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Amanda Pepper #7
The Mummers' Curse
"Here's the Dorothy Parker of mystery writers . . . giving more wit per page than most writers give per book."
--Nancy Pickard
In her new novel starring Philadelphia schoolteacher Amanda Pepper, Gillian Roberts once again mixes mystery and mirth. This time Roberts explores Philadelphia's unique flesh and blood "historical monument"-- the Mummers, who live (and perhaps are willing to die) for a few hours of glory every New Year's Day.
The famous Mummers' Parade is an extravaganza that draws enormous crowds who cheer through chattering teeth, as more than thirty thousand clowns, string bands, and fancy brigades strut their stuff up Broad Street. But this year, while the music blares and the Mummers dance, a reveling Pierrot suddenly sinks to the ground, shot dead.
Amanda is, at first, only a horrified spectator. But when the prime suspect--her friend and fellow teacher at Philly Prep--falsely claims to have been with her at the time of the murder, Amanda can no longer stay on the sidelines.
Is the murder a flare-up of deadly rivalries? Is it connected with the disappearance, the week before Christmas, of another Mummer, the heir to a meat-packing family? Does someone disapprove of the Mummers' feathers, sequins, and string bands? And why is no one in the tight-knit world Amanda investigates willing to tell the truth about anything?
With Amanda on the scene, the who in whodunit doesn't stay secret for long. In The Mummers' Curse, Gillian Roberts is, as always, at the head of the parade.
--Nancy Pickard
In her new novel starring Philadelphia schoolteacher Amanda Pepper, Gillian Roberts once again mixes mystery and mirth. This time Roberts explores Philadelphia's unique flesh and blood "historical monument"-- the Mummers, who live (and perhaps are willing to die) for a few hours of glory every New Year's Day.
The famous Mummers' Parade is an extravaganza that draws enormous crowds who cheer through chattering teeth, as more than thirty thousand clowns, string bands, and fancy brigades strut their stuff up Broad Street. But this year, while the music blares and the Mummers dance, a reveling Pierrot suddenly sinks to the ground, shot dead.
Amanda is, at first, only a horrified spectator. But when the prime suspect--her friend and fellow teacher at Philly Prep--falsely claims to have been with her at the time of the murder, Amanda can no longer stay on the sidelines.
Is the murder a flare-up of deadly rivalries? Is it connected with the disappearance, the week before Christmas, of another Mummer, the heir to a meat-packing family? Does someone disapprove of the Mummers' feathers, sequins, and string bands? And why is no one in the tight-knit world Amanda investigates willing to tell the truth about anything?
With Amanda on the scene, the who in whodunit doesn't stay secret for long. In The Mummers' Curse, Gillian Roberts is, as always, at the head of the parade.
9 pages, Audiobook
First published August 7, 2012
3 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 31, 2014
As a mummer, I was really excited to start reading this book. I could tell within 2 chapters that I would be really excited to be done with it. I am basing my review not as a mummer, but as an avid reader of quality literature.
It was certainly an interesting plot idea, even if you aren't a mummer or familiar with the mummers. A man in shot in front of hundreds of onlookers in the middle of a parade - and there is not one witness to it. Great. But (this doesn't give away the ending) ::spoiler-ish alert:: we never find out how the killer managed to pull that one off. The man might as well have been found shot dead in his bed. The rest of the book has a lot of interviews and very little substance or action. What it is full of, is coincidences. The man happens to fall dead in front of her. She happens to find herself at a bookstore with an owner that become intrinsic to the story line. In my opinion, coincidences make for not only an unbelievable story, but it makes the plot seem very superficial and not well thought-out. On top of that, after all this interviewing, no character is ruled out as a suspect. Everyone has excuses, but no one has an alibi. You never get that "Oh, I thought I had it!" feeling that you expect with a mystery novel when you think you know who did it but then some evidence comes out to prove you wrong.
The writing itself was poor and difficult to follow at times. Ironically, the main character is an English teacher who was supposed to be writing an article to disprove the adage "those who can't, teach". Unfortunately, the author (a former English teacher I believe?)and her work only support that saying.
If I had the option, I would give the book 1/2 a star - only because the idea of the book was good.
I am not taking away any stars because of inaccuracies and allowing the author her poetic license. Though I would say she should have researched the geography of South Philadelphia more, or maybe visited the places she wrote about. And spoken with more people from "two street". But to "outsiders", this doesn't affect the plot at all so I will let it go.
TO FELLOW MUMMERS OUT THERE
The author attempted to draw the Mummers as hardworking, family oriented people who love their city and their culture, and she did. She also made them out to be rough, and very hot headed. Maybe we are? I don't think we were drawn in a particularly good light. For the most part, Mummery and The Mob are not synonymous.
Whats worse though, is that her writing made it clear that she is a non-local writing about something she in unfamiliar with. No one on Mummer's row would say "Its between Two and 3rd Streets on Christian". (1) because 2nd and Christian is not part of the Mummer's "Two St" and (2) because the phrase "Two St" just isn't used in that way.
