Amanda Pepper, English teacher at the not-quite-prestigious Philly Prep School, is troubled by the behavior of one of her students. Adam Evans has become increasingly unpredictable, disheveled and isolated from his classmates. Despite the objections of her policeman/lover C.K. Mackenzie and her sister Beth, Amanda decides to call a meeting with Adam's parents. She firmly believes that many of the recent school shootings could have been averted if teachers had taken a more active role and encouraged family intervention.

At the meeting, Amanda's good intentions go awry, as Adam's parents not only deny any problems but accuse Amanda of having a personal vendetta against their son. Her job now in jeopardy, Amanda starts to wonder if she should abandon teaching and strike out in a new professional direction. Her personal life isn't satisfying anymore either -- she's living with Mackenzie (who still refuses to tell her his first name) but their relationship isn't moving forward and he spends long hours on the job.

During a field trip to the Philadelphia Free Library, the nervous librarian who is escorting Amanda's class is found murdered, and Adam Evans disappears. With her job -- and her love life -- hanging by a thread, Amanda races against time to find Adam before the police do and uncover the motives behind the death of a seemingly quiet, uncontroversial woman.

Gillian Roberts writes with restrained wit and style. Her opening description of a pie chart of the teenage brain is priceless. She has gradually embellished her characters and their dynamics during the course of this series. In the last installment, The Bluest Blood, Amanda reached a new understanding of her nagging mother. In Adam and Evil, Amanda realizes that her sister Beth is more than just a smug suburban matron. For the first time, she values her sibling relationship.

Unfortunately, Amanda's concerns about her relationship with Mackenzie are starting to sound like a broken record. It has seemed for several novels now that they are in a rut. Yet her doubts about their future together are too conveniently dispelled in Adam and Evil. Frankly, I think Gillian Roberts should move this couple along or move Mackenzie out.

As always, the Philadelphia setting is welcome to this former native, and Roberts fully integrates the city's unique personality into her mystery. She also has a bit of fun with two of Amanda's students, Jill Dunlap and Nancy Cain, who are budding journalists and Nancy Drew wanna-bes. Astute mystery readers will recognize the affectionate tribute and humor behind their names.

Ultimately, the difficult questions that Amanda raises in the novel's opening chapters about how to stem the tide of student violence are not answered, although Amanda's stubborn insistence on becoming involved is finally vindicated. Even with a few loose ends left hanging, this series is a notch above the typical cozy mystery line. Philadelphia -- and mystery readers -- need you, Ms. Roberts -- please keep Amanda busy.

--Susan Scribner