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Amanda Pepper #14
All's Well That Ends
Barring the usual teenage pranks, all seems peaceful at Philly Prep, the private school in Philadelphia where Amanda Pepper teaches English. No doubt the money that appears to be missing from funds collected to aid victims of a catastrophic hurricane Down South will turn up. Probably the rumor that some of Amanda’s students have discovered the thrills of gambling is totally unfounded.
In any case, Amanda has other things to think about. Her husband, private investigator C. K. MacKenzie, is struggling to help his Louisiana kinfolk reconstruct their post-hurricane lives. Her friend Sasha’s stepmother has just committed suicide–although, according to Sasha, Phoebe Ennis would never have killed herself, especially not while having a drink and wearing a red silk blouse and red sandals with four-inch heels.
Amanda isn’t persuaded but reluctantly agrees to help investigate the woman’s demise, though the evidence for foul play is slim. True, the middle-aged compulsive collector of knickknacks wasn’t universally loved. Phoebe’s own son hated her and she bored her friends to death with hints of her “royal” lineage. And with four marriages behind her, she was already preparing to announce her renewed availability on the Net. But when another woman is found dead in Phoebe’s house, it becomes clear that something is indeed murderously amiss, and much closer to home than Amanda or anyone else could have imagined.
All’s Well That Ends is the final novel in Gillian Roberts’s acclaimed Amanda Pepper series. It’s also the best, irresistibly intelligent, and richly entertaining. Amanda’s farewell adventure brings the genius of “the Dorothy Parker of mystery writers” (Nancy Pickard) into full flower, and the bloom is sweet and a wonder to behold.
From the Hardcover edition.
In any case, Amanda has other things to think about. Her husband, private investigator C. K. MacKenzie, is struggling to help his Louisiana kinfolk reconstruct their post-hurricane lives. Her friend Sasha’s stepmother has just committed suicide–although, according to Sasha, Phoebe Ennis would never have killed herself, especially not while having a drink and wearing a red silk blouse and red sandals with four-inch heels.
Amanda isn’t persuaded but reluctantly agrees to help investigate the woman’s demise, though the evidence for foul play is slim. True, the middle-aged compulsive collector of knickknacks wasn’t universally loved. Phoebe’s own son hated her and she bored her friends to death with hints of her “royal” lineage. And with four marriages behind her, she was already preparing to announce her renewed availability on the Net. But when another woman is found dead in Phoebe’s house, it becomes clear that something is indeed murderously amiss, and much closer to home than Amanda or anyone else could have imagined.
All’s Well That Ends is the final novel in Gillian Roberts’s acclaimed Amanda Pepper series. It’s also the best, irresistibly intelligent, and richly entertaining. Amanda’s farewell adventure brings the genius of “the Dorothy Parker of mystery writers” (Nancy Pickard) into full flower, and the bloom is sweet and a wonder to behold.
From the Hardcover edition.
286 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 24, 2023
Author Gillian Roberts finishes her Amanda Pepper series with yet another wonderful mystery. In this one, a childhood friend posits that her stepmother did not kill herself but was murdered. Nothing seems to indicate anything but suicide, but Amanda is nothing if not a loyal friend.
Reading the 14th and final book in the series proved bittersweet. The title says goodbye, and, if that weren’t enough, there hasn’t been another entry in the series since this novel was released in 2007. I would love to read about Amanda Pepper and her husband Mackenzie in their new life in his native Louisiana, but, alas, it was not to be. Like Amanda, though, I need to treasure what I have and not pine for what’s not to be. It’s time for a new adventure.
Reading the 14th and final book in the series proved bittersweet. The title says goodbye, and, if that weren’t enough, there hasn’t been another entry in the series since this novel was released in 2007. I would love to read about Amanda Pepper and her husband Mackenzie in their new life in his native Louisiana, but, alas, it was not to be. Like Amanda, though, I need to treasure what I have and not pine for what’s not to be. It’s time for a new adventure.
