The story is set in Llanfair, a small village populated by quirky characters such as Evans-the-Meat (the butcher), Evans-the-Post (who reads the mail before he delivers it), and our friend Evans-the-Law. The constable has left police work in the city for a more tranquil life in this small spot at the base of the beautiful and dangerous Snowdon Mountain (or Yr Wyddfa in Welsh.) But after two bodies are found on the mountain, Evans begins to use his previous investigative training to solve some serious crimes.

The best part of Bowen's writing is her ability to capture the flavor and feel of life in this small Welsh village. The cottages, the pub, the small-town rivalries among the local characters are all appealing as the backdrop for the story. There is a funny competition running among the wives of the two pastors in the village, and another subplot involves two very different women who are competing for the constable's attention. In this character description, and the description of the countryside surrounding the foreboding mountain, Bowen excels.

The plot of the tale is somewhat weaker. For those who desire intricate and well-crafted page turners, this could be a disappointing read. Constable Evans is a bit of a plodding character at times, fighting against the typical superior officer who believes the deaths were hiking accidents, not murders. He doesn't always seem to ask the right questions or delve deeply enough into the past to discover the link between the murders. In the end, the plot is merely a decent one, but it is much enhanced by the ever friendly and resourceful Evan Evans. If he were not such a likeable guy, surrounded by a cast of other colorful characters, the reader would probably lose interest.

Author Bowen has created a sweet constable and pleasant setting for this new series. Along the way, her writing provides reason to grin. It is probably a safe bet that future books in the series will also be worth a read and a chuckle.

--Martha Moore