Adam and Evil [Hardcover]

Gillian Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 1999

In Gillian Roberts's captivating novels of Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, with its narrow streets and venerable architecture, can suddenly shiver in the icy winds of menace. Then it becomes a startlingly deceptive place, where evildoers masquerade as Old Philadelphians and law-abiding folk stand accused of unspeakable crimes.

Philly Prep English teacher Amanda Pepper isn't sure what category her bright senior student Adam Evans falls into, but she fears for him. Increasingly erratic, unkempt, and isolated, Adam is an accident waiting to happen. So when a young woman is murdered at the landmark Free Library while Amanda and her class are touring the premises, Adam—now mysteriously missing—becomes the prime suspect.

But unlike the police—including her detective boyfriend—Amanda is dead certain that Adam is both innocent and in terrible danger. And he's not alone. For the more Amanda sifts through the layers of the victim's life, the closer she comes to losing her own.

Stylish, literate, darkly humorous, with a matchless feeling for characters and locale, the novels of Gillian Roberts always deliver the goods. Her sparkling ninth Amanda Pepper mystery proves yet again that she is indeed "the Dorothy Parker of mystery writers . . . giving more wit per page than most writers give per book."*

*Nancy Pickard

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her ninth adventure (after The Bluest Blood), Philadelphia Prep's English teacher, Amanda Pepper, is distracted by a mid-life crisisAso much so that readers will solve this novel's mystery before she does. Amanda has been having trouble with Adam, an intelligent but erratic student who tests her resolve to continue teaching. Adam's behavior has become disturbing: his essays are nonsensical, and he is acting hostile. Amanda thinks he should be getting professional help. During a meeting with his parents, however, they accuse Amanda of being the problem. The next day, while Amanda's class is in the library, an assistant librarian in the Rare Books Room is strangled, and Adam goes missing. The police are sure Adam killed the woman, but Amanda isn't convinced. To exonerate the boy, she determines to find out more about the victim, who was a friend of Amanda's sister, Beth. The siblings compile a list of possible killers, including an ambitious former husband, who took everything in the divorce, and a sister to whom the dead woman loaned money. In the meantime, Amanda is having problems with her live-in lover, C.K. Mackenzie, who believes Adam is guilty and is trying to track him down. She is also in trouble with her principal, at first for angering Adam's parents, then for bringing unwanted media attention to the school. Although Roberts tidily ties up the strings of this divergent plot, readers may be dismayed to find that at its core lies just another predictable tale of middle-age angst and greed. Agent, Jean Naggar. (July)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

YA-Amanda Pepper seems to be suffering from multiple cases of burnout. Her relationship with police detective C. K. Mackenzie faces major redefinition, her mother constantly attempts to direct her life, and teaching high school seniors appears to have sapped what was left of her life flow. In spite of her frayed nerves, Amanda voices concern over the wacky mental state of her student, Adam Evans, resulting in the headmaster asking her to leave the teen alone. However, her concern for Adam proves to be too correct when one of the librarians from the local library is murdered with his scarf and he is the person closest to the scene. The dead woman turns out to have been a close friend of Amanda's sister, and together the women begin to piece together the puzzle of who actually committed the crime. Roberts creates well-drawn characters, including several of the students, through conversations, remarks, and gossipy observations that add lots of details and help to round out the individuals. Her sense of humor shines with plenty of one-liners, irony, and witty remarks. Watching Amanda cope with the demands of the daily grind adds interest. Through plenty of action, realistic dialogue, and humor, Roberts delivers another great story.
Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (July 6, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345429346
• ISBN-13: 978-0345429346
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,732,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth biting the apple for, June 10, 2000

By 

Kathleene Thomason "katreads" (Dunbar, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adam and Evil: An Amanda Pepper Mystery (Amanda Pepper Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth about Teaching, July 18, 2000

By 

Kathleen Martin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adam and Evil: An Amanda Pepper Mystery (Amanda Pepper Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

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".

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Characters that Breathe!, July 24, 1999

By 

Tiffany Rothengast (NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adam and Evil (Hardcover)

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?