Helen Hath No Fury

Amanda Pepper #10

by Gillian Roberts

In the stately nineteenth-century homes on Philadelphia’s Delancey Street, the wilder passions scarcely ruffle the peace. Murder is unthinkable, particularly a murder involving an upscale book discussion group, of which schoolteacher Amanda Pepper is a devoted member. Nevertheless, on the day after a heated discussion of a fictional heroine’s suicide, book group member Helen Coulter falls to her death from her roof garden. Helen’s death is declared a suicide but Amanda is convinced otherwise. Why is this admirable woman dead? And if she was killed, who performed the heinous act? Amanda’s investigations will draw her into a zone of great danger, where Helen Coulter’s ice-hearted killer is once more ready to strike. . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary, Audiobook

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Anne Hawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book from this author that I have read, and I really enjoyed it. I find Amanda Pepper a believable protagonist and most of the people in the book are not two dimensional. A woman is murdered in Amanda's book group and it turns out that the group didn't know her at all. The hurt and confusion comes when they find out that she has taken her own life and none of them saw it coming. As a group, they begin to dissect what they know of Helen and try to find out how they, her friends, could have known so little of what was going on in her life to bring her to such an action.

I found the scenario to be totally realistic. The day before Helen's suicide, she had been adamant that the character in the book they were reading was weak and a coward for committing suicide. How could they then comprehend that she was to commit suicide the next day? How could they, as friends, not see through her actions and help her? It is the most natural thing in the world for them to try to learn more about her life and how they misjudged her. I am liking this series more and more.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

I normally like Roberts' Amanda Pepper series, but this one just irritated me. The constant harping that there is only one acceptable response to teen pregnancy, the inability to acknowledge that people can make a mistake and learn from it (that's called wisdom not hypocrisy), and all Republicans* are horrible people left whole storyline weak.

*--Calm down, I've been a registered Independent since 1980, so I'm not a GOP apologist.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good, clean, murder mystery. I've listened to two or three of these Amanda Pepper books, and the more I listen to them, the more I like them. This was my favorite of the ones I've read. Amanda Pepper is funny and finds the irony in all situations, even the ones that aren't necessarily ironic. She's a true blue women's libber who's also channeling her mother's "you need to get married" life motto. It creates quite an ironic conflict for Ms. Pepper. I like reading about Amanda's students and having a teacher be a heroine. I loved the ending. I always like it when the book ends with everyone happy.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't realize that I had already purchased "Helen Hath No Fury" so I've also read this one out of series order but as always An Amanda Pepper Mystery is an entertaining stand-alone. For those reading the series, there has been a continual exploration in a significant question related to the southern, handsome detective named C.K. that is answered in wonderfully characteristic writing style by author Gillian Roberts and this novel is an excellent preview in the relationship growth between Amanda and C.K. for books 11 and 12. Don’t follow my error (of reading the novels out of sequence) but read them in order for pure delight and reading pleasure.

[Fmorlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Pepper is involved in a book club. She finds out that one of the members dies - ruled accidental or suicide. She and her friends dont believe it and start to investigate. Other accidents occur while thet look into the death. Also Amanda is worried about CK because he seems anti marriage. This had a lot of suspects and was good. Other things occur to make Amanda happier than usual. Good read for a cozy mystery.

[Purlewe · Rating 4 out of 5]

whoa. I read this book so quickly. Perfect little fluff book. Like a potato chip, eaten and gone.

Interesting to see a mystery set in Philly. The life of being a school teacher was very well done. Seeing Philly from another person's eyes was equally well done. The mystery was a good cozy. Neither upsetting nor disturbing. But it played out well.

[Necy Jeffers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was slow. It took halfway through the book for me to even understand the story. I didn't even realize until then that Mackenzie her boyfriend was a polic officer. However, that might have to do with the fact that this was book 10 in the series. A fact I was not aware of at the time of reading. That is not reflected in this review.
I felt that she spent too much time on things not related to the murder and not enough time building up to the murder. Her studdent Petra ran away and then suddenly she had a solution for her so she could come home. She never discusses what the solution is and i felt it took away from the rest of the story.
The murderer was predictable. I knew when we first met him who it was but it took a little bit to remember who he was related to as there were so many characters it was hard to keep them straight. I did enjoy the book and the story I just wish there had been a little more mystery and not so much other stuff.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each book in this series is fun and lighthearted while also being a good mystery. I live right outside of Philly, so knowing the places where Mandy is in the book is also fun.
Some of my favorite parts are the moments between Mandy and C.K. I'm glad that each book brings another milestone in their relationship.
And Roberts gave us a little surprise at the end of this book, a possible secret romance between two Philly Prep employees?!?!

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not one of the better entries in the Amanda Pepper series. It took me a long time to get into the story. It involves the apparent suicide of a member of a book club and the reluctant research into her death by the other members. It did not get interesting until two thirds of the way through, but the ending was fun and a couple of developments in the background story look promising.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice cozy mystery with a little lighthearted but serious romance thrown in. Brings to mind 1930's screwball comedy/mystery movies. And sure enough the author enlightens us at the end the book.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK but I don't think I'm interested enough to read the rest of the series.

