The task is not as straightforward as it first appears. Some of the old timers are not receptive to the idea of raising the plane that might still contain the skeletal remains of the plane’s crew. Other long time residents seem uneasy about the events that occurred so many years ago, and are reluctant to speak with the film crew. One old timer, however, is more forthcoming than his peers and relates a story of considerable interest to Grantley Smith, one of the filmmakers. It seems that some valuable paintings from the National Gallery were crated and stored in a disused slate mine during the war to avoid possible damage or destruction from the bombings in London.

Another ripple in Constable Evans’ usually calm water is his discovery that his girlfriend, Bronwyn Price, is well acquainted with members of the crew from her university days at Cambridge. Evan finds himself jealous of the easy rapport Bronwyn establishes with her former schoolmates. The situation really escalates when Grantley is found dead in the slate mine and Bronwyn beseeches Evan to find out who killed him, absolving her ex-husband, another member of the crew.

Evan can Wait is the fifth in Rhys Bowen’s popular series featuring Constable Evan Evans. Because this book is the first that I have read, I am not well acquainted with the history of Constable Evans’ tenure in Llanfair or his relationship with the comely Bronwyn. My enjoyment of the story did not suffer from a lack of background information and, more to the author’s credit, series readers are not subjected to a rehashing of previous adventures or milestones (or millstones) in the romantic relationship between Bronwyn and Evan.

The inhabitants of Llanfair are an intriguing bunch. The number of surnames in the village is severely restricted so individuals are sorted out by identification with their profession, as in Evans-the-Post.

Interwoven with the story of the filmmakers and their documentary is a flashback to World War II and a love story between two star-crossed lovers. Inevitably the two stories merge. Though it appears to the reader to be fairly obvious how the two stories connect, providing the motive for the modern day murder, things are not always what they seem. There were several unexpected twists before all was revealed.

Author Bowen makes some memorable comments on life. Through Bronwyn she makes the astute observation that for ordinary people there is usually only one reason for committing murder - when there is no other choice. Of course, what constitutes other available options may differ considerably from individual to individual. She also endows Constable Evans with a great deal of empathy for his fellow man. Evan is startled to realize that he could imagine himself acting just as the murderer had done if he had been confronted by a similar situation.

One small point of criticism struck me as I read this book. Some of the dialogue and viewpoints of the characters seem remarkably American. Granted, some characters had spent some time in the States and could be expected to adopt some American mannerisms, and, I must admit, I know virtually nothing about Wales so perhaps they are more like Americans than I would expect, but I didn’t feel the foreign flavor I had anticipated when I began reading. The tone did not detract from a good story; it just struck me as too familiar to my own outlook on life.

--Andy Plonka