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The Spellmans #2
Curse of the Spellmans (Spellman Files Series #2) by Lisa Lutz
A humorous novel in the Spellman series by Lisa Lutz.
Paperback
First published March 11, 2008
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About the author
Lisa Lutz
28 books3,969 followersLisa Lutz is the New York Times bestselling author of the six books in the Spellman series, How to Start a Fire, Heads you Lose (with David Hayward), and the children's book, How to Negotiate Everything (illustrated by Jaime Temairik). Her latest book, The Passenger, a psychological thriller, will be published March 2016 by Simon and Schuster. Lutz has won the Alex award and has been nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel.
Although she attended UC Santa Cruz, UC Irvine, the University of Leeds in England, and San Francisco State University, she still does not have a bachelor's degree. Lisa spent most of the 1990s hopping through a string of low-paying odd jobs while writing and rewriting the screenplay Plan B, a mob comedy. After the film was made in 2000, she vowed she would never write another screenplay. Lisa lives in the Hudson Valley, NY.
Although she attended UC Santa Cruz, UC Irvine, the University of Leeds in England, and San Francisco State University, she still does not have a bachelor's degree. Lisa spent most of the 1990s hopping through a string of low-paying odd jobs while writing and rewriting the screenplay Plan B, a mob comedy. After the film was made in 2000, she vowed she would never write another screenplay. Lisa lives in the Hudson Valley, NY.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,585 reviews
October 22, 2014
Why has Izzy Spellman been arrested four times in one month? Why is her mother leaving the house at all hours of the night to vandalize a stranger's motor bike? What is her father up to? Who is the mysterious neighbor John Brown? And who is recreating the string of vandalism Izzy is alleged to have perpetrated during her youth? All these questions and more will be answered in Curse of the Spellmans!
When you enjoy the hell out of the first book in a series, the second book is a risky proposition, like bungee jumping, hitchhiking, or eating at White Castle with a gallon of beer already sloshing around in your innards. Fortunately, my apprehension was unfounded. Curse of the Spellmans is a worth second book.
Much like the last book, Curse of the Spellmans is a hilarious tale of a dysfunctional family and the gross invasions of privacy they perpetrate on one another in the name of love. There's also a number of mysteries but the Spellmans and their supporting cast drive the tale.
Told in a manner similar to the first book, Curse of the Spellman's isn't a linear tale. It starts near the middle, backtracks to the beginning, and then eventually makes it to the end.
Detective Henry Stone is a prominent part of the cast since Rae latched on to him in the first book. He's also my third favorite character, right after Izzy and Rae. I already had a high opinion of him but the Doctor Who marathon clinched it, even though he prefers the ninth Doctor to the tenth.
Izzy, despite her legion of flaws, is quickly winning me over. Raised in a family of investigators, she doesn't really know how to do anything else and conducts her personal life like one of her P.I. assignments.
I think Lisa Lutz's greatness comes from being able to juggle funny moments with more serious ones and still make the book work without it becoming ridiculous. A good humorous mystery is hard to come by, in my opinion, but Lutz has consistently delivered the goods so far.
I really have no gripes about this book. There's the minor quibble about there being less of a sense of discovery but it's the second book in the series. Unless the Spellmans were going to adopt a cute kid to bring new life into the series, there wasn't a lot more to unveil.
Four out of five stars. I'll be reading the rest of this series at some point.
When you enjoy the hell out of the first book in a series, the second book is a risky proposition, like bungee jumping, hitchhiking, or eating at White Castle with a gallon of beer already sloshing around in your innards. Fortunately, my apprehension was unfounded. Curse of the Spellmans is a worth second book.
Much like the last book, Curse of the Spellmans is a hilarious tale of a dysfunctional family and the gross invasions of privacy they perpetrate on one another in the name of love. There's also a number of mysteries but the Spellmans and their supporting cast drive the tale.
Told in a manner similar to the first book, Curse of the Spellman's isn't a linear tale. It starts near the middle, backtracks to the beginning, and then eventually makes it to the end.
Detective Henry Stone is a prominent part of the cast since Rae latched on to him in the first book. He's also my third favorite character, right after Izzy and Rae. I already had a high opinion of him but the Doctor Who marathon clinched it, even though he prefers the ninth Doctor to the tenth.
Izzy, despite her legion of flaws, is quickly winning me over. Raised in a family of investigators, she doesn't really know how to do anything else and conducts her personal life like one of her P.I. assignments.
I think Lisa Lutz's greatness comes from being able to juggle funny moments with more serious ones and still make the book work without it becoming ridiculous. A good humorous mystery is hard to come by, in my opinion, but Lutz has consistently delivered the goods so far.
I really have no gripes about this book. There's the minor quibble about there being less of a sense of discovery but it's the second book in the series. Unless the Spellmans were going to adopt a cute kid to bring new life into the series, there wasn't a lot more to unveil.
Four out of five stars. I'll be reading the rest of this series at some point.
March 15, 2022
3.5 stars
In this 2nd book in 'The Spellmans' cozy mystery series, Izzy Spellman investigates a neighbor. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Thirty-year-old Isabel (Izzy) Spellman - as well as her mom, dad, and teenage sister Rae - all work for the family private detective business.
Spying seems to be ingrained in the Spellman DNA because, besides taking on cases, they constantly snoop on each other and anyone else who comes into their orbit.
Izzy is always on the alert for a new boyfriend (or as she puts it, a new future ex-boyfriend), so an attractive fellow who moves in next door to the Spellmans quickly catches her eye. Izzy immediately becomes suspicious, though, because the guy's name is John Brown (sounds phony) and he's a landscaper (seems fishy).
John Brown soon becomes "The Subject" of Izzy's inquiries and she engages in various ruses to try to discover his place and date of birth and his SS number - so she can pry into his life. The subject is pretty cagey though and Izzy is stymied. Then, when nosey Izzy discovers that the subject keeps a door in his apartment locked, she becomes obsessed with getting into the closed room.
Izzy's increasingly desperate (and funny) attempts to break in eventually lead to a restraining order and four arrests....a serious matter, because she could lose her P.I. license.
All this is quite entertaining and leads Izzy to other humorous situations including: meetings with a wise octogenarian lawyer who can't get the temperature of his coffee quite right; staying with a staid police inspector who has a lot of house rules; watching a bunch of episodes of "Dr. Who"; paying her teen sister Rae (a very tough negotiator) for services rendered; and more.
Meanwhile, Izzy is trying to find out who's committing vandalism on a retired teacher's yard displays....a crime that eerily resembles some of Izzy's youthful misbehavior. To top it off, EVERY member of the Spellman family seems to have a secret. Dad is working out on the sly and eating healthy; mom is creeping out at night; Rae has mysterious new friends; and attorney brother David is (uncharacteristically) dirty and drunk. Of course Izzy feels compelled to find out what's going on with everyone.
The book is entertaining but I found Izzy to be irritating. She has no boundaries, is intrusive, never asks permission, and seems oblivious of other people's feelings. In real life a person who met Izzy would probably want to move to the other side of the country.....or world. Still, the story is fun and would probably appeal to fans of comical cozy mysteries.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
September 28, 2020
4.5 stars
I'm really enjoying my reread of the Spellman series. Curse of the Spellmans is the second book in the series and has a lot of crazy shenanigans, but it also has heart. While I liked Izzy Spellman from the get go, this is the book that made me fall in love with the rest of the family as well another character. I'm not normally a big quote person but there are two quotes in this book that have resonated with me since the first time I read the series.
Private investigator Izzy Spellman has been arrested 4 times in the last 3 months. Her bosses, aka her parents, are not too happy Izzy keeps spying on their neighbor. You see, Izzy is convinced he is up to no good and she is determined to dig up the dirt on him. She turns to an 80 some year old lawyer named Morty to help her with her legal issues. Fair warning, this is a Spellman book so be prepared for lots of spying, bending the truth, eavesdropping, blackmail, and who knows what with this crazy cast of characters who are all quite skilled at picking locks and tape recording conversations.
If you have read the first book, you will probably remember Inspector Henry Stone. His role in this book is bigger and he provides a nice balance to the wacky behavior of the various Spellman family members as he's basically the voice of reason. I absolutely adore the quote said by Izzy when discussing Henry and Rae with her mother as it's an opportunity to really get to know Izzy better as a person and what exactly is important to her.
The second book is where Lisa Lutz really shows off her writing versatility. If you haven't read this series, go check the books out.
