Rhys Dylan is the crime-fiction pen name of Welsh author Dylan Jones. He writes the DCI Evan Warlow series of police procedurals and the DI Anna Gwynne Black Squid Trilogy. Born and raised in the Swansea Valley, he spent his professional career as an eye surgeon before becoming a full-time novelist. His crime novels are known for their Welsh and West Country settings, authentic investigative detail, recurring characters and tightly constructed mysteries.

D.C. Farmer is the fantasy-writing alter ego of Dylan Jones, who also writes crime fiction as Rhys Dylan. Under this name, he writes the Hipposync Archives, a series of humorous contemporary-fantasy novels combining mythology, supernatural adventure, satire and the peculiar administrative habits of modern Britain. D.C. Farmer and Rhys Dylan share an author, a writing desk and several mutually inconvenient biographical facts.

The two names help readers distinguish between very different kinds of books. Rhys Dylan writes British police procedurals and crime thrillers, while D.C. Farmer writes humorous urban fantasy. Keeping the identities separate means readers looking for murder investigations do not unexpectedly encounter trolls, and fantasy readers are not required to file a witness statement before chapter three.

The DCI Evan Warlow series begins with The Engine House. Each novel contains a principal investigation with its own conclusion, so readers can encounter individual books independently. However, the personal lives and relationships of Warlow, Jess Allanby and the wider police team develop throughout the series. Reading in publication order therefore provides the fullest experience. A complete numbered reading list appears on the DCI Evan Warlow series page.

Yes. Every DCI Evan Warlow novel has a central case intended to reach a satisfying resolution within that book. Nevertheless, the series also contains continuing character development, professional relationships and personal storylines. New readers can start with any investigation, but those who enjoy following an ensemble cast over time should begin with The Engine House.

The series is set chiefly in West Wales and follows investigations across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and surrounding areas. Rural communities, coastal towns, former industrial valleys and isolated landscapes all play an important part in the stories. The Welsh setting is more than scenery: its geography, language, history and communities frequently shape both the crimes and the investigations.

The novels are written as credible contemporary British police procedurals, with careful attention to investigative practice, forensic evidence, interviews, police ranks and the workings of the wider criminal-justice system. Dramatic demands occasionally require the machinery to move rather more briskly than it does in real life—otherwise some chapters would consist entirely of waiting for an email—but procedural authenticity remains central to the series.

The books are aimed at readers who enjoy character-led British crime fiction, recurring investigative teams, intricate murder mysteries and atmospheric regional settings. They balance serious crimes and procedural detail with human relationships and dry humour. Readers seeking a long-running police series with an experienced detective, strong ensemble cast and a pronounced sense of place are likely to feel at home.

The Black Squid Trilogy is a connected sequence of darker police thrillers featuring Bristol detective DI Anna Gwynne. Its investigations involve cold cases, psychological manipulation, buried crimes and institutional secrecy. The trilogy is set across Bristol, the Severn Estuary, the Mendips and the West Country. It consists of An Unpardonable Act, The Severn Reckoning and The Charterhouse Remains.

The Black Squid Trilogy should be read in sequence: An Unpardonable Act, followed by The Severn Reckoning, and finally The Charterhouse Remains. Although each book contains a major investigation, the larger story and Anna Gwynne’s personal journey continue across all three novels. Starting with the first book will prevent later revelations arriving before the questions they answer—a habit usually confined to time travellers and badly organised committees.

The Hipposync Archives explores what happens when the mythological infrastructure supporting British civilisation begins to fail. The novels bring gods, monsters and supernatural forces into collision with contemporary life, bureaucracy and reluctant human beings. They combine urban fantasy, comic adventure, satire, mythology and wordplay. The series begins with Fiends in High Places and is best read in publication order.

Yes. The series is written for readers who enjoy imaginative fantasy with satire, absurdity, verbal humour and distinctly British sensibilities. Its comedy arises from character, mythology and the collision between supernatural danger and mundane institutions. There is adventure and peril, but also the persistent suspicion that the apocalypse would run more efficiently if somebody could only find the correct departmental extension number.

The books are available in a range of formats, including ebooks and paperbacks, with many titles also available as audiobooks. Availability can differ by title and country, so readers should follow the purchase link on the relevant book page to see current formats and retailers. Signed editions or special offers, where available, should also be listed on the website.

Yes. The novels frequently use real towns, landscapes and geographical features across Wales, although individual buildings, businesses and crime scenes may be invented or adapted for fictional purposes. The website’s story map helps readers explore many of the places associated with the books. No visit is compulsory, and the local murder rate is considerably lower outside the novels.

Readers can join either the Rhys Dylan or D.C. Farmer readers’ list through the website. Subscribers receive news about forthcoming books, publication dates and other author updates. A free novella is available for each author identity: The Wolf Hunts Alone for Rhys Dylan readers and Every Little Evil for D.C. Farmer readers.