The Spellman Files is a unique, hilarious first novel, that is sure to catch the attention of mystery readers bored with the same old formula books. The Spellmans are a modern, dysfunctional family whose members also just happen to be private detectives...even the fourteen-year-old. There's mom and dad, aka the bosses, who seem to be keeping a few secrets of their own; 14-year-old Rae to whom surveillance is more of a hobby than a job; and Isabel "Izzy," the narrator of the story.
Meet Izzy Spellman
Izzy is approaching 30 and looking to move out of the family house. Working and living with mom and dad is becoming just a trifle claustrophobic. She's even thinking of leaving the business However, before her parents will let her go, there's one last, impossible, 15-year-old case they want her to solve. The premise, of course, is to keep her at home and in the business, but Izzy jumps into the case with enthusiasm and energy. Soon, she's unsetting more than a few people. Could she be getting too close to the truth? When Rae goes missing, however, Izzy and her family are fearful that the old case could be tied to her disappearance and they unite in a frantic search to find her.
Losing at Love
Izzy's profession is also a personal liability. Having worked in the detective agency since her early teens, she has forgotten the meaning of privacy. In fact, she thinks nothing of having her dates shadowed and a complete profile worked up on them. Great information, but not the way to most mens' heart.
The Spellman Files is a thoroughly enjoyable, tongue-in-cheek tribute to the detective genre. You can't help but love (and identify with) this quirky, yet loving family. The prose is reminiscent of the late Kurt Vonnegut, with its many asides and "just between the narrator and the reader" references. Lisa Lutz is a unique voice in the mystery genre. One hopes she has a lot more to say.
About Lisa Lutz
Lisa Lutz is the author of two Spellman novels. A California native, she attended three California colleges as well as the University of Leeds in England. The Spellman Files, her second novel, is currently being adapted as a movie and the third installment in the Spellman series is coming out in March of 2009.
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