I'm really enjoying my reread of the Spellman series. Curse of the Spellmans is the second book in the series and has a lot of crazy shenanigans, but it also has heart. While I liked Izzy Spellman from the get go, this is the book that made me fall in love with the rest of the family as well another character. I'm not normally a big quote person but there are two quotes in this book that have resonated with me since the first time I read the series.
Private investigator Izzy Spellman has been arrested 4 times in the last 3 months. Her bosses, aka her parents, are not too happy Izzy keeps spying on their neighbor. You see, Izzy is convinced he is up to no good and she is determined to dig up the dirt on him. She turns to an 80 some year old lawyer named Morty to help her with her legal issues. Fair warning, this is a Spellman book so be prepared for lots of spying, bending the truth, eavesdropping, blackmail, and who knows what with this crazy cast of characters who are all quite skilled at picking locks and tape recording conversations.
If you have read the first book, you will probably remember Inspector Henry Stone. His role in this book is bigger and he provides a nice balance to the wacky behavior of the various Spellman family members as he's basically the voice of reason. I absolutely adore the quote said by Izzy when discussing Henry and Rae with her mother as it's an opportunity to really get to know Izzy better as a person and what exactly is important to her.
The second book is where Lisa Lutz really shows off her writing versatility. If you haven't read this series, go check the books out.
May 11, 2023
Lisa Lutz‘ Isabel Spellman series is a little like Janet Evanovich‘s Stephanie Plum. Not the recent ones but the early ones, the ones that made me laugh out loud before they got progressively more absurd and recycled the same plots. The Spellmans, however, are a family team and the nature of the family business means they can’t really escape each other, although they may periodically try. Book two, Curse of the Spellmans, was just as much fun as the first and perhaps even a smidge better. I found it to be an enjoyable, light read that was a load of fun on a sick day.
Plotting is typical Spellman craziness. Rae accidentally runs over her police detective friend, Henry, who has to stay in the hospital with a mild concussion. A new neighbor moves in, equal parts cute and mysterious, and Isabel finds herself wondering if he has ex-boyfriend possibilities. Bernie is back from Vegas after his wife left him, so Isabel finds herself crowded out of her sublet by his all-night poker games and is forced to return home. Mom and Dad are trying out their own series of vacations, aka ‘disappearances;’ neighbor Mrs. Chandler wants Isabel to discover who’s re-creating her childhood pranks with her elaborate lawn displays; and Isabel’s best friend Petra is strangely out of touch. Eventually, Isabel gets arrested four times (but #2 and #4 don’t count) and learns some lessons, although perhaps not the ones she should.
This time the mysteries were more interesting, perhaps because with so little initial information, Isabel’s problem solving stays pretty true to real life. Unfortunately, her unsanctioned techniques result in a string of arrests, resulting in a legal needs. As brother David is AWOL, she turns to the octogenarian Morty, former D.A., who meets clients (she’s case #2) in his unfinished garage. Or the deli. Isabel has to call him to bail her out:
“‘I brought you a sandwich,” Morty said, and then handed me the abused paper bag. ‘It’s your favorite. Pastrami on rye.’
‘No, Morty, it’s your favorite, which would account for why there’s only half a sandwich left.'”
One of the interesting aspects of the Spellman series is Lutz’ unusual storytelling. The latest devices are chapters on 'Suspicious Behavior Reports,' transcripts from Morty’s “Law Offices,” chapters peppered with footnotes and frequent taped conversations between Henry and Rae that become known as the 'Stone and Spellman Show.' I don’t mind the footnotes, which are used well enough that they don’t break the rhythm of the story. Many of them reference book one, The Spellman Files. As far as series recap, that’s a nice way of saying, “find info here if you missed it,” while reminding current readers who might have forgotten and not annoying other readers with better memories.
Isabel’s voice is interesting. She has plenty of wry observations, but only shares them with the reader. I got a giggle out of Morty’s wife offering them an extensive list of refreshments, all of which Isabel politely declines. But then Morty interrupts:
“She’d like a cocoa,’ Morty said to Ruth, apparently placing his own secret order.”
Isabel is self-aware enough that there are times when she realizes she’s pushing boundaries or obsessed, yet she still can’t let go. So far her awareness is interesting and adds possibilities for personal growth:
“On those occasions I may cross some ethical boundaries to reach my goal, simply to get answers to questions that won’t go away. I have many flaws, but I suppose the only one that truly damages my life is that I believe all questions have answers and I believe that I am entitled to those answers.”
Isn’t that the truth?
The Henry and Rae interludes are fascinating. Isabel’s mom encourages Rae’s association with Henry, figuring he’s probably the best role model she could find. Isabel finds herself playing chaperone to them, acting as the beard so they aren’t accused of an improper relationship, and taping the conversations at her mom’s request. Henry’s the straight foil to the general weirdness of the Spellmans, and Isabel just might be falling for him. An episode from the Stone and Spellman Show called ‘Henry’s Choice’ cracked me up:
Rae: Did you read any of that organ-donation material in the hospital?
Henry: Yes. It’s very sad.
Rae: More people need to donate their organs.
Henry: I agree completely….
Rae: Henry, if you ever needed a kidney, you could have one of mine.
Henry: Thanks, but I think you’re too young to be donating kidneys.
Rae: So you wouldn’t take it?…
Henry: So, I wouldn’t want to take a kidney from either of you.
Rae: But you have to pick. That’s the game.
Henry: I’m unaware of any such game existing.
Rae: I just made it up. It’s called Choose Your Organ Donor.
Henry: I don’t want to play that game.
Rae: Please.
Isabel: Just answer the question, Henry.
Absurd, misguided, melancholic with a touch of romance and a dollop of fear. I’ll check out the next when I need a light read, hoping that Lutz can manage some character development for Isobel while continuing interesting storytelling.
Three and a half notebooks, rounding up.
Plotting is typical Spellman craziness. Rae accidentally runs over her police detective friend, Henry, who has to stay in the hospital with a mild concussion. A new neighbor moves in, equal parts cute and mysterious, and Isabel finds herself wondering if he has ex-boyfriend possibilities. Bernie is back from Vegas after his wife left him, so Isabel finds herself crowded out of her sublet by his all-night poker games and is forced to return home. Mom and Dad are trying out their own series of vacations, aka ‘disappearances;’ neighbor Mrs. Chandler wants Isabel to discover who’s re-creating her childhood pranks with her elaborate lawn displays; and Isabel’s best friend Petra is strangely out of touch. Eventually, Isabel gets arrested four times (but #2 and #4 don’t count) and learns some lessons, although perhaps not the ones she should.
This time the mysteries were more interesting, perhaps because with so little initial information, Isabel’s problem solving stays pretty true to real life. Unfortunately, her unsanctioned techniques result in a string of arrests, resulting in a legal needs. As brother David is AWOL, she turns to the octogenarian Morty, former D.A., who meets clients (she’s case #2) in his unfinished garage. Or the deli. Isabel has to call him to bail her out:
“‘I brought you a sandwich,” Morty said, and then handed me the abused paper bag. ‘It’s your favorite. Pastrami on rye.’
‘No, Morty, it’s your favorite, which would account for why there’s only half a sandwich left.'”
One of the interesting aspects of the Spellman series is Lutz’ unusual storytelling. The latest devices are chapters on 'Suspicious Behavior Reports,' transcripts from Morty’s “Law Offices,” chapters peppered with footnotes and frequent taped conversations between Henry and Rae that become known as the 'Stone and Spellman Show.' I don’t mind the footnotes, which are used well enough that they don’t break the rhythm of the story. Many of them reference book one, The Spellman Files. As far as series recap, that’s a nice way of saying, “find info here if you missed it,” while reminding current readers who might have forgotten and not annoying other readers with better memories.
Isabel’s voice is interesting. She has plenty of wry observations, but only shares them with the reader. I got a giggle out of Morty’s wife offering them an extensive list of refreshments, all of which Isabel politely declines. But then Morty interrupts:
“She’d like a cocoa,’ Morty said to Ruth, apparently placing his own secret order.”
Isabel is self-aware enough that there are times when she realizes she’s pushing boundaries or obsessed, yet she still can’t let go. So far her awareness is interesting and adds possibilities for personal growth:
“On those occasions I may cross some ethical boundaries to reach my goal, simply to get answers to questions that won’t go away. I have many flaws, but I suppose the only one that truly damages my life is that I believe all questions have answers and I believe that I am entitled to those answers.”
Isn’t that the truth?
The Henry and Rae interludes are fascinating. Isabel’s mom encourages Rae’s association with Henry, figuring he’s probably the best role model she could find. Isabel finds herself playing chaperone to them, acting as the beard so they aren’t accused of an improper relationship, and taping the conversations at her mom’s request. Henry’s the straight foil to the general weirdness of the Spellmans, and Isabel just might be falling for him. An episode from the Stone and Spellman Show called ‘Henry’s Choice’ cracked me up:
Rae: Did you read any of that organ-donation material in the hospital?
Henry: Yes. It’s very sad.
Rae: More people need to donate their organs.
Henry: I agree completely….
Rae: Henry, if you ever needed a kidney, you could have one of mine.
Henry: Thanks, but I think you’re too young to be donating kidneys.
Rae: So you wouldn’t take it?…
Henry: So, I wouldn’t want to take a kidney from either of you.
Rae: But you have to pick. That’s the game.
Henry: I’m unaware of any such game existing.
Rae: I just made it up. It’s called Choose Your Organ Donor.
Henry: I don’t want to play that game.
Rae: Please.
Isabel: Just answer the question, Henry.
Absurd, misguided, melancholic with a touch of romance and a dollop of fear. I’ll check out the next when I need a light read, hoping that Lutz can manage some character development for Isobel while continuing interesting storytelling.
Three and a half notebooks, rounding up.
January 17, 2013
3 1/2 stars for this one.
Curse of the Spellmans is the sequel to The Spellman Files, a novel about an unconventional family that runs a private investigation firm. I really enjoyed The Spellman Files--it's light, amusing, and there is an inventive quality to the narrator, Izzy Spellman's, manner of conveying her story. Because of her training as a P.I., Izzy tells us everything in the form of case file reports and transcripts of secret recordings. What worked for the first novel lost some of its quirky charm for me in the second novel simply because I expected it. However, that is not to say that I didn't enjoy Curse of the Spellmans, because I certainly did.
Izzy Spellman is now 30 years old and has spent half of her life working for her parents' private investigation firm. Because she was exposed to this lifestyle in her impressionable years, Izzy is pathologically suspicious of everyone and everything, and she lacks the ability to compartmentalize her work life and her personal life. With skills like surveillance, lock picking, on-the-spot lying, GPS tracking, and performing routine background checks, woe upon you if Izzy thinks you're hiding something from her. As one might expect, this wrecks any chance Izzy has for a normal romantic relationship. Izzy fast-forwards through the whole "getting to know you" stage of a blossoming romance in favor of gaining DOB and SSN to rummage around in the prospective romantic interest's background. This usually leads to some serious trust issues on the part of the men who fall for Izzy and, as a result, Izzy is still single. It's just this pattern of thinking that leads her to believe that her next-door-neighbor-and-potential-future-boyfriend is hiding a criminal past behind his suspiciously average name and an even more suspiciously locked door in his home. In addition to this mystery, Izzy's family members seem to have secrets of their own and Izzy, a complete stranger to the concept of personal privacy, begins to ferret out why her brother's wife seems to have disappeared, why her mother runs suspicious errands at 2:30 a.m., why her father is rapidly losing weight, and why her loner sister suddenly has friends no one in the family has ever met.
If this sounds like another light, chick-lit screwball comedy, it is. These novels don't focus on the serious investigations of the Spellman Agency. Instead, they revolve around what happens in a family trying to keep secrets and boundaries when their bread-and-butter is to cross boundaries to discover the secrets of others. The mysteries really don't matter. They're simply vehicles for getting to know this bizarre and dysfunctional and frequently amusing family.
Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder
Curse of the Spellmans is the sequel to The Spellman Files, a novel about an unconventional family that runs a private investigation firm. I really enjoyed The Spellman Files--it's light, amusing, and there is an inventive quality to the narrator, Izzy Spellman's, manner of conveying her story. Because of her training as a P.I., Izzy tells us everything in the form of case file reports and transcripts of secret recordings. What worked for the first novel lost some of its quirky charm for me in the second novel simply because I expected it. However, that is not to say that I didn't enjoy Curse of the Spellmans, because I certainly did.
Izzy Spellman is now 30 years old and has spent half of her life working for her parents' private investigation firm. Because she was exposed to this lifestyle in her impressionable years, Izzy is pathologically suspicious of everyone and everything, and she lacks the ability to compartmentalize her work life and her personal life. With skills like surveillance, lock picking, on-the-spot lying, GPS tracking, and performing routine background checks, woe upon you if Izzy thinks you're hiding something from her. As one might expect, this wrecks any chance Izzy has for a normal romantic relationship. Izzy fast-forwards through the whole "getting to know you" stage of a blossoming romance in favor of gaining DOB and SSN to rummage around in the prospective romantic interest's background. This usually leads to some serious trust issues on the part of the men who fall for Izzy and, as a result, Izzy is still single. It's just this pattern of thinking that leads her to believe that her next-door-neighbor-and-potential-future-boyfriend is hiding a criminal past behind his suspiciously average name and an even more suspiciously locked door in his home. In addition to this mystery, Izzy's family members seem to have secrets of their own and Izzy, a complete stranger to the concept of personal privacy, begins to ferret out why her brother's wife seems to have disappeared, why her mother runs suspicious errands at 2:30 a.m., why her father is rapidly losing weight, and why her loner sister suddenly has friends no one in the family has ever met.
If this sounds like another light, chick-lit screwball comedy, it is. These novels don't focus on the serious investigations of the Spellman Agency. Instead, they revolve around what happens in a family trying to keep secrets and boundaries when their bread-and-butter is to cross boundaries to discover the secrets of others. The mysteries really don't matter. They're simply vehicles for getting to know this bizarre and dysfunctional and frequently amusing family.
Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder
March 23, 2012
So how can something be so good and coherent and yet be so random and rambling? I don't mean random in a negative way at all. In fact, I find the randomness quite charming, just as I find Isabel Spellman quite charming and funny. Izzy and the entire Spellman clan are a bunch of nut cases, but the stories work for me.
In this, the second installment of the Spellman series, Izzy finds herself busy surveilling the neighbor who is surely up to no good; her teenage sister Rae has run over her "best friend"...a forty-something-year-old inspector named Henry, and Henry, not surprisingly, is fed up; her practically perfect older brother David has lost his razor sharp edge; her mother is sneaking out of the house at all hours; and her father, well, he's secretly on a new found health kick. And there is more...but I'll spare you the run down.
Like I said...random.
What I love about Lutz's story is that everything seems to be happening all at once, and so the novel should feel chaotic. Yet somehow it doesn't. She shifts from subplot to subplot seamlessly, even though she is moving from one conflict to the next quite quickly. I would liken it to a professional race car driver, taking you out for a quick spin on the Autobahn in a Mercedes Benz. Even though you would inevitably be going so very fast, the ride would be perfectly smooth. I think I'd like to try that some day.
And then, of course, there are the "mysteries" that Izzy must solve. I'll go ahead and admit that the central conflict, Izzy's obsession with the man next door's private life, was fairly easy to figure out, but the others are a bit more puzzling, so there was enough tension in the waiting to see what would happen next that I didn't get bored or want to scream "DUH!" the entire time I was reading.
Moreover, these books really aren't about the mysteries and are more about the characters and their ridiculous antics, especially Izzy and Rae...or Rae and Henry, who make quite the comedic team, actually. I'm telling you, the characters here are a breath of fresh air, and so is the story, even if it isn't so mysterious. And this is mostly because of Lutz's wry sense of humor and excellent comedic timing. In fact, I like this one a little more than I liked the first, and I really enjoyed the first.
I'm thrilled to have found these little gems, and I can't wait to read the next in the series.
In this, the second installment of the Spellman series, Izzy finds herself busy surveilling the neighbor who is surely up to no good; her teenage sister Rae has run over her "best friend"...a forty-something-year-old inspector named Henry, and Henry, not surprisingly, is fed up; her practically perfect older brother David has lost his razor sharp edge; her mother is sneaking out of the house at all hours; and her father, well, he's secretly on a new found health kick. And there is more...but I'll spare you the run down.
Like I said...random.
What I love about Lutz's story is that everything seems to be happening all at once, and so the novel should feel chaotic. Yet somehow it doesn't. She shifts from subplot to subplot seamlessly, even though she is moving from one conflict to the next quite quickly. I would liken it to a professional race car driver, taking you out for a quick spin on the Autobahn in a Mercedes Benz. Even though you would inevitably be going so very fast, the ride would be perfectly smooth. I think I'd like to try that some day.
