlungsorte und Personen wurden von ihr so beschrieben, dass ich sie mir alle gut vorstellen konnte und ich das Gefühl hatte, die verschiedenen Orte selbst aufzusuchen. Zudem habe ich mich einige Male über die Bewohner des Dorfs Llanfair amüsiert. Denn der Informationsfluss im Dorf ist mal wieder schneller, als Evan gucken kann und natürlich erwarten die Dorfbewohner, dass sie über alles informiert werden.
Fazit:
Ein spannender Krimi, in dem Constable Evan Evans gleich in zwei Vermisstenfällen ermittelt. Gerade da man nicht weiß, wer von den beteiligten Personen etwas zu verbergen hat und wenn was dies ist, war die Handlung von Anfang bis Ende spannend. Zudem konnte mich die Autorin mit einigen Wendungen überraschen. So habe ich Evan wieder gern bei seinen Ermittlungen begleitet und bin gespannt, welche Veränderungen sein neuer Posten für ihn noch mit sich bringen wird.
Ich find man merkt Evan an, wie sehr es in freut, nun endlich offiziell an einem Fall mitarbeiten zu können und das auch noch unter der Leitung von Detective Inspector Watkins, der Evan zuvor immer unterstützt hat. Dennoch merkt man aber auch, dass nun mehr von Evan erwartet wird. So auch, dass er im Team arbeitet, die Anweisung von Detective Inspector Watkins befolgt und keine Alleingänge macht. Gerade nicht mehr eigenständig ermitteln zu sollen und seinem Instinkt zu trauen, fällt Evan schwer, was man immer wieder merkt. Denn Evan geht natürlich nach wie vor seinen Gefühlen nach und ist zusehends darüber frustriert, dass Watkins seinem Instinkt nicht mehr vorbehaltlos folgt und vertraut. Ich bin gespannt, wie Evan es schaffen wird, sich zum einen selbst treu zu bleiben, aber dennoch in seinen neuen Posten reinzuwachsen.
Die Ermittlungen mit Evan waren spannend und ich habe ihn wieder gerne auf diese begleitet. Zumal man merkt, wie nahe ihm beide Fälle, aber natürlich vor allem der um das gefundene Kinderskelett gehen. Das lässt ihn umso verbissener an die Ermittlungen gehen. Da man bei einigen der Beteiligten nicht so recht weiß, ob sie etwas verbergen und wenn was das ist, ist für Spannung gesorgt. Zumal sich die ganze Zeit über die Frage stellt, ob die beiden Fälle zusammenhängen. Außerdem hat es die Autorin geschafft, mich mit einigen Wendungen zu überraschen, da ich mit diesen nicht gerechnet habe.
Die Handlungsorte und Personen wurden von ihr so beschrieben, dass ich sie mir alle gut vorstellen konnte und ich das Gefühl hatte, die verschiedenen Orte selbst aufzusuchen. Zudem habe ich mich einige Male über die Bewohner des Dorfs Llanfair amüsiert. Denn der Informationsfluss im Dorf ist mal wieder schneller, als Evan gucken kann und natürlich erwarten die Dorfbewohner, dass sie über alles informiert werden.
Fazit:
Ein spannender Krimi, in dem Constable Evan Evans gleich in zwei Vermisstenfällen ermittelt. Gerade da man nicht weiß, wer von den beteiligten Personen etwas zu verbergen hat und wenn was dies ist, war die Handlung von Anfang bis Ende spannend. Zudem konnte mich die Autorin mit einigen Wendungen überraschen. So habe ich Evan wieder gern bei seinen Ermittlungen begleitet und bin gespannt, welche Veränderungen sein neuer Posten für ihn noch mit sich bringen wird.
February 18, 2024
MY RATING GUIDE: 4 Stars. Several plot lines intermingled keeping me guessing from beginning to end. Worth the time invested. I found my copy at my local public library.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I LIKED THIS A LOT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
Mid-May in the mountain village of Llanfair, Snowdonia, Wales. ~
Evan Evans has finally completed his detective training and is currently shadowing Detective Inspector Watkins as a newly vetted plain clothes investigator. Detective Constable Evan gets his first call out on his day off - no more M-F, scheduled hours. The case involves a missing child who has apparently disappeared from the beach while her mother’s back was turned. A massive search begins which triggers a long buried memory for Evans. When he was just a child, himself, another young playmate disappeared, never to be seen again. Could the two missing children cases be connected somehow? What ever happened to the girl missing 25yrs ago? Had the police ever suspected anyone?
Comments ~
1) EVAN’S GATE is bk 8 in Rhys Bowen’s 10 bk Constable Evans Mystery series. It begins perhaps a year or so after bk7. Each book could be read on its own but I prefer beginning with book 1 and reading in order, enjoying the continuing character development and relations in the villages and police departments.
2) EVAN’S GATE struck me as one of the darkest books in this series due to the topic of children’s deaths. Yet several plots intermingled throughout the book, making this also one of the most interesting and complicated books. Enough other conversations and situations occurred to lighten the overall tone, as well.
