The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
Published by Simon & Schuster
Perhaps you remember, but I recently adored Head You Lose, Lisa Lutz’s new book, with cowriter David Hayward. Based on my love for Heads You Lose and the recommendations of many readers I trust, I decided that the next new series I start would have to be Lisa Lutz’s The Spellman Files. I took the first book out from the library and it sat around my house for a few days. Then last week, when I felt myself on the verge of a reading slump, I had a feeling that The Spellman Files might just be the cure for what ailed me.
It is quite difficult to describe the plot of The Spellman Files without making it sound convoluted and ridiculous, which it really isn’t. Anyway, there’s Izzy Spellman, second of three children in the Spellman clan, although she’s more or less an adult now. Izzy’s parents are private investigators, and she’s been involved since she was old enough to trail a perp – although she was very distracted by pot and petty vandalism as a teenager. Now she lives with her parents, 12 year old sister Rae, and their Uncle Ray who has turned to a life of alcohol and debauchery, after clean living gave him cancer. Rae and Ray are at war, and Izzy is trying to hide from her parents her relationship Exboyfriend #8, the dentist who thinks she is a teacher. There are footnotes scattered liberally throughout the book as asides from Izzy, and some of the subplots have their own set of chapter numbers, so you can read two chapter 2s in a row. It is also clear that most of what is being told is leading up to a time when Rae is missing, and Izzy is trying to tell her story to a detective in the present to give him background on Rae. Luckily these scenes with the detective are in a different font from the rest of the book, so they are easily distinguishable.
See? I didn’t do a very good job convincing you that this book isn’t overly complicated. The thing is, though, Lisa Lutz makes it work. I never had to stop and think about which story thread I was following, even when I did read two chapter 2s in a row. Everything is weaved together so effortlessly, that I just relaxed and went along for the ride. Anyway, I totally loved The Spellman Files, Lutz has a real talent for very funny mysteries. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series, I will definitely be keeping them on hand for when I need a change of pace.
Highly recommended.
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I LOVE this series, very funny and unusual. I have read and loved all of them. They are great rereads also when you need a laugh.
All right, you’ve convinced me. I’m heading off to the library website now to place a request.
Yay, so glad you read — and enjoyed — this one! I love this series.
And yes, it’s not nearly so convoluted as it may seem.
So glad you liked this one! I have book 1 and just haven’t gotten to it yet. I love books with humor and this sounds like a good series. Great review!
A good friend of mine is crazy about this series. She keeps telling me I need to read it.
I read this when it first came out (in my pre-blogging days) and loved it. I don’t know why I haven’t picked up the next one in the series, but I’m determined to rediscover the wonder of Lisa Lutz.
I LOVE Lisa Lutz & the Spellman series. I have read them since the first one came out, and bought every one since. Now I’ve got to get my hands on Heads You Lose because it’s gotten rave reviews AND the sample I read from Amazon was amazing. Isn’t it nice to find a new-to-you author with several books to go back and enjoy?
This sounds like such a fun book, but that might just be because I am a sucker for things with footnotes!
Oh, I absolutely love this series. Glad you enjoyed it as well.
Do read all four books in the series. More are coming, I guess, but the first four work together to tell a single story about Izzy and her family. The rest are just as funny and the story gains weight.