Revenge of the Spellmans

By: Lisa Lutz

Narrated by: Ari Graynor

Private investigator Isabel Spellman is back on the case and back on the couch - in court-ordered therapy after getting a little too close to her previous subject.

As the book opens, Izzy is on hiatus from Spellman Inc. But when her boss, Milo, cuts her bartending hours and introduces her to a "friend" looking for a private eye, Izzy reluctantly finds herself with a new client. She assures herself that the case -- a suspicious husband who wants his wife tailed -- will be short and sweet, and will involve nothing more than the most boring of PI rituals: surveillance. But with each passing hour, Izzy finds herself with more questions than hard evidence.

Meanwhile, Spellmania continues. Izzy's brother, David, the family's most upright member, has adopted an uncharacteristically unkempt appearance and attitude toward work, life, and Izzy. And their wayward youngest sister, Rae, a historic academic underachiever, aces the PSATs and subsequently offends her study partner and object of obsession, Detective Henry Stone, to the point of excommunication. The only unsurprising behavior comes from her parents, whose visits to Milo's bar amount to thinly veiled surveillance and artful attempts (read: blackmail) at getting Izzy to return to the Spellman Inc. fold.

As the case of the wayward wife continues to vex her, Izzy's personal life -- and mental health -- seem to be disintegrating. Facing a housing crisis, she can't sleep, she can't remember where she parked her car, and, despite her shrinks' persistence, she can't seem to break through in her appointments. She certainly can't explain why she forgets dates with her lawyer's grandson, or fails to interpret the come-ons issued in an Irish brogue by Milo's new bartender. Nor can she explain exactly how she feels about Detective Henry Stone and his plans to move in with his new Assistant DA girlfriend...

Filled with the signature side-splitting Spellman antics.

More mirth and mayhem? Listen to more Spellmans series.©2009 Lisa Lutz (P)2009 Simon and Schuster

Couldn't stop listening

Lisa Lutz has delivered another deliciously funny out take of Izzy's world. She's being blackmailed, pushed around by an old man and she can't find her car. I laughed so hard my nose ran. I'm already getting a tissue ready for her next book.

Lighthearted fun!

Easy to listen to- lighthearted and humorous. I would definitely recommend. Also it was something that you can listen to with your entire family and no one will blush!

love this series

Her Spellman series is an easy going and funny read. I have read them all now I am listening to them all

Love the Spellmans!

Easy listening. Good story. I already own the series digitally. have bought 2 of the audiobooks so far.

Need therapy?

If therapy has been suggested, read this first. This hilarious read will show you some tricks on how to avoid making any progress with therapy, including mastering the long pause. Again, the Spellmans entertain with their distrust of family members, solving cases that are not at all what they seem, and heartwarming relationships that are disguised as nuclear war zones. Lutz ability to create rich characters is proven once more with the addition of a new bartender, a new girlfriend, and further development of the existing dossier.

I love Izzy and her whole disfunctional family!

Would you listen to Revenge of the Spellmans again? Why?

Yes! I just love spending time with the Spell mans.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not so much the plot as the relationship between the characters is what keeps you going.

What does Ari Graynor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voice and her attitude. I think she has Izzy down cold. She brings the edge, but also the warmth of the character.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not one particular moment, but many scenes with Maggie. She is so dear, but eyes open and you know she meet the Spellmans on her own terms. Everybody loves her.

Any additional comments?

Advice to Spellman newbies. See "previous documents" first.

Such a good read!!

I was very happy with how well this story line read. It was written with a steady pace, lots of mystery, some good laughs, and never a dull moment. It was nice that the Spellmans were not in one big fight the whole book like in previous reads, and I liked to see Izzy back in the game of investigation. While I know Izzy's schtick is to never grow up, but I kinda want her to do so just enough to fall in love (we all know with who) without losing her quirky self. I'm excited to see how the story plays out in the following books :)

LOVE IT!

I am totally a Spellman fan! Nice Job with characters and Ari Graynor is the best narrator too!

Laughing all the way!

I loved this book. It so wasn't dull. The Narrator made this book come alive more than reading it would have. I loved her tone. The Author's wit is fabulous. I would listen to the first two if they weren't abridged, now I'll have to hunt them down and read them. But Ms. Graynor has set the tone in which they will be read! Loved it -- light, funny and witty!

The perfect way to spend an evening.

My significant other and I listen to The Spellman File series while he cooks and I clean, organize or plan. it is the perfect escape and The Spellman family are constantly keeping us snickering and out right laughing. Love this series and wish it never ended.