My favorite error: If I'm not mistaken, the main character walks from Girard Estates to the bus stop at 3rd and Christian to catch a bus to her apartment in Old City.
I don't suggest that Mummers NOT read it, but if you will be offended that she made the Italian Market the epicenter of Mummery and not Mummer's Row/2nd st, and basically confused the Jersey Shore culture with Mummer culture, then I suggest you run (or strut!) away.
It was certainly an interesting plot idea, even if you aren't a mummer or familiar with the mummers. A man in shot in front of hundreds of onlookers in the middle of a parade - and there is not one witness to it. Great. But (this doesn't give away the ending) ::spoiler-ish alert:: we never find out how the killer managed to pull that one off. The man might as well have been found shot dead in his bed. The rest of the book has a lot of interviews and very little substance or action. What it is full of, is coincidences. The man happens to fall dead in front of her. She happens to find herself at a bookstore with an owner that become intrinsic to the story line. In my opinion, coincidences make for not only an unbelievable story, but it makes the plot seem very superficial and not well thought-out. On top of that, after all this interviewing, no character is ruled out as a suspect. Everyone has excuses, but no one has an alibi. You never get that "Oh, I thought I had it!" feeling that you expect with a mystery novel when you think you know who did it but then some evidence comes out to prove you wrong.
The writing itself was poor and difficult to follow at times. Ironically, the main character is an English teacher who was supposed to be writing an article to disprove the adage "those who can't, teach". Unfortunately, the author (a former English teacher I believe?)and her work only support that saying.
If I had the option, I would give the book 1/2 a star - only because the idea of the book was good.
I am not taking away any stars because of inaccuracies and allowing the author her poetic license. Though I would say she should have researched the geography of South Philadelphia more, or maybe visited the places she wrote about. And spoken with more people from "two street". But to "outsiders", this doesn't affect the plot at all so I will let it go.
TO FELLOW MUMMERS OUT THERE
The author attempted to draw the Mummers as hardworking, family oriented people who love their city and their culture, and she did. She also made them out to be rough, and very hot headed. Maybe we are? I don't think we were drawn in a particularly good light. For the most part, Mummery and The Mob are not synonymous.
Whats worse though, is that her writing made it clear that she is a non-local writing about something she in unfamiliar with. No one on Mummer's row would say "Its between Two and 3rd Streets on Christian". (1) because 2nd and Christian is not part of the Mummer's "Two St" and (2) because the phrase "Two St" just isn't used in that way.
My favorite error: If I'm not mistaken, the main character walks from Girard Estates to the bus stop at 3rd and Christian to catch a bus to her apartment in Old City.
I don't suggest that Mummers NOT read it, but if you will be offended that she made the Italian Market the epicenter of Mummery and not Mummer's Row/2nd st, and basically confused the Jersey Shore culture with Mummer culture, then I suggest you run (or strut!) away.
March 4, 2019
Brain candy. No, I probably will not remember it. But, yes, completely enjoyable. Perfect for listening while doing chores all day. :-)
August 31, 2017
I normally enjoy this series, but this one left me a bit unimpressed. It’s New Year’s Day as the book opens, and amateur sleuth and English teacher Amanda Pepper defies the cold to take in the annual Mummers’ parade in Philadelphia. She’s there with her cop boyfriend and her niece, and she has come to see a teacher colleague of hers perform in the parade. But before the parade ends, a mummer is murdered, Amanda’s school colleague is a suspect, and he lies to the cops, insisting that he was with Amanda.
Soon, it’s a mildly comedic mes that involves jealous wives, ex-girlfriends, and a dead mummer who was a player before he was killed. There’s no dearth of suspects, and worse still, Amanda is being sued by a whiny cheating student.
I found the plot a bit weaker than earlier books in the series. Still, it was fun to read about the Philadelphia-based custom with its parade and traditional meals. I can’t say I ever ate pepper pot soup on a New Year’s Day. I’ve done black-eyed peas on New Year’s Eve, but that was years ago and not for this arena, I suspect.
Soon, it’s a mildly comedic mes that involves jealous wives, ex-girlfriends, and a dead mummer who was a player before he was killed. There’s no dearth of suspects, and worse still, Amanda is being sued by a whiny cheating student.
I found the plot a bit weaker than earlier books in the series. Still, it was fun to read about the Philadelphia-based custom with its parade and traditional meals. I can’t say I ever ate pepper pot soup on a New Year’s Day. I’ve done black-eyed peas on New Year’s Eve, but that was years ago and not for this arena, I suspect.
July 14, 2024
“Mummers” here refers to the famous “Mummer’s Day Parade on New Year’s Day in Philadelphia. Gaudy costumes made with care by teams that work all year long on amazing costumes and group organization parade by thousands of spectators. ... Mummers groups are fanatical in their loyalty and support of their group. ---Amanda Pepper, High School English teacher living with her boyfriend, a homicide detective, decides to see if she can write an article about the Mummers Parade and sell it to a magazine. She has an “in” with the Mummers when she finds that a fellow teacher, Vincent, is part of a Mummer’s group. Unfortunately, during the parade, one of the Mummers in Vincent’s group is murdered – right in front of where Amanda was watching the parade..... and Vincent gives the police the story that he was with Amanda at the time of the murder. .....A fun, interesting, murder mystery. --- Not quite a cozy, but a good well written story with lots of humor and suspense
May 6, 2018
Fun books, a little predictable sometimes, other times a little ridiculous how the main character would act/react - almost like she has zero control of her own behavior/doesn't learn from her mistakes/is stuck at the same developmental stage as the students she teaches - but her behavior will fluctuate between books so that is what makes it detract from the story. I felt like "Wait, she wouldn't have still done that/said that/etc. after how she had developed over the previous couple of books. ??"
But overall, very good.
But overall, very good.
December 28, 2025
I read this book because of the Mummers and South Philly setting. it was a so-so murder mystery, with no real depth. the thing that irritated the HECK out of me was the relationship between the main character (Amanda Pepper - teacher and amateur sleuth) and her live-in partner Mackensie (cop). I have not read the prior books in this series, so I have no idea how their relationship came to be. But it ought to end. What stereotypical nonsense, and how stale and just UGH. brought my rating down a full star for the awful portrayal of the relationship.
February 2, 2020
It was the cover that got my attention, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It gives a good look at the Mummers' groups in Philadelphia and the neighborhoods and people who gather for the annual New Years' Day parade. The main character, school teacher Amanda Pepper, gets involved with one of the Mummers' club as she tries to solve the murder of one of them. Very interesting historical background.
November 3, 2022
If I read this entire series back-to-back, I think Amanda's "flighty" behavior would get old. But I read each book after I've read 2 or 3 "serious" / heavy subject-matter-type of books, so they are always a fun, enjoyable read. Another reason I enjoy the books is because they take place in Philadelphia, and I live right outside the city.
July 31, 2021
I was troubled by this book. The stereotypes were horrid. This book was written in 1996, but even in that time people were aware that the way they talked about people could be very hurtful. The mystery part of the book was inconsequential.
July 30, 2017
Way too descriptive and not enough story.
March 16, 2020
This is what I love about reading--You get to find out about new things such as the annual New Year's Day Mummers' Parade in Philadelphia!
October 12, 2020
Enjoyable enough, although my attention was admittedly spotty.
April 19, 2022
Definitely so-so. Don't think I'd recommend it to anyone I know.
July 27, 2023
This series just keeps getting better and better.
February 21, 2017
Great story. I enjoy reading Gillian Roberts. I had never heard of the Mummers Parade and associated celebration, which makes life more enjoyable learning something new.
July 9, 2013
Amanda Pepper strikes again. She attends the famous mummers parade with her niece Karen and C.K. Mackenzie (boyfriend/cop). Her co worker from school was marching until one of them is killed. Add to the fact that another is missing and nobody saw the killer makes this interesting. Enter suave stranger to the plot who may be a killer but not sure. A store owner with a secret, fiance of dead mummer thrown in. While at school, Amanda is dealing with a spoiled teenager who doesnt do the work assigned. Her life just doesnt get easier. Good story, love Philadelphia setting. Makes me homesick.
July 27, 2023
Mummers are a secret club which puts on a costume parade on New Year's Day in Phildelphia with floats, bands, and marchers. Amamda witnesses the death of a mummer during the parade - he was shot - but no one saw or heard anything. Later another mummer, who is a fellow teacher with Amanda, claims he was with her during the, which was a lie. This leads her to investigate, and she finds a web of jealousy, deceit, blackmail and theft among the mummers. The dead man had previously killed another then was being blackmailed. Unlikeable characters, fast-paced and easy to follow plot, but not that good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2015
This was a pretty standard cozy mystery. I liked the author's sense of humor. The setting was fun and I learned a lot about the culture of the Mummers. The mystery itself was average although it fit in nicely with the setting. One thing I did not like was that it felt as if the author pulled the name of a character out of a hat to decide who the bad guy was.
June 30, 2016
Amanda and her quirky relatives, friends, and students are growing on me, but I'm still pretty sure I DON'T want to live in Philadelphia. I'm not 100% comfortable with the writing style, but I can't put my finger on what's bothering me, either. It's a good read, and I'll read the next one, but if I couldn't put my hands on it at the library, I probably wouldn't buy it.
May 29, 2017
I actually listened to this on audiotape and the reader was pretty good. I can't say I was in a hurry to find another book in the series. But I wouldn't mind another if the opportunity is right.
August 28, 2009
Amanda Pepper #7
August 21, 2012
Slow in places, but an enjoyable mystery.
Read
August 12, 2013Pretty good
November 30, 2015
Enjoyable entry into this series.
May 11, 2013
As always these books are an easy read. Great beach book...I like this series as it is set in Philadelphia, my hometown.
March 17, 2016
Another good mystery that focuses on an event unique to Philadelphia.
September 4, 2016
I learned far more about Philly's Mummers Parade in this book than in 25 years of living an hour or so away.
Excellently plotted and written book.
Excellently plotted and written book.
September 10, 2016
Interesting read.
April 20, 2017
Amanda Pepper is entertaining as always.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews