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DCI Evan Warlow #15
The Bowman: DCI Evan Warlow Crime Thriller, Book 15
In the wild heart of Wales, terror stalks the open moor.
In the remote and unforgiving Cambrian Mountains, two bodies are found, sparking fears that a long-buried nightmare has returned. DCI Warlow is plunged into a chilling mystery, hunting a murderer who disappeared without a trace—leaving only blood and silence behind.
As Warlow’s team battles against mounting pressure, they face a haunting is this the work of a twisted imitator, or has The Bowman, a ruthless killer thought to be gone forever, resurfaced?
With each dark discovery, they’re pulled deeper into a case where the land itself seems to conspire against them—and the answers may come at a deadly cost.
Edge of the seat crime fiction. The Bowman is the 15th riveting novel from bestselling crime author, Rhys Dylan, perfect for fans of JD Kirk, Simon McCleave, and Peter Robinson
In the remote and unforgiving Cambrian Mountains, two bodies are found, sparking fears that a long-buried nightmare has returned. DCI Warlow is plunged into a chilling mystery, hunting a murderer who disappeared without a trace—leaving only blood and silence behind.
As Warlow’s team battles against mounting pressure, they face a haunting is this the work of a twisted imitator, or has The Bowman, a ruthless killer thought to be gone forever, resurfaced?
With each dark discovery, they’re pulled deeper into a case where the land itself seems to conspire against them—and the answers may come at a deadly cost.
Edge of the seat crime fiction. The Bowman is the 15th riveting novel from bestselling crime author, Rhys Dylan, perfect for fans of JD Kirk, Simon McCleave, and Peter Robinson
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First published January 21, 2025
1562 people are currently reading
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About the author
Rhys Dylan
22 books561 followershttps://www.facebook.com/Rhysdylanbooks
https://www.instagram.com/rhysdylanbo...
Rhys Dylan lives on the edge of the Black mountains of Wales with his wife and a dog who doesn't like the rain.
Though he has written books for children and adults under different pen names in other genres, the Black Beacons Murder Mystery series sees him return to crime and his love of Celtic noir and dark humour.
He hopes readers will find a brief escape from a very troubled world inside the stories. He does not expect to get rich as an author, but as someone once famously said, money can't buy you love, but it can get you some great chocolate digestives.
https://www.instagram.com/rhysdylanbo...
Rhys Dylan lives on the edge of the Black mountains of Wales with his wife and a dog who doesn't like the rain.
Though he has written books for children and adults under different pen names in other genres, the Black Beacons Murder Mystery series sees him return to crime and his love of Celtic noir and dark humour.
He hopes readers will find a brief escape from a very troubled world inside the stories. He does not expect to get rich as an author, but as someone once famously said, money can't buy you love, but it can get you some great chocolate digestives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
May 7, 2025
I want to give this book 5 stars. I’ve read all 15 books in the series and I love the plot lines, the characters and the amazing descriptions of West Wales. But what I cannot stomach any more is the weirdly “anti woke” monologues that keep popping up more and more often. I know that the reality is that police officers are not usually progressive and often fall into the right wing camp but I like my fiction to err on the side of a more optimistic future where white men don’t claim victimhood and instead they actually try to learn and grow and be better human beings.
The increasing references woven throughout the books about progressive “agendas” … it’s too reminiscent of the real life toxic garbage we wade through on social media or in small minded people who think showing humanity and compassion is somehow infringing on their rights. The fact that multiple times the characters make reference to university as a place where people get radicalized tells you all you need to know about this authors lens. And that’s enough to turn me off what has the potential of being a fantastic book.
The increasing references woven throughout the books about progressive “agendas” … it’s too reminiscent of the real life toxic garbage we wade through on social media or in small minded people who think showing humanity and compassion is somehow infringing on their rights. The fact that multiple times the characters make reference to university as a place where people get radicalized tells you all you need to know about this authors lens. And that’s enough to turn me off what has the potential of being a fantastic book.
January 23, 2025
I’ve been hooked on this series since book one and am highly invested in the characters. However, this book didn’t have enough plot for me and the banter is getting predictable. I hope the next book focuses more on a crime.
