This series is (probably) not going to set the world on fire, but it always provides clever, kind, and comforting stories about police work in the English country side. Super solid and best read with a cup of Earl Grey and a few cookies.

I have read very one of these books,very entertaining,I laugh loud at some of the tales,a great book.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Another great book from the author in the series. Cannot wait for the next instalment

Made me think of Heartbeat tv series when I read this , almost like wearing rose tinted glasses and thinking those were the days ... when as a child if a policeman told you off you wouldn't reply with a mouthful of abuse but be worried about what your parents would say when they found out as they surely would .Not an exciting book, it sort of plods along .

Constable at the Dam is the 21st entry in the Constable Nick mysteries by Nicholas Rhea. For anyone who enjoys English country village cozy mysteries, this is another addition to what I think of as reading 'comfort food'. The author inspired and wrote/consulted on the ITV television series Heartbeat and the books deliver more or less the same experience. If you enjoy Heartbeat (I do), you're virtually guaranteed to love this installment of this sweetly nostalgic series. So many of the familiar characters from the ITV series make an appearance in the books, such as Alf Ventress, Sergeant Blaketon, Constable Nick, Claude Greengrass and many more.

I've heard that these descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside and village life existed only in fiction, but honestly it doesn't matter if they're idealized fiction more than straight fact. The stories are well written and enjoyable. There's no super dramatic tension to be found here, no murder, nothing scary or particularly scandalous, and sometimes after a long and trying day, that's exactly what's needed.

Sadly, the author passed away 21st April, 2017, so this might well be the last installment for this comforting light series. This is a re-release in a new edition, originally published in 1997, and this edition was released 4th October, 2017.

Four stars, I enjoyed it very much.

Very slow paced, descriptive country constable mystery.

Constable Rhea is steady, honest, and unflappable. The descriptions of the countryside were enjoyable. I did not feel attached to any of the characters, or interested in the mystery. It was a bit too passive for my tastes. Not even the liberal use of exclamation points could liven this up enough for me to really get invested in what was happening, what had happened and what would happen.

An example of the writing, taken from the denouement:
"Local authorities were responsible for various licensing matters under a number of statutes ranging from horse-riding establishments and refreshment houses to hackney carriages by way of pet shops, keepers of the petroleum spirit, theaters and more."

Constable at the Dam would be a good read for someone who wanted a non-intense, non-fluffy, old school British country constable mystery cozy.

Having enjoyed the TV series I thought there would not be much left to the imagination for a reader to enjoy from the descriptions in this book but I was wrong. Though at times predictable you don't need to have read the previous books or seen the television programmes to get involved with the characters and places. This is a light, undemanding and easy read with good descriptions of Yorkshire and characters with anecdotes and humour for a relaxing escapist trip to the 1960s.

When Sergeant Blaketon learns of the Swanland Corporation’s plan to build a reservoir in a beautiful valley near Aidensfield he is more than a little concerned. As work gets under way, however, the community of Aidensfield remains relatively unchanged. Local artist Gordon Precious and his glamorous wife Deidre seem to have to be heading for stormy waters and teenagers Elaine and Denise have developed an alarming fascination with the construction site.

Another delightful light read. The author brings life in rural North Yorkshire to life & I just love these novels that lead you to another era where life was much slower