I'm taking a break from the 50 State Reading Challenge and found a lovely cozy mystery set in northern Wales. Evan Help Us is the second in the Evan Evans series by Rhys Bowen (our local library didn't have the first book Evans Above). The setting and characters are reminiscent of the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton with a village constable and a remote village.
Along with a murder or two, the village of Llanfair believe they have found something of archaeological interest which they believe will put their village on the map. They have several rivalries with other villages that have more interest to tourists, one of which, although starts with the letters Llanfair, continues on to be the longest name in Britain Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. I spent many summers in Wales as a child and enjoyed getting re-immersed in the local language, terminology and Welsh ways in Evan Help Us. This is one that will be going on my favorite list of reads for 2016.
And if you're wondering how the longest name in Britain is pronounced you can listen below.
The meaning of the name is: Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and Saint Tisilio's church near the red cave.
