AT THE RIPE OLD AGE OF THIRTY-TWO, FORMER WILD CHILD ISABEL "IZZY" SPELLMAN HAS FINALLY AGREED TO TAKE OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS. AND THE TRANSITION WON'T BE A SMOOTH ONE.
First among her priorities as head of Spellman Investigations is to dig up some dirt on the competition, slippery ex-cop Rick Harkey—a task she may enjoy a little too much. Next, faced with a baffling missing-persons case at the home of an aging millionaire, Izzy hires an actor friend, Len, to infiltrate the mansion as an undercover butler—a role he may enjoy a little much.
Meanwhile, Izzy is being blackmailed by her mother (photographic evidence of Prom Night 1994) to commit to regular blind dates with promising professionals—an arrangement that doesn't thrill Connor, an Irish bartender on the brink of becoming Ex-boyfriend #12.
At Spellman headquarters, it's business as unusual. Doorknobs and light fixtures are disappearing every day, Mom's been spotted crying in the pantry, and a series of increasingly demanding Spellman Rules (Rule #27: No Speaking Today) can't quite hold the family together. Izzy also has to decipher weekly "phone calls from the edge" from her octogenarian lawyer, Morty, as well as Detective Henry Stone's mysterious interest in rekindling their relationsh . . . well, whatever it was.
Just when it looks like things can't go more haywire, little sister Rae's internship researching pro bono legal cases leads the youngest Spellman to launch a grassroots campaign that could spring an innocent man from jail—or land Rae in it.
The Spellmans Strike Again is hands down the most hilarious, thrilling, and moving book in this bestselling, award-nominated series. And it proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Isabel Spellman, no matter how much she matures, will never be able to follow Rule #1: Act Normal.
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"If you are like me and love light-hearted and fun mystery novels, then Lisa Lutz's series "The Spellman Files" are definitely books that should be found in your dark alleys of the reader's corner. According to other reviewers, if you like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series then this is something similar , for me I'm just starting on the Stephanie Plum books as I got Book #1 One for Money out of the library. The Spellman family consist of Olivia and Albert Spellman (Mum and Dad) , Children - David, Isabel aka Izzy and Rae. Together, the Spellman's own a PI Business and are definitely the family that if you needed justice done for a strange cause - you should contact The Spellmans. In this novel , we discover that David has a new girlfriend named Maggie whose a Laywer - but what is David up to as Izzy and Olivia spot David several times with an Amazon Looking Blonde , Is he cheating on Maggie ? , Rae -the youngest of the Spellmans is doing some intern work at Maggie's firm and when she realises that so many innocent people get sent to Jail , she starts a "Free Schmidt" campaign - tshirts, stickers and all. Something's up with Olivia and Albert and why is items of the household disappearing ? and it wouldn't be a Spellman book without having a strong focus on Izzy whose Mother is making her go on a blind date with a lawyer once a week even though she is dating Connor , though will her relationship be strong enough to last ? As Izzy is still tracking down Hartley , a crooked PI will her plans of attack backfire and why is it all the cases she seems to be recieving are related to Hartley ?
What I loved most though about all of The Spellman Files books is the family dynamics and relationship between the entire Spellman Clan - especially their Family Rules Board :)"
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Paula (5 out of 5 stars)