How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Amanda Pepper #5

by Gillian Roberts

"Here's the Dorothy Parker of mystery writers...giving more wit per page than most writers give per book."
-Nancy Pickard
She may be a mild-mannered Philadelphia schoolteacher, but when there's murder in the air, Amanda Pepper always manages to teach the police a neat new trick or two. This time America's hot vacation spot, Atlantic City, is the scene of a cold-blooded crime.
AN ALTERNATE SELECTION OF THE MYSTERY GUILD

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Cozy Mystery

233 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Sharon]

Thirty pages of hysteria even before any crime has been committed! I couldn't handle it and I suggest you don't either. The person mistakenly jailed for the murder when it finally occurs has such bad judgment that she should really be sent up for that as her crime. Totally a waste of time.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gillian Roberts never fails to impress me with her Amanda Pepper series. The further into the series I delve, the more I enjoy her. She's not as timid as I once believed her to be. And her naïveté is slowly disappearing. I do feel bad for her sine she can't even seem to get through a short vacation in Atlantic City without a mishap - or three! And her relationship with CK Mckenzie seems to be on the verge of non-existent. Amanda never seems very secure with where she stands with the man with no first name. I like that they are going to be having a "Talk" and don't forget the capital T. CK seems utterly frightened by this prospect like most men would be if they were put in the same position.

I do have a lot of questions left unanswered by the time this book ended. What happens to Georgette the homeless lady? Does she join the class-action suit? Do they ever put a class-action suit together? Who do they get to sue? Did the police find any of the money? Did they have any evidence to charge the murderer or was it just Amanda's word against theirs? What happens to Lucky and his gambling mother? I'd like if Gillian decided to revisit Atlantic City and have Miss Pepper reunite with all her new friends. Does Lala really marry Tommy? Lots of questions, but I still loved book 5 (?) in the series.

[Linda Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable Amanda Pepper. I will continue the series.

[LJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION - Okay
Roberts, Gillian - 4th in series

Philadelphia teacher Amanda Pepper is vacationing with Sasha Berg, a woman photographer friend willing to share the hotel room she will occupy while working in Atlantic City. On arrival, their hotel gives them a free upgrade to a luxurious, high-roller ' s suite. After Sasha heads out for a dinner date, Amanda departs with policeman C. K. Mackenzie, her significant other who is in town on a case. They're roused by a 1 a.m. call from Sasha, who has found a dead man in the suite and been arrested for murder. Suspecting that Sasha has been framed, Amanda tries to track down her friend's date and to learn if the victim, who ran his own investment firm, truly deserved his "man-of-the-year type" reputation.

These are just too light for me. That's enough of this series.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first part of this series in paperback years ago and was delighted to see it now out in ebooks. Just not sure i like Amanda Pepper enough to read any more. There were times when I really, truly wished I could give her a big shake and tell her to wake up to reality. She comes across as the sort who would indeed meet the killer in the middle of the night in an abandoned building while her brain wanders to mundane things (such as her mother now talking to her about financial planning instead of getting married).

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good mystery cozy. I'd actually give this 3.5, but decided to round up to 4. Somehow, I think some of the dumb stuff Amanda does is deliberate to increase suspense, but gack, it drives me nuts.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first I've read about Amanda Pepper, but I immediately liked her because of the people she attracted and her desire to "save the world." Pretty nice sleuthing too.

[Brenda Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Amanda Pepper mystery - perfect for a fluffy summer read...

[Carlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story about a teacher and her friend who went to Altanic City for the week-end, which was her sumer vacation. While here their hotel room was up graded to a suite. Her friend Shasa was a protographer on assignment, so they thought the up-grade was because of her photo job at the hotel.
that night her friend wanted to go partying, but Amanada was too tired and woneout from teaching. So she stayed in. But she never came back to their room. In the morning Amanda found out that Shasa was arrested for muder. Thus begins this story. Sometimes a little confusing, with lots of players envolved but very interesting non the less. A good read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy these books and the character Mandy Pepper. They are well-written and fun to read. The author is very good at putting all the facts out there and still leaving you guessing until the very end. I like the romance between Mackenzie and Mandy.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is delightful and particularly for those familiar with Philadelphia, PA. All of the novels in this series can be read as a stand-alone story, however, if you read the series (in order) [which I haven't always accomplished as one can view from my recorded reading record on GoodReads], #5 is one of the absolute highlights of the series. From this reader's view (as a former public school librarian), this novel will be particularly enjoyed by any teacher (current or retired) who can empathize with Amanda Pepper on the overwhelming feelings of the end of the school year - from the sense of accomplishment to the exhaustion - with the need to tend to perhaps mundane housekeeping chores with glee that are easily swept aside as the school year progresses to the need for a summer vacation to rejuvenate the senses and the soul. In the Philadelphia area, regardless of the season, many summer vacation thoughts lead to the Jersey shore. Amanda cannot resist an offer from dear friend Sasha to go to the Jersey shore - even if the destination is not one of the highly favored beaches but to Atlantic City. But it is unlikely that Amanda could ever have imagined the true adventures of "How I (Amanda Pepper, Teacher) Spent My Summer Vacation" even as the vacation interval begins before her summer school teaching assignment.

[Heather Boers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had never read this author before. I found it started slowly and introduced what seemed many obscure characters. The ending was nice, and all the pieces came together. The romantic relationship was most exciting at the last sentence, unfortunately. It would have made a great movie with the excitement of Atlantic City, but I couldn't feel it in book form. On to try another new (to me) author.

[Kitty Tomlinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in Atlantic City.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Pepper #5

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect summer read. Mystery, action, and more empathy for the homeless.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, fluffy, and occasionally silly. Others in the series are better than this one.

[Fmorlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it being ac. funny Amanda wabts a vacation and ends up in a murder investigation. lots of characters in this book. would love to see some of them show up in philly.

[Suzette Kunz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very funny mystery series featuring a high school English teacher and her detective boyfriend. I've read the whole series. Light reading and fun.