From Publishers Weekly
When Madame Yvette, a seductive widow, opens a French restaurant in Llanfair, in northern Wales, her blend of haute cuisine and traditional Welsh fare soon wins over the locals, including Constable Evan Evans, the village's lone policeman and the hero of three previous outings in this appealing series (Evanly Choir, etc.). Ever true to his girlfriend, schoolteacher Bronwen Price, Evans resists Madame Yvette's attempt to make him more than just a culinary conquest, but he's ready to be of service when she really needs him--after her restaurant burns down, the latest target in a string of recent arson attacks in the area. Or is it? While at first the fire seems the work of Welsh extremists, the discovery of a corpse in the restaurant's ruins puts this crime into a different category altogether. In the ensuing investigation, Evans retains his modesty and good humor as he deals with a condescending English arson expert, a flirtatious female constable and a host of lively locals. The trail leads to the South Coast of England, where Madame Yvette and her late husband previously lost a restaurant to fire, and to France, where Evans and his colleague Sergeant Watkins uncover a startling secret about her past. Bowen keeps the reader guessing as to the actual menace that awaits Constable Evans in the hills above Llanfair on his return. This is a light confection of a mystery, sweetened with the author's obvious affection for her characters, as well as for all things Welsh. (Feb.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Constable Evans and Sgt. Watkins investigate arson and murder in the Welsh village of Llanfair after a body is found in the rubble of a torched French restaurant. A pleasant evening's entertainment. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
Constable Evan Evans of the North Wales Police, a one-man force in tiny Llanfair (Evanly Choirs, 1999, etc.), is intrigued by the latest venture of his schoolteacher girlfriend Bronwen Price. Along with a few other locals, shes taking cooking lessons from Madame Yvette Bouchard, owner and chef of the towns new restaurant Chez Yvette. The restaurant has just begun to take off when it becomes the second victim of the town arsonistthe first a cottage recently bought and renovated by a couple from England. When a mans body is found in the ashes of this fire, however, arrogant Peter Potter, an arson specialist, is sent to Llanfair by Headquarters. Meanwhile, Evans and his friend Sergeant Watkins try to identify the bodynow known to have been stabbed to death before the fire. Trying to get past the victims false identity papers (found in his car) and probing Madame Yvettes past bring to light another restaurant fire, this one in England, and a newspaper report on the death, years ago, of Yvettes sea-loving husband. The information collected sends the intrepid pair to France for a short stay that discloses some choice truths about Madame Yvette, though occasional references to drug-runners off the Welsh coast do keep muddying the waters. Evans and the denizens of Llanfair continue to charm and amuse, but this time theyre the victims, along with the reader, of the mysterys mind-boggling confusion. -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

San Francisco Sunday Examiner & Chronicle
A sweet and sunny read.

Publishers Weekly
A light confection of a mystery, sweetened with the author's obvious affection for her characters.

Book Description
After a fire at Llanfair's new French restaurant makes murder the dish du jour, Constable Evans is on the case.

• Fourth in the popular Constable Evans series

FROM THE PUBLISHER

After a fire at Llanfair's new French restaurant makes murder the dish du jour, Constable Evans is on the case.

* Fourth in the popular Constable Evans series

FROM THE CRITICS

San Francisco Sunday Examiner & Chronicle

A sweet and sunny read.

Publishers Weekly

When Madame Yvette, a seductive widow, opens a French restaurant in Llanfair, in northern Wales, her blend of haute cuisine and traditional Welsh fare soon wins over the locals, including Constable Evan Evans, the village's lone policeman and the hero of three previous outings in this appealing series (Evanly Choir, etc.). Ever true to his girlfriend, schoolteacher Bronwen Price, Evans resists Madame Yvette's attempt to make him more than just a culinary conquest, but he's ready to be of service when she really needs him--after her restaurant burns down, the latest target in a string of recent arson attacks in the area. Or is it? While at first the fire seems the work of Welsh extremists, the discovery of a corpse in the restaurant's ruins puts this crime into a different category altogether. In the ensuing investigation, Evans retains his modesty and good humor as he deals with a condescending English arson expert, a flirtatious female constable and a host of lively locals. The trail leads to the South Coast of England, where Madame Yvette and her late husband previously lost a restaurant to fire, and to France, where Evans and his colleague Sergeant Watkins uncover a startling secret about her past. Bowen keeps the reader guessing as to the actual menace that awaits Constable Evans in the hills above Llanfair on his return. This is a light confection of a mystery, sweetened with the author's obvious affection for her characters, as well as for all things Welsh. (Feb.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal