The Last Illusion:
"Winning... The gutsy Molly, who's no prim Edwardian miss, will appeal to fans of contemporary female detectives."
—Publishers Weekly
Her Royal Spyness:
"[T]his merry first in a new cozy series from Agatha-winner Bowen introduces a delightful heroine—Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie... Quirky characters... add to the fun. Georgie's madcap antics are certain to leave the reader eager for the next installment."
—Publishers Weekly
"*Starred Review* Bowen, the Agatha winner responsible for the popular Molly Murphy series, has come up with another winner in her new heroine, Lady Georgina... [T]he best part here is Bowen's evocation of 1930s England. Drawing on Georgie's diary entries, she vividly portrays what daily life between the wars was like for a modern young woman bumping up against tradition... [T]his is a smashing romp."
—Booklist
"Marvelously funny and very entertaining."
—Meg Chittenden, Writersarereaders.com
Oh Danny Boy:
"Rhys Bowen is one of the few authors of 'cozy' mysteries in recent years to achieve much critical success, having been nominated for the prestigious Edgar Award in 2005. It’s clear to see why she has received that acclaim, as her new book shows."
—David Montgomery in the Chicago Sun-Times, 9/24/06
"Though Oh Danny Boy is marketed toward cozy mystery readers, its enjoyable charm and wit will appeal to a cross-section of mystery fans."
—Baltimore Sun
"A small masterpiece in a charming series."
—Toronto Globe and Mail on Evan’s Gate
"Bowen sparkles in this clever concocted puzzler."
—Publishers Weekly on Evanly Bodies
"There is a reason Rhys Bowen gets nominated for so many awards. She's just damn good."
—Crimespree Magazine, 6/12/06
For the Love of Mike:
"Pioneering private eye Molly Murphy's third adventure allows both her and her author to take wing amid the seediest settings... Molly grows ever more engaging against a vibrant background of New York's dark side at the turn of the century."
—Kirkus Reviews
"...[F]ull of the flavor of New York City at the turn of the century... The infancy of labor union struggles and women's suffrage movements are well documented. For the Love of Mike is a well-paced and well-researched mystery novel."
—Bookreporter.com
"[A] lively period re-creation. Highly recommended."
—Library Journal
Death of Riley:
"Rhys Bowen's wit makes Death of Riley more than equal to her award-winning first book, Murphy's Law. The ending is a historical treat."
—Maan Meyers, a.k.a. Martin and Annette Meyers, authors of the Dutchman series
"An evocative trip through old New York — including the poets, painters, playwrights and private investigators of Greenwich Village 1901 — in the company of Irish immigrant Molly Murphy, a spirited and appealing guide."
—S.J. Rozan, Edgar-Winning Author of Winter and Night
"Bowen's highly detailed picture of New York at the turn of the century is a delight."
—Kirkus Reviews
"The most pervasive character in the Molly Murphy books is New York City itself. Bowen, always a consummate professional, conveys such a strong sense of the turn-of-the-century city that you can smell it. If you don't love New York, and Molly, when you begin, you will be the time you finish."
—Helen Francini, Drood Review
Murphy's Law:
"Bowen tells a phenomenal story, and it will be a real treat to see what fate has in store for Molly and Daniel."
—Romantic Times, top pick
"Perceptive and poignant writing... make us look forward to Molly's return."
—Chicago Tribune
"Rhys Bowen launches her Molly Murphy series with the same skill that has made her five Constable Evans novels so enjoyable... Entertaining."
—Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
"Conveys a nice sense of place and period in this debut of a new historical series with its spunky, 19th century heroine."
—Publishers Weekly
Evan's Gate:
"[P]erfectly paced, deftly choreographed... Bowen delivers an enchanting portrait of Wales with genuine, flawed characters, a modicum of humor and plenty of red herrings to keep the detective constable and the reader guessing."
—Publishers Weekly
"A fine sense of place, a compelling dual story line, and a cast of sympathetic, well-drawn characters give this small-town police procedural plenty of appeal."
—Booklist
Evan Only Knows:
"British police procedurals don't get better than this."
—Allreaders.com
Evans to Betsy:
"Bowen deftly and humorously weaves the various plot threads into an entertaining whole. This is a series that consistently charms."
—Publishers Weekly
"A welcome addition to a charming series."
—Library Journal
Evan Can Wait:
"Lots of people write small-town mysteries, perhaps because they seem so easy to do, but few of them get it as right as Bowen does. Readers expecting hard-boiled intensity should look elsewhere, but fans of light, entertaining mysteries, with an emphasis on appealing characters and intriguing plots will be thrilled."
—David Pitt, Booklist
"Few writers are capable of this deft combination of dark and light. This is a pitch-perfect book, which will charm you in one sentence, chill you in the next."
—Laura Lippman, winner of the Edgar, Shamus, Anthony and Agatha Awards
"Denser and more detailed than Evan's first four adventures, but the action is crisp, the small-town atmosphere and characters as appealing as ever. Though Evan's superiors are as usual unimpressed, his coterie of fans will be pleased—and enlarged."
—Kirkus Reviews
"Rhys Bowen textures Evan Can Wait with a carefully wrought and emotionally powerful backstory of a Northern Welsh slate mining community enduring World War II. The past echoes into the present, giving Llanfair an expanded stage, and produces a darker and weightier book where both Constable Evans and teacher Bronwen reveal more emotional depth than hitherto seen. The brash Betsy keeps the series' trademark humor alive as she preens and schemes to be a film star during a documentary intended to dramatize the flotation of a downed Nazi airplane. Series fans will be pleased with a maturing cast that does not discard the elements that made them fans in the first place."
—Barbara Peters, Poisoned Pen Bookstore
"Rhys Bowen just keeps getting better. Her tiny corner of Wales is lovingly created and Constable Evans is its national treasure."
—Margaret Maron, award-winning author
A sampling of reviews of the earlier Constable Evans books:
"A jewel of a story"
—Publishers Weekly
"Satisfying as a Guinness Pint"
—Booklist
"Fans of the delightful Welsh policeman Evan Evans will rejoice in his latest adventure... there's plenty to enjoy in this well-written tale."
—Contra Costa Times
