Customer Reviews

All's Well That Ends: An Amanda Pepper Mystery (Amanda Pepper Mysteries)

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It was with great sadness that I started reading All's Well That Ends, the fourteenth book and finale of the Amanda Pepper series. I was torn between reading slowly to savor the last investigation with Amanda and speeding through the book to see how Roberts' ends the series.

Phoebe Ennis is dead and Amanda's friend Sasha is left with the task of clearing out her former step mother's house. Phoebe supposedly committed suicide, but those that knew her were shocked and raised doubts that Phoebe's death was a suicide at all. Sasha convinces Amanda to help her and before you know it the two of them are investigating Phoebe's death as a murder. The only problem is, the police don't seem to see things that way. When another corpse turns up in Phoebe's house the police finally begin to look into Phoebe's death and even briefly suspect Amanda and Sasha. Although preoccupied with his family's struggles to rebuild their lives in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina MacKenzie turns up some interesting information on Sasha's step brother Dennis.

Once again Roberts has woven the threads of the mystery together in such a way as to keep the readers guessing until the very last pages.

The Amanda Pepper books are what a mystery series should all be. The characters are strong and well defined. With each passing entry into the series, the reader finds out more about the main characters lives. Readers looked forward to "visiting" as Amanda solved the crime in each book. Roberts crafted the mysteries well, plotting them so that readers are given the clues along the way and the loose ends are wrapped up in the end. Each book was a fresh story. I never felt that I was reading the same book over and over as is the case with some long running series.

I chose to savor every last page as I said goodbye to Amanda, MacKenzie, McCavity the cat and Amanda's life at Philly Prep. Amanda Pepper and company will be sorely missed.

"There couldn't be many things much worse than having a friend die in mid-quarrel." Phoebe, a stepmother of Amanda's friend Sasha, is found dead in her home. The police say suicide, but Sasha is not convinced and asks Amanda and C.K. to investigate. There was something about Phoebe's shoes that did not look right. Women notice those things. Amanda's inquiries turn up a lot of information, including the fact that Phoebe's son Dennis did not like his mother, and was in need of money. There are questions about the estate.

Then another death and breakins add to the puzzle. What could people be after? Phoebe was known to have a clutter. She bought trinkets of all sizes and types and had a house full, things that probably need to be trucked off to a charity.

The investigation leads to some surprises. To say more would spoil the plot. Suspicion can point in various directions. You can make guesses, but you will probably be wrong.

This novel brings Amanda to a definite conclusion. One reviewer implied that she gets her PI license, but that does not quite seem to happen. Amanda and C.K. have things to tend to in Louisiana. The effects of Hurricane Katrina are a running commentary in the novel.

In Philadelphia, the police rule that Phoebe Ennis most likely committed suicide from mixing alcohol and pills. Her friend, Philly Prep schoolteacher Amanda Pepper, is stunned by the death, but has no reason to think the official verdict is wrong especially since her spouse former homicide detective C.K. Mackenzie accepts the depressing fact that Phoebe killed herself though he is preoccupied helping his Louisiana based family recover from the hurricanes.

However, her stepdaughter, Sasha from one of Amanda's previous husbands, insists the cops are wrong; that Phoebe is a murder victim. Mandy reluctantly reconsiders what she knows and soon finds reasons to question the official verdict. She drafts her spouse into investigating and soon finds many suspects with motives, but who had the opportunity remains the issue as C.K. continues to blow off her clues as inconsequential.

The apparent last book in this delightful series is a fine entry in which fans will reluctantly agree with the title. Though not quite as peppery as some of the sly previous thirteen entries (see A HOLE IN JUAN and TILL THE END OF TIM), but in many ways more realistic since it is difficult to be droll when your best friend kills herself and you saw no signs. Amateur sleuth readers will enjoy Amanda's last "Agathism".

Harriet Klausner

Amanda Pepper finds herself helping best friend Sasha investigate the apparant suicide of Sasha's former stepmother. Amanda's husband, C.J., is worrying about the effects of Katrina on his family in Louisiana. And Philly Prep is teeming with teenage problems. Amanda deftly weaves through the intricate plot to a satifying ending. This is the last Amanda Pepper mystery and it finishes still at top of form. For Amanda fans this is a must read and for those who have yet to discover Amanda, pick up the first, Caught Dead in Philadelphia, and you will be hooked.

Just wanted to say that I have always enjoyed this series and am sad to see it go. I am especially saddened that it went out on a sour note--the mystery is weak and the story unengaging. Roberts, normally an excellent writer, seems to almost phone this in. Your best bet? Don't buy it, don't read it, and remember Amanda Pepper for what she was.

I've enjoyed this series and will miss it. The book and Amazon servidce were great, as always.