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sharonfalduto's review against another edition
The family of spies returns in a new tongue in cheek mystery, making each other miserable by not being able to turn off their spy inclinations even when dealing with each other.
mon_ique's review against another edition
2.0
Scored better than the first one, but Izzy's obsession with finding answer and then being proven wrong are getting annoying. I liked how she cleaned up at the end, but based on reviews fro the other books, it doesn't seem like she grows up all that much.
P.S. I love Henry.
P.P.S I love Henry and Rae's relationship :)
Sidenote- still some language, but way less than the first book.
P.S. I love Henry.
P.P.S I love Henry and Rae's relationship :)
Sidenote- still some language, but way less than the first book.
shanameydala's review against another edition
3.0
Another fun romp with the Spellman family and the perpetual childish Izzy. Makes for a fun ride.
mhall's review against another edition
3.0
Izzy Spellman is a 30 year old private investigator who works for her family’s detective agency. She has just been arrested for the fourth time in three months, and her family is losing patience with her. Her recent love interest has secured a restraining order against her, after she broke into his house. As she explains it to her 80-year old lawyer, in his office slash garage, Izzy is sure if she just keeps investigating, she’ll learn the truth about what everyone is hiding. As a member of the Spellman family detective agency, she has no other choice. She and her16 year old sister Rae have grown up in a family where each member has always investigated the others just as tenaciously as they go after real suspects.
As this mystery develops, Izzy learns more about the suspicious behavior of the mysterious man she has just begun dating. She also attempts to track down the answers to several other of her ongoing concerns about the quirks of her family–for example, why is Izzy’s mom secretly leaving the house in the middle of the night to slash the tires of a motorcycle parked in a distant neighborhood? And what’s going on with Izzy’s dad – has his mid-life crisis really evolved into what she deems a ‘retirement-age freak out’? And, no less importantly, why would her sister Rae’s math teacher save his used Kleenex in a desk drawer for weeks at a time? Izzy is sure she can find out the answer to these questions, but it might involve being arrested again.
As Izzy’s story unfolds in short chapters and transcripts of conversations she has recorded, fans of other humorous mystery writers will find themselves laughing. Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz is a funny, quick read that focuses on the idiosyncrasies of the main characters just as much as solving crimes.
As this mystery develops, Izzy learns more about the suspicious behavior of the mysterious man she has just begun dating. She also attempts to track down the answers to several other of her ongoing concerns about the quirks of her family–for example, why is Izzy’s mom secretly leaving the house in the middle of the night to slash the tires of a motorcycle parked in a distant neighborhood? And what’s going on with Izzy’s dad – has his mid-life crisis really evolved into what she deems a ‘retirement-age freak out’? And, no less importantly, why would her sister Rae’s math teacher save his used Kleenex in a desk drawer for weeks at a time? Izzy is sure she can find out the answer to these questions, but it might involve being arrested again.
As Izzy’s story unfolds in short chapters and transcripts of conversations she has recorded, fans of other humorous mystery writers will find themselves laughing. Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz is a funny, quick read that focuses on the idiosyncrasies of the main characters just as much as solving crimes.
nyxshadow's review against another edition
4.0
http://nyx-shadow.blogspot.fr/2012/09/les-spellman-t2-les-spellman-se.html
carebear102106's review against another edition
3.0
Figured it out pretty easily, but I think it helped make the point of Isabel's narrow mindedness. I really like the characters. but the constant refrain of 'refer to previous document, Now in paperback' got really irritating. The author needs to stop constantly trying to be clever when telling people to read her other book.
alice2000's review against another edition
5.0
I am in love with this series- must have more Izzy, Rae and Henry!
mountie9's review against another edition
5.0
The Good Stuff
Another wild and wacky tale of the delightfully dysfunctional, yet totally loveable, Spellman family
Would love to take mamma Spellman to some of Jake's parent teachers meeting - she totally rocks
Love how Izzy refers to potential dates as Ex-Boyfriend #?
Don't really have to read the first book in order to understand the plot, it will help and you will love it, but you won't be totally lost if you don't
Gives you a synopsis of the first book without too much repetition for those who have read it already
Love the relationships between all of the charcters - especially between Izzy, Rae and Henry
The dialogues are hilarious -- FYI you will snort out loud - do not drink while reading - it could get messy
The transcripts are a fabulous quirky idea
The appendix is a perfect addition
Even reading the acknowledgments is fun
Looking forward to reading the next installment of the series -- they are totally addictive to read
The Not So Good Stuff
Her writing style might throw off some, story jumps around a lot, so you gotta be paying attention
Distracts me from getting work done, since I want to keep reading
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"Background: When my sister was eight years old, my brother, in the interest of explaining his legal career to Rae, taught her how to negotiate. It was a lesson he and the rest of us would soon regret. Rae took from this lesson that everything - from simple acts of grooming to household chores to homework - could be negotiated to her end."
"I pinched Rae really hard on her arm, which lately is code for "whatever you're doing, stop doing it."
"Rae took the money and headed for the door. In my family, if one loses a negotiation, we like to pretend that we have won.
"I would have given you thirty," I said
"I would have done it for five," Rae replied."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Definitely for those who enjoy reading books about quirky families
Hardcore readers of mystery or PI style books might now enjoy
Readers who just enjoy something a little different, this is for you
If you just need a good laugh -- this will do it
Obviously for fans of the first book - but you don't have to read it first
5 Dewey's
I received this from Simon and Schuster in Exchange for an Honest Review & I'm bringing you the REALLY good cookies at OLA for introducing me to these books
Another wild and wacky tale of the delightfully dysfunctional, yet totally loveable, Spellman family
Would love to take mamma Spellman to some of Jake's parent teachers meeting - she totally rocks
Love how Izzy refers to potential dates as Ex-Boyfriend #?
Don't really have to read the first book in order to understand the plot, it will help and you will love it, but you won't be totally lost if you don't
Gives you a synopsis of the first book without too much repetition for those who have read it already
Love the relationships between all of the charcters - especially between Izzy, Rae and Henry
The dialogues are hilarious -- FYI you will snort out loud - do not drink while reading - it could get messy
The transcripts are a fabulous quirky idea
The appendix is a perfect addition
Even reading the acknowledgments is fun
Looking forward to reading the next installment of the series -- they are totally addictive to read
The Not So Good Stuff
Her writing style might throw off some, story jumps around a lot, so you gotta be paying attention
Distracts me from getting work done, since I want to keep reading
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"Background: When my sister was eight years old, my brother, in the interest of explaining his legal career to Rae, taught her how to negotiate. It was a lesson he and the rest of us would soon regret. Rae took from this lesson that everything - from simple acts of grooming to household chores to homework - could be negotiated to her end."
"I pinched Rae really hard on her arm, which lately is code for "whatever you're doing, stop doing it."
"Rae took the money and headed for the door. In my family, if one loses a negotiation, we like to pretend that we have won.
"I would have given you thirty," I said
"I would have done it for five," Rae replied."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Definitely for those who enjoy reading books about quirky families
Hardcore readers of mystery or PI style books might now enjoy
Readers who just enjoy something a little different, this is for you
If you just need a good laugh -- this will do it
Obviously for fans of the first book - but you don't have to read it first
5 Dewey's
I received this from Simon and Schuster in Exchange for an Honest Review & I'm bringing you the REALLY good cookies at OLA for introducing me to these books
ramsfan1963's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
You don't have to have read The Spellman Files before going into this book. The Spellmans are a group of investigators, but this book is more about their interactions than about the mysteries they solve. Funny, poignant and even some romance.
dmchurch's review against another edition
Four arrests threaten Izzy's PI license as the Spellman family once again drive each other crazy. Mom is sneaking out at all hours of the night sabotaging a motorbike for no apparent reason (with Izzy tailing her). Dad is sneaking off to the gym and eating salads without being coerced. David and Petra have virtually disappeared and aren't communicating. And, Rae has run over her friend and driving instructor, Henry Stone, putting him in the hospital. The antics and intrigues continue as the various family members try to figure out what the others are up to or manipulate each other into doing what they want. A fun sequel that once again had me laughing out loud.