Gillian Roberts: Author of the Amanda Pepper Mystery Series

Gillian's short story, "The Old Wife's Tale," which appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine's March/April 2007 issue, has been nominated for a Barry Award!
Read "The Old Wife's Tale"

Now Available In Paperback: All's Well That Ends, the last Amanda Pepper Mystery!

Farewell, Amanda.

Cole Porter said it first, in a song from Adam's Rib:

Farewell, Amanda.
Adios, adee or adieu.
Farewell, Amanda.
It all was great fun,
But it's done. It's through.
Still, now and then,
Fair Amanda,
When you're stepping on the suns above,
Please recall that wonderful night
On the veranda,
Sweet Amanda,
And our love.

I'm not sure I had a night on the veranda with Amanda, (if anyone remembers such a scene, please tell me) and I have no idea what language "adee" might be a part of, but it was great fun, and I did love her (and still do)—but now it's done.

Let me explain. Amanda and I were together for two decades and I don't know how many corpses. It was a treat all along, and I enjoyed the entire process of getting to know her and living through her crime-fighting and romantic adventures. But a few years back, I began to worry about eventually going stale, or repeating myself, or becoming formulaic—even if it was Amanda's own formula. I hope I didn't commit any of those writerly crimes, but it felt as if ultimately, it would inevitable that I would. Added to that, I wanted to try something different—something that presented me with a writing mystery: how to do it, rather than who dunnit, but finding the time to write an additional book between deadlines felt impossible. Given the strange way time moves in novels, during all those years, Amanda barely aged, but I somehow added twenty years, so I could hear the clock ticking.

It seemed time for both Amanda and me (and C.K., too) to move on to new challenges. The parting was bittersweet for me—but I suspect that Amanda was overjoyed to be given a little time off from crime. And so, All's Well That Ends.

The greatest pleasure I've gotten from writing this series has been hearing from the most wonderful readers in the world. There is nothing quite comparable to the magical sense that images I saw inside my head are now inside your heads, that we've shared laughter, a few tears, ideas and mystifying puzzles, and that together, we've peered inside the human heart along with Amanda.

I'm saying farewell to her, at least for now, but I hope I'm not saying goodbye to you. These days, I'm obsessed with seventeenth century Mexico. (I did say I wanted something different, remember.) Even if you're not a historical mystery buff, I hope you'll give the book a try when it's ready. I'm hoping to create a mystery with unique characters, a good story, and some amazing history that's relevant to our world today.

I'll let you know when there's something new, and I always enjoy hearing from you, so do write if you have questions or comments. But in the meantime, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for being the wonderful readers you are.

And as they say in all those graduation speeches—this may be farewell, but I certainly hope that doesn't mean goodbye.

Happy reading!

Gillian

Praise for All's Well That Ends:

"Roberts brings her Amanda Pepper series to a satisfying close with this 14th and final installment... Roberts weaves in lively classroom scenes, as the studious, witty sleuth also draws on her husband's detecting skills and a student's dilemma to arrive at a surprising solution to both crimes. Having earned her PI certification with flying colors, Manda makes a graceful exit, bidding Philly Prep—and her fans—goodbye."
—Publishers Weekly

"Fans of Roberts' popular series may find this one tough going, but only because it's not easy to bid farewell to an old friend. On the other hand, the series ends on a high note, proving again that the sorrow of parting can be sweet."
—Booklist

"Unlike some series that continue long past their prime, Amanda is leaving at the top of her game. She will be missed."
—Over My Dead Body

Gillian Roberts is the author of the Anthony-award winning Amanda Pepper mystery series, the Emma Howe series, and the how-to guide You Can Write a Mystery. All's Well That Ends is the fourteenth and final Amanda Pepper novel. Find out about other books in the series, see if Gillian will be appearing at a bookstore or mystery convention near you, and check out the results of her latest contest. Want to write your own mystery? Don't miss Gillian's writing lessons!

You can buy Gillian's books from your local independent mystery bookseller, other independent bookstores, or your favorite online retailer; or you can contact her favorite local bookseller, Book Passage, if you would like a signed copy of one of her books.