May 7, 2019
Cozy murder mysteries are my favorite brain candy. Ran across this author recently and I've enjoyed every one of her books that I have read so far. The main character is a highschool English teacher/amateur detective and I love how literature and teaching weave their way into the stories.
June 9, 2018
Knowing in advance that you are about to read the last novel in a beloved series is very bittersweet. There is an urgency to once again visit with favorite characters, to learn of their newest adventures, to imagine solving the latest mystery with your favorite sleuth and the most profound hesitation to read "The End."
There have been so many delights in reading this series:
• Setting in Philadelphia, PA (city of my birth)
• Amanda Pepper, English Teacher Turned Sleuth
• Loved the furry face Macavity the cat [An English Teacher would certainly be aware that Macavity is a fictional character who is described in a poem in “Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats,” by T. S. Eliot. He also appears in Cats, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.]
• It was such fun to continue guessing the true name of C.K. Mackenzie and follow the progression of friendship between Amanda and C.K.
• Loved all the interactions between Amanda and her students and Amanda and the school secretaries over the course of the series especially as some of the conversations brought very special memories of my teaching years.
I shall miss all the characters and the delights of the writing by Gillian Roberts. I haven't felt this way since reading "Assault & Beret" (the last novel of the Hat Shop Mystery series) by Jenn McKinlay. I understand that Gillian Roberts (pseudonyn of Judith Greber) has also written the Emma Howe Series so although it appears there are only two (2) novels, I will add them to my "to-read" list.
If you've enjoyed the series as much as I have, don't miss the interview available at this link:
https://mysteristas.wordpress.com/201...
There have been so many delights in reading this series:
• Setting in Philadelphia, PA (city of my birth)
• Amanda Pepper, English Teacher Turned Sleuth
• Loved the furry face Macavity the cat [An English Teacher would certainly be aware that Macavity is a fictional character who is described in a poem in “Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats,” by T. S. Eliot. He also appears in Cats, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.]
• It was such fun to continue guessing the true name of C.K. Mackenzie and follow the progression of friendship between Amanda and C.K.
• Loved all the interactions between Amanda and her students and Amanda and the school secretaries over the course of the series especially as some of the conversations brought very special memories of my teaching years.
I shall miss all the characters and the delights of the writing by Gillian Roberts. I haven't felt this way since reading "Assault & Beret" (the last novel of the Hat Shop Mystery series) by Jenn McKinlay. I understand that Gillian Roberts (pseudonyn of Judith Greber) has also written the Emma Howe Series so although it appears there are only two (2) novels, I will add them to my "to-read" list.
If you've enjoyed the series as much as I have, don't miss the interview available at this link:
https://mysteristas.wordpress.com/201...
November 15, 2009
As much as I loved this series, it really was time for it to end. Mandy and C.K.'s story became far less interesting once they settled down and I actually thought that the earlier books before she started using cheesy puns for the titles (starting with "Helen Hath No Fury", I think) were better.
The thing that I enjoyed most about this series was Gillian Robert's smart dry wit, especially when I compare it to the one Janet Evanovich I read, which I thought was mostly goofy and crude.
The thing that I enjoyed most about this series was Gillian Robert's smart dry wit, especially when I compare it to the one Janet Evanovich I read, which I thought was mostly goofy and crude.
August 25, 2007
I think this is the last book in the Amanda Pepper series, which I've enjoyed (sorry if this is a spoiler). I don't think the latest books in the series have measured up to the earliest ones. It's an enjoyable series, but I would stick to the first books.
October 11, 2013
A very nice ending to a worthwhile series. It's a pleasant surprise to find an author who presumes a reader to be intelligent and writes that way. I thoroughly enjoyed all the time I spent with Amanda Pepper. Well done and I wish the author much success with her next project.
February 4, 2009
May not be the best book of the series but as one who followed Amanda Pepper's adventures since the first book it was nevertheless a fun read. I am sorry to learn this is the last of the series.
December 3, 2015
Probably only 3 stars for quality, but the extra star for sending off some characters I truly enjoy in a fitting way. I love this series and its smart, neurotic, irritating, funny protagonist.
January 21, 2023
All's Well That Ends is the 14th--and final--book in the Amanda Pepper series by Gillian Roberts. Amanda Pepper is one of my favorite protagonists in the many, many mystery series I have read. Amanda is an English teacher at a private high school in Philadelphia, and as a former teacher, I found this to be one of the most realistic depictions of teaching I have ever come across in a book. I once read a description of cozy mysteries that commented on how the protagonist was always able to leave her job to track down clues. Amanda, by contrast, is never able to put her job on the back burner (although she does have a longer lunch period than any teacher I have ever known). Each book shows her struggling with the demands of teaching, including multiple lesson preps, reluctant and even hostile students, and an incompetent administrator. But the books also depict the joys of teaching when Pepper connects with a student through a lesson or through her concern and compassion when dealing with the many problems her students confront.
The plot of the book centers around a request from Pepper's childhood friend, Sasha. The death of Sasha's stepmother has been ruled a suicide, but Sasha believes someone is responsible for her death. Since Pepper is a PI in training, Sasha asks her to look into the matter. Pepper agrees, but is really just going through the motions of investigating until a dead body is discovered in the stepmother's home. Like many of the books in the series, the identity and motivation of the murderer have real elements of sadness. If I was basing my rating just on the mystery itself, it would be 3.5 or 4 stars. But Gillian Roberts provided such a satisfying ending to the series that the 5 star rating is definitely warranted. One of the best things about the series has been the relationship between Pepper and CK and how it has strengthened from one book to the next. Both of them are such compassionate people and the crimes they have investigated--CK as a homicide detective and Pepper as an amateur sleuth--have weighed heavily on them. It was nice to see them get the ending they deserved.
The plot of the book centers around a request from Pepper's childhood friend, Sasha. The death of Sasha's stepmother has been ruled a suicide, but Sasha believes someone is responsible for her death. Since Pepper is a PI in training, Sasha asks her to look into the matter. Pepper agrees, but is really just going through the motions of investigating until a dead body is discovered in the stepmother's home. Like many of the books in the series, the identity and motivation of the murderer have real elements of sadness. If I was basing my rating just on the mystery itself, it would be 3.5 or 4 stars. But Gillian Roberts provided such a satisfying ending to the series that the 5 star rating is definitely warranted. One of the best things about the series has been the relationship between Pepper and CK and how it has strengthened from one book to the next. Both of them are such compassionate people and the crimes they have investigated--CK as a homicide detective and Pepper as an amateur sleuth--have weighed heavily on them. It was nice to see them get the ending they deserved.
December 27, 2019
All's Well That Ends by Gillian Roberts is the 14th and final book of the Amanda Pepper mystery series set in contemporary Philadelphia. The book has the usual themes/parallel subplots: a friend wants Amanda and Mackenzie to investigate someone's death, which the police wrote off as suicide; Amanda despairs because her high school students don't care about education, and peer pressure drives them to criminal acts. This time the friend is Sasha, the crime is her mother's death. I don't remember how Sasha and Amanda met, but friendship is sufficient to compel Amanda to visit numerous people for boring interviews that don't solve the crime, or even suggest there was one. After an obvious murder is committed at the same house, it's clear the crimes are connected. Meanwhile at the high school, the current worry of the administration is over teenage gambling. Amanda has rare moments of joy when a student will think or appreciate literature, but mostly Amanda worries about teenagers' personality changes, and peer pressure between a rich popular student and one who seems to be victimized. As the story drags, Mackenzie's attention is focused on his extended family and their post-Katrina struggles in Louisiana. A suspenseful scene leads to a satisfying wrap-up of all subplots and the series, for die-hard Amanda Pepper fans.
May 25, 2018
Ho Hum
This story was OK. It is not one of those books that you can't put down. Surprise ending was good.
This story was OK. It is not one of those books that you can't put down. Surprise ending was good.