[John Iringan · Rating 1 out of 5]

A Philadelphia Story with Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn and James Stewart...😴😴😴

[Karen]

Cute mystery series

[Mare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is still going strong.

[Roltaire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did you ever pick something from a sales bookstore because it's cover is enticing and the plot summary is really engrossing? Yes. This book is the answer. HOWEVER, did you pick that kind of book and it turned out as a real treasure, inside and out? Then this book does not fit the description.

I was utterly devastated because throughout my reading, I was gripping that this novel will change my views in not-so-subtle-feminist books---forcefully picturing women's strength, and obviously self-satisfied author. I was hoping that this book has a feel of feminism because it was unintended and flowed freely with the storyline. It was a sad result. It was obviously written by a feminist, for feminists.

I respect the writing prowess of Gillian Roberts; I enjoyed her grammatical potency. But Amanda Pepper, our protagonist, was just annoying in several ways. I can say that because she was annoyed by every possible things! What can be more annoying than reading a character who gets annoyed EVERY SINGLE TIME??? Gosh, that's annoying, indeed! Ugh! Now I'm getting annoyed by the word "annoying." AAAHH!

Moreover, how did Amanda have the time to explain to the reader that her school's security lock and protocols were going to be upgraded when she was in the midst of being killed? That's ANNOYINGLY anticlimactic. Ooops spoiler...nope that was not. Trust me! Not worth to spoil.

[Roberta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Call me old school but I like to know a man's name before I sleep with him. At least that mystery is cleared up.

Amanda Pepper's modus operendi in earlier books was withholding evidence from the police, in spite of the fact that she sleeps with one, so she could have the edge when launching her own investigation. In this book [page 102] she takes the next step and advises someone else to withhold information from the police. When she is not playing detective, Amanda Pepper is a lousy English teacher who makes up assignments on the fly because she is not prepared for her classes, who does not provide feedback for her students because she is busy detecting and neglects to correct assignments, etc. etc. etc.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I can’t find it mentioned in my notes, I believe I have read another in this series years ago – the stories take place in Philadelphia and feature a young woman named Amanda Pepper. I picked this up because it features Amanda’s book club. At a book club meeting, Helen Coulter sparks a heated discussion about suicide, and the next day she falls to her death from her roof garden. The death is termed a suicide, but Amanda and other members of the club don’t believe it. At great danger to themselves, they try to find the killer. I’ll give it a B-.

[Heba · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know that I don't like a book when I start criticizing the protagonist and fast forwarding the soundtrack! I found the ladies the story either angry or stupid. Everything was repeated many times. the protagonist kept on irritating me and I gave up half way. What a shame because I liked her southern-talking detective boyfriend and I enjoyed their banter. I do remember reading one of her earlier books but I can barely remember it. I'm sorry but I guess I'm in the minority but this book is not for me.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, it was fun. A little predictable, but since I was in the right mood, beach bum mood, it was just what I wanted. Her handling of grief felt real and seemed close to how I'd have described moments when my mom passed away. For that reason, and others, Amamda Pepper seems extremely likable and real. I put the others in the series on my to read list.

[Jody Hamilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too fond of this book; by the time the killer was revealed I didn't care who "done-it." The best part of the book was the last few pages when Amanda discovered what her boyfriend's first name really was: "C.K. MacKenzie." Perhaps this means I don't have to read the last few books in the series?

[Margaret]

This was a nice little cozy mystery with a pleasantly normal school teacher main character. Enjoyed the book club angle as well as the sub-plots of Amanda's student Petra and Amanda & C.K.'s relationship. I think this is the third one I've read in this series.

[Jane Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just ok. It started out very well; with a book club discussion, no less. It seemed to wander quite a lot and there were a few sub-plot lines that seemed to take away, rather than add to, the actual story line.

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series featuring Amanda Pepper, a high school English teacher. Having been a teacher and having taught high school English, I can certainly relate to her comments on high school students and their attitudes toward English class.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good book, just not a 4 since I likely would't reread. Good mystery, but seemed to lack the usual spark and humor of previous books. This one involves the death of a book club member and the resistance of others to see it as anything but it is portrayed as.

[Keeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of mysteries and this book was good. I don't remember much about it, it's been few years, but I do remember that I liked it.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amanda Pepper mystery series set in Phila. Quick read. Predictable. Will read a second in the series.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another mystery series I enjoy. The protaganist, Amanda Pepper, is an English teacher and there are lots of fun, witty comments in the books. I listened to this book, didn't actually "read" it.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, easy-read murder mystery. Focuses on a bookclub.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great entry in this series. We get some resolution to Amanda's romantic questions, find out CK's name, and read a well-done mystery.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of the more fun entries into this series. Amanda finds a little calmness to go with her realistic portrayal and the relationships feel pretty genuine and well-thought.