January 26, 2025
I look forward to each and every installment
Reading this series has been like watching a great TV show. By that I mean it is as if I can see each of the team members’ faces and hear each of their voices. It is this sense of knowing them that keeps me coming back. There are quite a number of this style of story on kindle unlimited including some other good ones such as the Grimm series. But the people here make this my favorite. Some of that has to do with disagreeing with their (and likely the author’s) viewpoints. That the world does not make sense to middle aged white men comes on a bit thick and heavy but likely genuinely what Warlow and Gil would think. That I disagree with the legitimacy of their self pity does not erase all of the truly admirable things about them, including that they would extend the same grace to me.
Of course, that I picture having these conversations with them as though they are living real lives with real flaws and strengths outside of the margins of these books is a testament to Dylan’s ability. As always, I’m looking forward to the next one.
Reading this series has been like watching a great TV show. By that I mean it is as if I can see each of the team members’ faces and hear each of their voices. It is this sense of knowing them that keeps me coming back. There are quite a number of this style of story on kindle unlimited including some other good ones such as the Grimm series. But the people here make this my favorite. Some of that has to do with disagreeing with their (and likely the author’s) viewpoints. That the world does not make sense to middle aged white men comes on a bit thick and heavy but likely genuinely what Warlow and Gil would think. That I disagree with the legitimacy of their self pity does not erase all of the truly admirable things about them, including that they would extend the same grace to me.
Of course, that I picture having these conversations with them as though they are living real lives with real flaws and strengths outside of the margins of these books is a testament to Dylan’s ability. As always, I’m looking forward to the next one.
July 31, 2025
Out-Freaking-Standing Read. 5*****
Rhys Dylan delivers another riveting, atmospheric triumph with The Bowman, a psychological crime thriller that grips from the very first page and refuses to let go. Known for his signature mix of layered characters, haunting Welsh landscapes, and methodical procedural drama, Dylan elevates his game in this novel, crafting a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is chillingly suspenseful.
The book opens with a series of cryptic killings, each victim discovered with a medieval arrow through the heart—eerily precise, ritualistic, and deeply symbolic. The press dubs the killer "The Bowman," and the moniker quickly catches fire in the public imagination. It’s up to DCI Evan Warlow and his seasoned team to cut through the mythos and unearth the very real monster lurking beneath the legend.
Dylan’s strength lies in the human heart of the investigation. Warlow, a complex and introspective lead, continues to evolve as a character. His quiet resilience, personal demons, and unwavering sense of justice make him one of the most compelling figures in contemporary crime fiction. His dynamic with DS Catrin Price adds emotional nuance, their rapport shaped by mutual respect, past scars, and unresolved tension.
The supporting cast shines, especially pathologist Dr. Elena Havard, who brings a clinical brilliance and subtle warmth to the case. Dylan expertly balances procedural detail with psychological insight, creating a narrative that is not just about solving murders, but also about understanding the motivations that twist ordinary people into killers.
Dylan’s prose is taut yet evocative, painting a brooding portrait of rural Wales—a landscape as much a character as any human in the story. Rolling mists, dense forests, and forgotten ruins all echo the novel’s themes of buried truths and historical violence. There’s a folkloric undertone to the killer’s method that adds an eerie, almost mythic quality to the narrative without ever straying into the implausible.
As the investigation unfolds, the stakes rise exponentially. Clues are carefully placed, red herrings artfully employed, and when the truth is finally revealed, it’s both shocking and heartbreakingly believable. Dylan excels at blending crime with the emotional weight of tragedy, showing how violence reverberates through families, communities, and generations.
In The Bowman, Rhys Dylan proves once again that he is a master of slow-burning suspense, intricate plotting, and psychological realism. The novel is not just a whodunit—it’s a haunting exploration of grief, obsession, and the ways in which history refuses to stay buried.
Highly recommended for fans of Ann Cleeves, Tana French, and Val McDermid, The Bowman is a standout entry in the DCI Warlow series—perhaps even its crown jewel.
