Evan Help Us

The pseudymous Bowen, a veteran English mystery author, continues the estimable cozy series starring Constable Evan Evans (Evans Above, 1997). Llanfair, North Wales, has suddenly become a hotbed of change: a single woman and her daughter move into the village; Colonel Arbuthnot, a yearly visitor from London, discovers a ruin in the nearby hills he claims is the relic of Camelot; and native Ted Morgan returns to his hometown with grandiose plans to turn an abandoned mine into a theme park. That the Colonel dies after he has sown visions of fame and plenty among Llanfair residents raises suspicions of homicide in Evans. When Morgan is found shot to death, Evans is convinced that the two incidents are related. With the help of Sergeant Watkins, he attempts to establish a connection between the prodigal former resident, the beautiful young woman and the elderly visitor. The only apparent link seems to rest in London, prompting the intrepid Welshmen to brave the metropolis and solve the case. In the course of tracking down the killer, Evans becomes the object of desire for the new woman, a turn of events that jeopardizes his relationship with a local teacher. Bowen's quiet humor and her appreciation for rural village life make this a jewel of a story. (Oct.)