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Product Description
At the ripe old age of thirty-two, former wild child Isabel "Izzy" Spellman has finally agreed to take over the family detective business. The transition won't be smooth. First among her priorities as head of Spellman Investigations is to dig up some dirt on the competition, slippery ex-cop Rick Harkey. Next, faced with a puzzling missing-person's case she recruits an actor friend, Len, to infiltrate the home of an ageing millionaire as an undercover butler. Meanwhile, Izzy is being blackmailed by her mother to commit to regular blind dates with promising professionals - an arrangement that doesn't thrill Connor, Izzy's soon to become Ex-boyfriend No. 12. At Spellman headquarters, it's business as unusual. Doorknobs and light fixtures are disappearing every day, Mom's been spotted crying in the pantry and just when it looks like things can't go more haywire, little sister Rae's internship researching pro bono legal cases leads the youngest Spellman to launch a campaign that could spring an innocent man from jail - or land Rae in it. It just goes to show, however many Spellman Family Rules are put in place in an attempt to hold the family together, Izzy will never be able to follow Rule No. 1: Act Normal.
About the Author
Having sold her first screenplay at the age of 21, Liza Lutz quit college to make it big in Hollywood, only to spend the next ten years rewriting the script! During that time she supported herself via menial jobs, including a two-year stint at a San Francisco private investigation firm, which inspired her to write her first novel, THE SPELLMAN FILES. Visit www.lisalutz.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Spellmans Strike Again sees Izzy Spellman finally grow up. Well, a little bit. She's decided that she wants to run the Spellman agency and as such, she takes on more responsibility. She's got an ex-boyfriend, Connor (#12 for anyone counting) and she's toning down her obsessive abilities. Kind of. And she's stopped spying on her family. Until she's blackmailed by her mother to spy on her brother. (Once a spy...) As usual, Izzy has taken on a ton of different cases ranging from a billionaire with potentially sticky-fingered staff who wants a new butler, a screen-writer who wants to make sure his ex-friend isn't ripping him off and, of course, Izzy is busy trying to take down Rick Harkey a fellow PI. Of course, where the Spellmans are concerned that's just the tip of the iceberg as Rae is as nuts as ever (she should really see a doctor), Izzy's parents decide they want each Wednesday to themselves and instigate "Lost Wednesdays" and David is still jobless. See, nuts? And all of that is fitted into a novel UNDER 400 pages.
I don't know how Lisa Lutz does it, but she manages to keep each novel nice and fresh. We never really go over old ground, the cases are never repetitive and I always find myself giggling away at the Spellman books (they're genuinely funny!). I didn't think I would enjoy The Spellmans Strike Again as much as I enjoyed Revenge of the Spellmans, but I did. It was amazing. Probably my favourite and there's nothing better than a series that manages to maintain such high standards. I love the familiarity that comes with a Spellman novel. That Izzy won't rest until the case is solved, that each member of the Spellman family (David excepted) will spy on each other rather than just come out and ask what the other members are doing, how Rae will undoubtedly start some big campaign and end up in trouble with her, shall we say, unortodox methods. I know what I'll get when I pick up a Spellman novel and so far I haven't been disappointed in the slightest.
What I love most about the Spellman books are the characters. It's fair to say that the Spellman family aren't necessarily representative of what a normal family is. Yet they love each other, a lot. Despite all the spying and blackmailing and revenge that goes on, the Spellmans do love each other. Deep, deep down. I love that. I love that Olivia, Mrs Spellman, has her kids back even if she does it in the strangest of methods (sending Izzy on blind lawyer dates!). I love the obliviousness of Albert, Mr Spellman, though he does have his moments, too. I love Rae. Full stop. She just... Some of her methods are wrong (See: Locking your sister in a room for 11 hours!) but I can see why she does what she does. And I love her for it. And then there's Izzy. The most immature 32-year-old you'll come across but I love her love of the job. Like Rae, her methods aren't always straight-laced but she likes to get to the point of any case. She likes to make sure it's solved. One of my favourite characters, though, is Detective Henry Stone. I heart him.
The Spellmans Strike Again was a brilliant addition to the Spellman series. I loved it. I loved it even more when Henry was totally honest with Izzy. My God, has it taken a while, but boy was it ever worth it. I love Lutz writing, too, you'll never see a book written the way Lutz writes the Spellman novels. It hops from job to job, person to person all from Izzy's point of view and although it might seem daunting at first it's such a great way to portray things. I must admit, I was when The Spellmans Strike Again ended. (For more reasons than one. Low blow, Lisa to do that to a character I love. I hate you for it. Yup, Lisa killed off a character. Boo!) It made me cry (what's new? I cry a lot at books. And movies. And TV shows.) and although I wasn't surprised by the ending, it did make me really sad that said character won't be in book 5. Unless they come back as an angel or a ghost. Which I doubt. But it'd be awesome. I can't wait for Trail of the Spellmans and will even fork out for the American version if it isn't released in the UK. This is an awesome series that deserves way more recognition than it seems to have. Chick Lit fans and Janet Evanovich fans will love this series. I swear it.
I don't know how Lisa Lutz does it, but she manages to keep each novel nice and fresh. We never really go over old ground, the cases are never repetitive and I always find myself giggling away at the Spellman books (they're genuinely funny!). I didn't think I would enjoy The Spellmans Strike Again as much as I enjoyed Revenge of the Spellmans, but I did. It was amazing. Probably my favourite and there's nothing better than a series that manages to maintain such high standards. I love the familiarity that comes with a Spellman novel. That Izzy won't rest until the case is solved, that each member of the Spellman family (David excepted) will spy on each other rather than just come out and ask what the other members are doing, how Rae will undoubtedly start some big campaign and end up in trouble with her, shall we say, unortodox methods. I know what I'll get when I pick up a Spellman novel and so far I haven't been disappointed in the slightest.
What I love most about the Spellman books are the characters. It's fair to say that the Spellman family aren't necessarily representative of what a normal family is. Yet they love each other, a lot. Despite all the spying and blackmailing and revenge that goes on, the Spellmans do love each other. Deep, deep down. I love that. I love that Olivia, Mrs Spellman, has her kids back even if she does it in the strangest of methods (sending Izzy on blind lawyer dates!). I love the obliviousness of Albert, Mr Spellman, though he does have his moments, too. I love Rae. Full stop. She just... Some of her methods are wrong (See: Locking your sister in a room for 11 hours!) but I can see why she does what she does. And I love her for it. And then there's Izzy. The most immature 32-year-old you'll come across but I love her love of the job. Like Rae, her methods aren't always straight-laced but she likes to get to the point of any case. She likes to make sure it's solved. One of my favourite characters, though, is Detective Henry Stone. I heart him.
The Spellmans Strike Again was a brilliant addition to the Spellman series. I loved it. I loved it even more when Henry was totally honest with Izzy. My God, has it taken a while, but boy was it ever worth it. I love Lutz writing, too, you'll never see a book written the way Lutz writes the Spellman novels. It hops from job to job, person to person all from Izzy's point of view and although it might seem daunting at first it's such a great way to portray things. I must admit, I was when The Spellmans Strike Again ended. (For more reasons than one. Low blow, Lisa to do that to a character I love. I hate you for it. Yup, Lisa killed off a character. Boo!) It made me cry (what's new? I cry a lot at books. And movies. And TV shows.) and although I wasn't surprised by the ending, it did make me really sad that said character won't be in book 5. Unless they come back as an angel or a ghost. Which I doubt. But it'd be awesome. I can't wait for Trail of the Spellmans and will even fork out for the American version if it isn't released in the UK. This is an awesome series that deserves way more recognition than it seems to have. Chick Lit fans and Janet Evanovich fans will love this series. I swear it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I picked up the first book at a knock down price and it took me a while to get into it, but these have got better and better.
The multiple threads runing along in the book, seemingly unconnected that are interwoven is a gift, and the quality and depth of the characters with the subtle (and not so subtle) humour underlying the absurd situations is brilliant.
I hope number 5 is along soon, but they are well worth diving into to, whether you start at the beginning or straight in at the end as it very well self-contained as well.
