Evanly Choirs

Constable Evans #3

by Rhys Bowen

In Wales, constable Evan Evans investigates the murder of a famous opera singer who came to the area for a rest. Suspects abound, including his wife, his lover and a dissatisfied son.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Crime, Cozy, Audiobook, British Literature

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 1999

About the author

I'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

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this third book in the series Constable Evan Evans aids in the murder investigation of a famous operatic singer who is visiting Llanfair. He turns out to be smarter than most of the city detectives who are brought in specially, and in fact does solve the whole thing himself. I was rather pleased with myself too because I saw the major clue right at the beginning and was pretty sure of the murderer through the whole book.

This did not lessen my enjoyment of the story one bit, and in fact I enjoyed every moment of the Welsh landscape and the fun of the local Eisteddfod. The narrator helped with his Welsh accent and skilful reading. Evan and Bronwen manage a few steps forward in their relationship although a surprise visitor from Evan's past threatens to rock their boat.

I plan on continuing this series with the audiobooks since they are perfect listening material. Book four is downloaded and ready to go.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ifor Llewelyn and his wife moved to Llanfair for a month, him returning to his roots, his wife reluctant. Ifor was a world renowned tenor, with young women always falling all over him - not that he knocked them back at all. But when he decided to join Llanfair's choir along side an old school chum, the preparation for the eisteddfod picked up. The local choir, including Constable Evan Evans, felt more confident they had a chance of winning. But when Evan discovered the man deceased, it looked like a dreadful accident. But was it?

Evanly Choirs is the 3rd in the Constable Evans series by Rhys Bowen and I enjoyed it very much. Evan is an excellent character, and the strange ways of the Welsh - Evans-the-Law, Evans-the-Meat and so on - amuses me. I'm finding the series fun and entertaining, and am looking forward to #4 soon. Recommended.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy these Constable Evans books. The characters are interesting and the plot engaging.I especially like the additions of the Welsh language, proud heritage and rich culture.
I am still trying to figure out what year this series is based in as there are confusing hints of old car models, elders with old fashioned views mixing with modern lab tech, criminal investigators and computers.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evanly Choirs is the third book in the Constable Evans series by award-winning British-born author, Rhys Bowen. The audio version is narrated by Roger Clark. On a ramble in the hills with the lovely Bronwen, Evan sees a car sinking into the lake and has to rescue the occupant, whom he recognises from her loud altercation outside the Powell-Jones home with a young man. She assures him it was an accident, not a suicide attempt, so he dismisses it. He soon has enough to distract him when he is conscripted into the male choir for the upcoming regional eisteddfod in Harlech.

Evan isn’t too optimistic they will win anything, though, they’re not that good. But when the Powell-Joneses rent out the Big House for a hefty sum to a family wanting a quiet country break, things change: famous opera singer, Ifor Llewellyn is in town, and offers to help out the choir. But he and choir master Mostyn Phillips have a history, and things don’t exactly run smoothly.

Not only does Evan have choir practice but, trying to protect Betsy-the-Bar from the singing casanova by agreeing to a date, he gets himself into Bronwen’s bad books. And when his landlady agrees to accommodate Rev. Powell-Jones while his wife departs to care for her ill mother, Evan finds himself shunted out of his cosy room into a damp and mouldy spare room, and Mrs Williams’s hearty cooking replaced with bland, unappetising alternatives at Mrs Patsy Powell-Jones’s insistence.

Llanfair hasn’t experienced the likes of the Llewellyns, who argue vociferously late into the night; crockery is thrown, and Evan is summoned more than once. Then, on the day before the eisteddfod, Ifor fails to turn up for practice in Harlech, and Evan and Mostyn discover his body in the Powell-Jones living room. It looks like an accident but a few things don’t sit right with Evan.

The status of the victim sees the attendance of not just DS Watkins but also DI Hughes. Evan tentatively points out a few anomalies, and if Hughes is dismissive, Watkins isn’t. And it turns out that he is right. Their murder investigation tracks the movements of several who might have motive, means and opportunity. And at each scrap of evidence uncovered, more potential perpetrators are revealed.

