Lisa Lutz‘ Isabel Spellman series is a little like Janet Evanovich‘s Stephanie Plum. Not the recent ones but the early ones, the ones that made me laugh out loud before they got progressively more absurd and recycled the same plots. The Spellmans, however, are a family team and the nature of the family business means they can’t really escape each other, although they may periodically try. Book two, Curse of the Spellmans, was just as much fun as the first and perhaps even a smidge better. I found it to be an enjoyable, light read that was a load of fun on a sick day.

Plotting is typical Spellman craziness. Rae accidentally runs over her police detective friend, Henry, who has to stay in the hospital with a mild concussion. A new neighbor moves in, equal parts cute and mysterious, and Isabel finds herself wondering if he has ex-boyfriend possibilities. Bernie is back from Vegas after his wife left him, so Isabel finds herself crowded out of her sublet by his all-night poker games and is forced to return home. Mom and Dad are trying out their own series of vacations, aka ‘disappearances;’ neighbor Mrs. Chandler wants Isabel to discover who’s re-creating her childhood pranks with her elaborate lawn displays; and Isabel’s best friend Petra is strangely out of touch. Eventually, Isabel gets arrested four times (but #2 and #4 don’t count) and learns some lessons, although perhaps not the ones she should.

This time the mysteries were more interesting, perhaps because with so little initial information, Isabel’s problem solving stays pretty true to real life. Unfortunately, her unsanctioned techniques result in a string of arrests, resulting in a legal needs. As brother David is AWOL, she turns to the octogenarian Morty, former D.A., who meets clients (she’s case #2) in his unfinished garage. Or the deli. Isabel has to call him to bail her out:

“‘I brought you a sandwich,” Morty said, and then handed me the abused paper bag. ‘It’s your favorite. Pastrami on rye.’

‘No, Morty, it’s your favorite, which would account for why there’s only half a sandwich left.'”

One of the interesting aspects of the Spellman series is Lutz’ unusual storytelling. The latest devices are chapters on 'Suspicious Behavior Reports,' transcripts from Morty’s “Law Offices,” chapters peppered with footnotes and frequent taped conversations between Henry and Rae that become known as the 'Stone and Spellman Show.' I don’t mind the footnotes, which are used well enough that they don’t break the rhythm of the story. Many of them reference book one, The Spellman Files. As far as series recap, that’s a nice way of saying, “find info here if you missed it,” while reminding current readers who might have forgotten and not annoying other readers with better memories.

Isabel’s voice is interesting. She has plenty of wry observations, but only shares them with the reader. I got a giggle out of Morty’s wife offering them an extensive list of refreshments, all of which Isabel politely declines. But then Morty interrupts:

“She’d like a cocoa,’ Morty said to Ruth, apparently placing his own secret order.”

Isabel is self-aware enough that there are times when she realizes she’s pushing boundaries or obsessed, yet she still can’t let go. So far her awareness is interesting and adds possibilities for personal growth:

“On those occasions I may cross some ethical boundaries to reach my goal, simply to get answers to questions that won’t go away. I have many flaws, but I suppose the only one that truly damages my life is that I believe all questions have answers and I believe that I am entitled to those answers.”

Isn’t that the truth?

The Henry and Rae interludes are fascinating. Isabel’s mom encourages Rae’s association with Henry, figuring he’s probably the best role model she could find. Isabel finds herself playing chaperone to them, acting as the beard so they aren’t accused of an improper relationship, and taping the conversations at her mom’s request. Henry’s the straight foil to the general weirdness of the Spellmans, and Isabel just might be falling for him. An episode from the Stone and Spellman Show called ‘Henry’s Choice’ cracked me up:

Rae: Did you read any of that organ-donation material in the hospital?
Henry: Yes. It’s very sad.
Rae: More people need to donate their organs.
Henry: I agree completely….
Rae: Henry, if you ever needed a kidney, you could have one of mine.
Henry: Thanks, but I think you’re too young to be donating kidneys.
Rae: So you wouldn’t take it?…
Henry: So, I wouldn’t want to take a kidney from either of you.
Rae: But you have to pick. That’s the game.
Henry: I’m unaware of any such game existing.
Rae: I just made it up. It’s called Choose Your Organ Donor.
Henry: I don’t want to play that game.
Rae: Please.
Isabel: Just answer the question, Henry.

Absurd, misguided, melancholic with a touch of romance and a dollop of fear. I’ll check out the next when I need a light read, hoping that Lutz can manage some character development for Isobel while continuing interesting storytelling.

Three and a half notebooks, rounding up. ( )

This series is so fun! ( )

I'm not sure what to say about this book. I really love Izzy and Henry and Rae. But I didn't at all enjoy where the author went with the story. Her family treated her like crap and I felt really bad for her. I really felt like the reader was owed a villain and we didn't really get one. The suspect that Izzy is sure is up to no good is of course a good guy. I really wanted her to be vindicated instead of being made to feel like a fool whose parents didn't really love her. You know they are the ones who raised her to be so inquisitive and driven to find answers and to be creative in her solutions so having her arrested for borrowing her mom's car with out asking seemed too much. Especially since her mother spent the book vandalizing a teenagers motorcycle. I'm thinking Izzy's lack of respect for the rules might just have some justification. And in a book that was supposed to be lighthearted and humorous watching my heroine see her ex boyfriends all hook up with Olympic stars, and losing her apartment and sleeping in her car and having everyone down on her for not being a caring person and thinking about others was just too much. All those other people could make fun of her and being shitty to her and that was okay? It was all Izzy's fault? Every body else gets to be wrapped up in their own drama and no one forces them to learn a life lesson. So back to the reader was owed a villain and Izzy was owed vindication. I just didn't like how it ended. Although I got to say that I guessed what was happening fairly early but was just hoping I was wrong.

The only parts I really liked were with Rae and Henry. I hope Izzy ends up with Henry since she loves him but at this point I don't really trust the author to get me there. ( )

The Curse of the Spellmans was a great continuation of The Spellman Files. The title encapsulates the feel of the family -- there is something that has ahold of these people, even David. Isabel can't decide where this curse wants to take her either. The book has an interesting ending. ( )

Full review here https://bookstechandocd.wordpress.com/2016/08/17/just-finished-curse-of-the-spel... ( )