The Spellman Files (The Spellmans, #1) in Lisa Lutz Q&A

Oct 31, 2009 Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: authors_i_have_met, mystery, spellmans, san_francisco

"I cannot pinpoint the precise moment when it all began, but I can say for sure that the beginning didn't happen three days ago, one week, one month or even one year ago. To truly understand what happened to my family, I have to start at the very beginning, and that happened a long time ago." So begins Isabel's narration leading to the major event that happens to the Spellmans. But before we can get to the what, there's the how, presented in a pastiche of images from the history of the Spellman "I cannot pinpoint the precise moment when it all began, but I can say for sure that the beginning didn't happen three days ago, one week, one month or even one year ago. To truly understand what happened to my family, I have to start at the very beginning, and that happened a long time ago." So begins Isabel's narration leading to the major event that happens to the Spellmans. But before we can get to the what, there's the how, presented in a pastiche of images from the history of the Spellman family. Isabel, our erstwhile and extremely dysfunctional heroine, was born into a family of PIs. Her father's an ex-cop, forced into early retirement by a bad back, he took up the only solid living an ex-cop is uniquely suited for, Private Investigation. On the job he met Olivia and it was true love. Their firstborn, David, was everything a child should be, hansom, athletic, smart and hardworking, growing up to be a lawyer. When Isabel came along she felt that it was only right that she was everything David was not, unruly, hard to handle and a juvenile deliquint... and perfectly suited for Spellman Investigations. But when Isabel was 14 the family was in for a surprise, in the form of Rae. Olivia and Albert found out that they were going to have another baby, while at the same time Al's brother Ray was dying of cancer. Rae was named in honor of the heroic ex-cop who then didn't die. Uncle Ray had an epiphany. If clean living made him sick then he'd just do what he wanted, mainly gambling, drinking and whoring which lead to a depletion of his resources and he moved into the residence of 1799 Clay Street, home of Spellman Investigations and the whole Spellman clan, minus David.

What follows is a narration of the odd events and circumstances that result when you've been raised in a family where spying, tailing, car chases, recreational surveillance, bugging, extortion, blackmail and all around prying into each others lives is the status quo. "The Spellman Wars" take many forms, from Rae stealing "new uncle Ray's" lucky shirt and holding it for ransom, to Isabel meeting a cute dentist on the job and then pretending she's a schoolteacher in order to date him, to mass sugar consumption, to fake drug deals... the wars are manifold with many skirmishes and allegiance shifts. But in the end Isabel decides that maybe this isn't the life for her and she asks to be let out. Her parents agree to her leaving if she can solve an extremely cold case involving the disappearance of one Andrew Snow, thinking that in a job where mysteries are rare, perhaps this will whet her appetite and return the status quo. But the status is very not quo when all the duplicity and infighting leads to Rae's disappearance.

I can not emphasize enough how much I enjoy the Spellmans in all their dysfunctions and obsessions, which I can sadly relate too. The interesting quirks and different forms of addictions each character possesses is hilarious, but at the same time, oddly realistic. From Rae's addiction to sugar and recreational surveillance, to Izzy's drink and Get Smart, to Uncle Ray's women and cards. Each character has there own set of flaws that make them unique, but at the same time, obviously related and relatable. Also the way the story is told in little snippets, like a dossier, makes you see the overall history of the characters through specific incidents and examples versus having an extremely long backstory. It also stripes away the Hollywood glamor of the PI's life showing the dysfunction and strained relationships that result from needing to always know the why. Isabel's headlong pursuit of the truth is single-minded and self destructive, but haven't we all been there? Knowing we should stop and we've gone too far, but knowing that we will still do it anyway. Fans of Veronica Mars will enjoy the same kind of mystery combined with a dry wit. I really can't recommend this book, and all Lisa Lutz's books enough! But be forewarned... be prepared to having the overwhelming desire to watch mass quantities of Get Smart afterwords! ...more

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Mar 17, 2010 Victoria rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller, books-in-a-series, family, humour

I absolutely LOVE this book! It’s terrific - funny and clever, not to mention all of the great characters! The youngest Spellman, Rae, in particular shines here - though main character, Izzy, is full of fun, too. And their straight-laced older brother, the parents, and Uncle Ray - the whole cast of varied characters not only come to life, but all have such wonderful rapport and witty dialogue, that it’s impossible not to be sucked into their world. The best description that I can come up with is ...more

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Sep 28, 2008 Corina rated it really liked it

Shelves: murder-mystery, comedy, mystery, 2008, chick-lit

Loved it! I read the book version (not the audio cd), and really enjoyed it.

Originally this book was recommended for me by someone I met on GR (Thank you!!) and i'm very glad that I decided to give it a shot.

The characters are fabulous, full of quirks and interesting personalities.

The storyline here is about a 28yr old PI with dating issues, a weird family with privacy issues and a little sister wanting to be just like her. Izzy is one of my favourite charactesr in this book, followed closely by ...more

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Apr 18, 2014 Marilyn Groves rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, light, just, fun, 1

A romp! At least as good if not better (imho) than Evanavich's stories. Less sex. Even my husband enjoys this series! ...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Lori rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mysteries

very funny, in a deranged dysfunctional sort of way

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Feb 27, 2010 Katy rated it it was amazing

Laugh out loud funny, 14 year old Rae is my favorite.

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Mar 28, 2008 Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, authors_i_have_met, spellmans, san_francisco

PI fun in San Francisco, very much like Veronica Mars, but enjoyable, though be warned, bad bad ass font which will totally induce headaches.

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Jul 03, 2014 Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: authors_i_have_met, bookclubbing, re-read, signed_editions, last_word_bookclub, spellmans, san_francisco

The Last Word: "Ice Cream" ...more

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Jul 25, 2009 Bill rated it really liked it

Not as good as the third book. ( I am a backwards person). But just as whacky as I expected. More fun. I also have book number two that I will read after a little respite

Merged review:

Based on her third book, I am reading number one. So far I am not disappointed

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