CAUGHT DEAD IN PHILADEPHIA

by Gillian Roberts ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 16, 1987

A first mystery for the author (writer of other novels under real name Judith Greber) introduces English teacher Amanda Pepper, whose flighty actress-friend Liza Nichols is murdered in the course of a puzzling visit to Amanda's apartment. Liza's upcoming marriage to Main Line aristocrat and Senate candidate Hayden Cole hadn't stopped her torrid affair with sleazy Eddie Bayer, fellow member of Philadelphia Playhouse, an amateur theatrical group. Liza's ex-lover Gus Winston is also in the company, and one of its patrons is Main Line society's Sissie Bellinger, currently husbandless, who'd marked Hayden Cole as her next mate, seemingly with his steely mother's approval. It's Amanda who finds Eddie Bayer's murdered body, while she's in the company of attractive police detective C.K. Mackenzie, who encourages her sleuthing. A cryptic, unsigned warning underlines the danger that Amanda faces, but she falls into it anyway, in a drawn-out, not-too convincing encounter with the killer. A light, blithe touch with locale and character eases the sometimes clumsy plotting and Amanda's somewhat overwrought romance with her detective. All in all: good entertainment, with more to come in a promised series.

Pub Date: Oct. 16, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Scribners

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1987

Categories: FICTION