We would give another big shout out to the wonderful bloggers, readers and reviewers who helped with the launch of CONSTABLE ON THE HILL by Nicholas Rhea. This is the first in the series of books which inspired the Heartbeat series that are being republished by the awesome Joffe Books.
What the bloggers and reviewers thought:
The residents are a hoot. Some are quirky, some are friendly, some are not so sure about the new constable … after all, it takes being a resident many years to be accepted as one of them. There are store owners, craftsmen, and it’s a place where everyone knows what everyone is doing. Highly entertaining, I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
A funny, heart-warming and entertaining book set in a bygone time where some people didn’t even have (or want) electricity and cars, and led very different lives from today, and where the duties of a policeman varied greatly from what they would be expected to do now. Essentially though, people don’t change, and there is the usual mix of good, bad and plain old crafty ones in these stories.
This is a wonderful easy read with a smile on most pages. How simple things were then and how differently life was lived, things we couldn’t imagine today. I’m too young to remember those days but still really enjoyed this nostalgic read. How the life of a constable in his first days in the area saw his surroundings and those living in it. This is the first of a series and I very much look forward to reading the next one.
I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough as I was waiting for the first appearances of my favourite characters. I was enjoying the book so much that I lost all track of time and I lost track of just how quickly I was getting through the story. I reached the end of the book far quicker than I had wanted to, which I had mixed feelings about. Don’t get me wrong I was pleased to finish because it meant that I knew how this first ‘Constable’ book concluded but I was enjoying the author’s writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wish the book could have been longer.
I found this book as heartwarming and tickled my funny bone as much as the TV series did. I loved being transported back to the good old days when all the trappings of today weren’t even thought of! The characters are so entertaining and, of course, the village copper led a totally different life from today’s police, although they still had crimes to solve and they caught their man, or woman in the end.
CONSTABLE ON THE HILL (Constable Nick #1) AMAZON GOODREADS
Author – Nicholas Rhea
Publisher – Joffe Books cozy mysteries and reads
Genre – Cosy Mystery
Publication Date – 11th March 2020
DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE SERIES. MEET BRITAIN’S BEST-LOVED BOBBY.
“It’s original, it’s funny . . . one of life’s little pleasures.” Yorkshire Post
THE BOOKS WHICH INSPIRED HEARTBEAT
The brilliantly entertaining and heartwarming books behind the hit 90s TV series Heartbeat. One of the top ten most watched shows of the decade.
“Stories of a constable on his village beat in North Yorkshire. All very gentle and far, far removed from the hurly burly of modern day city policing.” Daily Telegraph
Policeman Nick Rhea has been posted to the country with his wife Mary and their three small children. They move into the police house, high on a ridge overlooking the moors. It sits on the edge of the village of Aidensfield — “probably the most beautiful site in the country”.
“These books . . . do for the police service in North Yorkshire what James Herriot did for the vets there . . . very relaxing, very readable.” Manchester Evening News
In the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside of the 1960s, Constable Nick’s roles are as varied as the eccentric villagers.
He handles every encounter with his characteristic humour, humanity and professionalism.
His investigations include the case of a clever pony who keeps escaping, a woman running through town naked, and a pack of Canadian timber wolves hanging out in a bus shelter.
IT’S NOT THE BIG CITY BUT THE YORKSHIRE COUNTRYSIDE IS STILL FULL OF INCIDENT
He soon gets to know all the characters on his beat, from his superior officer Sergeant Blaketon to Claude Jeremiah Greengrass, whose lurcher Alfred lands him with a summons for “allowing a dog to worry livestock on agricultural land.” The ever-resourceful Claude Jeremiah offers the defence that Alfred’s victim, a budgie, cannot be described as livestock!
Perfect for fans of James Herriot, T.E. Kinsey, Gerald Durrell, J.R. Ellis or anyone who loves a great read.
DISCOVER ONE OF BRITAIN’S MOST ENJOYABLE AUTHORS
CONSTABLE NICK’S COLLEAGUES
Sergeant Oscar Blaketon. A good, solid and dependable character who runs his little police station with fierce efficiency but under a tough exterior, is full of warmth, generosity and kindness.
PC Alf Ventress. The old, easy-going constable whose local knowledge is vital to the running of Ashfordly Police Station. He does like Mrs Ventress’s hard-boiled eggs!
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT NICHOLAS RHEA
“Recommended if it’s laughter you’re after.” Bolton Evening News
“Richly entertaining.” Yorkshire Evening Post
“Splendid reading.” Police Journal
“To be really blunt, this is not my normal reading fare, but I loved it.” Nancy
“I enjoyed this tremendously.” Melissa
“A wonderful and relaxing dip into the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors.” David
“A highly entertaining book which anyone who is looking for easy and humorous reading will enjoy.
My Review
I enjoyed many a happy hour watching the reruns of Heartbeat with Dad. Therefore, I was very happy when I heard the brilliant Joffe Books are republishing the books that inspired the series.
Constable on the Hill is the first book in the series and begins with Nick Rhea arriving in Aidensfield and moving in to the Police house. The fun starts there as we are treated to a humorous description of the antics of the removal company.
I enjoyed watching the characters develop over the course of the book as Nick finds his place among the unique and interesting characters.
This is a very relaxing read which cannot fail to make you smile as we learn about the very unique and very ‘Yorkshire’ characters. I loved reading about the characters and particularly enjoyed the parts where Nick is dropped in the deep end in situations to the amusement of his colleagues who were aware what would happen.
It is like a step back in time and definitely the perfect book to enjoy over a cuppa.
Also available
Constable on the Prowl (Constable Nick #2) AMAZON GOODREADS
Author – Nicholas Rhea
Publisher – Joffe Books cozy mysteries and reads
Genre – Cosy Mystery
Publication Date – 5th March 2020
CONSTABLE NICK IS ON NIGHT DUTY Nick is still settling into his role at the Ashfordly Section police station, and he’s drawn the short straw: night duty. Alone in the midnight hours with nothing but dead leaves, stray cats and legends of ghosts and ghoulies to accompany him. A sleeping village doesn’t mean a simple shift, though. Between the early risers of the farming community, a badger with a sweet tooth, and getting to know his new workmates, there’s no time for Nick to kick his feet up in the station. THE VILLAGE IS ASLEEP BUT THE WRONG-DOERS AREN’T And of course there’s Claude Jeremiah Greengrass! Why did he have to retreat hastily down a ladder from a lady’s bedroom and what happened to his trousers and shirt? And can he really be innocent of taking a deer during the night, when he was seen emerging from the forest carrying a particularly fine set of antlers?
Constable Around the Village (Constable Nick #3) AMAZON GOODREADS
Author – Nicholas Rhea
Publisher – Joffe Books cozy mysteries and reads
Genre – Cosy Mystery
Publication Date – 8th March 2020
A CANINE CRISIS FOR CONSTABLE NICK Nick is settling into his role as a police constable in Aidensfield, getting to grips with rural life and his new colleagues and neighbours. Constable Nick maintains his warm approach through the village’s many incidents, whether it’s the historic tradition of the First Footing on New Year’s Eve or the scandal of an undug grave. More problems stem from the unlawful activities of Arnold Merryweather’s bus, with its imposing conductress, Hannah, a jockey who steals supplies for his hungry horse and the old railway worker who vanishes as the last train passes through the village. THE VILLAGE ISN’T AS SLEEPY AS IT SEEMS Nick soon finds himself facing a canine crisis. Farmer Lowe’s overworked sheepdog is feigning deafness. Without the dog, the cows cannot be milked, bringing his farming business to a screeching halt. Meanwhile, five sheep turn up dead, and Sidney Chapman’s dog is accused of the crime, much to his dismay. Can Nick salvage Aidensfield’s farming future, not to mention the reputations of two dogs, while juggling his other cases?
Constable Across the Moors (Constable Nick #4) AMAZON GOODREADS
Author – Nicholas Rhea
Publisher – Joffe Books cozy mysteries and reads
Genre – Cosy Mystery
Publication Date – 9th March 2020
RURAL LIFE HAS PLENTY OF SURPRISES FOR CONSTABLE NICK Constable Nick has come to know and love the host of characters who live and work on the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors. The amiable constable handles every encounter with his characteristic humour and professionalism, whether he’s investigating a plot to scare away a troublesome suitor or helping a neighbour return his late wife’s ashes to her beloved moors. Not to mention the insurance agent with a rather unusual policy on Edgar Dawson’s dog, Arthur. It covers him for stealing clothes from washing lines and getting lady dogs pregnant! But when Ted Williamson’s sheep start disappearing, can Rhea find the culprit without making enemies of the farmers of Yorkshire? CHARMING, FUNNY TALES WITH A COUNTRY FLAVOUR “Stories of a constable on his village beat in North Yorkshire. All very gentle and far, far removed from the hurly burly of modern day city policing.” Daily Telegraph In the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside of the 1960s, Constable Nick’s roles are as varied as the eccentric villagers.
IT’S NOT THE BIG CITY BUT THE YORKSHIRE COUNTRYSIDE IS STILL FULL OF INCIDENT
Constable Across the Moors (Constable Nick #4) AMAZON GOODREADS
Author – Nicholas Rhea
Publisher – Joffe Books cozy mysteries and reads
Genre – Cosy Mystery
Publication Date – 1st March 2020
DIRTY TRICKS AT THE BEST-KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION Constable Nick patrols his rural Yorkshire beat on foot or on his trusty Francis Barnett motorcycle. But as beautiful as the villages are, they conceal real human drama. Nick is on hand to help out when Aidensfield decides to enter the Best Kept Village competition and finds itself the victim of a dirty tricks campaign by its rivals. Then there is the mystery of the spontaneously combusting henhouse, and Nick has to cope with the consequences when the vicar tries a novel way of keeping the churchyard tidy. CHARMING, FUNNY TALES WITH A COUNTRY FLAVOUR
More coming soon
