Curse of the Spellmans (Izzy Spellman Mysteries, #2)

by Lisa Lutz

[Leah]

Back in March I read the first Spellman novel, The Spellman Files, and I absolutely loved it. The Spellman’s became the family I wanted to join, and I thought it was one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. I then acquired the other three novels (so far) in the series, and after a long wait, I finally got the chance to read book two, Curse of the Spellmans. Thankfully, it’s just as funny as the first book and the Spellman clan are just as nuts. Honestly, if it’s a fun, funny, stupid, easy read you’re after then the Spellman books are for you.

When I grow up I want to be one of two things: a) a PI or b) a bounty hunter. I mean first off we have the Spellman books that undoubtedly glamourises the PI business, ditto the Plum novels for being a bounty hunter. Who’d want to work in a boring old office when you can be the new Isabel Spellman or Stephanie Plum? What’s that? They’re fictional? Oops. You understand though, right? The Spellman books really appeal to my sense of humour. Isabel is rather immature, which will rankle a lot of people, but for me it adds to the hilarity. The Spellman books aren’t meant to be taken seriously, and it’s the reader’s fault if they do quite frankly. Curse of the Spellmans is just as fun as book as The Spellman Files, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

At the beginning I was a little confused as too much seems to happen and the book does seem to jump around a bit, but it soon settles down and I was able to catch up. We learn Isabel’s just been arrested for the fourth (or second, depending on whether you could arrest #2 & #3) time in two months, and we then rewind back to how it all began. How Isabel became suspicious of her (or, rather, her parent’s) new neighbour John Brown. Mainly because of his ordinary, boring name, but also because he’s a bit shifty and has a locked door in his house (as Isabel finds out, when she dates him, obviously). I liked the plot. Sure, Isabel can seem to be a bit over the top sometimes, but that’s her way. Once she smells a rat, she searches and searches until she’s satisfied the rat is, er, dead and buried. I think that’s the right metaphor anyway. I was as fascinated as Isabel, trying to figure out what the mysterious John Brown was up to.

Isabel’s family is as nuts as always. Her mother and father keep going off on disappearances (vacations to normal people; don’t worry, it’s explained in the book and all will make sense). Also her mother keeps sneaking out at night while her father seems to be going through a REAFO (Retirement-age freak-out) and Isabel wants to know why. Her little sister Rae seems to have normal-aged friends when she’s not busy “almost accidentally manslaughtering her best friend” Detective Henry Stone. Besides Isabel, Rae is my absolute favourite character. I could totally see Lutz doing a Rae spin-off, once Rae’s old enough (I don’t think 16 is old enough, unless Lutz wanted to do a teen series, which would work). Isabel’s brother David has descended into some sort of depression, too, meaning the Spellman clan are as busy as always. The tag line is right, they do put the “fun” in dysfunctional, but I’m sure, underneath the surface they love each other.

I thoroughly enjoyed Curse of the Spellmans. Honestly, they’re one of the funniest families ever and I can’t wait to dive into Revenge of the Spellmans and The Spellmans Strike Again. The books aren’t for everyone, but if you love Janet Evanovich’s “Plum” novels then I’m sure you’ll love the Spellmans too. They’re a bit similar, I suppose, but both are just as enjoyable and both have their own niches. There isn’t much romance in the Spellman books so far, but I have high hopes that might change with book three, with Isabel and Henry. Well, I’m hoping so anyway because, well, I love some romance in my books and that’s the only thing missing from the Spellman novels. Definitely recommended, it’s a great series.