The multiple threads runing along in the book, seemingly unconnected that are interwoven is a gift, and the quality and depth of the characters with the subtle (and not so subtle) humour underlying the absurd situations is brilliant.
I hope number 5 is along soon, but they are well worth diving into to, whether you start at the beginning or straight in at the end as it very well self-contained as well.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
84 reviews
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Don't let this be the end!
18 Mar 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I can't give Lisa Lutz enough praise, it's simply impossible. I will say this, the only problem I have with this novel (the whole series) is that it ends too soon.
Fans of The Spellman series are not going to be disappointed with The Spellmans Strike Again. It's written in the same comedic, eye-popping, and endearing manner as all her previous books. As you know, there are always several on-going issues that get nicely wrapped up at the end. Some are going to have you in tears because you can't stop laughing (Len & Chris), others will have you in tears because some good things must come to an end - I'm sorry, I hate spoilers too but you'll find out soon enough! Everything is changing in the Spellman family.
For new readers/Fans: All Spellman novels are stand-alone. You don't have to start with the first, mainly because Lutz makes excellent use of footnotes. Her use of footnotes is part of the charm of this series and just as funny as the stories themselves. I won't hide it though, she also uses them as a blatant tactic to purchase the previous novels! I love the honesty. But here's a little synopsis:
Isabel Spellman comes from a family of private investigators. The Spellmans are very good at their work, so good in fact that they can't keep it out of their private lives. They spy on each other, record family conversations, resort to blackmail - you get the picture. Previously, she's had issues with the lack of privacy family members give each other (with the exception of her brother who is the only decent one here). It's been a long and difficult road but she's finally decided to slowly take ownership of the business from her parents. In the fourth installation Isabel deals with the following cases: 1. take down their family nemesis and fellow P.I. (he deserves it), 2. negotiate out of all the lawyer dates her mother has blackmailed her into (plus Isabel's boyfriend isn't too happy about it either), 3. find a rich client's butler, 4. discover who keeps taking the doorknobs and light fixtures in her family home, 5. false imprisonment (more than once), 6. okay, there's a lot going on but I hope I've piqued your interest.
My point is Lutz always has several things going on, but she doesn't miss a beat or cause a reader to lose track or get confused. Her writing style works and is very solid. Her characters are well- rounded, relatable, and interesting. You want to know more about them. You need to know more about them.
If you are a Stephanie Plum fan (and I am), you will not be disappointed in The Spellmans Strike Again. I recommend starting with the first novel though, if only to get a better appreciation of the whole series. It's like the Plum novels. You can start anywhere, but you get more when you start with One For the Money. The reading order for Lutz is:
1. The Spellman Files
2. Curse of the Spellmans
3. Revenge of the Spellmans
I hope this is not the last we see of the Spellmans.
Enjoy!
Fans of The Spellman series are not going to be disappointed with The Spellmans Strike Again. It's written in the same comedic, eye-popping, and endearing manner as all her previous books. As you know, there are always several on-going issues that get nicely wrapped up at the end. Some are going to have you in tears because you can't stop laughing (Len & Chris), others will have you in tears because some good things must come to an end - I'm sorry, I hate spoilers too but you'll find out soon enough! Everything is changing in the Spellman family.
For new readers/Fans: All Spellman novels are stand-alone. You don't have to start with the first, mainly because Lutz makes excellent use of footnotes. Her use of footnotes is part of the charm of this series and just as funny as the stories themselves. I won't hide it though, she also uses them as a blatant tactic to purchase the previous novels! I love the honesty. But here's a little synopsis:
Isabel Spellman comes from a family of private investigators. The Spellmans are very good at their work, so good in fact that they can't keep it out of their private lives. They spy on each other, record family conversations, resort to blackmail - you get the picture. Previously, she's had issues with the lack of privacy family members give each other (with the exception of her brother who is the only decent one here). It's been a long and difficult road but she's finally decided to slowly take ownership of the business from her parents. In the fourth installation Isabel deals with the following cases: 1. take down their family nemesis and fellow P.I. (he deserves it), 2. negotiate out of all the lawyer dates her mother has blackmailed her into (plus Isabel's boyfriend isn't too happy about it either), 3. find a rich client's butler, 4. discover who keeps taking the doorknobs and light fixtures in her family home, 5. false imprisonment (more than once), 6. okay, there's a lot going on but I hope I've piqued your interest.