And then, of course, there are the "mysteries" that Izzy must solve. I'll go ahead and admit that the central conflict, Izzy's obsession with the man next door's private life, was fairly easy to figure out, but the others are a bit more puzzling, so there was enough tension in the waiting to see what would happen next that I didn't get bored or want to scream "DUH!" the entire time I was reading.
Moreover, these books really aren't about the mysteries and are more about the characters and their ridiculous antics, especially Izzy and Rae...or Rae and Henry, who make quite the comedic team, actually. I'm telling you, the characters here are a breath of fresh air, and so is the story, even if it isn't so mysterious. And this is mostly because of Lutz's wry sense of humor and excellent comedic timing. In fact, I like this one a little more than I liked the first, and I really enjoyed the first.
I'm thrilled to have found these little gems, and I can't wait to read the next in the series.
April 15, 2019
When the Spellman family gets a new neighbor, Isabel Spellman cannot shake the feeling that something is off about him. Maybe it’s his all too common name of John Brown? Is it his office door that he constantly keeps locked? Or maybe it’s the fact that privacy and trust is something that is rarely present when it comes to the Spellmans. In Curse of The Spellmans, Isabel seems to be flirting with paranoia and everyone is under a microscope – her Mom, Dad, her sister Rae and even family friend Detective Henry Stone. When will it end and just how many times does Isabel need to be arrested?
Guys, I love these Spellman books. Lisa Lutz’ dialogue-heavy novels about a quirky family of detectives are the definition of a page turner (I’m sorry for my overuse of this phrase). These are books where you tell yourself, “OK, just one more chapter” and before you know it, a hundred pages have passed since you sat down and picked up the book.
In my review for the previous novel, I expressed some concern about the fact that Isabel seemed a bit disingenuous. However, that changed in this book. Lutz spends a lot of time on what makes Izzy tick and as a private investigator, her constant need for more and more information – something she just cannot control given that she’s been doing this the majority of her life. She felt more like a sympathetic character this time around.
The rest of the Spellmans are in top form as well. Rae, Izzy’s younger sister, is just as enjoyable as ever and both Olivia and Albert (Mom and Dad) are on point. Lutz switched things up with David which produced some hilarious moments and scenes as well. The two mysteries were compelling although I had an idea early on in regards to who was vandalising poor Mrs. Chandler’s holiday lawn displays. When it came to John Brown’s strange behaviour, I had no clue what was going on. I felt blindsided at the end, but not in a bad way. Made total sense.
Like The Spellman Files, Curse of the Spellmans is an easy, fun read that had me laughing out loud. There’s no sophomore slump here and I can assure you I’ll be finishing this series in no time.
Guys, I love these Spellman books. Lisa Lutz’ dialogue-heavy novels about a quirky family of detectives are the definition of a page turner (I’m sorry for my overuse of this phrase). These are books where you tell yourself, “OK, just one more chapter” and before you know it, a hundred pages have passed since you sat down and picked up the book.
In my review for the previous novel, I expressed some concern about the fact that Isabel seemed a bit disingenuous. However, that changed in this book. Lutz spends a lot of time on what makes Izzy tick and as a private investigator, her constant need for more and more information – something she just cannot control given that she’s been doing this the majority of her life. She felt more like a sympathetic character this time around.
The rest of the Spellmans are in top form as well. Rae, Izzy’s younger sister, is just as enjoyable as ever and both Olivia and Albert (Mom and Dad) are on point. Lutz switched things up with David which produced some hilarious moments and scenes as well. The two mysteries were compelling although I had an idea early on in regards to who was vandalising poor Mrs. Chandler’s holiday lawn displays. When it came to John Brown’s strange behaviour, I had no clue what was going on. I felt blindsided at the end, but not in a bad way. Made total sense.
Like The Spellman Files, Curse of the Spellmans is an easy, fun read that had me laughing out loud. There’s no sophomore slump here and I can assure you I’ll be finishing this series in no time.
June 2, 2016
So much fun! The Spellman dysfunctional and quite crazy family always manage to make me laugh, and this time, Lutz had them also go through life changes that developed the characters in an interesting ways. The plot is suspenseful, the dialogues superb - here is a writer who can write a teenager who is really smart, but who is also still child-like and speaks her age. Intelligent and fully entertaining.
July 9, 2010
Funny, smart, sad and ever so enduring. This one was just as funny as the first one, yet more complex, reviled more lairs, run deeper and left me feeling my heart in my throat.
Loved it.
Loved it.
September 7, 2016
The second book in "The Spellman Files" is just as funny as the first. Isabel "Izzy" Spellman, having grown up in a highly dysfunctional family of private investigators in San Francisco, is distrustful of everyone, is not deterred by locked doors, social boundaries (really, she's not deterred by boundaries of any kind), and always has to get to the bottom of mysteries, even when it would be better for her if she just let it go. Now thirty and working in the family business, she gets in over her head when a new neighbor moves in next to her parents' house (and place of business), a gardener with the suspicious name of "John Brown," who is evasive about his background, his movements, mounds of shredded trash and the locked office in his house. Izzy is certain that he is up to something sinister, and is determined to find out what, even if she has to maintain a level of surveillance that's usually reserved for stalkers.
However, suspicious behavior isn't limited to Mr. Brown. There's also the members of her own family such as: her father Albert, who seems to be having a REAFO (Retirement Age Freak-Out) as he appears to be covertly changing to a healthier diet and attending a yoga class; her mother Olivia, who is sneaking out in the dead of night to regularly vandalize someone's motorbike; her perfect brother David, a successful lawyer who has suddenly taken to binge-watching television in his bathrobe and pajamas while drinking bourbon; her best friend Petra (and David's wife) who has gone off to Arizona with no explanation; her 15 year-old sister Rae who is busy stalking her new "best friend," and regular acquaintance of Izzy's, SFPD Inspector Henry Stone to the point that his one attempt to give her a driving lesson ends with Rae accidentally running him over with his own car.
All the while, Izzy has a new case: finding out who is vandalizing a local neighbor's holiday lawn tableaus in an eerily accurate recreation of the same vandalizations committed in '92-'93 by Izzy and Petra (although Izzy's knee-jerk reply is always, "I don't know what you're talking about."), when they were at their most rebellious and delinquent time.
I was amazed at Lisa Lutz's ability to keep so many plates spinning while making me laugh out loud frequently, and at the end, hope that Izzy comes out of this crazy ride at the end a little wiser and somewhat saner. I'm already looking forward to the next installment of this whacky, funny family.
However, suspicious behavior isn't limited to Mr. Brown. There's also the members of her own family such as: her father Albert, who seems to be having a REAFO (Retirement Age Freak-Out) as he appears to be covertly changing to a healthier diet and attending a yoga class; her mother Olivia, who is sneaking out in the dead of night to regularly vandalize someone's motorbike; her perfect brother David, a successful lawyer who has suddenly taken to binge-watching television in his bathrobe and pajamas while drinking bourbon; her best friend Petra (and David's wife) who has gone off to Arizona with no explanation; her 15 year-old sister Rae who is busy stalking her new "best friend," and regular acquaintance of Izzy's, SFPD Inspector Henry Stone to the point that his one attempt to give her a driving lesson ends with Rae accidentally running him over with his own car.
All the while, Izzy has a new case: finding out who is vandalizing a local neighbor's holiday lawn tableaus in an eerily accurate recreation of the same vandalizations committed in '92-'93 by Izzy and Petra (although Izzy's knee-jerk reply is always, "I don't know what you're talking about."), when they were at their most rebellious and delinquent time.
I was amazed at Lisa Lutz's ability to keep so many plates spinning while making me laugh out loud frequently, and at the end, hope that Izzy comes out of this crazy ride at the end a little wiser and somewhat saner. I'm already looking forward to the next installment of this whacky, funny family.
April 16, 2008
I absolutely love this series and can't wait for the next one. The Spellman family is entertaining and Lutz's writing is superb.