Rhys Dylan delivers another riveting, atmospheric triumph with The Bowman, a psychological crime thriller that grips from the very first page and refuses to let go. Known for his signature mix of layered characters, haunting Welsh landscapes, and methodical procedural drama, Dylan elevates his game in this novel, crafting a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is chillingly suspenseful.
The book opens with a series of cryptic killings, each victim discovered with a medieval arrow through the heart—eerily precise, ritualistic, and deeply symbolic. The press dubs the killer "The Bowman," and the moniker quickly catches fire in the public imagination. It’s up to DCI Evan Warlow and his seasoned team to cut through the mythos and unearth the very real monster lurking beneath the legend.
Dylan’s strength lies in the human heart of the investigation. Warlow, a complex and introspective lead, continues to evolve as a character. His quiet resilience, personal demons, and unwavering sense of justice make him one of the most compelling figures in contemporary crime fiction. His dynamic with DS Catrin Price adds emotional nuance, their rapport shaped by mutual respect, past scars, and unresolved tension.
The supporting cast shines, especially pathologist Dr. Elena Havard, who brings a clinical brilliance and subtle warmth to the case. Dylan expertly balances procedural detail with psychological insight, creating a narrative that is not just about solving murders, but also about understanding the motivations that twist ordinary people into killers.
Dylan’s prose is taut yet evocative, painting a brooding portrait of rural Wales—a landscape as much a character as any human in the story. Rolling mists, dense forests, and forgotten ruins all echo the novel’s themes of buried truths and historical violence. There’s a folkloric undertone to the killer’s method that adds an eerie, almost mythic quality to the narrative without ever straying into the implausible.
As the investigation unfolds, the stakes rise exponentially. Clues are carefully placed, red herrings artfully employed, and when the truth is finally revealed, it’s both shocking and heartbreakingly believable. Dylan excels at blending crime with the emotional weight of tragedy, showing how violence reverberates through families, communities, and generations.
In The Bowman, Rhys Dylan proves once again that he is a master of slow-burning suspense, intricate plotting, and psychological realism. The novel is not just a whodunit—it’s a haunting exploration of grief, obsession, and the ways in which history refuses to stay buried.
Highly recommended for fans of Ann Cleeves, Tana French, and Val McDermid, The Bowman is a standout entry in the DCI Warlow series—perhaps even its crown jewel.
October 9, 2025
Evan and his team are investigating two murders with a crossbow as the weapon. They learn that 20 years ago two people were killed with this unusual weapon. The investigation is hampered by an egocentric and ambitious supervisor who ignores Evan when he tries to impart useful information because it must go through the proper bureaucratic channels. Fortunately, his team is able to solve the case despite Pamela’s best efforts to gain total control.
March 1, 2025
A WHO Done it in Wales.
I love the Welsh setting of this mystery. The author had me stumped on the villain. Charming cast of characters.
I love the Welsh setting of this mystery. The author had me stumped on the villain. Charming cast of characters.
January 27, 2025
I love all of this series. DCI Evan Warlow is a big favourite of mine. I love his heartfelt demeanour mixed with his stern no nonsense approach. Also loving the new romance aspect with DI Jess Allenby. About time! All the team are fabulous but I do find Gil hard to take. His 'Dad jokes' are getting very irritating to me and I tend to skip many of his speaking parts unfortunately. But maybe that's just me.
The police procedural was excellent as always. The ending was particularly good with the apprehension of the suspect and the subsequent altercations with members of the senior police officers. Goodey Two-Shoes is EVIL!
The police procedural was excellent as always. The ending was particularly good with the apprehension of the suspect and the subsequent altercations with members of the senior police officers. Goodey Two-Shoes is EVIL!
January 26, 2025
Another cracker from Rhys Dylan - He never fails to impress with his writing particularly with dialogue between the characters. I wont give away the story but suffice to say Evan and Co are up to their eyes in murder again in a cleverly constructed plot, and sub plot towards the end when "Goodey Two Shoes" puts in an appearance and tries to upset the apple cart. Evan wins out though and the story goes on. Cant wait for the next one!
January 23, 2025
Not finhisrhed with Goosey Two Shoes.
The entire series is worth reading and, given a team worth the task, turned into a Britbox feature. And there's got to be a satisfactory end for Goody. Drowned in a septic tank? Slowly, very slowly.
The entire series is worth reading and, given a team worth the task, turned into a Britbox feature. And there's got to be a satisfactory end for Goody. Drowned in a septic tank? Slowly, very slowly.
December 27, 2025
Cold Blooded murders and tension you can almost taste
A gripping story which starts with extraordinary events and is full of conflicting agendas and characters who's aims are the advance of their own ambitions regardless of evidence, truth of honesty.
Favourite and not so favourite characters, feature and the drama is just that from the start. Full of heart and people it's easy to care about. Outrageous humour and another compelling plot, make for an enthralling read.
I'm going to be dad when I run out of books in this highly enjoyable series. I've learned more Welsh than ever before and love they are set where many of my ancestors - largely unidentified because they were thoughtlessly lacking in middle names, to ameliorate the challenge of surnames like Evans (Evan help me), Mathias, Morgan and the like - lived, loved, worked and died, before one family headed East for good, via Neath and Bovington, that I know of, then Llanishen and Cardiff. My own continued East ending up in Sussex. My father taught me some Welsh but I don't remember much and will likely fail to remember much of what I've found in these delightful books. However, I have never had a problem with double lls or dds. Correct pronunciation is another and variable matter.
A gripping story which starts with extraordinary events and is full of conflicting agendas and characters who's aims are the advance of their own ambitions regardless of evidence, truth of honesty.
Favourite and not so favourite characters, feature and the drama is just that from the start. Full of heart and people it's easy to care about. Outrageous humour and another compelling plot, make for an enthralling read.
I'm going to be dad when I run out of books in this highly enjoyable series. I've learned more Welsh than ever before and love they are set where many of my ancestors - largely unidentified because they were thoughtlessly lacking in middle names, to ameliorate the challenge of surnames like Evans (Evan help me), Mathias, Morgan and the like - lived, loved, worked and died, before one family headed East for good, via Neath and Bovington, that I know of, then Llanishen and Cardiff. My own continued East ending up in Sussex. My father taught me some Welsh but I don't remember much and will likely fail to remember much of what I've found in these delightful books. However, I have never had a problem with double lls or dds. Correct pronunciation is another and variable matter.
January 4, 2025
Book 15 in the DCI Evan Warlow Series and it’s still as fresh as ever. Could be read as a stand-alone but one of the strengths of this series is the fabulous interaction between the police team. This time a body is found in the Cambrian Mountains near a dam. Cause of death - shot with a crossbow bolt! As always this is well written with some fabulously descriptive narrative, and a good plot.
Briefly, as the team investigate a second body is found and a connection made to two similar murders twenty years ago, still unsolved. Are the team looking for the same killer or a copycat?
The red herrings in this are good, I was completely blindsided as to the identity of the killer. It’s great to see Evan’s new romance going strong, at last! Amongst the more serious matter of the murders there is a good amount of humour from the usual suspects, regular readers will know who I mean, and with Catrin on maternity leave Gina is more involved in the active case. An excellent police procedural/crime mystery.
Briefly, as the team investigate a second body is found and a connection made to two similar murders twenty years ago, still unsolved. Are the team looking for the same killer or a copycat?
The red herrings in this are good, I was completely blindsided as to the identity of the killer. It’s great to see Evan’s new romance going strong, at last! Amongst the more serious matter of the murders there is a good amount of humour from the usual suspects, regular readers will know who I mean, and with Catrin on maternity leave Gina is more involved in the active case. An excellent police procedural/crime mystery.
January 17, 2025
I can't believe that we are at book 15 in the DCI Evan Warlow series, it can easily be read as a stand alone but I'd urge to start with the first book The Engine House.
The characters are wonderfully written and the banter is infectious within the team.
Rhys Dylan always grabs my attention to the fantastic and majestic backdrop of the Cambrian Mountains.
When the team are asked to investigate a murder on the remote Cambrian Mountain it seems a very strange murder indeed especially when the victim is killed by a crossbow bolt!
When a second body turns up the same way it stirs a memory in Evan and is confirmed when has asks Gil if he also remembers a case from twenty years ago.
Is this the same killer back again after a twenty year break or a new copycat killer reenacting a cold case?
Love the red herrings throughout the book and the identity of the killer.
This is an exceptional police procedural series that I can highly recommend.
The characters are wonderfully written and the banter is infectious within the team.
Rhys Dylan always grabs my attention to the fantastic and majestic backdrop of the Cambrian Mountains.
When the team are asked to investigate a murder on the remote Cambrian Mountain it seems a very strange murder indeed especially when the victim is killed by a crossbow bolt!
When a second body turns up the same way it stirs a memory in Evan and is confirmed when has asks Gil if he also remembers a case from twenty years ago.
Is this the same killer back again after a twenty year break or a new copycat killer reenacting a cold case?
Love the red herrings throughout the book and the identity of the killer.
This is an exceptional police procedural series that I can highly recommend.
February 22, 2025
I can hardly wait until the next volume of this series appears. The main character of DCI "The Wolf" Warlow is great - flawed, experienced, wise and sardonic. He is a good leader for his loyal troop of cops and the books give you good insights into the people and their families behind the police. There is a lot of office romance going on, including Warlow's relationship with his second-in-command Jess and two other couples. That is a little concerning. The plot of this episode is very interesting and complicated, as it weaves a 20-year-old cold case with a current double murder by crossbow. Ironically, there was a crossbow killing in the UK while this story was being written. It is a novel murder weapon. There is also the meddling and interference of the superiors in the police hierarchy and the media that add more problems for the police officers. The books also have good Welsh locations, customs, food, weather and difficult place-names. This is an exciting, fast-paced and intriguing mystery where I did not guess the ending.
December 26, 2024
This is the fifteenth book in a series which thankfully shows no sign of stopping and one where the quality certainly is not diminishing. The killing of two separate people using a crossbow is the focus for Evan and his team and there are links to a similar case from many years ago.
I really enjoyed the ties with the past case and how the team tries to piece together the information needed to see if there are any red herrings or not. Gina is more involved this time while Catrin is on leave and I enjoyed seeing how Evan is taking her under his wing and providing the support and mentorship needed. It was only near the end as things become clearer for the team that it also became clear for me as I was totally clueless and enjoying how the investigation was being worked. Shows how engrossed in the process I was! Hope this series goes on for a long time.
I really enjoyed the ties with the past case and how the team tries to piece together the information needed to see if there are any red herrings or not. Gina is more involved this time while Catrin is on leave and I enjoyed seeing how Evan is taking her under his wing and providing the support and mentorship needed. It was only near the end as things become clearer for the team that it also became clear for me as I was totally clueless and enjoying how the investigation was being worked. Shows how engrossed in the process I was! Hope this series goes on for a long time.
April 4, 2025
In the wild heart of Wales, terror stalks the open moor.
In the remote and unforgiving Cambrian Mountains, two bodies are found, sparking fears that a long-buried nightmare has returned. DCI Warlow is plunged into a chilling mystery, hunting a murderer who disappeared without a trace—leaving only blood and silence behind.
As Warlow’s team battles against mounting pressure, they face a haunting is this the work of a twisted imitator, or has The Bowman, a ruthless killer thought to be gone forever, resurfaced?
With each dark discovery, they’re pulled deeper into a case where the land itself seems to conspire against them—and the answers may come at a deadly cost.
The final twist of this case is a total surprise. I love the humor of Warlow as he investigates the case and interviews the suspects. Recommend this book very highly.
In the remote and unforgiving Cambrian Mountains, two bodies are found, sparking fears that a long-buried nightmare has returned. DCI Warlow is plunged into a chilling mystery, hunting a murderer who disappeared without a trace—leaving only blood and silence behind.
As Warlow’s team battles against mounting pressure, they face a haunting is this the work of a twisted imitator, or has The Bowman, a ruthless killer thought to be gone forever, resurfaced?
With each dark discovery, they’re pulled deeper into a case where the land itself seems to conspire against them—and the answers may come at a deadly cost.
