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Title: The Spellmans Strike Again
Author: Lisa Lutz
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Format: Advanced Reading Copy from Publisher
Genre: Mystery
Series: 4th and final installment in The Spellman Files
Release Date: March 2010
Rating: 5/5! (I wish I could show my 5 jumping up and down in excitement!)
My Review and Description:
For those of you who are new to the Spellmans, this is the 4th and final installment in the series and I am very sad to see it go. I received an ARC of the first installment simply called The Spellman Files a few years back and became instantly hooked. It is different than anything I have ever read, especially any mystery I've ever read. It's really in a genre of its own. I have since gobbled up the rest of them. I was so excited, once again, to read this one as soon as the ARCs were available. Thank you to Wendy at Simon and Schuster for sending this to me so early!
I'll sum up the series for you.
The Spellmans are a family of Private Investigators that reside in
San Franscisco. Albert and Olivia are the parents. David (35), Isabel (32) and Rae (17) are the children. There are a whole cast of side characters that fill each book but the repeats are the best. Morty, Isabel's 85 year old best friend. Conner, the hunky Irish bartender of Isabel's favorite watering hole. Bernie, an ex-cop who has "helped" the Spellman family on more than one occasion. And Henry, the former detective, now inspector, begrudgingly connected to everything Spellman.
I claim to be a tad bit witty and maybe just a smidge funny at times, but I do not think I can give Lisa Lutz enough kudos for her absolutely splendid, stomach clenching, eye watering humor. She is in a league of her own with her one liners, pokes and dripping sarcasm.
Though I mention the last book for this review, I really have to give a shout out to the entire series. I couldn't wait until March to review it and since Christmas is coming, the perfect gift would be to buy the first three! You have three months to get ready for the finale!
The series is told mostly from Isabel's perspective, the highly dysfunctional and proud of it middle child, prepped to take over the family P.I business. Through her blurry eyes and non stop sharp tongue, you get to enjoy her sassy, clever, "no rules apply to me" little sister, Rae; her overly responsible "I'm not really a part of this family" older brother, David; her snooping, "loving" parents, Olivia and Albert; her deli loving old man best friend, Morty; and her "obvious to everyone" love of her life, Henry.
The crazy cases and schemes they get involved with are too much and too layered to even get into but needless to say, it is a riot to go through it with them. You end up shaking your head and thanking the Lord that they are not related to you but then secretly wishing you could hang out with them! I just finished the last book moments before writing this so I am feeling bittersweet and missing these full of life characters.
The rumor is that the movie rights are in the works and I can not even match an actor to these unique individuals. To do so would diminish their own strong identities. I guess I'll just have to wait and see and probably mutter injustices under my breath.
I can't say enough how funny and smart and different this series really is. It is unlike anything that I had ever read before and I think it deserves as much attention as I can generate! I know Christine at The Happliy ever After is a big fan now too! Thanks Christine!
Here is a picture of the first three off my own shelf.
Pick one up today!
1st book= The Spellman Files
2nd book= Curse of the Spellmans
3rd book= Revenge of the Spellmans
Lisa Lutz website.
Happy Reading!
red headed book child
(the parts in quotations are my own takes, not quoted from any of the books)
10 comments:
These sound like great fun! I'm going to have to check them out. I think I've seen them in the store but didn't know if they'd be good. I love to throw something like this in between those really heavy books.
This is a series I have want to catch up on. I've read books one and two. Come on 2010! I have a bunch of books to catch up on.
I have the first book in my TBR pile. It sounds like I need to bump it up to the top of the pile!! Thanks for your glowing review! :)
I loooove this series. I want the next one NOW!
I havent read these - or heard of them. Once again appears I am living in Alice in Wonderlands rabbit hole....LOL
These look awesome!
Lisa, they are really fun, quick, witty reads-perfect for inbetween some heavy duty ones.
J.Kaye-Good thing you only have to read one more before the 4th comes out in March!!
Mary- i am so glad you love them too!
Crazy-for-Books- Bump it to the top!!!! So worth it!
Shelia-It's okay. There are only a few books out there, huh? (wink)
AAaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!! YOU READ IT!!!
Thanks so much for the little shout out there in your post. Yes, I am a huge fan of this series. I picked up the first book earlier this fall upon the recommendation of another book blogger and was so thrilled to learn you were a fan, too. Then once I read the first... I couldn't wait to get my hands on book 2 and 3. Now I'm waiting on bated breath for the fourth book... but I'm admittedly kind of sad it will be over. I wonder what happens. . . . . O_o
I haven't heard of these either! Must read, must read--I love these kind of books. Thanks once again for putting me in the know :)
I just put it on my TBR list. I have a few weeks between semesters so why not celebrate with some fun reading!
Happy Reading!
Heather
http://www.2manygoodbooks.blogspot.com
YAY I'm so glad you thought it was awesome!!! I can't wait to read this one.
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