Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Adam and Evil
Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Gillian Roberts
Class/Genre: Mystery Amateur Sleuth Cozy
Series: Amanda Pepper # 9
Ballantine, Jul 1999, $22.95, 256 pp.
Philadelphia English teacher Amanda Pepper worries about the strange change in behavior of one of her brightest students, Adam Evans. In recent days, Adam seems filled with fear and rage, ready to strike out at anyone. Assistant librarian Heidi Fisher provides Amanda's class with a tour of the public library. Not long after, she is found dead, strangled to death. Adam, who was on the tour, is missing.
The police believe Adam is on the run after committing the murder. Even Amanda's significant other, police officer MacKenzie thinks the lad is guilty. Only Amanda believes her student is innocent. She thinks he saw the killing and is on the lam from the murderer. All Amanda needs to do is find the teenager before he becomes victim number two.
With the recent violence in Colorado, ADAM AND EVIL has a sad timeliness that takes away from its dark humor and wit. However, what cannot be ignored is that the amateur sleuthing remains first rate and the problems in modern school systems are handled with dexterity. Amanda is one of the better characters in fiction today and author Gillian Roberts keeps the Philly scene fresh even though it is her ninth Pepper tale. There will be no questions of why Ms. Roberts is an Anthony Award winner after the reading of this superb detective story.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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