Constable Beneath the Trees

Constable Nick Mystery #13

by Nicholas Rhea

IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY . . .

Constable Nick returns from leave to discover changes at work and at home. The youthful Inspector Pollock, fresh from police college, sees himself as a new broom, ready to reform rural policing. Meanwhile, there’s a new vicar in the village too.

But the real shocks in store for Constable Nick are not provided by these newcomers, but by something very familiar: the woods.

The surprises include a colony of unidentifiable exotic birds, a stolen poet, an unexploded bomb, and a missing child with a secret of her own.

177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1994

About the author

A pseudonym used by Peter N. Walker

Reviews

[Harriet Steel · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a gripping mystery, this isn’t it, more a collection of anecdotes. It is however interesting as a piece of social history. The life of a rural policeman in the 1950s and 60s, who knew everyone on “his beat” and travelled on foot or by bicycle, was soon to change with modernisation, as was life for most of the police force, so I think it’s worth reading about how things used to be. Some of the anecdotes are a little dry and long drawn out as the author expounds his views on a variety of subjects, but many are charming, for example the Harvest Festival service held in the pub. I really got the feeling of village life where everyone comes together. A book to dip into. I expect most people know that the tv series, Heartbeat, is based on these books.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book received from NetGalley.

I love this series of books. While they are British police procedurals they have a definite cozy feel to them. The series takes place in the 1960's in the Yorkshire Dales, a place I came to love while reading James Herriot's books. What I enjoy the most about the series is that they don't focus on a murder mystery. While there are some murders in the books, you are just as likely to read about a robbery, a missing person, or kids who are annoying the local villagers. These are a definite recommend for me.

[Claudia Cheyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on change and how people deal with it. There is a new Inspector in the police force. Crispin Pollock might be book smart, but he has no common sense and little prior experience of being a constable. This leads to some awkward situations - like a raid on a private party where no alcohol was being served, the disruption of a police sting operation that had been planned for months and a general mix up of Nick with another constable. There are also chapters pertaining to the local churches and changes they are going through. Another satisfying read in this great series.

[james kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This copper is a bit too good to be true. If like myself he had done real police work on the streets of London he would not have lasted five minutes. Like a lot of country policemen they liked the quiet life and did not like being at the pointy end of the job, may as well have been a postman. I must admit I have a liking for Claude Greengrass, reminds me of cockney con men I knew. By the way we never saluted senior ranks.

[Barry Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Another excellent novel by Nicholas Rhea. He must have kept copious notes and diaries during his time in the Police Force as part of this book was written in 1993. I love reading his novels as they always brightens my day.

[JO GIBBS · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Joys and Chores of a Constable

This is a delightful and relaxing read about how Nick carries out his duties in a small British village. You will read delightful takes of fascinating adventures.

[Mr Kenneth L Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book

Another great book in the Constable series full of humour and lots of the characters portrayed in earlier books. An ideal book to sit and read next to a warm fire on a cold winter night.

[Leaflet · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are dozens of books in this series. It’s unlikely that I will read more of them, though this was a pleasant enough read after a somewhat unpromising beginning. I did enjoy the chapter about Alfred and the Afghans. Rhea tends to get long-winded on certain subjects.

[Rhane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The recollections of a country constable

How delightful are Nicholas Rhea’s “war stories” of the good old days of rural and small town policing in England. Artful descriptions of people and places make you want to visit these villages.

[Christine Goodnough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting fictional memories by Nick Rhea, a police constable in rural England. This book is set during a time of change and gives some details about the reorganization of the British police force as well as the unusual characters and happenings on his beat.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second "Constable" book I've read and enjoyed. These are easy reading, decent books with no violence, sex, or foul language.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a pleasant read. Have I actually read 13 of these books? It's OK--there are many more left!

[Paul Catterton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rural policing in England

PC Rhea is at it again! I love his sketches of rural life, the characters and issues surrounding life in the 60s.....my, my, so much has changed.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some changes mainly the arrival of the new and very youthful Inspector Pollock.
Sergeant Blaketon is not at all happy when the new inspector insists on prosecuting those who park their cars without lights and those who drink after hours in the local pubs and PC Nick Rhea soon finds himself questioning his true role in the village.
Meanwhile, life in Aidensfield is always full of surprises. Of course Claude Jeremiah Greengrass must feature, he and his dog, Alfred, cause havoc at dog shows, a professional villain buys a house in the village and Nick also calls in the expertise of the Ryedale Hen Watching Society when some curious birds are found in a wood and deals with a professional villain who moves to Aidensfield.
And then an unexploded bomb is found in the forest

I lost myself in this book, a look back to a more gentle way of life in North Yorkshire a welcome change from the nitty gritty stories of inner city policing. A delightful story that is witty & full of anecdotes. The characters are so well portrayed. The plot is well paced & kept me turning the pages. A light easy reading that whiled away a few hours on a cold miserable afternoon

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining and enjoyable read. Set in rural Yorkshire in the 1960s Constable Beneath the Trees follows Constable Nick Rhea as he goes about his daily routine, dealing with the locals and his superiors.

The stories recounted in this volume were witty, humorous and sometimes touching. One couldn't help but feel sympathy for Rhea as he dealt with his sometimes clueless superiors while still doing his duty and what was best for his beat.

This book has the same feel to it as James Herriot's novels, but with a police officer instead of a vet. The stories are told in the same quiet, easy going style and the local characters are just as colorful.

Well worth the read and I will be on the lookout for more in the series, although this read well as a standalone.

Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this book.

[Melisende · Rating 2 out of 5]

Constable Nick returns from leave to discover changes at work and at home. Among the surprises Constable Nick finds in the woods in this collection are a colony of unidentifiable exotic birds, a stolen poet, an unexploded bomb and a missing child with a secret of her own.

Set midway through the series of "Constable" books which became the basis for the TV series "Heartbeat" set in 1960s Yorkshire, documenting the life of a local policeman - not all cops and robbers.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gently amusing entry in the Constable series, this one spiced up with the introduction of a new, very meddling new Inspector. An especially funny interlude with Alf the dog and a German bomb lends a nice bump to the middle. A great read for a cozy day.

I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[JoAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow the antics of a constable in a small English village in this well written story. I love all the colorful and quirky characters. I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

[Paula Corregan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book!

I encourage mystery lovers to read this book! I can't recommend it highly enough. It was a fun, humorous and interesting book to read.