My point is Lutz always has several things going on, but she doesn't miss a beat or cause a reader to lose track or get confused. Her writing style works and is very solid. Her characters are well- rounded, relatable, and interesting. You want to know more about them. You need to know more about them.
If you are a Stephanie Plum fan (and I am), you will not be disappointed in The Spellmans Strike Again. I recommend starting with the first novel though, if only to get a better appreciation of the whole series. It's like the Plum novels. You can start anywhere, but you get more when you start with One For the Money. The reading order for Lutz is:
1. The Spellman Files
2. Curse of the Spellmans
3. Revenge of the Spellmans
I hope this is not the last we see of the Spellmans.
Enjoy!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful Conclusion (?)
3 April 2010
Format:Hardcover
If you have read and enjoyed the first three parts of this series then you'll love this one. And, if you've yet to read the first three, try to do that before reading this. Although the book can stand alone, it is a far better read when you have the background on these characters from the previous books. The Spellman's are a dysfunctional P.I. family that spend most of their spare time investigating one another. They get up to no-good on a constant basis and become muddled in one anothers' lives. The biggest difference between this book and the others is that the characters all experience a tremendous amount of growth - Lutz definitely seems to be putting and end to the series and the storyline concludes quite.. conclusively. Every character has their life somewhat settled and there really isn't a necessity to continue their stories, although she could. There isn't a typical plot to the story, you're basically following the Spellman clan around as they investigate some cases and one another, and have a very witty time doing it. The dialogue is sharp and funny, and you can't help but enjoy yourself and laugh at the characters. It's really a great book, and has been a great series from the start. Easy to read and enjoy.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Not necessarily the last.....
1 April 2010
Format:Hardcover
I went to a reading/signing for Lisa Lutz and she said she will likely write future Spellman novels! Apparently she took a bit of time off of writing the Spellman novels to work on something else, but does plan to write more at a later date. She said that it won't be for a release next year, since she hasn't started it yet, but it will be sometime in the future, when she has completed her other project. I was so excited to hear this news!
I think it's official - according to her latest Lutzletter (available on her site): America's favorite dysfunctional P.I. family will likely be back after a brief rest.
As for the latest, The Spellmans Strike Again, it doesn't disappoint. It picks up where the last novel left off, with the bickering Spellman family still trying to investigate and instigate each other. There were many points where I was laughing out loud. As in all the novels in the series there is a mystery (or three) to be solved and they all come to satisfying conclusions, although not always the conclusion that you expect. This novel could be read as a stand-alone book, but you will have a much deeper understanding of the dynamics between the characters if you read them all in order. Since the character dynamics are my favorite part of the novels, I think you'll laugh even harder and enjoy this novel even more if you check out the earlier books.
I think Lisa Lutz is a very underrated author, and I recommend her to anyone who like mysteries, or comedies, or has a crazy family. So basically, everyone I know!
I think it's official - according to her latest Lutzletter (available on her site): America's favorite dysfunctional P.I. family will likely be back after a brief rest.
As for the latest, The Spellmans Strike Again, it doesn't disappoint. It picks up where the last novel left off, with the bickering Spellman family still trying to investigate and instigate each other. There were many points where I was laughing out loud. As in all the novels in the series there is a mystery (or three) to be solved and they all come to satisfying conclusions, although not always the conclusion that you expect. This novel could be read as a stand-alone book, but you will have a much deeper understanding of the dynamics between the characters if you read them all in order. Since the character dynamics are my favorite part of the novels, I think you'll laugh even harder and enjoy this novel even more if you check out the earlier books.
I think Lisa Lutz is a very underrated author, and I recommend her to anyone who like mysteries, or comedies, or has a crazy family. So basically, everyone I know!
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