Nicholas Rhea

Page Updated: 14/11/2006

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Nicholas Rhea - Page 2

Constable along the Trail

pbk 23 Oct 06

Some Assured

Curse of the Golden Trough

Constable around the Park

Constable in the Wilderness

First British Edition Hale (2005)

Constable along the Trail
Coffins and graveyards are among the topics featured in this latest collection of constabulary tales from Heartbeat country. There's a puzzle for Constable Nick when hikers find an empty coffin and another head-scratching problem for Claude Jeremiah Greengrass when he's asked to tidy two local graveyards. A wealthy lady from overseas is heading for Aidensfield to seek the resting place of long-lost relatives. During his rustic duties, Constable Nick discovers the romantic legend of Witch Hill and learns that old-fashioned methods of dealing with wrongdoers prevail on the moors when he finds a village lock-up complete with occupant. There is concern when all thirty competitors on a motor rally get lost and bafflement when a box of chocolates, a raffle prize, is found to contain [pound]100 - but no one wants it. Constable Nick's constabulary duties must be done when a thief steals a murderer's driving licence, a miser fakes his own death and a lady identifies a detective as the man who stole her handbag. There is romance among the ruins too and a fleeing ghost to set pulses racing. It's all in a day's work for Constable Nick of Aidensfield.
Praise for the Constable Series
'An excellent, well-written, humorous journey through the life of a village bobby.' Police Box `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
`A fascinating insight into the life of a rural constable ... the book makes splendid reading.’ Police Journal
`Rhea’s real strengths are his sharp portraits of people. The best humour comes from the author’s close understanding and affectionate portrayals of the character of Yorkshire country folk.’ Northern Echo
`An account of the hilarious happenings to the county’s rural policemen over the years.’ Yorkshire Post
`Filled with Yorkshire characters to make you laugh and cry ... shows life through the eyes of a village bobby.’ Whitby Gazette
`Nicholas Rhea is doing for the North Yorkshire Police what James Herriot did for the North Yorkshire vets ... another delightful, simple tale of everyday life in Aidensfield from Constable Nick.’ Driffield Post

First British Edition Severn House (2004)

Some Assured
The first of a new series of books by Nicholas Rhea, is set in the fictional Yorkshire valley of Delverdale in the 1950s.
When Matthew Taylor exchanged his job as a butcher for a career as a local insurance agent, he never anticipated that on his first day he would deliver a stallion foal and kill seven pigs - all without selling a pennn'orth of insurance. But in the 1950's in rural Delverdale, deep in the North York Moors, this is all in a day's work and Matthew and his new family, wife Evelyn and baby Paul, are happy to rise to the challenge.
The trusting people he serves leave their payments in sheds or on window ledges - and, when money's tight, Matthew finds himself accepting goods and services in lieu of payment.
A colourful cast of characters - including a woman who sees spies everywhere and a tipsy crockery salesman who poses an insurance risk to all who encounter him - combined with the task of persuading hard-headed Yorkshire folk to part with their money 'for summat thoo can't see', ensure that Matthew has his work cut out for him.
Set in Heartbeat country, this is a nostalgic and affectionate look at a past way of life.

First British Edition Constable (2004)

Curse of the Golden Trough
When Montague Pluke takes a holiday abroad in the Italian medieval town of Siena, he is dismayed to discover the authorities there deny the existence of the world famous Golden Trough. Even though the Golden Trough of Siena has not been seen for 600 years, Pluke is determined to find it.

First British Edition Hale (2004)

Constable around the Park
The latest in the Constable series featuring Police Constable Nick which inspired the hugely successful TV series Heartbeat.
Having qualified for promotion, Constable Nick must await a vacancy as he continues his rural duties at Aidensfield deep within the North York Moors National Park.
As the spectacular countryside becomes increasingly busy with tourists, so the constabulary's day- today day problems multiply, but not without minor incidents like people getting lost or the menace of discarded litter.
There is more serious work when Nick discovers the body of a man in a remote moorland house and a dog finds a human leg in a wood.

First British Edition Hale (2003)

Constable in the Wilderness
The wild and rugged North York Moors remain one of the unexploited and least explored areas of England. In the depths of winter, with dark days, villages cut off by snowdrifts and animals marooned amongst the heather, it has all the appearance of a true wilderness.
For Constable Nick of Aidensfield, however, the fierce winter weather and wild terrain must not interfere with his police work. But the superintendent is not pleased when he catches Nick building a snowman in the midst of a blizzard and Nick faces more resistance when he considers evacuating a market town because a farmer on the moors reckons there’ll be a devastating flood within hours. How can Nick convince the authorities the wise old farmer is right?
Nick copes with Claude Jeremiah Greengrass almost killing himself on a runaway double bass, wonders why an ageing widower would want a beauty contest in Aidensfield and why a beautiful Spanish senorita has come to visit a confirmed bachelor farmer on the moors.
There is crime too - a young boy’s precious bicycle is stolen, there is a cruel burglary in an elderly lady’s home while a fake policeman is ‘fining’ people for traffic offences. Nick is also faced with identical twins who commit clever crimes; there are ominous goings-on in a remote churchyard too and Nick has to cope with a spillage of mysterious liquid which threatens the water supply.
It’s all part of constabulary duties for Constable Nick of Aidensfield.