August 18, 2023
I am so very sorry to see this series end. I've enjoyed every entry and it has entertained me through the last month and half. C. K. and Amanda are grand characters.
June 10, 2020
Amanda solves her last Philly murder case and moves to Louisiana to start a new life.
Phoebe was excentric and not suicidal. Her murderer miscalculated with her sleeping pills.
His father outlined which valuables were in the house and he needed money to pay off his gambling debts.
The second murder was less believable but it was a fun ride while it lasted.
Phoebe was excentric and not suicidal. Her murderer miscalculated with her sleeping pills.
His father outlined which valuables were in the house and he needed money to pay off his gambling debts.
The second murder was less believable but it was a fun ride while it lasted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2009
I was so disappointed to realize that this was the last of the series, it was so much fun reading a book set in Philly. There were a few things that I had issue with, there was one book that was a bit inaccurate, Amanda seemed to live in the Society Hill Old City area, and the school was west of the school by about 15 or more blocks. Ms.Roberts came to Philly (she was an English teacher in the school district for a number of yrs before moving to CA) periodically to get a feel for the city since she left (I wasn't too sure when she left the city, and there were a few details that were inaccurate, she had Amanda "pass" one of the historic landmarks on her way to school and that would have been impossible from where she was living, and where she was headed. She was also a bit off with a couple of landmarks near Rittenhouse Sq. Her characters were well developed, it was fun to finally find out what CK's real name was. I was very pleased to find that they married before the series ended, and although she did end the series, it was great that she tied in a real crisis (Hurricane Katrina) to the story line, but also brought the series to and end, when Amanda and CK moved to Louisiana. Very disappointing to see a great series end.
June 22, 2012
I love these. The protagonist is a teacher. They are not great literature, a fun read though. The Teacher's boyfriend/later husband is a Cop originally from Louisiana. There is alot of wry humor. My teacher friends will find her comments on teaching, its rewards and frustrations, will really resonate. The first several are the best, but this one is not bad, set about a year after the hurricane in New Orleans. A fun easy read.
June 6, 2010
The last of the Amanda Pepper series. This seemed to be sort of dashed off. I’d say this series sort of ended with a fizzle – almost no depth to the story, no surprises or twists, and Roberts seemed to rely on the fact that most everyone would already know the characters so she didn’t need to bother with characterization. I was glad this one came from the library and not the store!
August 3, 2014
Amanda and her friend Sasha start to investigate the death of me Sasha's step mother. There are also issues with gambling at Philly Prep. So Amanda is busy. C. K. is going to school but also dealing with the outcome of Katrina with his family. It is very my stressful for both. So many suspects but little to go on. In the end culprit found and life changes for all.
February 3, 2012
Being a retired English teacher drove me to this series about an English teacher in Philadelphia. Actually the stories were pretty interesting and the characters not predictable most of the time. The classroom scenes were pretty realistic- I was surprised!
April 13, 2008
Very disappointing--I generally like these Amanda Pepper mysteries, but I found myself bored until the very end.
Read
December 4, 2008A fun mystery. Not as silly as some light mysteries.
December 4, 2008
I don't think it is the best of the series but an enjoyable read. I was a little surprised at the ending. I am sorry to hear that this may be the last of the series.
August 23, 2009
Amanda Pepper #14 -- the last one
May 28, 2010
I will miss this series!
September 26, 2010
A typical Amanda Pepper mystery. The only remarkable thing is that it's the last one.
December 21, 2010
The last in the series of Amanda Pepper mysteries. Light and fun and I'm pretty attached to the characters.
October 22, 2012
Terrible
March 3, 2013
I owed it to my eighteen year old self to finish this series, even if this book was really not very good.
March 9, 2013
Sorry this is the last book! I enjoyed them all.
June 20, 2016
This was a good end to the series. More personal for our characters as it involves Sasha's former step-mother.
October 27, 2010
Pleasant, well enough written, but not all the way there. Sigh.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews