Philly Stakes [Paperback]

Gillian Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 1995

"The central pleasure is Pepper and her catalogue of urban woes, delivered with self-depracting savagery and humor in a scathing first person."
THE PHILADELHPIA INQUIRER

Book two in the Amanda Pepper mystery series.

Amanda Pepper, an English teacher at school for Philadelphia's filthy rich, is determined to teach the kids a lesson about the true spirit of Christmas. She intends to have them cook and serve a meal to the homeless, but unfortunately a powerful parent takes over, and the simple meal turns into a catered affair--topped off by murder. Of course, Amanda wants to solve the crime with her sometime boyfriend and cop C.K. Mackenzie. She's equally determeind to teach the the elusive killer a lesson or two, as well.
From Gillian Roberts, the Anthony Award- winning author of CAUGHT DEAD IN PHILADELPHIA, I'D RATHER BE IN PHILADELPHIA, WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE. . . , and HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION.


From the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After a reading of A Christmas Carol , Philadelphia schoolteacher Amanda Pepper tries to instill a sense of compassion in her private-school sophomore students by suggesting they give a Christmas party for the homeless at a shelter. The idea is taken over and perverted by one of the parents, automobile and real-estate tycoon and politician Alexander "Sandy" Clausen, who arranges a catered party at his home with plenty of publicity. Late at night after the party, Clausen is found burned to death in the remains of the family Christmas tree, and his troubled daughter Laura confesses to killing him, as does her boyfriend Peter Shaw, although there is little evidence against them. Amanda becomes fiercely protective of Laura, whom she feels has a real talent for writing, and seeks to help her and her alcoholic mother. Since Amanda's new, and not yet fully committed, policeman lover C. K. Mackenzie is heading the investigation and appears convinced of Laura's guilt, Amanda probes to find another answer. A second body, a visit to a retirement home and a fairy tale pave the way to the denouement. Roberts ( Caught Dead in Philadelphia ) writes a literate, enjoyable mystery that provides a keen and witty insight into modern mores.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Amanda Pepper, the Philadelphia English teacher is a crack-up . . . always getting caught up in a crime. Whether she is in the classroom, on vacation, or just hanging out at home, she always finds time to solve a mystery. I like Roberts's characters (Amanda herself, her boyfriend C.K., her mother, and her friend Sasha) so much that I talked a local wholesale buyer into purchasing and distributing the Amanda Pepper series to a major retail store in Southern California. The sales results were great!

--Nanci Andersen, Ballantine Sales --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (January 3, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345482913
• ISBN-13: 978-0345482914
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,916,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Read !, August 24, 2000

By 

"mirbf" (Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Philly Stakes (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the second book of Gillian Roberts in the Amanda Pepper series. After the first book I was hooked! Amanda is simply so wonderful ... a caring clever school teacher. Her real plus above every other female mystery paragon is her WONDERFUL humour! I was so thrilled to see this turn into series. I enjoyed the the "unmarried_ still" dialogue with her mother... the conflict with her boyfriend and ofcorse the way Amanda solves a mystery. This series is sooo refreshing that I pace the stores for new ones in the series. Don't miss this one but don't deny yourself the earlier one either... as you get into her life you will just adore her views on everything...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Dark Christmas Mystery, September 18, 2006

By 

L. Mintah "Author of the Heart" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Philly Stakes (Mass Market Paperback)

Philly Stakes in the second in the Amanda Pepper teacher mystery series, set in Philadelphia where Pepper teaches English at a private prep school for bored rich kids. Unlike the first book, Caught Dead in Philadelphia, Philly Stakes takes a dark turn with disturbing subject matter, namely sexual abuse of a teenage girl by her father. I feel this may be disturbing to some readers, but there is no denying this is a well-written and gripping mystery novel.

The story is about Pepper planning to teach her apathetic students about the true meaning of Christmas with a trip to the local soup kitchen. One wealthy parent plucks the affair out of her hands and hosts the homeless people at his home, so the precious kiddies won't be in any "danger." But when Clausen is murdered after the party, and his wife, daughter, and daughter's boyfriend ALL claim responsibility, Pepper is thrust in the middle of a truly muddled holiday mystery. Shadows of generations past, not unlike the ghosts in a Christmas Carol, add layer to the puzzle for the reader to solve. Amanda's boyfriend/detective CK Mackenzie is back on the case, too. Their relationship is progressing.

4.0 out of 5 stars Philly Stakes, September 15, 2008

By 

H. Garvey "Mystery Buff" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Philly Stakes (Paperback)

Even if the mystery itself were not so well-crafted, Roberts' prose would have kept me hooked throughout this book. Add to that her obvious understanding of, and compassion for, the teenage condition, and the book is a clear winner. I'd have given it five stars, but for the fact that I guessed who the villain was half-way through the book (though not the true identity or family connection), and I hate it when that happens.