February 29, 2016
I'm not sure what to say about this book. I really love Izzy and Henry and Rae. But I didn't at all enjoy where the author went with the story. Her family treated her like crap and I felt really bad for her. I really felt like the reader was owed a villain and we didn't really get one. The suspect that Izzy is sure is up to no good is of course a good guy. I really wanted her to be vindicated instead of being made to feel like a fool whose parents didn't really love her. You know they are the ones who raised her to be so inquisitive and driven to find answers and to be creative in her solutions so having her arrested for borrowing her mom's car with out asking seemed too much. Especially since her mother spent the book vandalizing a teenagers motorcycle. I'm thinking Izzy's lack of respect for the rules might just have some justification. And in a book that was supposed to be lighthearted and humorous watching my heroine see her ex boyfriends all hook up with Olympic stars, and losing her apartment and sleeping in her car and having everyone down on her for not being a caring person and thinking about others was just too much. All those other people could make fun of her and being shitty to her and that was okay? It was all Izzy's fault? Every body else gets to be wrapped up in their own drama and no one forces them to learn a life lesson. So back to the reader was owed a villain and Izzy was owed vindication. I just didn't like how it ended. Although I got to say that I guessed what was happening fairly early but was just hoping I was wrong.
The only parts I really liked were with Rae and Henry. I hope Izzy ends up with Henry since she loves him but at this point I don't really trust the author to get me there.
The only parts I really liked were with Rae and Henry. I hope Izzy ends up with Henry since she loves him but at this point I don't really trust the author to get me there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2018
I've given up thinking this series is a typical pi story w/a mystery.
it isn't!!! It's more a humorous fiction series about a dysfunctional family of kooky characters who work as PI's.
Positive: funny, likable characters, entertaining
Negative: it meanders alot off topic, the investigation part of the PI story is not developed enough
and footnotes? REALLY!!! It's a fiction, i don't want footnotes w/things like "more about that later." NO!!! i don't want to know later. tell me now or it isn't necessary.
and do i really need the whole freaking back history story of Isabella's juvenile delinquency's? Or a story about her parents and their complete back history. No , i didn't.
I will say that I really liked the Rae character. I think she’s a real “scene stealer”.
Also, how long til Izzy & Henry realize they’re perfect for each other? Unfortunately, while interested in this developing relationship, I don’t have the patience to read thru the other books in the series to find out.
The big "investigation" was the neighbor and her brother David. Both cases were dragged out for way toooooooo loooonnnnngggg!!!! also, it was fairly obvious what the neighbor was doing and what happened w/her brother.
I think this series would work best as a tv show.
Then it would be one hour incriments of these people where the “investigation” wouldn’t be featured as much as the humor of the characters.
(And an hour would be enough as opposed to 250 some pages to slog thru.)
it isn't!!! It's more a humorous fiction series about a dysfunctional family of kooky characters who work as PI's.
Positive: funny, likable characters, entertaining
Negative: it meanders alot off topic, the investigation part of the PI story is not developed enough
and footnotes? REALLY!!! It's a fiction, i don't want footnotes w/things like "more about that later." NO!!! i don't want to know later. tell me now or it isn't necessary.
and do i really need the whole freaking back history story of Isabella's juvenile delinquency's? Or a story about her parents and their complete back history. No , i didn't.
I will say that I really liked the Rae character. I think she’s a real “scene stealer”.
Also, how long til Izzy & Henry realize they’re perfect for each other? Unfortunately, while interested in this developing relationship, I don’t have the patience to read thru the other books in the series to find out.
The big "investigation" was the neighbor and her brother David. Both cases were dragged out for way toooooooo loooonnnnngggg!!!! also, it was fairly obvious what the neighbor was doing and what happened w/her brother.
I think this series would work best as a tv show.
Then it would be one hour incriments of these people where the “investigation” wouldn’t be featured as much as the humor of the characters.
(And an hour would be enough as opposed to 250 some pages to slog thru.)
July 7, 2011
Not worth re-reading and/or suggesting to anyone else. Although at times it was funny, overall I felt bad for the characters and myself! I felt like the author was talking down to me, the fact that the protagonist is a 30 year old woman who narrates in a more juvenile way than her 16 year old sister makes her INCREDIBLY hard to empathize with or to root for at all...
Basic Summary - Isabel Spellman works as a PI for her parents and has a 15-year-old sister who is a bit crazy but idolizes Isabel. The driving force behind the entire novel is that Isabel believes her parents' new neighbor is suspicious...and that's it. She stalks him, tries to break into a less than exciting locked room in his apartment, follows him, etc etc...Perhaps not surprisingly, he turns out being a good guy with valid reasons behind his "suspicious behavior." Really. That's it. This only comes to a head in the last two chapters or so. The only way readers can get through the rest of the book is with the comic relief of Rae (Isabel's sister) and Henry Stone - a cop who has somehow become sucked into the weirdness of the Spellman family and adopted Rae as his own personal project (mainly because he can't get rid of her).
Not the WORST but definitely left me feeling less than satisfied.
Basic Summary - Isabel Spellman works as a PI for her parents and has a 15-year-old sister who is a bit crazy but idolizes Isabel. The driving force behind the entire novel is that Isabel believes her parents' new neighbor is suspicious...and that's it. She stalks him, tries to break into a less than exciting locked room in his apartment, follows him, etc etc...Perhaps not surprisingly, he turns out being a good guy with valid reasons behind his "suspicious behavior." Really. That's it. This only comes to a head in the last two chapters or so. The only way readers can get through the rest of the book is with the comic relief of Rae (Isabel's sister) and Henry Stone - a cop who has somehow become sucked into the weirdness of the Spellman family and adopted Rae as his own personal project (mainly because he can't get rid of her).
Not the WORST but definitely left me feeling less than satisfied.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2008
Izzy's back! I was so excited to see a sequel to The Spellman Files.
So, we revisit Isabel and the rest of the Spellman family, but they're not as colorful as I remember them. The Spellman parents aren't as nosey, and her younger sister, Rae, is not the little spy she was in the first book. And her perfect brother, David, isn't so perfect anymore. Only Izzy remains in that crazy Spellman zone--ever suspicious of everyone and everything.
And this is where our story begins. A new neighbor for the Spellman's sparks Izzy's interest. Who is this John Brown? And why is one of the rooms in his home ALWAYS locked? It's up to Izzy to find out!
Along with this minute mystery, there is the wacky relationship between Rae and Inspector Henry Stone, as well as the constant, yet unsuccessful vacationing of the elder Spellmans.
I remember really liking the first Spellman book, but I can't get as excited about this one. I don't think it was as funny as the first one, which is a shame.
3/23/08
So, we revisit Isabel and the rest of the Spellman family, but they're not as colorful as I remember them. The Spellman parents aren't as nosey, and her younger sister, Rae, is not the little spy she was in the first book. And her perfect brother, David, isn't so perfect anymore. Only Izzy remains in that crazy Spellman zone--ever suspicious of everyone and everything.
And this is where our story begins. A new neighbor for the Spellman's sparks Izzy's interest. Who is this John Brown? And why is one of the rooms in his home ALWAYS locked? It's up to Izzy to find out!
Along with this minute mystery, there is the wacky relationship between Rae and Inspector Henry Stone, as well as the constant, yet unsuccessful vacationing of the elder Spellmans.
I remember really liking the first Spellman book, but I can't get as excited about this one. I don't think it was as funny as the first one, which is a shame.
3/23/08
January 2, 2014
With my second book club reading The Spellman Files, I thought I'd be an overachiever and read the next installment in the series. I'm so glad I did. I forgot how amusing those wacky Spellmans are. While I enjoyed the humor and characters in this one more, the mystery in the first was definitely better. (It kind of reminds me of my obsession with the TV Veronica Mars. The mystery in the first season was unmatched in the second, but I was so into the characters that it didn't matter.) And like VM, I often found myself sneaking in time with those characters. I even laughed at a few lines (and I hardly ever laugh out loud when reading). I can't wait for the next one in the series (here's hoping it's not as disappointing as the third season of VM). Once again, thanks for the recommend Lisa.
December 26, 2021
This was a different type of reading experience in that it dependents on my current mood of reading how I was going to enjoy reading it. It's definitely has it charms but if your not in the right mindset for the humour it get borderline ridiculous bit if I was in the right mindset I loved the more quirky plot and characters. Overall I enjoyed it a lot and is intrigued to see what going to happen next
July 10, 2018
This was a good follow-up to the Spellman Files. The first couple chapters do a fair amount of reminding the reader of characters and plot lines from the first book, and the main plot of book 2 doesn't take off incredibly fast, but if you like the characters the payoff is worth it. Looking forward to the next several books in the series.
October 29, 2016
I can't believe I fell for the exact same Spellman schtick all over again. Funny banter, dislocated narrative, faux detective daftness and some sweet emotions and soapy family soppiness. Am I really that easily pleased? I guess I'll have to read the next one to find out.
July 30, 2011
Zany second installment in the Spellman investigators series.
May 2, 2021
These books are so much fun! Light-hearted and easy to read. I love the Spellman series!
August 11, 2011
Back in March I read the first Spellman novel, The Spellman Files, and I absolutely loved it. The Spellman’s became the family I wanted to join, and I thought it was one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. I then acquired the other three novels (so far) in the series, and after a long wait, I finally got the chance to read book two, Curse of the Spellmans. Thankfully, it’s just as funny as the first book and the Spellman clan are just as nuts. Honestly, if it’s a fun, funny, stupid, easy read you’re after then the Spellman books are for you.
When I grow up I want to be one of two things: a) a PI or b) a bounty hunter. I mean first off we have the Spellman books that undoubtedly glamourises the PI business, ditto the Plum novels for being a bounty hunter. Who’d want to work in a boring old office when you can be the new Isabel Spellman or Stephanie Plum? What’s that? They’re fictional? Oops. You understand though, right? The Spellman books really appeal to my sense of humour. Isabel is rather immature, which will rankle a lot of people, but for me it adds to the hilarity. The Spellman books aren’t meant to be taken seriously, and it’s the reader’s fault if they do quite frankly. Curse of the Spellmans is just as fun as book as The Spellman Files, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
At the beginning I was a little confused as too much seems to happen and the book does seem to jump around a bit, but it soon settles down and I was able to catch up. We learn Isabel’s just been arrested for the fourth (or second, depending on whether you could arrest #2 & #3) time in two months, and we then rewind back to how it all began. How Isabel became suspicious of her (or, rather, her parent’s) new neighbour John Brown. Mainly because of his ordinary, boring name, but also because he’s a bit shifty and has a locked door in his house (as Isabel finds out, when she dates him, obviously). I liked the plot. Sure, Isabel can seem to be a bit over the top sometimes, but that’s her way. Once she smells a rat, she searches and searches until she’s satisfied the rat is, er, dead and buried. I think that’s the right metaphor anyway. I was as fascinated as Isabel, trying to figure out what the mysterious John Brown was up to.
Isabel’s family is as nuts as always. Her mother and father keep going off on disappearances (vacations to normal people; don’t worry, it’s explained in the book and all will make sense). Also her mother keeps sneaking out at night while her father seems to be going through a REAFO (Retirement-age freak-out) and Isabel wants to know why. Her little sister Rae seems to have normal-aged friends when she’s not busy “almost accidentally manslaughtering her best friend” Detective Henry Stone. Besides Isabel, Rae is my absolute favourite character. I could totally see Lutz doing a Rae spin-off, once Rae’s old enough (I don’t think 16 is old enough, unless Lutz wanted to do a teen series, which would work). Isabel’s brother David has descended into some sort of depression, too, meaning the Spellman clan are as busy as always. The tag line is right, they do put the “fun” in dysfunctional, but I’m sure, underneath the surface they love each other.
I thoroughly enjoyed Curse of the Spellmans. Honestly, they’re one of the funniest families ever and I can’t wait to dive into Revenge of the Spellmans and The Spellmans Strike Again. The books aren’t for everyone, but if you love Janet Evanovich’s “Plum” novels then I’m sure you’ll love the Spellmans too. They’re a bit similar, I suppose, but both are just as enjoyable and both have their own niches. There isn’t much romance in the Spellman books so far, but I have high hopes that might change with book three, with Isabel and Henry. Well, I’m hoping so anyway because, well, I love some romance in my books and that’s the only thing missing from the Spellman novels. Definitely recommended, it’s a great series.
When I grow up I want to be one of two things: a) a PI or b) a bounty hunter. I mean first off we have the Spellman books that undoubtedly glamourises the PI business, ditto the Plum novels for being a bounty hunter. Who’d want to work in a boring old office when you can be the new Isabel Spellman or Stephanie Plum? What’s that? They’re fictional? Oops. You understand though, right? The Spellman books really appeal to my sense of humour. Isabel is rather immature, which will rankle a lot of people, but for me it adds to the hilarity. The Spellman books aren’t meant to be taken seriously, and it’s the reader’s fault if they do quite frankly. Curse of the Spellmans is just as fun as book as The Spellman Files, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
At the beginning I was a little confused as too much seems to happen and the book does seem to jump around a bit, but it soon settles down and I was able to catch up. We learn Isabel’s just been arrested for the fourth (or second, depending on whether you could arrest #2 & #3) time in two months, and we then rewind back to how it all began. How Isabel became suspicious of her (or, rather, her parent’s) new neighbour John Brown. Mainly because of his ordinary, boring name, but also because he’s a bit shifty and has a locked door in his house (as Isabel finds out, when she dates him, obviously). I liked the plot. Sure, Isabel can seem to be a bit over the top sometimes, but that’s her way. Once she smells a rat, she searches and searches until she’s satisfied the rat is, er, dead and buried. I think that’s the right metaphor anyway. I was as fascinated as Isabel, trying to figure out what the mysterious John Brown was up to.
Isabel’s family is as nuts as always. Her mother and father keep going off on disappearances (vacations to normal people; don’t worry, it’s explained in the book and all will make sense). Also her mother keeps sneaking out at night while her father seems to be going through a REAFO (Retirement-age freak-out) and Isabel wants to know why. Her little sister Rae seems to have normal-aged friends when she’s not busy “almost accidentally manslaughtering her best friend” Detective Henry Stone. Besides Isabel, Rae is my absolute favourite character. I could totally see Lutz doing a Rae spin-off, once Rae’s old enough (I don’t think 16 is old enough, unless Lutz wanted to do a teen series, which would work). Isabel’s brother David has descended into some sort of depression, too, meaning the Spellman clan are as busy as always. The tag line is right, they do put the “fun” in dysfunctional, but I’m sure, underneath the surface they love each other.
I thoroughly enjoyed Curse of the Spellmans. Honestly, they’re one of the funniest families ever and I can’t wait to dive into Revenge of the Spellmans and The Spellmans Strike Again. The books aren’t for everyone, but if you love Janet Evanovich’s “Plum” novels then I’m sure you’ll love the Spellmans too. They’re a bit similar, I suppose, but both are just as enjoyable and both have their own niches. There isn’t much romance in the Spellman books so far, but I have high hopes that might change with book three, with Isabel and Henry. Well, I’m hoping so anyway because, well, I love some romance in my books and that’s the only thing missing from the Spellman novels. Definitely recommended, it’s a great series.
July 30, 2008
“Without a doubt the restraining order put a cramp in my investigation of Subject.”
That’s not how the second in Lisa Lutz’s series on the Spellman family of private investigators starts. No, a lot more happens before thirty-year-old Izzy Spellman is legally restrained from being near her parents’ neighbor/subject of her own personal investigation/boyfriend.
The Spellman parents run a PI firm, and daughters Izzy and Rae help them; Izzy’s been spying since she was twelve and Rae since she was six. Oldest child David has long distanced himself from the family and its business, becoming a lawyer whose only connection to their work is to sometimes send business to them. The problem is that Izzy, in particular, just can’t stop. Everyone is a suspect to her, and with the help of a portable recorder, she has transcripts of lots of conversations, from witness interviews for actual cases to her mother suggesting to the cop Rae has befriended that he pose as Izzy’s fiancé so that the social worker will stop bugging the family about age-inappropriate friendships.
That kind of device works in the book—what would a first-person narration by a PI be without some transcripts?—but the copious use of footnotes doesn’t. Why do readers even need to be told, “5Morty likes to Yiddishify my name” in reference to her lawyer calling her “Izzila”? And wouldn’t it be stronger to just include “1Who happened to be my partner in crime during most of my delinquent years” at the end of the sentence, “Now David is a lawyer married to my best friend, Petra” instead of in a footnote?
Izzy is an incredibly immature thirty-year-old, which is what leads to a lot of the mishaps and miscommunications that drive a funny-snappy/funny-silly beach read like Curse of the Spellmans. This “charm” would be completely off-putting—when Izzy spends the night at her boyfriend’s, the startled reader may have to remind herself that Izzy’s not a teenager but a grown woman—but Lutz redeems Izzy in a couple ways. This female screwball-detective-novel character is not a “dumb broad.” Her lack of social graces just makes her refreshingly outspoken and frank. And while this reviewer isn’t in the habit of rewarding anyone for being immature, the current media trend—in ads, in movies, and the like—is for men to be unsettled goofballs and women to be super-responsible homemaker CEOs. So if we ever have to go the route of, if you can’t beat ’em join ’em, finally, finally here’s a grown woman who is allowed to follow her impulses, no matter how selfish.
Review by Kristin Thiel, Indigo Editing, LLC, originally posted at Seeing Indigo.
ISBN: 978-1-4165-3241-5; 1-4165-3241-2
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pub Date: March 2008
Hardcover: $25.00
That’s not how the second in Lisa Lutz’s series on the Spellman family of private investigators starts. No, a lot more happens before thirty-year-old Izzy Spellman is legally restrained from being near her parents’ neighbor/subject of her own personal investigation/boyfriend.
The Spellman parents run a PI firm, and daughters Izzy and Rae help them; Izzy’s been spying since she was twelve and Rae since she was six. Oldest child David has long distanced himself from the family and its business, becoming a lawyer whose only connection to their work is to sometimes send business to them. The problem is that Izzy, in particular, just can’t stop. Everyone is a suspect to her, and with the help of a portable recorder, she has transcripts of lots of conversations, from witness interviews for actual cases to her mother suggesting to the cop Rae has befriended that he pose as Izzy’s fiancé so that the social worker will stop bugging the family about age-inappropriate friendships.
That kind of device works in the book—what would a first-person narration by a PI be without some transcripts?—but the copious use of footnotes doesn’t. Why do readers even need to be told, “5Morty likes to Yiddishify my name” in reference to her lawyer calling her “Izzila”? And wouldn’t it be stronger to just include “1Who happened to be my partner in crime during most of my delinquent years” at the end of the sentence, “Now David is a lawyer married to my best friend, Petra” instead of in a footnote?
Izzy is an incredibly immature thirty-year-old, which is what leads to a lot of the mishaps and miscommunications that drive a funny-snappy/funny-silly beach read like Curse of the Spellmans. This “charm” would be completely off-putting—when Izzy spends the night at her boyfriend’s, the startled reader may have to remind herself that Izzy’s not a teenager but a grown woman—but Lutz redeems Izzy in a couple ways. This female screwball-detective-novel character is not a “dumb broad.” Her lack of social graces just makes her refreshingly outspoken and frank. And while this reviewer isn’t in the habit of rewarding anyone for being immature, the current media trend—in ads, in movies, and the like—is for men to be unsettled goofballs and women to be super-responsible homemaker CEOs. So if we ever have to go the route of, if you can’t beat ’em join ’em, finally, finally here’s a grown woman who is allowed to follow her impulses, no matter how selfish.
Review by Kristin Thiel, Indigo Editing, LLC, originally posted at Seeing Indigo.
ISBN: 978-1-4165-3241-5; 1-4165-3241-2
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pub Date: March 2008
Hardcover: $25.00
January 6, 2012
The Good Stuff
Another wild and wacky tale of the delightfully dysfunctional, yet totally loveable, Spellman family
Would love to take mamma Spellman to some of Jake's parent teachers meeting - she totally rocks
Love how Izzy refers to potential dates as Ex-Boyfriend #?
Don't really have to read the first book in order to understand the plot, it will help and you will love it, but you won't be totally lost if you don't
Gives you a synopsis of the first book without too much repetition for those who have read it already
Love the relationships between all of the charcters - especially between Izzy, Rae and Henry
The dialogues are hilarious -- FYI you will snort out loud - do not drink while reading - it could get messy
The transcripts are a fabulous quirky idea
The appendix is a perfect addition
Even reading the acknowledgments is fun
Looking forward to reading the next installment of the series -- they are totally addictive to read
The Not So Good Stuff
Her writing style might throw off some, story jumps around a lot, so you gotta be paying attention
Distracts me from getting work done, since I want to keep reading
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"Background: When my sister was eight years old, my brother, in the interest of explaining his legal career to Rae, taught her how to negotiate. It was a lesson he and the rest of us would soon regret. Rae took from this lesson that everything - from simple acts of grooming to household chores to homework - could be negotiated to her end."
"I pinched Rae really hard on her arm, which lately is code for "whatever you're doing, stop doing it."
"Rae took the money and headed for the door. In my family, if one loses a negotiation, we like to pretend that we have won.
"I would have given you thirty," I said
"I would have done it for five," Rae replied."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Definitely for those who enjoy reading books about quirky families
Hardcore readers of mystery or PI style books might now enjoy
Readers who just enjoy something a little different, this is for you
If you just need a good laugh -- this will do it
Obviously for fans of the first book - but you don't have to read it first
5 Dewey's
I received this from Simon and Schuster in Exchange for an Honest Review & I'm bringing you the REALLY good cookies at OLA for introducing me to these books
Another wild and wacky tale of the delightfully dysfunctional, yet totally loveable, Spellman family
Would love to take mamma Spellman to some of Jake's parent teachers meeting - she totally rocks
Love how Izzy refers to potential dates as Ex-Boyfriend #?
Don't really have to read the first book in order to understand the plot, it will help and you will love it, but you won't be totally lost if you don't
Gives you a synopsis of the first book without too much repetition for those who have read it already
Love the relationships between all of the charcters - especially between Izzy, Rae and Henry
The dialogues are hilarious -- FYI you will snort out loud - do not drink while reading - it could get messy
The transcripts are a fabulous quirky idea
The appendix is a perfect addition
Even reading the acknowledgments is fun
Looking forward to reading the next installment of the series -- they are totally addictive to read
The Not So Good Stuff
Her writing style might throw off some, story jumps around a lot, so you gotta be paying attention
Distracts me from getting work done, since I want to keep reading
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"Background: When my sister was eight years old, my brother, in the interest of explaining his legal career to Rae, taught her how to negotiate. It was a lesson he and the rest of us would soon regret. Rae took from this lesson that everything - from simple acts of grooming to household chores to homework - could be negotiated to her end."
"I pinched Rae really hard on her arm, which lately is code for "whatever you're doing, stop doing it."
"Rae took the money and headed for the door. In my family, if one loses a negotiation, we like to pretend that we have won.
"I would have given you thirty," I said
"I would have done it for five," Rae replied."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Definitely for those who enjoy reading books about quirky families
Hardcore readers of mystery or PI style books might now enjoy
Readers who just enjoy something a little different, this is for you
If you just need a good laugh -- this will do it
Obviously for fans of the first book - but you don't have to read it first
5 Dewey's
I received this from Simon and Schuster in Exchange for an Honest Review & I'm bringing you the REALLY good cookies at OLA for introducing me to these books
May 3, 2009
Curse of the Spellmans
By Lisa Lutz
The brief testimonials which are included on the book jackets or paperback covers can tell a reader a lot about the book. If the blurb is from a well-respected author such as Scott Turow or Tom Wolfe or even from an established book critic like Jonathan Yardley or Michael Dirda from the Washington Post there is bound to be some credibility to the book. When the quotes (in the case of this book) come from “People” magazine, “Entertainment Weekly” and from an author you’ve never heard of it can be equally as telling. Curse of the Spellmans must appeal to some one; I’m just not sure who.
The short version of the story is as follows: The Spellmans are a family of private investigators who live in San Francisco. The family consists of the two Spellman parents who are approaching retirement age, an oldest son (David) who is a successful attorney, a thirty-something daughter who is the main character and narrator (Isabelle or “Izzy”) and a precocious fifteen year old daughter (Rae). The reason these people make good investigators apparently is because they are compulsively nosey. The main plot begins when a new neighbor moves in next to the Spellman parents. His introduces himself as John Brown which sets alarms off in the head of Izzy Spellman. She is sure this is an assumed name and that this man is a criminal of some sort. These suspicions are confirmed when Izzy goes through the man’s trash and finds that it has all been shredded. She goes so far as to date John Brown in order to acquire more information which is generally unsuccessful. There are lots of subplots involving Rae’s learning to drive, Rae’s first boyfriend and the Spellman parents’ intrusion into all of these activities. The Spellmans are very good at snooping, especially into each other’s lives. The story is written as humor and, as such, was a welcome respite from the violence and gore of several of the other nominees (the last two in particular). The problem is that to me, the book just wasn’t that funny. Other reviewers have compared Ms. Lutz’ humorous style to Carl Hiassen, but in my opinion she is not even close to his level. On a positive note, the dialogue this author writes is very good, it moves the story along and makes it much quicker to read which, in my mind, was a blessing.
By Lisa Lutz
The brief testimonials which are included on the book jackets or paperback covers can tell a reader a lot about the book. If the blurb is from a well-respected author such as Scott Turow or Tom Wolfe or even from an established book critic like Jonathan Yardley or Michael Dirda from the Washington Post there is bound to be some credibility to the book. When the quotes (in the case of this book) come from “People” magazine, “Entertainment Weekly” and from an author you’ve never heard of it can be equally as telling. Curse of the Spellmans must appeal to some one; I’m just not sure who.
The short version of the story is as follows: The Spellmans are a family of private investigators who live in San Francisco. The family consists of the two Spellman parents who are approaching retirement age, an oldest son (David) who is a successful attorney, a thirty-something daughter who is the main character and narrator (Isabelle or “Izzy”) and a precocious fifteen year old daughter (Rae). The reason these people make good investigators apparently is because they are compulsively nosey. The main plot begins when a new neighbor moves in next to the Spellman parents. His introduces himself as John Brown which sets alarms off in the head of Izzy Spellman. She is sure this is an assumed name and that this man is a criminal of some sort. These suspicions are confirmed when Izzy goes through the man’s trash and finds that it has all been shredded. She goes so far as to date John Brown in order to acquire more information which is generally unsuccessful. There are lots of subplots involving Rae’s learning to drive, Rae’s first boyfriend and the Spellman parents’ intrusion into all of these activities. The Spellmans are very good at snooping, especially into each other’s lives. The story is written as humor and, as such, was a welcome respite from the violence and gore of several of the other nominees (the last two in particular). The problem is that to me, the book just wasn’t that funny. Other reviewers have compared Ms. Lutz’ humorous style to Carl Hiassen, but in my opinion she is not even close to his level. On a positive note, the dialogue this author writes is very good, it moves the story along and makes it much quicker to read which, in my mind, was a blessing.
August 29, 2011
While I thoroughly enjoyed the humor of this novel, I found it to be so disjointed and oddly organized as to be annoying. The book was chocked full of interesting characters with dysfunctional relationships that offered a good deal of humor but the plot took a backseat to the humor and sadly the humor was the central part of the book. It was funny, but it was far too cutesy. In fact it was so cutesy it came across like an episode of the naked gun. What little mystery there was got resolved in such an absurd manner that it made me want to throw the book across the room.
The author is fond of using footnotes to make her jokes and witty comments which at first succeeds and then her overuse of this mechanism becomes as welcome as Jehovah's Witnesses on the doorstep. Over and over again the reader is forced to move his eyes to the bottom of the page so he will not miss the joke. At first this is funny, but by now you can tell how annoying it became before the end of the book.
The blurbs by famous people on the back of the book liken the author to Carl Hiassan. Okay, she writes wacky stuff, but at least Hiassan does not let the humor take precedence over the story! Further, the blurb claims she is part Columbo and yet I never saw her do something remotely like our persistent beloved raincoat garbed detective. People magazine describes her as the love child of Dirty Harry and Harriet the spy. There are no "make my day" moments here leading me to wonder if the first book in this series was really different from this mediocre offering
The heroine is wittier than Parker's Spenser, but it hurts the story. She is sarcastic, to the point of being nasty
Not recommended
The author is fond of using footnotes to make her jokes and witty comments which at first succeeds and then her overuse of this mechanism becomes as welcome as Jehovah's Witnesses on the doorstep. Over and over again the reader is forced to move his eyes to the bottom of the page so he will not miss the joke. At first this is funny, but by now you can tell how annoying it became before the end of the book.
The blurbs by famous people on the back of the book liken the author to Carl Hiassan. Okay, she writes wacky stuff, but at least Hiassan does not let the humor take precedence over the story! Further, the blurb claims she is part Columbo and yet I never saw her do something remotely like our persistent beloved raincoat garbed detective. People magazine describes her as the love child of Dirty Harry and Harriet the spy. There are no "make my day" moments here leading me to wonder if the first book in this series was really different from this mediocre offering
The heroine is wittier than Parker's Spenser, but it hurts the story. She is sarcastic, to the point of being nasty
Not recommended
August 21, 2012
The cover blurbs on the copy I read say, 'delightful,' 'whip-smart sass,' and 'fast-paced, irreverent, and very funny.'
I agree with the 'delightful' one but not the others. The 'whip-smart sass' and 'irreverent' were merely typical of remarks families trade, not really breaking any new ground. The closest I came to 'very funny' was a small smile. Okay, I'll give you the 'fast-paced.' I read it in less than a day and the (mostly) short chapters made reading it in short bursts without losing the thread of the story easy.
The footnotes in many chapters were annoying. Few imparted useful information relating to the story and those few could have been handled as parenthetical asides. The overall effect was more 'cutesy' than anything. Printing so small it was almost impossible to read without a magnifying glass only upped the annoyance factor, as did repeated references in them to the first book in the series. Tacky, Lisa Lutz, very tacky!
Will I read the next book in the series? Jury's still out.
I agree with the 'delightful' one but not the others. The 'whip-smart sass' and 'irreverent' were merely typical of remarks families trade, not really breaking any new ground. The closest I came to 'very funny' was a small smile. Okay, I'll give you the 'fast-paced.' I read it in less than a day and the (mostly) short chapters made reading it in short bursts without losing the thread of the story easy.
The footnotes in many chapters were annoying. Few imparted useful information relating to the story and those few could have been handled as parenthetical asides. The overall effect was more 'cutesy' than anything. Printing so small it was almost impossible to read without a magnifying glass only upped the annoyance factor, as did repeated references in them to the first book in the series. Tacky, Lisa Lutz, very tacky!
Will I read the next book in the series? Jury's still out.
February 13, 2015
This one gets a 4.5 star rating from me. I'm usually not a fan of series, primarily because of the issues that are in the beginning of this book - the numerous references back to the previous book in case the reader hasn't started at the beginning...
Once I got past that however, and simply let myself enjoy the author's unique and addicting style, I simply loved reading through it. It's too bad that the characters are not based on real people though because Izzy reminds me of an ex-girlfriend or two - the kind you remember after a couple of drinks and start wondering where they've ended up in life.
Lisa's passion for writing shines through on each page, even including the acknowledgments (and it looks like I have a couple of names to use now to send my manuscript in to once it's completed. Hmm... :)). She's the kind of author you want to read and the type you'd love to talk to over a drink or lunch, just to hear what else she's thinking... Looks like I'm sold on this series.
Once I got past that however, and simply let myself enjoy the author's unique and addicting style, I simply loved reading through it. It's too bad that the characters are not based on real people though because Izzy reminds me of an ex-girlfriend or two - the kind you remember after a couple of drinks and start wondering where they've ended up in life.
Lisa's passion for writing shines through on each page, even including the acknowledgments (and it looks like I have a couple of names to use now to send my manuscript in to once it's completed. Hmm... :)). She's the kind of author you want to read and the type you'd love to talk to over a drink or lunch, just to hear what else she's thinking... Looks like I'm sold on this series.
November 5, 2011
Izzy est toujours autant déjantée et terriblement drôle dans ce deuxième tome!! ^^
J'aime beaucoup le personnage de Rae, et celui de Henry également.
Je me suis bidonnée pendant toute ma lecture, j'ai adoré!
Cette série est drôle, les répliques d'Izzy sont tordantes, tous les personnages sont terribles.
Et j'aime San Francisco! ;)
Ce deuxième tome est une réussite!! :)
"Je ne vois pas du tout de quoi vous parlez."
(excuse favorite d'Izzy)
J'aime beaucoup le personnage de Rae, et celui de Henry également.
Je me suis bidonnée pendant toute ma lecture, j'ai adoré!
Cette série est drôle, les répliques d'Izzy sont tordantes, tous les personnages sont terribles.
Et j'aime San Francisco! ;)
Ce deuxième tome est une réussite!! :)
"Je ne vois pas du tout de quoi vous parlez."
(excuse favorite d'Izzy)
May 13, 2012
I gave the Spellmans a second chance because sometimes things get better.
What's supposed to be amusing strikes me as irritating. That anyone would put up with this family, much less continue to be involved with them is beyond my understanding. How they manage to stay in business stuns me. Why anyone continues to be involved with the family amazes me. Yes, I know it's supposed to be funny. I just don't have that particular sense of humor.
What's supposed to be amusing strikes me as irritating. That anyone would put up with this family, much less continue to be involved with them is beyond my understanding. How they manage to stay in business stuns me. Why anyone continues to be involved with the family amazes me. Yes, I know it's supposed to be funny. I just don't have that particular sense of humor.
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