The Spellmans Strike Again (Spellman Files Series #4)

Great ending to a great series!!

Sorry to see a great series end, but really was a great book! There were many times a laughed out loud at some of the things her characters said or did! If you haven't read the other 'documents'; run, don't walk to your nearest store!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful ending to series!!

Lisa Lutz has done it again. All the Spellmans are at their best...(or worst, depending on who you look at it!). We've got some famliar characters, and a few new ones who are a great fit. Isabel has come along way since The Spellman Files, but she's still the same spitfire we've come to love. The family still has their strange quirks, and Isabel has a few mysteries to figure out.
I'm sad that the series is done, but have enjoyed the ride immensely. It never let up, and kept it going beautifully until the end.
I look forward to see what Lisa Lutz will give us in the future.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

zany entertaining entry

In San Francisco, thirtyish Isabel Spellman knows the family rules rule having broken all of them at one time or another, but now she grooms herself to take over Spellman Investigations from her retiring parents Albert and Olivia. Her older brother David is downsized corporate America lawyer and her other sibling is simply Rae, no description necessary beyond she is seventeen.

Currently, in spite of the DNA, Isabel learns one rule of private sleuthing is tediousness. Accompanied by her friend Len Williams, she investigates the disappearance of Mason Graves (who she hopes does not live up to his surname), valet to wealthy Franklin Winslow and studying (alone) the garbage of Jeremy Pratt's former wife for proof she stole his screenplays. Izzy and her boyfriend bartender Conner O'Sullivan find time when they can. At the latest Eleventh Commandment thou shall attend the Sunday Family Dinner; Rae gives her the stare of Medusa for failing to investigate the case of Levi Schmidt defended by David's defense-attorney girlfriend Maggie Mason at a time when doorknobs and fixtures vanish from the house.

The final Spellman dysfunctional family tale (see Revenge of the Spellmans) is an entertaining entry as the "Recovering delinquent" understands family values (not just insane rules) with the help of friend Inspector Stone and of course octogenarian Morty. The story line is thin, but like the Spellmans zany and all over the place barely held together by the rules that govern plots. However the yes we can (except to felonies; that is most of the time) theme makes for an enjoyable insane finish as dizzy Izzy knows dad at sixty five may retire, but mom will always cross the line when it comes to sleuthing into the lives of her kids.

Harriet Klausner

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

They keep getting better!

My favorite so far in the series! Can't wait for the next installment in February. I definitely recommend this book!

Izzy and family are back with more outrageous dysfunction!

The family is up to their old tricks--snooping around, surveilling each other and digging up all the family dirt. In this hilarious installment of the Spellman series, we find that things are a bit topsy turvy. Isabel is taking over the business, meaning that her usual tactics won't exactly fly. She finds herself involved in intrigue surrounding Rae's mysterious boyfriend, David & Maggie's relationship, missing household items at the Spellman residence and the re-appearance of Henry, who wants to be her friend. She is still 'dating' Connor, but is being forced by her mother to go on a series of blind dates with various lawyers (which is a wonderful outlet for her usual antics). In the end, it's business as usual for the Spellmans. The major issues are resolved, but they are still the same, just waiting for a reason to attach a GPS to another family member's car.

I hope this is not the end of the Spellmans. Lisa Lutz has created an incredible family. While it is clear that their motivation always centers on what is best for the others, the manipulation, blackmail & total lack of communication make the Spellmans so realistic and funny. While we do see some growth involving all the characters, Izzy really evolves and matures (for Izzy) during this installment. While some plotlines were wrapped up, some were left open--I hope that Lutz revisits these soon for another Spellman File.

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Consistently hilarious

As with her other Spellman books, Lisa Lutz has come up with another winner. I think this one is even better than her previous book. While it is side-splittingly funny, there is some unpredicted character development. There is even a new character who I hope reappears in the next book. He (Fred) is soooooo funny.

Love the Spellmans!

This was one of the funniest books I've ever read. I loved this series and this may have been the best of the lot. As with the previous "documents," the characters, not the mystery are the highlight, but I found the mysteries interesting as well this time. If this was the end of the series other writers should take note - this is the way to end things. I will miss the Spellmans greatly, and look forward to anything Lisa Lutz writes in the future!

Great book!

I love the Spellman books and this one was just a great as the others. The characters are so funny and quirky. I'm a little sad because the way it ended seemed like she was tying things up and there aren't going to be anymore, but this book and the whole series are definitely worth owning.

Fun and funny

I have followed this goofy family from the first book and this is really good. If you enjoy good, clean fun you will definitely like this light reading.

The Spellmans are back!

The Spellmans are great. These books make me laugh out loud!

Pure enjoyment!

Lisa Lutz recently became one of my favorite authors when I picked up the Spellman Files on a whim. I instantly fell in love with her vivid characters- Izzy, perfect David, little Rae, the Unit, Uncle Ray, and all the rest. I immediately went out and bought the next two books in the series (Curse of the Spellmans and Revenge of the Spellmans) and found that her stories just got better. The Spellmans Strike Again continues in the same fashion and is a great read.

Lisa Lutz has a fabulous, quirky style of writing that works well with the offbeat stories involving Spellman Investigations. The books have footnotes, lists and an appendix which sounds weird in a fiction book, but she really makes it work. Above all else, these books make me literally laugh out loud. I will read these books again and again.

I have already purchased several copies of each book for gifts and I would recommend all the books in the Spellman Files Series to anyone who is looking for a fun and entertaining escape.

Super growth of a character

In the first two books I found myself having trouble relating to the lead character, Isabel. She began to grow on me and I was looking forward to this installment in the series. I felt that the growth of Isabel's character was very well done and I enjoyed the book very much. It was a superb wrap to the series. I found myself wanting more while still appreciating the author's ability to leave the series while it was still fresh (unlike many series that go on long past their "fresh by" date).

The Title says it all.

I enjoy Lisa Lutz's Spellman books. A total dysfunctional family of P.I.s Very easy to read and fun.

Lutz Proves She Can Do It All

There are currently four books in the Spellman series, and somehow, I got started with number two. This was absolutely not a problem, as Lutz manages to weave in details of the previous books-- and what she doesn't weave in, she clarifies in absolutely hilarious footnotes.

Lutz's well developed protagonist, Izzie/Isabel, reminds me a little of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum: quirky, great sense of humor, penchant for getting in over her head. SO far, there really haven't been any mobster's in the Spellman series, but then, she lives in San Francisco, not Jersey.

Spellman's Strike Again is number 4 in the series, and in it, Lutz proves she can generate more than comedy and a good mystery... this book actually brought tears to my eyes. And not the "I was so manipulated" kind of tears, either... the kind where you have such genuine empathy for the characters and the situation that you can't see the words on the page for your tears.

I highly recommend Spellmans Strike Again.

A Zany Mystery

Lisa Lutz has a way with a story and all of the Spellman books are a source of smiles, laughs, chuckles, etc. Rather than describe an indescribable plot line, let's just say that Albert and Olivia Spellman (the parents), Isabel, David and Rae (the kids), Henry, Maggie, and Fred (the friends) and Harkney (the enemy) are all spying on each other. The story is convoluted, as Izzy tells it from middle to front to back. The antic are insane. The characters are even more insane. It's a family you'd love to get to know but you'd be looking over your shoulder the whole time.

I always wonder how Lutz can continue the series and maintain the story and humor, but she always does.

I think the Spellmans are better and funnier than Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Give it a try.

A Grand Finale

Picking up on a thread of story from her third Spellman book, Lutz has Isabel Spellman preparing to take over the reins of the family detective agency from her parents. However, nothing is that easy in this family and odd disturbances are taking place within their home/workplace while Izzy figures out how to take down their nemesis, another PI named Harkey. Rae, always clever, comes pretty close to crossing the line in this story and is on a new crusade to free innocent prisoners. David is happily dating Henry Stone's former girlfriend, Maggie. The parental units are enjoying Lost Wednesdays and one wonders if Connor, boyfriend #12 can make it to husband #1 for Izzy. If this is truly the finale, I think the Spellmans are going to make it. I found the story to be satisfying and even bittersweet at times.
I'm sure almost every review on here will mention all three previous "documents" are now available in paperback! Summer is coming, take the Spellmans to the beach or cabin, you won't be sorry.

Isabelle at her best...literally.

I must first disclose that you should read the first three Spellman books before starting this adventure. Although Isabelle Spellman starts her stories from the middle, this book won't make sense unless you have the story from the very beginning with 'The Spellman Files'.
That being said, all I can say is that Lisa Lutz kept with her writing style that had me laughing throughout the book and left me thankful for my 'normal' family.
I don't want to spoil your read and give away any details.

Isabel Spellman puts one foot over the 'Forever Young' line

Isabel's crazy family makes her journey into adulthood a difficult one. She doesn't lose any of her charm when she shows her reasonable side. I look forward to the next installment in the Spellman series.

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