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Constable Nick Mystery #3
Constable around the Village
DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE SERIES. MEET BRITAIN’S BEST-LOVED VILLAGE POLICEMAN.
‘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.
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?
“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
Perfect for fans of James Herriot, TE Kinsey, Gerald Durrell, J. R. Ellis or anyone who loves a great read.
DISCOVER ONE OF BRITAIN’S BEST-LOVED AUTHORS
MEET CONSTABLE NICK AND HIS COLLEAGUES
Police Constable 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”.
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
"Just love Nicholas Rhea's Constable books... easy reading delivers a heart-warming, amusing trip back to a very different kind of policing in the '60s" Joy Ellis
“Recommended if it's laughter you're after” Bolton Evening News
“Richly entertaining” Yorkshire Evening Post
‘Splend
‘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.
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?
“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
Perfect for fans of James Herriot, TE Kinsey, Gerald Durrell, J. R. Ellis or anyone who loves a great read.
DISCOVER ONE OF BRITAIN’S BEST-LOVED AUTHORS
MEET CONSTABLE NICK AND HIS COLLEAGUES
Police Constable 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”.
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
"Just love Nicholas Rhea's Constable books... easy reading delivers a heart-warming, amusing trip back to a very different kind of policing in the '60s" Joy Ellis
“Recommended if it's laughter you're after” Bolton Evening News
“Richly entertaining” Yorkshire Evening Post
‘Splend
6 pages, Audiobook
Published June 1, 2021
739 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 12, 2020
More delightful stories featuring people who Constable Nick sees as he makes his rounds.
The pastor of a local church confides his worries regarding an upcoming visit from his bishop and how his small congregation could be viewed unfavorably. When the day arrives the church is filled to overflowing. Never mind that Catholics and Methodists joined the Anglicans for worship.
A man who worked on the British railways for his entire career is saddened to learn that they will soon be closing the station in their small town discontinuing service. No one suspected just how much he was affected by this turn of events until it was too late.
A little boy who was known for wandering away from home turns up missing on an extremely cold December night. Members of the local hunting club stop their annual ball to mount their horses and search for him.
We learn much about what it is like to live in a village where decent, hardworking people make a living and care about one another.
The pastor of a local church confides his worries regarding an upcoming visit from his bishop and how his small congregation could be viewed unfavorably. When the day arrives the church is filled to overflowing. Never mind that Catholics and Methodists joined the Anglicans for worship.
A man who worked on the British railways for his entire career is saddened to learn that they will soon be closing the station in their small town discontinuing service. No one suspected just how much he was affected by this turn of events until it was too late.
A little boy who was known for wandering away from home turns up missing on an extremely cold December night. Members of the local hunting club stop their annual ball to mount their horses and search for him.
We learn much about what it is like to live in a village where decent, hardworking people make a living and care about one another.
January 26, 2021
Great, feel-good story-writing
Want to read
February 28, 2023“He was a walking example of the scents of the English countryside.”
Second story in Chapter Three, about the old cur, Shep. Funniest sheep dog story I’ve ever read.
Second story in Chapter Three, about the old cur, Shep. Funniest sheep dog story I’ve ever read.
March 22, 2025
So many amusing stories. I really enjoyed the Catholics coming to fill the Anglican pews to impress the bishop. The heartwarming story at the end. All the feels!
September 27, 2020
I'm enjoying these books, however I must point out that they're really not mysteries per se. Personally, I would describe these as to rural policing what James Herriot's "All Creatures Great and Small" books are to rural vets. Very anecdotal in nature, each chapter pretty much a story unto itself. It was a bit difficult for me to get into them at first as I was expecting a traditional mystery and these are not. Told from the point of view of Nicholas Rhea (pen name of Peter Walker), these books give a delightful picture of what it's like for a village Bobby in the small villages and countryside of North Yorkshire in what I assume to be (it wasn't mentioned) the mid to late 1960's.
April 9, 2020
Constable Around the Village
In this third book Constable Nick recalls his first New Year in Aidensfield and dimly remembers his First Footing exploits.
He writes about Shep (the not so) deaf sheepdog and about Claude Jeremiah Greengrass and two more of his get rich schemes.
Full of stories from his time as village Constable this is a wonderful book which helps you escape to gentler tomes.
Highly recommended to all fans of Heartbeat.
In this third book Constable Nick recalls his first New Year in Aidensfield and dimly remembers his First Footing exploits.
He writes about Shep (the not so) deaf sheepdog and about Claude Jeremiah Greengrass and two more of his get rich schemes.
Full of stories from his time as village Constable this is a wonderful book which helps you escape to gentler tomes.
Highly recommended to all fans of Heartbeat.
July 17, 2020
Love these books and PC Rhea!!
Every book in the series is different, and the P C gets involved inn every community on his beat, and therefore many personal lives. The stories are fun, sometimes hilarious, about the Rural Life. They have been a wonderful diversion for me because I am wheelchair- bound and they are such great books I want to read the whole series. Uplifting, fun, and funny.
Every book in the series is different, and the P C gets involved inn every community on his beat, and therefore many personal lives. The stories are fun, sometimes hilarious, about the Rural Life. They have been a wonderful diversion for me because I am wheelchair- bound and they are such great books I want to read the whole series. Uplifting, fun, and funny.
January 19, 2023
Oh, for the good old days when a village Bobby was a recognised and respected presence in the community.
Fast forward sixty years and surely Inspector Peter N Walker must be whirling in his grave given the current sorry state of affairs with high profile corruption and misconduct cases dominating the news headlines, perhaps irrevocably damaging modern law enforcement and shattering public confidence. You’d like to think…Never in his day, never on his watch.
Fast forward sixty years and surely Inspector Peter N Walker must be whirling in his grave given the current sorry state of affairs with high profile corruption and misconduct cases dominating the news headlines, perhaps irrevocably damaging modern law enforcement and shattering public confidence. You’d like to think…Never in his day, never on his watch.
October 28, 2020
Another excellent offering from the pen of Nicholas Rhea.
At times laugh aloud humorous, whilst at others immensely sad this book will take you on a rollercoaster ride of human emotions. Nicholas Rhea well deserves his place amongst such great storyweavers as Gervase Phinn and James Herriot as he recalls episodes from his life as a Yorkshire bobby.
At times laugh aloud humorous, whilst at others immensely sad this book will take you on a rollercoaster ride of human emotions. Nicholas Rhea well deserves his place amongst such great storyweavers as Gervase Phinn and James Herriot as he recalls episodes from his life as a Yorkshire bobby.
August 14, 2020
I took a break after reading #1 and 2 and was ready for more of the constable's adventures. Maybe again a break is in order before I go on to #4. But this was a joy--heart warming--happy stories even if they were about problems for a small town constaable.
June 7, 2024
Wholesome, reminds one of better days, without hiding the challenges they had.
Comfy listening, but nothing too exciting happens. Not repetative per say, but after couple of those books you won't really experience anything new.
Comfy listening, but nothing too exciting happens. Not repetative per say, but after couple of those books you won't really experience anything new.
April 5, 2020
Another story of village life.
This is the third book in the constable series. The story of the village policeman and the local people he deals with.
This is the third book in the constable series. The story of the village policeman and the local people he deals with.
April 25, 2020
A feel good book
I read this during our enforced lockdown and it was just what l needed. A lovely easy reading book with much humour.
I read this during our enforced lockdown and it was just what l needed. A lovely easy reading book with much humour.
May 28, 2020
Quite a good read.
The book took a chapter to get your interest, I then happily picked it up again. Will read the next Title.
The book took a chapter to get your interest, I then happily picked it up again. Will read the next Title.
June 30, 2020
Not what I expected.
It is more tory telling from happenings as a country Bobby.
Still enjoyed it and will read the other 2 I bought but not really my kind of story.
Well written and told.
It is more tory telling from happenings as a country Bobby.
Still enjoyed it and will read the other 2 I bought but not really my kind of story.
Well written and told.
September 21, 2020
This series describes a community that would be a pleasure to be a part of and frustrating because everyone knows your business. I enjoy Nick so much, I will read more of his adventures.
December 6, 2020
Another pleasant collection of anecdotes from the village bobby.
May 1, 2021
Chuck's recommendation! 😉
June 1, 2021
Sweet stories about a small village. Dogs, young boys, spinsters with hearts of gold and sheep. A young policeman keeps everyone safe.
October 31, 2021
Better than the first two!
March 17, 2022
Another enjoyable collection of anecdotes an stories from the "Constable" series. I would pick the book series over the television series evrytime.
April 6, 2022
An excellent read ,highly amusing and very sad at times,was this where the Heartbeat tv prog was inspired.highly recommend.
May 2, 2023
This delightful series is like James Herriott only with the local Yorkshire policeman instead of the local Yorkshire country vet. A nice diversion and look back at small village country life.
July 17, 2023
13 Another gentle addition to the series and as enjoyable as the previous ones.
June 30, 2024
When you have to muffle your laughter in the middle of the night so as to not wake up your spouse that is asleep next to you, you know it's a good book. I love this series.
December 24, 2024
This author is a sexist pig. I've never seen so much misogyny in one place before. It's disgusting! 🤢🤮
January 29, 2025
Charming. 3.5+
August 31, 2025
enjoy this series. 4/B
October 31, 2025
Listened on Chirp.
February 9, 2026
Do you want to read a feel good book with a lot of practical sense and humour? Then I highly recommend this book and author
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews