Curse of the Spellmans

Warning: Spending time with the Spellman Family is highly addictive and produces uncontrollable bouts of laughter.

Two years have passed since Lisa Lutz’s debut novel introduced the lovable, dysfunctional Spellman Family and mesmerized readers from coast to coast with the kind of snooping, scheming and blackmailing that could only exist between parties who truly care for one another.

We rejoin Isabel Spellman (a.k.a. Izzy), in San Francisco, now thirty years old and once again working for her parents at Spellman Investigations. Enjoying independence living in Bernie’s apartment (an ex-cop and friend) away on vacation. But that was short-lived when he unexpectedly returns nursing a broken-heart, forcing a reluctant Izzy to move back show more home. Thus beginning the spin of an all-new web of action-packed insanity.

Izzy becomes fixated on her parent’s new neighbor, John Brown. She’s plagued by unanswered questions…what’s in those bags of shredded paper? If you live alone, why lock doors inside your home? It just didn’t add up and her incessant probing makes Mr. Brown suspicious of her. One thing leads to another as she is convinced his landscaping business is merely a front or cover that’s hiding something much more serious. She investigates Mr. Brown relentlessly until he finally gets a restraining order against her. Arrested four times in the past three months, Izzy is in jeopardy of losing her PI license and even though her parents disagree strongly about Mr. Brown, she steadfastly refuses to let it go.

All the while her father seems to be experiencing a “retirement age freak out” and her mother has taken to vandalizing a motorbike every night. Younger sister Rae has developed an intense friendship with Henry Stone, a police inspector with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The considerable age difference sparks the interest of Social Services, who despite the parents' argument, simply refuse to see things quite so cut and dried. So in order to protect Rae’s newly found “straight-laced way of life,” which everyone agrees should be credited to Mr. Stone’s obvious positive influence, big sister, is recruited and agrees to play along, pretending to be Henry’s fiancee’. It doesn’t take long for Izzy to discover Henry Stone is a really good guy, a little off, but a good guy none-the-less.

What follows is a laugh out loud, edge of your seat, knuckle crunching read that’s loaded with that special Spellman sassiness. The smart-mouthed, in your business, the business of private investigating, has been laid bare for all to enjoy in Curse of the Spellmans. This is one of those books you just can’t seem to find a good place to stop - til you get to the last page. And then you can’t help but wish for more. Lisa Lutz has created an original series, that just keeps getting better and better. With a cast of kooky and oh so lovable characters that are both frustratingly nosy and eternally loyal readers are cheering, sneering and giggling their way through these delicious literary treats. Well written, funny and full of heart - Lisa Lutz has developed a signature series that above all else, entertains!

Kudos. show less

The Spellmans are fun. And it is a pure delight to be back with them in this second of Lutz's six books series about Izzy Spellman, private eye, and her loving, eccentric family. I read the first one when it came out and had no reason to put off reading this next installment except, perhaps, for the fear it wouldn't live up to the first. But it absolutely did and with luck I'll get to the third book far sooner than I did to the second.

As the book opens, Izzy Spellman, a 30 year old private investigator with her family's firm, has been arrested four times in three months (but a couple of those don't count!). This fact might slow down anyone else, but Izzy has always been like a dog with a bone and she is determined to get to the bottom show more of her unsanctioned investigations, restraining orders and such notwithstanding. She is certain that there is something not quite right about her parents' new neighbor, bland and nice though John Brown appears to be, and she is determined to get to the bottom of it. She also notes suspicious behaviour from her brother, her best friend, her mother, and her father. The only one in the family seemingly still on the level is little sister Rae, until she admits that she has friends besides the age inappropriate Detective Henry Stone. Add to that the fact that Izzy's one actual paying job is to find out who is recreating the creative vandalism of her and her best friend's youth, and there are a number of fairly madcap story lines going on.

The Spellman parents are less involved in Izzy's life in this kooky follow-up to The Spellman Files as each of them has concerns of their own that make them much more self-focused but the story is no less chaotic and scattered. The plot careens forward and backwards and every which way in between, often told through Izzy's meetings with her hard of hearing, octogenarian lawyer. There are teases with promises to expand on situations later in the book and there are footnoted asides and call-backs to the first novel. The experience of reading about Izzy and her family is quite possibly the most enjoyable case of whiplash you'll ever have. It is full of diversions and pandemonium and controlled bedlam. The solutions to each of the things Izzy is investigating aren't earth shattering and in some cases might be expected but it was just a blast being with these characters again, learning more about them, seeing where they are perceptive and where they (Izzy in particular) can be blind. Probably best read after the first book so you have some frame of reference, this is a worthwhile second book and I look forward to the next one. show less

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 show more 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. show less

The Spellmans are one messed up family. They run a private eye business, but their biggest activity seems to be spying on one another. Fortunately for us, their antics are hilarious! Curse of the Spellmans is one of the few sequels that was actually better than the first of the series. I loved the mix of mysteries, spy antics and dysfunction in the plot. The characters are complex and believable, not cartoon-ish like they would be in the hands of lesser talent. All-in-all, great fun!

After her fourth arrest [which she considers a job hazard], Isabel Spellman is on the outs with her parents and sister, all of whom are part of the family private investigation business. There are many strange goings-on with the members of the Spellman family: Izzy’s mother is sneaking out at odd hours and vandalizing a motorbike, Rae has latched onto Henry Stone as her new best friend, and her father is acting even stranger than usual.

But Izzy has her own problems. Someone is recreating her teenage acts of vandalism involving holiday decorations in a retired teacher’s front yard. And, to complicate her life even further, the new next-door neighbor, a man named John Brown is, in her opinion, acting quite strangely. Why would he show more have a room in his house that is always locked? What is he hiding? Perpetually suspicious Izzy sets out to solve the mystery. But will she be able to discover the man’s secret or will she end up needing that octogenarian lawyer friend of hers to keep her out of jail?

The Spellman shenanigans and madcap escapades provide readers with plenty of chuckles. The laugh-out-loud moments continue and there is an unfolding mystery concerning John Brown and Izzy’s suspicions. The dysfunctional Spellman family members are the highlight of this fast-paced narrative. With Izzy again relating the hilarious doings, readers who appreciate zany goings-on and absurd hijinks, all in the name of discovering the truth, are likely to fall in love with the delightfully ditzy Spellman clan.

Second in a series, this delightful narrative holds up as well as the first. The Spellman Mystery Series continues in four more volumes of entertaining family hijinks. And the laughing continues.

Highly recommended. show less

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 show more 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 show less

Easy to follow and did not feel as chaotic as the first one. Author deftly juggled multiple events without it getting confusing. Although this was the second book, it was clear enough to be a standalone. Usually when I read a sequel and it was some time ago, there will be some points where I'll go "What happened again in the first one?" But this one laid everything out.

Yay for character development. I like how Izzy is still obviously flawed but she's *learning*, you know? She's trying to figure things out, like the rest of us. That made her more relatable and therefore I feel more inclined to join her on the rest of her misadventures, even if I suspect it'll get even crazier.

And, well, Doctor Who! The ninth is also my favorite. Sorry, show more Rae.

I loved Henry. He is the new Daniel, but who stuck it out far longer. Olivia Spellman still has the best quotes though.

I'm really enjoying this kind of story, which doesn't neatly fit into one genre. (I love how it includes, aside from "detective", "domestic fiction" as a category.) Feels like a less wacky Stephanie Plum without the overt pandering to readers using steamy Ranger/Morelli moments. Not that I don't enjoy some nice sexual tension, but I rather like that it feels less of a guilty pleasure and more... respectable? I'd say family-friendly, but if you've met the Spellmans you'd soon rethink your definitions.

Would recommend to anybody, regardless of which genres they are used to reading. show less