The final twist of this case is a total surprise. I love the humor of Warlow as he investigates the case and interviews the suspects. Recommend this book very highly.
January 24, 2025
Again! Rhys Dylan has set my nerves jingling and my teeth gritting, with this latest book 📖 the team .. now, with a new recruit covering maternity leave and an acting sergeant in Rhys, are challenged with a complex case that mirrors a cold one from 20 years ago that left the last SIO satisfied that the killer then had killed himself.
Evan has to restrain himself when faced with his nemesis Pamela 'goody two shoes' who instantly shows her distain and hatred towards him by saying he has no part in the investigation and heavily hints he should go back to his retirement, before things force him into it... I didn't stop reading until I turned the last page another 5🌟 read.... roll on the next one
Evan has to restrain himself when faced with his nemesis Pamela 'goody two shoes' who instantly shows her distain and hatred towards him by saying he has no part in the investigation and heavily hints he should go back to his retirement, before things force him into it... I didn't stop reading until I turned the last page another 5🌟 read.... roll on the next one
January 18, 2025
In this, the 15th outing by DCI Evan Warlow and the team, when two bodies are found in the Cambrian mountains, against mounting pressure they need to find out if it’s a killer who disappeared many years ago, only to resurface or a copycat killer.
The Bowman is another action packed , page turning read, but still with the fabulous humour I’ve come to expect, which lightens this dark tale.
I loved that Evan’s love life is still going strong with to me, the perfect woman for him. And with Catrin being on maternity leave, I got to read more about Gina as she navigates the change from FLO to a member of the team.
As always, this can only be another 5* read from me.
The Bowman is another action packed , page turning read, but still with the fabulous humour I’ve come to expect, which lightens this dark tale.
I loved that Evan’s love life is still going strong with to me, the perfect woman for him. And with Catrin being on maternity leave, I got to read more about Gina as she navigates the change from FLO to a member of the team.
As always, this can only be another 5* read from me.
January 29, 2025
Fast Paced Read with interesting local facts and humor
I enjoy these books for their humor and characters that have more than one depth. Often time police characters are one dimensional or fall into traditional stereotypes. However, Rhys Dylan has given all his characters substance and makes the reader appreciate all of their idiosyncrasies. The various locations and subsequent descriptions of the locals are great and make me want to visit to experience them. The story lines are also varied and compelling. Although the books stand alone it is better to read the series in order. The characters develop nicely. Enjoy.
Jean D
I enjoy these books for their humor and characters that have more than one depth. Often time police characters are one dimensional or fall into traditional stereotypes. However, Rhys Dylan has given all his characters substance and makes the reader appreciate all of their idiosyncrasies. The various locations and subsequent descriptions of the locals are great and make me want to visit to experience them. The story lines are also varied and compelling. Although the books stand alone it is better to read the series in order. The characters develop nicely. Enjoy.
Jean D
February 3, 2025
I'm absolutely loving this series. Mr Dylan has a lot to answer to though. I was supposed to be preserving some peaches and making bread and butter pickles this weekend but what did I do instead? I read The Bowman! I love the main characters and even though some readers have said there are too many puns I don't think so. Having worked in the army for 10 years this is how we all talked to each other. Lots of joking around albeit in my time it was not quite so polite/politically correct. But being the type of girl I am, I gave as good as I got! Can't wait for number 16. . .write faster Rhys, because then I'll want number 17!
February 13, 2025
This series keeps getting better and better.
That's fifteen down, and hopefully, there will be many more to come. This book will work fine for the first time reader because there is sufficient information on situations that carry on from earlier books, but they should be warned that the will very likely get hooked and want to read those as well.
A gruesome death is reported to DCI Evan Warlow and his team. The cause of death is a crossbow bolt. The body lies near the Elan Dam network in the Cambrian Mountain of Wales, and access is not easy. This is followed by another victim with the same cause of death found in another area of those mountains.
As ever, there are plenty of puns and gallows humour amongst the team. This isn't really them being flippant or disrespectful, merely their way of dealing with the pressure and tension they are under. For me, there were several laugh out loud moments at these.
The writing style is superb with the story moving along at a fast pace, but with lots of interludes where the inter relationships of the team members are developed.
Some of these players are bilingual, and one in particular is prone to using Welsh words or phrases from time to time.It is a tribute to author Rhys Dylan's attention to detail and indeed thoughtfulness that he a incudes a glossary that he included a glossary of Welsh names and phrases.
I unreservedly recommend this book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I already have the next in the series on pre order.
That's fifteen down, and hopefully, there will be many more to come. This book will work fine for the first time reader because there is sufficient information on situations that carry on from earlier books, but they should be warned that the will very likely get hooked and want to read those as well.
A gruesome death is reported to DCI Evan Warlow and his team. The cause of death is a crossbow bolt. The body lies near the Elan Dam network in the Cambrian Mountain of Wales, and access is not easy. This is followed by another victim with the same cause of death found in another area of those mountains.
As ever, there are plenty of puns and gallows humour amongst the team. This isn't really them being flippant or disrespectful, merely their way of dealing with the pressure and tension they are under. For me, there were several laugh out loud moments at these.
The writing style is superb with the story moving along at a fast pace, but with lots of interludes where the inter relationships of the team members are developed.
Some of these players are bilingual, and one in particular is prone to using Welsh words or phrases from time to time.It is a tribute to author Rhys Dylan's attention to detail and indeed thoughtfulness that he a incudes a glossary that he included a glossary of Welsh names and phrases.
I unreservedly recommend this book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I already have the next in the series on pre order.
January 18, 2026
Part of what makes these books so enjoyable is the familiarity the reader feels with the characters. They are not difficult reads, and they are not too long. I have read so many in the series that I think these people are really acquaintances, people I like and respect. Except Goody Two Shoes….I hate her guts. Which makes her an interesting character. This one was interesting because the perpetrator of the crimes had also committed the same crimes twenty years before. It started out a bit slowly and I wasn’t that interested. It ended well with the team discovering the truth and the loyalty and affection they fell for each other being obvious.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2025
So far a series of 15 books that have just exceeded my expectations, the storylines are still grabbing my interest, I’m still enjoying the dynamics of the team and how they work together. Usually by this number of books things start to dwindle and it’s a case of dragging it out but not for Rhys Dylan.
Another great read, this time Warlow and the crew are investigating two deaths by crossbow bolt that have close similarities to two deaths twenty years previously. Can easily be read as a standalone but I highly recommend starting with book one as it’s a fantastic series.
Another great read, this time Warlow and the crew are investigating two deaths by crossbow bolt that have close similarities to two deaths twenty years previously. Can easily be read as a standalone but I highly recommend starting with book one as it’s a fantastic series.
January 25, 2025
Better than Tiramisu cake and that's saying a lot
Rhys Dylan never disappoints. Marvelously entertaining and intriguing and loads of fun. I don't usually write reviews (I am just lazy) but I thought this time it really was a must. Not just because Mr Dylan is an exceptional writer but also because, me being an insatiably curious woman, I just had to Google all the Welsh words to learn their meanings as well as listen to songs on YouTube he mentions. So glad I did.
Thank you Mr Dylan for being such great fun.
Victoria
Rhys Dylan never disappoints. Marvelously entertaining and intriguing and loads of fun. I don't usually write reviews (I am just lazy) but I thought this time it really was a must. Not just because Mr Dylan is an exceptional writer but also because, me being an insatiably curious woman, I just had to Google all the Welsh words to learn their meanings as well as listen to songs on YouTube he mentions. So glad I did.
Thank you Mr Dylan for being such great fun.
Victoria
January 27, 2025
Brilliant!!!
Warlow's style is a masterclass in leadership! Mentoring the youngest of his team and putting value to their input is impressive! The actions of a few of the higher ups in the police force creates challenges that the team consistently overcome! I am reminded of an adage I once heard (Those can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can neither do or teach supervise and take all the credit!). Sidebar: being a Medical Scientist for the past 50 years I appreciate the attention to detail in the autopsy meetings!
Warlow's style is a masterclass in leadership! Mentoring the youngest of his team and putting value to their input is impressive! The actions of a few of the higher ups in the police force creates challenges that the team consistently overcome! I am reminded of an adage I once heard (Those can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can neither do or teach supervise and take all the credit!). Sidebar: being a Medical Scientist for the past 50 years I appreciate the attention to detail in the autopsy meetings!
January 30, 2025
I look forward to each new DCI Evan Warlow book
The Bowman was a thrilling crime police procedural. I love getting to know Wales and its history with every new book because it's embedded in the story telling. This plot had me on the edge and I had not even worked out the murderer until the end. And that was not the end of the book, it's the result of what happens every time Goody Two Shoes gets involved with one of Warlow's team's work in solving a case. She is the rock thrown into a well oiled machine. A stunning ending with Warlow being the honorable man he always is.
The Bowman was a thrilling crime police procedural. I love getting to know Wales and its history with every new book because it's embedded in the story telling. This plot had me on the edge and I had not even worked out the murderer until the end. And that was not the end of the book, it's the result of what happens every time Goody Two Shoes gets involved with one of Warlow's team's work in solving a case. She is the rock thrown into a well oiled machine. A stunning ending with Warlow being the honorable man he always is.
February 1, 2025
The best one yet!
I’ve read thousands of books, yet this is only my third review. You should start at the beginning of the series to enjoy the same wonderful satisfaction I experienced in reading Bowman. Though it takes a while in the first few books to get to know everyone, now the team is like family, to themselves and to me. I love them. This book is murder ,mystery, romance, friendship, office politics and more. It was excellent! And Funny! I’m certain Rhys Dylan enjoyed writing this book. I so enjoyed reading it.
I’ve read thousands of books, yet this is only my third review. You should start at the beginning of the series to enjoy the same wonderful satisfaction I experienced in reading Bowman. Though it takes a while in the first few books to get to know everyone, now the team is like family, to themselves and to me. I love them. This book is murder ,mystery, romance, friendship, office politics and more. It was excellent! And Funny! I’m certain Rhys Dylan enjoyed writing this book. I so enjoyed reading it.
February 6, 2025
I've really enjoyed this series and this is the first lower rating I've given. I found this stryline a bit slow and lacking real substance but more than that I dislike the marketing angle that the book is being promoted with - a crime book with no gratuitous swearing. I can take or leave swearing in my fiction but I find the dig at other popular authors below the belt. If that's the best that can be said about this series in promoting this book it sells both the series and the book short. Not impressed by that.
March 23, 2025
Each book becomes my favorite!
This book is so well-described it was like a movie playing out before me!
The premise of the book is so hard to imagine it happening to you, it takes your breath away.
Gil had me in stitches - I mean laugh out loud, almost on the floor, laughter.
Evan and Jess are so great together ... finally.
Rhys and Gina are quite the pair. Sion Buchanan gets a gold ⭐!
Thank you, Rhys Dylan, for this series. It continues to be one of the best series written.
This book is so well-described it was like a movie playing out before me!
The premise of the book is so hard to imagine it happening to you, it takes your breath away.
Gil had me in stitches - I mean laugh out loud, almost on the floor, laughter.
Evan and Jess are so great together ... finally.
Rhys and Gina are quite the pair. Sion Buchanan gets a gold ⭐!
Thank you, Rhys Dylan, for this series. It continues to be one of the best series written.
December 16, 2024
Mysterious deaths that seem to be connected with a 20 year old case. It’s very interesting to see the team pursue various leads and theories in an effort to get to the truth. As always it’s enjoyable to spend time with Warlow and the team, this time joined by someone in a new role. Warmth, humour and some tense moments make this another great addition to the series. Highly recommend; best read in order.
January 29, 2025
I have read every DCI Warlow novel. This was my least enjoyable one. Not really sure why? Didn’t like the injection of Gina in there. Didn’t find her effective. Finding Jesse becoming a bit much at times. Really like Rhys in as a replacement for Catrin. Story wise I found it jumped from one person/issue to another. At times a bit boring. The last part of the story was good which I enjoyed. However this author Rhys Dylan is extremely good. Looking forward to reading more.
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