Reviewed By Liz

ISBN 978-0-345-48021-7

All’s Well That Ends is the last book in the Amanda Pepper series. In this book, Amanda is helping her friend Sasha with her stepmother’s estate. Since Phoebe, the stepmother, was a collector of knickknacks (huge numbers of knickknacks!) this is no small feat. But Sasha also wants Amanda’s help in Phoebe didn’t commit suicide, but was murdered – perhaps by her own son, who is acting suspicious.

Meanwhile, C.K. is almost completely absorbed in the plight of his family members who are trying to rebuild their lives in Louisiana after a devastating hurricane. Amanda is also coping with the problems of her primary employer, the private school, in which gambling and theft have become problems. But something is off about Phoebe’s death so she starts to ask some questions and gradually gets C.K. interested.

This book incorporates some interesting topics like the current fads of poker playing, online dating, The Antiques Roadshow, and some intriguing history tidbits, but the plot itself isn’t much to write home about. There really are only two suspects and the solution is obvious from pretty early on. The big question is whether or not you will believe it because it relies so much on coincidence that you think that it surely couldn’t be the solution.

If you like the Amanda Pepper series then you should read this book so the loose ends are tied up. But if you aren’t, don’t pick this one up by itself. Start at the beginning so you care about what happens to the characters enough to get through this non-mysterious final chapter.

Favorite character? Phoebe – yes, she is dead but she sounds so interesting. Did I guess it? Yes. Will I read another? There aren’t any more! But Roberts has another series going and I will try one of those.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

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