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sarajean37's review against another edition
3.0
Reading books published in the 80s is a little crazy.
tarana's review against another edition
4.0
Some very good one liners, but otherwise fluffy beach read. I enjoyed it and will read more.
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
4.0
Amanda Pepper is a bit annoyed when a fellow teacher from Philadelphia Prep arrives, wet and dripping, on her doorstep one morning. She's also a bit confused--after all, she and Liza Nichols aren't exactly bosom pals. Liza, a part-time actress & part-time instructor, is beautiful and well on her way to becoming the full-time wife of a scion of one of Philadelphia's wealthiest families. Liza isn't too coherent about her purpose, but swears all she needs is some sleep--could she please take a nap on Amanda's couch until she's supposed to meet Amanda's class in the afternoon?
But Liza doesn't show up for the discussion of Macbeth and Amanda is definitely annoyed with her morning visitor when she heads home for the day. She figures Liza stood her up to go shopping for bridal clothes or something. But when she gets home she finds her door unlocked and Liza is lying on the floor, dead. Once the police arrive, Amanda is in for another shock...she seems to be a suspect. The handsome detective in charge of the case, C. K. Mackenzie makes her believe he thinks she ran home on her lunch break to shove Liza violently against fireplace.
True to cozy mystery tradition, Amanda decides to do a little sleuthing on her own--to clear her name and to clear up a few other mysteries. Like--who was the Winnie-the-Pooh necklace intended for? Why did Liza really come to her house? Why did Liza tell everyone that she and Amanda were best buddies? Why did she tell her mother and her fiancee that she was spending weekends and overnights at Amanda's house? Why does everyone connected with the case think that Amanda knows more than she's telling? And most importantly--does the killer think Amanda knows something dangerous? By the time Mackenzie crosses her off his suspect list, they've figured out that their relationship needs a little investigating as well. But Mackenzie will need to find a killer before the killer crosses all the victims off of his (or her) list....and before he gets to Amanda.
Winner of the Anthony Award for Best First Mystery (1988), Caught Dead in Philadelphia is, indeed, a very good debut novel by Gillian Roberts. Caught Dead caught my eye because of its cozy academic spin and it kept me reading because it's a nicely done, fast-paced read. Amanda Pepper is a feisty protagonist who still has quite reasonable fears and wobbly legs when confronted with murder. I enjoy her interactions with C. K. Mackenzie (and her efforts to learn his disguised first name) and I look forward to continuing the series to see how their relationship develops.
Roberts give us a good mystery plot with an abundance of suspects and motives--enough to keep armchair detectives guessing and waiting for the next clue. Mixed with humor, it makes for an enjoyable, light read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
But Liza doesn't show up for the discussion of Macbeth and Amanda is definitely annoyed with her morning visitor when she heads home for the day. She figures Liza stood her up to go shopping for bridal clothes or something. But when she gets home she finds her door unlocked and Liza is lying on the floor, dead. Once the police arrive, Amanda is in for another shock...she seems to be a suspect. The handsome detective in charge of the case, C. K. Mackenzie makes her believe he thinks she ran home on her lunch break to shove Liza violently against fireplace.
True to cozy mystery tradition, Amanda decides to do a little sleuthing on her own--to clear her name and to clear up a few other mysteries. Like--who was the Winnie-the-Pooh necklace intended for? Why did Liza really come to her house? Why did Liza tell everyone that she and Amanda were best buddies? Why did she tell her mother and her fiancee that she was spending weekends and overnights at Amanda's house? Why does everyone connected with the case think that Amanda knows more than she's telling? And most importantly--does the killer think Amanda knows something dangerous? By the time Mackenzie crosses her off his suspect list, they've figured out that their relationship needs a little investigating as well. But Mackenzie will need to find a killer before the killer crosses all the victims off of his (or her) list....and before he gets to Amanda.
Winner of the Anthony Award for Best First Mystery (1988), Caught Dead in Philadelphia is, indeed, a very good debut novel by Gillian Roberts. Caught Dead caught my eye because of its cozy academic spin and it kept me reading because it's a nicely done, fast-paced read. Amanda Pepper is a feisty protagonist who still has quite reasonable fears and wobbly legs when confronted with murder. I enjoy her interactions with C. K. Mackenzie (and her efforts to learn his disguised first name) and I look forward to continuing the series to see how their relationship develops.
Roberts give us a good mystery plot with an abundance of suspects and motives--enough to keep armchair detectives guessing and waiting for the next clue. Mixed with humor, it makes for an enjoyable, light read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
srivisub's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book! It started off very well and it definitely had some funny moments. However, for the most of it, the book dragged! Despite being a really short one, it dragged. There was nothing happening and that annoyed me most of all! I like my detective stories with some kind of action - it could be either physical or mental, but this one disappointed me on all counts! There was no brilliant deduction and neither was there any physical search for evidence - it was all one big bumbling and stumbling, literally!! The end disappointed me completely! Firstly the detective stumbles upon the murderer and then - well forget it, I don't even want to talk about that end.. totally disappointing and without any meaning!
As for the characters, well I really want to say that I liked Amanda Pepper but honestly I can't! Oh yes she had some brilliant moments with her wit etc but for most part, she was one whiny character who did not know what to do or how to react! I hate the damsel in distress routine and she seemed to have it done to perfection! As for C.K. Mackensie, he was an idiot! Firstly, I don't know what is the big deal about the mysterious first name and why it should even be part of a murder plot! I understand its a cozy mystery but still there are some things best left until later! As for the chemistry between Amanda and Mackensie, it felt so forced and out of place that I was literally gagging throughout the whole thing! It had no place in the story, other than to add some frivolous element to the tale.
All I can say is that the plot could have been dealt with in a better manner, for as a plot it was good. However, it wasn't and the end result was a mess, something that can be avoided! It's part of a series but I don't think I am going to continue this one!
As for the characters, well I really want to say that I liked Amanda Pepper but honestly I can't! Oh yes she had some brilliant moments with her wit etc but for most part, she was one whiny character who did not know what to do or how to react! I hate the damsel in distress routine and she seemed to have it done to perfection! As for C.K. Mackensie, he was an idiot! Firstly, I don't know what is the big deal about the mysterious first name and why it should even be part of a murder plot! I understand its a cozy mystery but still there are some things best left until later! As for the chemistry between Amanda and Mackensie, it felt so forced and out of place that I was literally gagging throughout the whole thing! It had no place in the story, other than to add some frivolous element to the tale.
All I can say is that the plot could have been dealt with in a better manner, for as a plot it was good. However, it wasn't and the end result was a mess, something that can be avoided! It's part of a series but I don't think I am going to continue this one!
gglazer's review against another edition
2.0
Amanda Pepper is a good heroine, but this mystery felt kind of dated and flat to me.
triscuit807's review against another edition
2.0
If I'd cared more about the characters, I would have given it three stars. This is a pretty standard mystery - I wouldn't quite describe it as a cozy mystery, but some people put it there - and is the first in the Amanda Pepper books by Roberts. Pepper is an English teacher at a Philadelphia prep school (where the students have more money than brains). The part-time actress who helps her teach drama ends up murdered in Pepper's apt. There's also a small romance between the teacher and the investigating detective, and Pepper ends up helping him solve the case, not completely believable in a city Philly's size. Because Roberts is a former Philadelphia resident she included in the book are various area landmarks: Fairmount Park, the Main Line, trinities, etc. I read this for my Reading Challenge "read a book that takes place in your hometown" (PopSugar 2015) and Philadelphia comes fairly close to being my home away from home.
murderbydeath's review
4.0
If only more cozy authors wrote this well. An excellent read from an author who knew what she was doing.
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/760853/caughtdeadinphilly
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/760853/caughtdeadinphilly
julieputty's review
4.0
I've finally read the first book in the series, and I'm glad I did. It's fun to see these characters as they originally behaved.
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