3) I recommend EVAN’S GATE to readers who enjoy Cozy Mysteries and British (Welsh) Mysteries. EG 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 on occasion.
VIOLENCE - PG. This book involves the deaths of children yet the details were not particularly dark or graphic.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I LIKED THIS A LOT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
Mid-May in the mountain village of Llanfair, Snowdonia, Wales. ~
Evan Evans has finally completed his detective training and is currently shadowing Detective Inspector Watkins as a newly vetted plain clothes investigator. Detective Constable Evan gets his first call out on his day off - no more M-F, scheduled hours. The case involves a missing child who has apparently disappeared from the beach while her mother’s back was turned. A massive search begins which triggers a long buried memory for Evans. When he was just a child, himself, another young playmate disappeared, never to be seen again. Could the two missing children cases be connected somehow? What ever happened to the girl missing 25yrs ago? Had the police ever suspected anyone?
Comments ~
1) EVAN’S GATE is bk 8 in Rhys Bowen’s 10 bk Constable Evans Mystery series. It begins perhaps a year or so after bk7. Each book could be read on its own but I prefer beginning with book 1 and reading in order, enjoying the continuing character development and relations in the villages and police departments.
2) EVAN’S GATE struck me as one of the darkest books in this series due to the topic of children’s deaths. Yet several plots intermingled throughout the book, making this also one of the most interesting and complicated books. Enough other conversations and situations occurred to lighten the overall tone, as well.
3) I recommend EVAN’S GATE to readers who enjoy Cozy Mysteries and British (Welsh) Mysteries. EG 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 on occasion.
VIOLENCE - PG. This book involves the deaths of children yet the details were not particularly dark or graphic.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
December 18, 2022
Constable Evans möchte bald heiraten und hat sich ein Cottage angeschafft, welches noch renoviert werden muss. Doch das ist gar nicht so einfach, denn ein Angestellter des Nationalparks, prüft die Angelegenheit und stellt fest, dass einige Auflagen erfüllt werden müssen. Als Erstes müssen die Abwasserleitung und der Tank überprüft werden. Zur selben Zeit trifft die Familie Thomas auf dem Familienanwesen Maes Gwyn ein, um eine Erbschaft anzutreten. Und auf den Campingplatz Black Rock Sands verschwindet die fünf Jahre alte Ashley.
Constable Evans und sein Chef Detective Inspector Watkins befragen die Mutter des Mädchens und erfahren, dass diese vermutlich vom eigenen Vater entführt worden ist. Constable Evans macht sich auf die Suche nach dem Kind. Als er während einer Pause in seinem Cottage die Wasserleitungen freilegt, findet er ein Skelett eines Kindes und wird an eine spurlos verschwunden Spielgefährtin erinnert. Hat dieser alte Fall etwas mit dem verschwinden von Ashley zu tun: Während der Suche nach der verschwunden Ashley und dem Versuch den alten Fall aufzuklären wird Constable Evans mit seiner Vergangenheit konfrontiert und trifft auf Freunde aus Kindertagen.
Ein spannender Krimi, welche den Leser durch irreleitende Spuren bis zum Schluss in Dunkeln lässt. Die Hauptfigur Constable Evans ist sehr sympathisch und besticht durch seine Zielstrebigkeit. Die weiteren Charaktere sind teilweise eher skurril, jedoch meist sympathisch und individuell gezeichnet.
Insgesamt ein guter Krimi, der trotz teilweise drückender und dunkler Stimmung bis zur letzten Seite spannend bleibt und unerwartet endet.
Constable Evans und sein Chef Detective Inspector Watkins befragen die Mutter des Mädchens und erfahren, dass diese vermutlich vom eigenen Vater entführt worden ist. Constable Evans macht sich auf die Suche nach dem Kind. Als er während einer Pause in seinem Cottage die Wasserleitungen freilegt, findet er ein Skelett eines Kindes und wird an eine spurlos verschwunden Spielgefährtin erinnert. Hat dieser alte Fall etwas mit dem verschwinden von Ashley zu tun: Während der Suche nach der verschwunden Ashley und dem Versuch den alten Fall aufzuklären wird Constable Evans mit seiner Vergangenheit konfrontiert und trifft auf Freunde aus Kindertagen.
Ein spannender Krimi, welche den Leser durch irreleitende Spuren bis zum Schluss in Dunkeln lässt. Die Hauptfigur Constable Evans ist sehr sympathisch und besticht durch seine Zielstrebigkeit. Die weiteren Charaktere sind teilweise eher skurril, jedoch meist sympathisch und individuell gezeichnet.
Insgesamt ein guter Krimi, der trotz teilweise drückender und dunkler Stimmung bis zur letzten Seite spannend bleibt und unerwartet endet.
December 13, 2021
This is about two little girls who resembled each other but were 25 years apart... Sarah was Evan Evans' first innocent love... to him, she was like a fairy child with her fair pale blond hair and pale blue eyes... not unlike the fairies she always wanted to search for with his help. She was the youngest of the Thomas siblings and cousins who come to the Llanfair mountains with their parents every summer to visit their grandfather. While playing their own version of King of the Castle... Sarah disappeared and was never found despite an extensive search... guilt~ridden 7 year~old~Evan as well as the Tomas' boys helped in the unavailing search... the tragedy left deep scars on some family members... especially on Suzanne, for they unconsciously blamed her for being alive instead of the lovable enchanting Sarah. Haunting memories of Sarah may just be why Evans was first attracted to Bronwen's ethereal fairness. In Evans' timeline as a plainclothes Detective, another blonde girl disappeared on the beach just when the Thomases were again reunited for old Tomos' 80th birthday and the skeleton of a child was also found by Evans by his cottage's gate while he was digging looking for the sewer line for the county's building inspection. Were the two disappearances connected?... or was Evans too close to one missing child case that he could be wrong?
As for Evan's personal life he bought his dream property on the mountain and would build his and Bronwen's cottage for the spectacular view and for peace and privacy. A wedding would be next.
As for Evan's personal life he bought his dream property on the mountain and would build his and Bronwen's cottage for the spectacular view and for peace and privacy. A wedding would be next.
March 20, 2023
This is the 8th book in the series and I listened to the Audible version. Evan has been working on getting the cottage in the mountains renovated, but has had challenges with the planning commission and the historical preservation committee. He is stunned to find the skeleton of a child while digging up the front of the cottage. Professionally, he has been working on a case of a missing young girl that may have been kidnapped by her Russian father. Evan begins to wonder if the cases may have a connection and also wonders if the body might be related to a disappearance of a young girl that was his friend that occurred when he was a young child. As he works to find answers, secrets from the past will come to the surface.
November 1, 2017
A better than average mystery with little blood. The Constable Evans mysteries are set in Wales and peppered with information about the land and culture. There is a page with Welsh vocabulary words explained to help with the common words used in the story. This story kept me guessing.. and what I did guess, was wrong. Two little girls, both with long blonde hair went missing – 25 years apart. The family of the first little girl to go missing came back to the area to celebrate their grandfather’s 80th birthday. While they were there, the second little girl went missing…. Was there a connection? Constable Evans had to connect the dots.
November 27, 2021
Cottage mit Mord / Band 8
Rhys Bowen
KRIMINALROMAN
Die Reihe hat einfach Suchtpotenzial und es wird nie langweilig, auch wenn man mal darüber grübelt, warum der Constable Evans so super schlau ist.
Das Cover gefällt mir diesmal nicht so gut. Das Lila ist etwas sehr dominant.Das Bild trifft den Nagel am Kopf und passt zum Roman.
Die Autorin hat so einen schönen Liebreiz im Erzählstil. Man unterliegt ihm und kommt nicht mehr weg. Ich glaube wenn ich Band 10 gelesen habe, werde ich weinen und mein Herz zerreißt es.
Dieser Fall ging mir sehr nahe, zumal es um Kinder und Pädophile ging. Zum Schluss hatte ich förmlich Herzrasen.
Ich bin gespannt auf Band 9.
Rhys Bowen
KRIMINALROMAN
Die Reihe hat einfach Suchtpotenzial und es wird nie langweilig, auch wenn man mal darüber grübelt, warum der Constable Evans so super schlau ist.
Das Cover gefällt mir diesmal nicht so gut. Das Lila ist etwas sehr dominant.Das Bild trifft den Nagel am Kopf und passt zum Roman.
Die Autorin hat so einen schönen Liebreiz im Erzählstil. Man unterliegt ihm und kommt nicht mehr weg. Ich glaube wenn ich Band 10 gelesen habe, werde ich weinen und mein Herz zerreißt es.
Dieser Fall ging mir sehr nahe, zumal es um Kinder und Pädophile ging. Zum Schluss hatte ich förmlich Herzrasen.
Ich bin gespannt auf Band 9.
December 7, 2022
Evan’s Gate – A Constable Evans Mystery – 2004 - **** - Evan Evans, new to the investigation team, tries to solve a 25 year old mystery that he thinks ties in with a new child abduction. There are plenty of red herrings and police procedural to keep the reader entertained. Bowen’s setting in Wales with throwing in some local dialect adds to the flavor. Frankly, in real life I think Evans would be demoted back to a regular constable if he ignored his superiors’ directives so blatantly and frequently. This lone wolf attitude may be acceptable in books but it left this reader with a feeling of ‘that ain’t real life'. Still a good enough read that I look forward to another book in the series.
June 8, 2023
This is the first book in the Constable Evans series I have read. I was under the impression that the series was set in the past, but it is present day. It was an interesting mystery and solved neatly, but I don't really enjoy present-day police procedurals. Too much technology and too much violence. This book, at least, didn't have much violence. Evan Evans has just been promoted to detective and is getting used to his new responsibilities. His fiancee, Bronwen, gets a little impatient with him at times. Overall, I liked the book, but I won't be continuing with the series. I much prefer the Molly Murphy series set in old New York City.
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