The Spellmans Strike Again: Document #4

The Spellmans Strike Again is Lisa Lutz's fourth book about the Spellman's, a very dysfunctional family of private investigators living in (or terrorizing) San Francisco. Even with the practice of reviewing the others in the series, it's not easy to capture the books in a review. But here goes anyway.

Our narrator and window into this wacky world is Isabel Spellman. She's 32 years old and has just agreed to slowly take over the family business from her parents. The business is located in an office in the family home. Beside Isabel and parents Albert and Olivia, younger sister Rae (17) also works for Spellman Investigations. Only older brother David seems to have escaped the family business. He's a former attorney who hasn't figured out what he wants to do after having lost his job.

As with the others in the series, there are multiple storylines happening here. As an official assignment, Isabelle is trying to help one of their best clients figure out if his butler is really missing. Her solution? Send in an out of work actor friend under cover. Unfortunately, the friend takes his work home with him.

Meanwhile, Olivia has decided that Isabel's current boyfriend isn't suitable for her, so Olivia starts blackmailing Isabel into going on two lawyer dates a month. David seems to be seeing a blonde in addition to his girlfriend. Isabel is obsessed with taking down their biggest competition in the city, a former cop with a very shady reputation. Doorknobs and light fixtures are disappearing from the family home, and the parents seem to not care. And Rae becomes obsessed with freeing a man named Schmidt she thinks has been falsely accused. Where will it all lead?

All these stories weave in and out of each other. The book makes it easy to follow by giving us a new break whenever we are switching stories. Each "chapter" has a title that is often funny but also helps place things in context before you start the first scene.

Notice I put chapter in quotes. There is very little traditional about these books. Chapter numbers aren't use. At times, a scene is made up mainly of transcribed dialog recorded by Isabel. And I can't leave out the footnotes. Those have some of the funniest moments (as well as plugs for the previous books in the series).

These books are classified as mysteries, I suspect because the Spellmans are PI's. However, these are not traditional mysteries. Yes, there is a mystery or two as one of the stories, but the real plot is the family dynamic. And watching how it all plays out is most of the fun for me. I really describe these more as a dysfunctional family comedy with light mystery elements.

Once again, the story here is funny. While I would hate a family that treated me this way, I love reading about one. You just can't help but shake your head and laugh at the stuff they try to pull on each other. As usual, the last few pages do get serious as many of the stories come to a conclusion. It is amazing how much those moments at the end of a comedic novel hit you.

Needless to say, these characters are pretty immature. Although I can definitely see some maturing, especially on Isabel's part. If you are expecting realistic characters, look elsewhere. But if you can accept characters that are fun and go along for the ride, you'll love the ones you meet here. They wouldn't work is anything but these books; here they work beautifully.

There are plenty of references made to the previous three books in the series, usually with a footnote reminding you to buy the books. While you could get away with reading this book first, some of the early "mysteries" are spoiled by necessity, and you'll miss out on how character interactions change. My recommendation is to read them in order.

Because of the zaniness, these books are for everyone. But if you are in the mood for something light and funny, be sure to check out The Spellmans Strike Again.

I loved Book 3 so much that when I finished it I promptly turned back to page 1 and read it again.

This one wasn't nearly as good.

I thought Izzy's personal growth was well done and believable. I understood the changes she made and why.

The "mysteries" were flops. It didn't make sense how Izzy figured these out - a few more dropped hints would have helped this flow better. The one involving the household hardware was just bizarre.

I was also disturbed to find out what Prom Night 1994 was really about, and how Olivia handled that. I know the family is dysfunctional, but Olivia's original choices seemed very wrong and not in keeping with what we've been told she was like when Izzy was a teenager. I liked her a lot less after the truth was revealed.

Overall, the story was entertaining. I rate it behind each of the first three novels, and ahead of novel 5 (haven't read 6 yet). I wish she had ended the story here - it was a very good ending.

The 4th book in the Spellman series follows closely after the events of the third book. Izzy is still trying to nail her slimy competitor for something illegal. Odd things are happening in the family home, starting with her parents demanding that they all vacate for 1 day a week, followed by disappearing doorknobs, light fixtures, and other assorted household items. In her personal life, Izzy is surprised when Henry wants to renew their friendship and even seems to want to go further than that. Still skittish, she maintains her distance, but is having challenges with her Irish bartender boyfriend. Her sister Rae is beginning to drive everyone crazy with her pro-bono legal work trying to free the unjustly imprisoned. Izzy is also surprised to find out that her elderly lawyer and friend, Morty, is returning to San Francisco, but the circumstances bring a reality check to her life. As usual, the book is filled with the zany antics of the Spellmans, but we get to see real growth in several characters, particularly Izzy. Just perhaps, she is beginning to grow up a little and develop a fuller life.

I am so sorry. Somehow this review for a foot product got attached to the book.
I enjoyed the book very much. After I discovered the first book in the series I went on to read 1 -4 and liked them. I have ordered the last 2 in the set. They are older books and quite fun!

I love this series

the Spellman File series books are the BEST!!!!

One certainly grows closer to characters as they get to know them better throughout a series. I love Izzy and connect with the character very well. This story was very well written, and I was excited to see the growth in Izzy's character. Knowing there are only two more books in the series for me to read is really getting me down - not the biggest fan of saying goodbye to characters I really like.

funny

This is a great series and I look forward to reading this book. Arrived in excellent condition. Very pleased with my purchase.

I love the fast pace of Lisa Lutz's "Spellman" books. The fun never ends! The family interaction, full of crisis, snooping & intervention, along with the interesting cases the Spellman's take on, keeps the reader on a journey that is good fun and keeps us wondering what will happen next.