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Summary: First Amanda Pepper Book
Review: Adam! Adam! Where art thou? Amanda Pepper is a high school English teacher who is especially worried about the recently bizarre behavior of one of her students, Adam Evans. Is he involved in a murder? This was my first "Amanda Pepper mystery" but it definitely won't be my last! The book is snappy, literate, and articulate without being arcane or pedantic.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth biting the apple for
Review: Amanda Peppers, English teacher at a prep school, means well, but she just seems to always get herself into trouble and Adam and Evil is no exception. She is worried about the change in behavior of one of her students, Adam Evans. When she tries to discuss his problems with his parents, they become very defensive and accuse her of trying to destroy their son. And then to make matters worse, she takes her class on a field trip to a library, the librarian is murdered and Adam disappears. The headmaster at the school blames Amanda and hints that he is going to fire her. Amanda trys to solve the murder, find Adam, keep her job and her significant other, all why trying to keep from getting killed herself. This is a great take along book. It moves fast, is well-written, easy to read and is funny to boot. Amanda Pepper is a very likable character.
Rating:
Summary: Worth biting the apple for
Review: Amanda Peppers, English teacher at a prep school, means well, but she just seems to always get herself into trouble and Adam and Evil is no exception. She is worried about the change in behavior of one of her students, Adam Evans. When she tries to discuss his problems with his parents, they become very defensive and accuse her of trying to destroy their son. And then to make matters worse, she takes her class on a field trip to a library, the librarian is murdered and Adam disappears. The headmaster at the school blames Amanda and hints that he is going to fire her. Amanda trys to solve the murder, find Adam, keep her job and her significant other, all why trying to keep from getting killed herself. This is a great take along book. It moves fast, is well-written, easy to read and is funny to boot. Amanda Pepper is a very likable character.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful summer read
Review: As an English teacher, I relate completely to the problems of Amanda Pepper, and this one was especially true. If the average person knew how difficult it is to get help for a student who seems troubled, they would be shocked. Roberts handles the story with energy and style and the her descriptions of the library create a wonderful ambience. However, I think it's time CK and Amanda think about getting married. And maybe tell us his real name???
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Summary: This Pepper needs more spice . . .
Review: For the first 50 or so pages of this book, I kept thinking to myself, "I've read this book before!" Well, yes and no. I hadn't actually read this title before, but the previous book in this series, THE BLUEST BLOOD. I think one could be excused for this confusion when the heroine is a high-school teacher, involved with books and writing, and her live-in is a cop. And when the plot involves troubled teens, books, protesters and murder, well--confusion would seem to be a logical outcome. Once I realized I hadn't read this book before, I slogged on, but with no appreciable degree of interest, and finally gave it up. I realize the author is highly regarded--and indeed I really liked the first book, TIME AND TROUBLE, in her new series. This one, though, left me cold. Amanda Pepper definitely needs more spice in her life.
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Summary: The Truth about Teaching
Review: Gillian Robert's has given the best to date! "Adam and Evil" is a thoroughly intriging and honest work. The story's theme touched the heart of this high school teacher's experience and frustration when attempting to aid a student in crisis. Along with Ms. Robert's usual gift for brilliant writing, the reader is treated to an insider's view to the struggles a teacher sometimes encounters when stonewalled by parents in denial, the administration, and the law. From the first two chapters, those who know Mandy will be desperate to get to the end to discover the changes she may or may not make in her life. Brava to Gillian Roberts and I am eager to begin her newest work, "Helen Hath No Fury".
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Summary: Cute one-liners, but tepid mystery.
Review: I am new to the "Amanda Pepper" mystery series. I liked the beginning of "Adam and Evil" much more than I liked the end. I enjoyed the scene in the counselor's office when the parents tried to blame Adam's problems on Amanda. Every teacher can identify with that. The author is literate and witty. Unfortunately, the mystery is clunky and simply ludicrous. Too bad the ending fell flat, since the beginning of the mystery was rather promising.
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Summary: I thoroughly enjoyed this book
Review: I might add that I listened to the book on unabridged audiotape, and it was so well read that it enhanced the book, I think.
All books in this series use as a central theme a piece of literature that detective-English teacher Amanda Pepper is using in a classroom. In this book, the central theme comes from James's "The Turn of the Screw," in which a governess ends up responsible for the death of a cihld in her care. Pepper has concerns about a student named Adam, who seems to merit "professional evaluation," that is, she thinks he's got a serious mental illness. She tries unsuccessfully to make this happen but no-one wants to believe that there's a problem.
At a class field trip to the Philadelphia library (apparently a massive collection in a very large building), their tour guide (who turns out to be a friend of Pepper's sister) winds up dead and Adam is missing -- so suddenly everyone is willing to believe that Adam is as sick as Pepper had feared. Pepper doesn't think he's responsible but she needs to find him and get him in off the streets. Along the way, she gets involved in the murder investigation, to the annoyance of her homicide detective boyfriend CK. In the meantime, Pepper is having serious problems at work, thanks in part to Adam's parents and to the "all I care about is the school's image and financial well-being" headmaster, who doesn't want to hear anything remotely negative about the school.
I am getting very good at spotting the killer early on in Pepper's series, so I would have to say that this is, for me, one of the weaker parts of the series. But I love the characters and the humor in these books (there are some great one-liners for those who appreciate a dry wit). As I said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
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Summary: Characters that Breathe!
Review: Once again Ms. Roberts tickles our social conscience without using a heavy hand. A bright and very human Amanda Pepper takes us down familiar streets with new twists. While reaching out to help a student she is sent alone into a spiral of confusion by the world's apathy and her life, both literally and figuratively, is in jeopardy. I would love to see Mackenzie take Amanda on a bayou adventure. Chaz?
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable reading - interesting character development...
Review: This series is really a lot of fun, and the setting of a not-so-prosperous Philadelphia prep school, plus the relationship between Mandy and CK is well done. This book didn't knock my socks off, and while it attempted to reach into the dynamics of a relationship gone a bit awry, it was just a little TOO unbelievable. Mandy's mid-career angst - do i really want to be an underappreciated, underpaid teacher - seemed real enough, but that she would actually give up without a fight(initially) over the potential of being sued by irate parents where there is absolutely no valid reason - doesn't make sense. Her overall depression and malaise - where did that come from? All seems well in the end - but maybe a little pre-marriage counseling to seal the deal would make sense, or some Prozac for Mandy... trying to get a real handle on who she is, and Roberts' balance between humor and pathos - seems a little off. Mandy resenting CK because he is doing research about schizphrenia in regard to Mandy's student - what's up with that? You don't have to be a mental health professional to figure out this kid needs serious medication - why is she so protective? Some of the story seems more than contrived to fit the mood - I have liked some of the other books in this series better -
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