Before the final reveal, there’s the hit-and-run death of a potential witness, there are several false confessions, and a dramatic scene where Evan bravely disarms a desperate person with a gun. The eisteddfod also sees Llanfair’s rival reverend couples competing fiercely at embroidery and oratory, and there’s an encounter between Evan and his former Swansea girlfriend, right in front of Bronwen. There’s plenty of humour, while twists, turns and red herrings keep the pages of this Welsh cosy turning.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2020 bk 35. They need men, more specifically the small town of Llanfair needs men for its choir that is about to enter the Eisteddfod. Evan Evans is pressed into service, but the choir is blessed when former resident, opera singer Ifor Llewelyn, comes home for a visit. Ifor and the choirmaster have history - as roommates and as small boys. Ifor loves to tease, Mostyn Phillips takes life far more seriously and feels tormented by the singer. Tempers erupt. Small town doings as usual. A fun read and a look into what makes up an Eisteddfod.

[Jürgen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Routiniert verpackter Wales-Krimi mit interessanten Wendungen. Angenehme Spannung ohne bluttriefende Szenen.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable installment of the Constable Evans series. Only problem is that I always end up wanting to move to Wales, go hiking, and get lost so I can be rescued by a handsome Welsh policeman.

[Lavins · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

I love this series!!

And the best part is that i haven't figured out who killed tenor till the killer was revealed.

I can't wait to read the next one!

[Peggyzbooksnmusic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3 stars. Very much enjoying this cozy contemporary mystery series set in Wales. Although disappointed that neither Libby or Hoopla have the Audio available through our library system.

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really enjoying this series. A good plot and had me Guessing to the end.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evanly Choirs by Rhys Bowen is the 3rd book of the Constable Evans mystery series set in late 20th-century Llanfair, a tiny mountain village in the Welsh highlands. Evan Evans is a gentle young man, well liked by all in Llanfair, a delightful close-knit town where so many have identical surnames, they use nicknames by profession: Evans-the-Law, Evans-the-Meat, Evans-the-Post, Roberts-the-Pump, Harry-the-Pub.

A famous singer comes to "rest" in Llanfair, where he grew up. He rents the Powell-Jones house, where his mother used to work. Preacher Powell-Jones moves into the boarding house where Evan lives, and forces the landlady, an excellent cook, to serve inedible "healthy" fare. Evan begins eating meals at the pub, which prompts the local barmaid to resume her pursuit of him.

A continuing thread in the series is Evan's fondness for village schoolteacher Bronwen, a slowly budding relationship that is continuously interrupted and threatened by other young women who chase Evan (dragging out romantic tension book after book seems to be the norm for cozy mystery series authors; although Evan is a policeman, the mysteries have the characteristics of cozies).

The famous singer agrees to join the village choir and compete in a regional competition. Alas, the choir never gets the chance to win - he's killed on the eve of the contest. Due to the singer's fame, police officers from larger cities are dispatched to solve the case, fooled by Evan-the-Law's friendly demeanor and non-confrontational style into thinking him slow-witted. Then of course Evan shows them up - because he notices details and changes from routine, correctly interprets clues, and effectively questions suspects to solve the case.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The GR blurb up there under the title has nothing to do with the novel titled "Evanly Choirs."

Two and a half stars. Predictable--Bowen telegraphs her punches from miles away--this reads rather like an episode of "Murder She Wrote" or any of the 1980s TV cosies. I am tired to death of the constable's bumbling romance that never gets anywhere. Yes, I know there are people who are so good at their jobs that social interaction goes by the board, but this is about the third time that the authoress has dangled a teaser before the reader: Evans says "I'll tell you about that later" and he never does. Okay to pass an hour or two on a sleepless night, but the efforts at obfuscation were a bit too TV-trope to pass muster. However, series-fiction authors don't mind about that, and apparently a large slice of the reading public doesn't either. If what you want is predigested pabulum, this won't give you indigestion. Bowen's Welsh-sounding name notwithstanding, her knowledge of Welsh language and culture is superficial to say the least. (Have you read her author bio here on Goodreads? She just happens to mention her awards and importance five times in a seven-sentence blurb. My goodness.)

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. A small town in Wales, and a colorful cast of characters, such as Evans-the-meat, Evans-the-Post, Evans-the-bucket, and of course the best of all, leading character, Evans-the-law, better known as Constable Evans, who get involved in a murder mystery with a lot of suspects.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evanly Choirs is the third book in the Constable Evans series by award-winning British-born author, Rhys Bowen. On a ramble in the hills with the lovely Bronwen, Evan sees a car sinking into the lake and has to rescue the occupant, whom he recognises from her loud altercation outside the Powell-Jones home with a young man. She assures him it was an accident, not a suicide attempt, so he dismisses it. He soon has enough to distract him when he is conscripted into the male choir for the upcoming regional eisteddfod in Harlech.

