THE SPELLMAN FILES, Lisa Lutz

Think of one of the oddest families you know, and I bet it comes nowhere near the Spellmans. 28 year old Izzy Spellman works for her parents, private investigators, and has done since she was 12. Spellman Investigations specialise in surveillance.

Of their three children Isabel (Izzy) has been without doubt the most trouble, a rebel almost since birth, and a constant subject of interrogation and even surveillance herself. Izzy's history of defiance contrasts with the apparent perfection of her older brother David, but he has managed to break away, leave home, and leads an independent life as a lawyer. By contrast Izzy's younger sister Rae began her first surveillance training before she could read, and is, at 12, in real danger of going the same way as Izzy.

Life in the Spellman household is a constant war, with one battle after another between Izzy and her parents, Izzy and Rae, including also skirmishes with Uncle Ray who lives with them. Izzy's life is under constant inspection by her parents and she would like nothing more than to leave home, on her own terms.

This book is lightly connected to crime fiction. Investigations are recounted, but it won't satisfy the serious genre devotee. Some have called it chick-lit, and there are elements of humour, just not really what I like to read. The best part was the investigation that takes centre stage at about page 200 (of a 350 page book), but that was almost too late for me.

For me there was just too much back-story, too much Spellman family history. I thought Lisa Lutz's previous experience as a screenplay writer was well used too. Some bits of the book are presented as a play script, but it was not a device that endeared me to it.

There is some more detail in the progress report I blogged about 5 days ago. Find out there about the awards this book has already won. Just because it wasn't my cuppa, that doesn't mean that you may not enjoy it as much as others, including Lauren Weisberger, have. I think it is just that I like my crime fiction more straight-laced or is it straight-faced? I did find the odd thing to smile about though.

My rating 4.0

THE SPELLMAN FILES, Lisa Lutz - progress report

The Spellman family reminds me of Fagan's gang, but instead of thievery they use their kids from a very young age to participate in their family run private detective agency. The book is told from the point of view of Izzy, currently 28 years old, who began her professional life as a public records checker, and surveillance agent at about 12 years, but has in fact been investigating everything all her life.
Her younger sister Rae was on her first surveillance outing before she could officially read, at the age of 5.
A very quirky novel full of humorous stories, but now, 100 pages in, building up to a big case.

I've discovered through the website at http://lisalutz.com/ that there is a sequel, CURSE OF THE SPELLMAN'S, to look forward to.
There are some interviews on site with Lisa, in which she reveals that THE SPELLMAN FILES began life as a screen play, and also that a 3rd novel REVENGE OF THE SPELLMANS is on the drawing board.

THE SPELLMAN FILES is one of ten recipients of the 2008 Alex Awards.
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/alexawards/alex08.cfm
It is also a 2008 Dilys Award Nominee
http://www.mysterybooksellers.com/dilys.html

In March 2008 THE CURSE OF THE SPELLMANS was named #1 pick by Book Sense
http://news.bookweb.org/booksense/5813.htm

Lauren Weisberger has suggested that THE SPELLMAN FILES could be regarded as "chick-lit":
I also loved The Spellman Files and, while reading it, kept asking myself whether it was chick lit. I think it does fit the genre to a certain extent - snarky heroine, challenging romantic relationships and even more challenging family members - but I still struggled to decide whether to review it as chick lit or not. Eventually I decided that if Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series is chick lit (and I think it is) then so is The Spellman Files.