Reviews

Naughty in Nice

“Georgie’s latest adventure is charming and lighthearted as ever, though the 1930s setting carries ominous hints of the future.”– Kirkus Reviews

“It’s another delightful, unmissable installment in the Royal Spyness series. Bowen captures the cheeky humor and charm of the Lost Generation, ladling in a healthy dose of dry British wit and fundamental common sense.” – Romantic Times

“Fans of Peter Lovesey’s hilarious books transforming the future Edward VII into an unlikely sleuth will relish Bowen’s whimsical fifth Royal Spyness mystery starring Lady Georgiana Rannoch, 34th in line to the British thrown (after 2010’s Royal Blood.) Bowen successfully melds a whodunit with comedy as few contemporary writers can.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The best part of this delicious series is the cast of characters (well known and otherwise), led, of course, by the level-headed and stiff-upper-lipped Georgiana, who tackles whatever is in front of her, be it murder or romance, with uncommon relish. A royal romp.” –Booklist

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

5 Responses to “Reviews”

  • ken:

    after the next two Evan Evans books I am about to read, I would have read them all. I hope the constable returns in a new mystery.
    your books are so very enjoyable, I have read all of the lady Georgiana books except naughty in nice which my library will put on hold for me when it is returned.

    • rhys:

      I’m sorry it’s taken so long to reply to you. My website has been down when my web person became ill and I’ve just now been able to access it again.
      I wish I could have better news about Evan but I don’t see any new books on the horizon. I do plan to write some short stories about him to keep us up to date.
      Best
      Rhys

  • Ellen Moir:

    You mention sending you an email but I couldn’t find an email address. Usually when I can’t find something it is my user error ..Please help me out. Thanks you. I was just introduced to your books last year and while I really enjoy Evan and Molly, I must admit the Georgie is my favorite! I’m trying to contact you on behalf of the Poway-Penasquitos branch of AAUW with a request.

  • I’ll immediately grasp your rss feed as I can’t in finding your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly permit me recognise so that I could subscribe. Thanks.

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New Release

Naughty in Nice

“Georgie’s latest adventure is charming and lighthearted as ever, though the 1930s setting carries ominous hints of the future.”– Kirkus Reviews “It’s another delightful, unmissable installment in the Royal Spyness series. Bowen captures the cheeky humor and charm of the Lost Generation, ladling in a healthy dose of dry British wit and fundamental common sense.” – Romantic Times “Fans of Peter Lovesey’s hilarious books transforming the future Edward VII into an unlikely sleuth will relish Bowen’s whimsical fifth Royal Spyness mystery starring Lady Georgiana Rannoch, 34th in line to the British thrown (after 2010’s Royal Blood.) Bowen successfully melds a whodunit with comedy as few contemporary writers can.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review) “The best part of this delicious series is the cast of characters (well known and otherwise), led, of course, by the level-headed and stiff-upper-lipped Georgiana, who tackles whatever is in front of her, be it murder or romance, with uncommon relish. A royal romp.” –Booklist