Rating: 
Summary: As good as the others
Review: I'm following these mysteries with interest and enjoyment. The plots are good but it's the characters that are the real draw for the book. Ms. Bowen is adept at creating a warm atmosphere and likable, humorous characters. And Evan Evans is such a wholesome, good guy that it's a heartening reading about him after a bit of darker literature. These books are my guaranteed pleasant reads and I'm happily looking forward to the next.
Rating:
Summary: As good as the others
Review: I'm following these mysteries with interest and enjoyment. The plots are good but it's the characters that are the real draw for the book. Ms. Bowen is adept at creating a warm atmosphere and likable, humorous characters. And Evan Evans is such a wholesome, good guy that it's a heartening reading about him after a bit of darker literature. These books are my guaranteed pleasant reads and I'm happily looking forward to the next.
Rating:
Summary: About what you'd expect, I think
Review: I'm giving this book a generous four stars because it delivers what it's audience expects, almost to a tee (or is that tea?) As one does not expect Hemingway (or even Christie) in today's light mystery, one can be satisfied with a light, weekend read. Ms. Bowen is even capable of a couple of nice twists in each of the first three Evans mysteries. (I've read the first three primarily on the strength of having lived in Wales a few years ago and feeling a bit nostalgiac!) I do like the characters, as well, though the supporting cast is pretty flat.My only complaint of any merit, and this is for the first two books, as well, is that the editing is extraordinarily lax. In one book Evan will have travelled from one town to another at the end of a chapter, only to be packing his bags to make that same trip at the beginning of the next. In this book, misspellings here and there, a character's first name changing from Robert to John. They're not glaring errors, but enough to take me out of the story. It costs the books a star in each case. I know, it's nitpicking. Perhaps you wouldn't even notice it if I didn't bring it to your attention. Sorry for having done so. Iachyd da and happy reading!
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent mystery
Review: Internationally renowned opera singer Ifor Llewllyn has returned to his hometown of Llanfair, Wales for some needed rest. Ifor joins the local choir that is competing in the upcoming regional fair. The choirmaster is Mostyn Phillips, a former classmate of Ifor's. The great tenor relishes teasing Mostyn,who does not react well to the constant pounding. In fact, Mostyn has never forgiven Ifor for marrying his beloved Margaret. However, the night before the contest, Ifor fails to show up at the meeting place. Mostyn and Constable Evan Evans return to retrieve their star singer, only to find him dead. First Ifor's wife and then his son confesses to the murder, but neither confession holds up under scrutiny. As the police hone in on the spouse's boy friend, Evan realizes that too fails to fit the scenario, but wonders what does. EVANLY CHOIRS: A CONSTABLE EVANS MYSTERY is a well-written, very enjoyable Welsh cozy that is a one-sitting read. The who-done-it is fun and Evan remains a lovable boy scout. Fans of cozies need to peruse this entire series (see EVAN HELP US and EVANS ABOVE) for a pleasurable police procedural that never stops entertaining. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: nice but,
Review: Nice setup, good sense of Wales and its customs and the silliness of outsiders. Evan needs to take a short trip to Scotland and get few lessons from M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth
Rating:
Summary: What Could Be More Evanly Than a Return Trip to Llanfair?
Review: What could be more "evanly" than a return trip to Llanfair? Why the beautiful sounds of the Eisteddfod, of course. In this third in a series of gentle, clever cozies, the delightful Constable Evan Evans has been strong-armed into joining a rather lackluster local choir to compete in a local music festival. Into the village moves a famous opera singer, Ifor Llewellyn, wanting a summer of rest & relaxation. Ifor is also an old friend of the choirmaster. The choir suddenly becomes viable, the mood in Llanfair becomes somewhat volatile, and the opera singer exercises his artistic temperment. When Ifor is found dead in the house he has leased, there are no end of possible suspects. This cozy contains plenty of local color, delightful characters, and stunningly beautiful descriptions. The "dueling church bulletin boards" were a touch of pure delight. Constable Evan Evans manages to not only solve the puzzle, but also manages to keep three tender maidens at arm's length.
Rating:
Summary: What Could Be More Evanly Than a Return Trip to Llanfair?
Review: What could be more "evanly" than a return trip to Llanfair? Why the beautiful sounds of the Eisteddfod, of course. In this third in a series of gentle, clever cozies, the delightful Constable Evan Evans has been strong-armed into joining a rather lackluster local choir to compete in a local music festival. Into the village moves a famous opera singer, Ifor Llewellyn, wanting a summer of rest & relaxation. Ifor is also an old friend of the choirmaster. The choir suddenly becomes viable, the mood in Llanfair becomes somewhat volatile, and the opera singer exercises his artistic temperment. When Ifor is found dead in the house he has leased, there are no end of possible suspects. This cozy contains plenty of local color, delightful characters, and stunningly beautiful descriptions. The "dueling church bulletin boards" were a touch of pure delight. Constable Evan Evans manages to not only solve the puzzle, but also manages to keep three tender maidens at arm's length.
Rating:
Summary: What Could Be More Evanly Than a Return Trip to Llanfair?
Review: What could be more "evanly" than a return trip to Llanfair? Why the beautiful sounds of the Eisteddfod, of course. In this third in a series of gentle, clever cozies, the delightful Constable Evan Evans has been strong-armed into joining a rather lackluster local choir to compete in a local music festival. Into the village moves a famous opera singer, Ifor Llewellyn, wanting a summer of rest & relaxation. Ifor is also an old friend of the choirmaster. The choir suddenly becomes viable, the mood in Llanfair becomes somewhat volatile, and the opera singer exercises his artistic temperment. When Ifor is found dead in the house he has leased, there are no end of possible suspects. This cozy contains plenty of local color, delightful characters, and stunningly beautiful descriptions. The "dueling church bulletin boards" were a touch of pure delight. Constable Evan Evans manages to not only solve the puzzle, but also manages to keep three tender maidens at arm's length.
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