Evan isn’t too optimistic they will win anything, though, they’re not that good. But when the Powell-Joneses rent out the Big House for a hefty sum to a family wanting a quiet country break, things change: famous opera singer, Ifor Llewellyn is in town, and offers to help out the choir. But he and choir master Mostyn Phillips have a history, and things don’t exactly run smoothly.

Not only does Evan have choir practice but, trying to protect Betsy-the-Bar from the singing casanova by agreeing to a date, he gets himself into Bronwen’s bad books. And when his landlady agrees to accommodate Rev. Powell-Jones while his wife departs to care for her ill mother, Evan finds himself shunted out of his cosy room into a damp and mouldy spare room, and Mrs Williams’s hearty cooking replaced with bland, unappetising alternatives at Mrs Patsy Powell-Jones’s insistence.

Llanfair hasn’t experienced the likes of the Llewellyns, who argue vociferously late into the night; crockery is thrown, and Evan is summoned more than once. Then, on the day before the eisteddfod, Ifor fails to turn up for practice in Harlech, and Evan and Mostyn discover his body in the Powell-Jones living room. It looks like an accident but a few things don’t sit right with Evan.

The status of the victim sees the attendance of not just DS Watkins but also DI Hughes. Evan tentatively points out a few anomalies, and if Hughes is dismissive, Watkins isn’t. And it turns out that he is right. Their murder investigation tracks the movements of several who might have motive, means and opportunity. And at each scrap of evidence uncovered, more potential perpetrators are revealed.

Before the final reveal, there’s the hit-and-run death of a potential witness, there are several false confessions, and a dramatic scene where Evan bravely disarms a desperate person with a gun. The eisteddfod also sees Llanfair’s rival reverend couples competing fiercely at embroidery and oratory, and there’s an encounter between Evan and his former Swansea girlfriend, right in front of Bronwen. There’s plenty of humour, while twists, turns and red herrings keep the pages of this Welsh cosy turning.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up

Although I like the author, I wasn't sure about this series at first, but it's grown on me as the series progresses. Initially, Constable Evans reminded me too much of Hamish Macbeth, a character who annoys me almost enough to abandon the series. The more I read, though, the more I see how different the two characters are, which is a good thing.

I like most of the residents of this small town, with the way they look out for one another and work together when needed. Not being at all familiar with Wales, it's hard to visualize the area, although the book covers help with that, but it sounds like a place I'd love to visit.

The murder victim was world-famous, with a reputation such that there were initially a lot of potential suspects for the police to consider. As Evans' investigation continued - the rest of the police force wasn't very useful - the field narrowed to only a handful of suspects. Although not high on my list, one character seemed off to me, and I was right. I even had the motive partially correct.

The next book in this series is in my Audible library, and I'm eager to listen to it later this year.

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love going to Wales for this series! The plots twist, and the characters are fun!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable series, I am going for book #4 now. I'm glad the romance with Bronwen is getting somewhere.

[Nancy Cook-senn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evan's still caught between women who want to be his sweetheart, women who want to mother him, ministers' wives, ministers, village folk and visitors.

[Marguerite Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique, out of the limelight village in Wales attracts interesting characters. A bit ov every dayness splashed with murder. A reading recipe that works.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in the Constable Evans mystery series set in Wales, Llanfair is privileged to have a former son return, a world-famous opera singer, Ifor Llewelyn, who rents the Powell-Jones house for the summer. Mrs Powell-Jones is over the moon as she can kill two birds with one stone: take care of mummy who can finally have her hip operation and buy a new three-piece suite! Mr. Powell-Jones can board with Mrs. Williams, the only house in town, which has an extra room. No one can withstand Mrs. Powell-Jones and poor Evans not only has to give up his nice room but the menu becomes dictated by the Mrs. who insists upon prunes and muesli instead of eggs and bacon...and no fry-ups for the reverend! This quickly sends Evans to the pub for his nightly fare!

The greatest impact is on Austin Mostyn, Llanfair’s choir director. He is determined to win at the eisteddfod this year and if Ifor were to join the choir…well. The only problem is that Ifor has a rather nasty sense of humor and there is history between Austin and Ifor. Additional subplots revolving around Ifor Llewelyn’s presence in Llanfair include his singing at full volume---a nice treat for those villagers who love opera; he and his wife fighting at the same volume—and after 9 pm too!; a strange girl who has been coming round---once when Evans was out hiking and whom he has to rescue from her vehicle after it rolls into the lake; the strange young man seen in her company twice; and, then there’s the Mafia-like visitor.

All of this must be taken into consideration when Ifor is found dead.

Terrific characters in a cozy village where everyone knows everyone else’s business. And it sure doesn’t stop anyone, including Evans, from screwing up. Evans-the-law is such a sweet innocent in so many ways…hopefully Bronwen will see this.

Lovely cover with its view from inside the pub through a huge picture window overlooking an autumnal setting with two two-story stone houses and a sheep wandering the road against a backdrop of the Welsh mountains.

[Hal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read almost all of the Constable Evans series. This was one of my favorites. The plot is predictable, but I enjoyed the book because this is one of the few novels in the series in which Evan shows a little edge. He pops off at one of the annoying characters, and I felt like cheering. I wish Ms Bowen had let Evan's character develop more.

Another thing I liked about this book is that Evan's girlfriend barely appears. I have found the romance between the Evan and Bron absolutely boring. There is no passion, no feeling. We never understand the attraction, other than the fact that it is a very small town and there are not many alternative prospects for either of them.

[andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough cozy. The mysteries aren't all that particularly strong in this series. It's always some figure lurking in the outside that a brand new clue or motive is "discovered" in last 15 pages. I find that frustrating. But let's be honest...more and more cozy mystery series like this one are really about the characters more than the murders and this group of Welsh villagers is entertaining enough to spend the 2-3 hours it takes to read one of these light-hearted pieces of book fluff.

[Kathleen Meacham · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cozy mysteries in this series are always good. One can't help but compare Evan Evans to M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth. Although I enjoy Hamish's antics and have read many books in that series, I actually find Evan Evans to be an even more likable character.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan Evans is growing on me. I liked this book. It was also edited better than the last one - no glaring typos to bring one down out of the story.

[Rebecca1980 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tod eines Tenors

Der Tod eines weltberühmten Tenors und ein Dorf voller Verdächtiger …

Es geht spannend weiter in Band 3 der Cosy Crime-Reihe von Rhys Bowen!

Das walisische Dörfchen Llanfair gerät in Aufruhr, als der örtliche Chor an einem Sängerwettstreit teilnimmt und dafür Unterstützung des gastierenden Star-Tenors Ifor Llewellyn bekommt. Nicht nur das Medieninteresse schnellt in ungekannte Höhen, sondern auch immer mehr Fremde besuchen das verschlafene Dorf. So dankbar die kauzigen Dorfbewohner anfangs für die Hilfe des berühmten Sängers sind, so schnell sind sie dessen Starallüren, Schürzenjägerei und Streitigkeiten leid. Aber dass Ifor am Abend vor dem großen Wettbewerb tot aufgefunden wird, kann in Llanfair keiner gewollt haben. Oder etwa doch? Constable Evans glaubt nicht daran, dass es ein Unfall war, und beginnt zu ermitteln …

Das walisische Dorf Llanfair ist sehr schön beschrieben und man kommt fühlt sich in die beschauliche Umgebung hineinversetzt.
Auch die ganzen Einwohner sind sehr facettenreich und anschaulich beschrieben. Nun hat man sie ja schon ein wenig besser kennen gelernt und auch einen Fleischer Evans ins Herz geschlossen.
Die Sprache der Autorin ist sehr locker und doch spannend. Man hat zu keiner Zeit das Gefühl, dass die Geschichte inszeniert ist.
Die Hauptfigur Evan Evans ist sympathisch und man verfolgt gerne, wie er sich nicht beirren lässt und hartnäckig weiter ermittelt.

Die Geschichte bleibt bis zum Schluss spannend.
Durch und durch eine gelungene Fortsetzung

[Diana Fleischhauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein neuer pikanter Fall für Constable Evans

Vom Tenor zum Autor zum Tod

Der weltberühmte Tenor Ifor Llewelyn kehrte auf ärztliche Anweisung in seine ruhige walisische Heimatstadt zurück. Aber der Besuch war nicht gerade förderlich für seine Gesundheit. Der trinkfeste Frauenheld wurde gerade tot aufgefunden - und Constable Evan Evans versucht herauszufinden, warum. Ifors lautstarke Streitereien mit seiner Frau - und seine Pläne, eine pikante Kussgeschichte zu schreiben - könnten die Antwort liefern. Oder aber die Klatschbasen und lüsternen Bardamen von Llanfair sind vielleicht im Besitz des entscheidenden Hinweises. Wo auch immer die Wahrheit liegt, Constable Evans muss in das Privatleben einer öffentlichen Legende eindringen - und herausfinden, was wirklich zu seinem nicht ganz so großen Finale führte ...

Das neue Cover ist wieder richtig schön. Der Schreibstil ist schön fließend, was ich Rhys Bowen sehr mag. Der Charakter Constable Evans ist immer noch meine Lieblingsfigur in dieser Roman-Reihe. Der Fall ist wieder spannend bis zum Schluss. Man kann also wieder prima miträtseln. Auf jeden Fall ist wieder ein Buch für Hobby-Detektive, wie ich einer bin. Ich kann das Buch nur jedem empfehlen der Cosy-Krimis mag. Ich freue mich schon auf den 4. Band.

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan has been persuaded, against his better judgement, to join the local male voice choir for the upcoming eisteddfod. Choirmaster, Mostyn Phillips has done his best but Evan doesn’t rate their chances. The arrival of world famous tenor, Ifor Llewellyn and his wife, who are taking an extended break in Llanfair as Ifor is under doctors orders to have some quiet down time, seems like a godsend as he offers to help out and sing with choir.

The Llewellyns’ arrival doesn’t go down so well with everyone in the village however, with noisy fights between Ifor and his wife and also the fact some people are required to move from their homes to accommodate the new arrivals. Ifor also has an eye for the ladies and Evan finds himself trying to stop Betsy being taken in by Ifor’s charm and empty promises and in doing so puts himself in Bronwen’s bad books.

A renewed friction between Mostyn and Ifor arises, dating back to their younger years, which escalates tensions between them, not helped by Ifor’s idea of humour. When a body is found Evan doesn’t think the case is as cut and dried as it seems despite DI Hughes’ dismissal of Evan’s concerns. DS Hughes, on the other hand, knows Evan’s instincts are good and worth a deeper look at the evidence....

[Hulda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like a cozy mystery with humor that's sort of like Barnaby or Father Brown (they're British TV shows in case you haven't heard of them), then you'll probably love this.

I really like this series and I honestly had a blast because finally a writer gets opera and choirs right. I just had to give the book five stars, it made me so happy. I imagine Jonas Kaufmann was the role model, vocally, as his repertoire is quite similar. I quite enjoyed the descriptions of the exceptionally loud tenor voice, which would make sense given the repertoire/fach, but it was so funny the way different characters experienced it. Being a singer myself and being raised in a family of opera singers, I really connected with it all.

Most particularly, I just liked Evan Evans, all the villagers and the way Rhys Bowen cleverly unfolded the mystery. It doesn't really matter if you guess it right because she keeps you second guessing yourself the entire time with new clues in each and every direction. In the end it all makes sense.

[Virginia Tican · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Llanfair choir was way past it glory days when the slate mines were still operating but time had passed and times had changed... the mines closed and the once enthusiastic singers had become old... some had died or moved away... so in a desperate effort to regain lost glory they roped in Evan whose musical ability was strictly for the bathroom... then hopes were heightened when a famous tenor just happened to come to their bucolic village. They might just win the less than 100 competitors category on the festival. Then their soloist was murdered and secrets must have to come out as was the usual sordid details that was the norm in an investigation. This has something to do with the breaking point that comes to every human being especially victims of bullies... or those who worked hard for what they could achieve viv~à~vis those who was just plain fortunate and things go easy on them and to see them gloat in mockery...

[D.R. Oestreicher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evanly Choirs by Rhys Bowen is the third in a series of 10 books about Constable Evans in the North Wales village of Llanfair. In this installment (Austin) Mostyn Phillips wants to enter the village Côr Meibion (men’s choir) in the eisteddfod (Welsh cultural festival/competition) even though they have no chance of winning. The situation changes when the famous tenor Ifor Llewellyn returns to Llanfair (his childhood home). Ifor is an arrogant bully and a womanizer, so when he is murdered, there is no shortage of suspects. As Ifor is an international star, police from Caernarfon are sent, but they would never have unraveled this mystery without the help of Evan Evans.

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