The Spellman Files

Ari Graynor narrates this debut novel, telling the story of 28-year-old Isabel "Izzy" Spellman, who is struggling to stay sane while working for her family's private detective agency. It's difficult to imagine a better fit than Graynor for recounting Izzy's madcap adventures, romantic disasters, and attempts to locate her missing sister, whose unhealthy habit of "recreational surveillance" has gotten her in trouble more than once with the police. With "normal" behavior in her family including going through other people's trash, snooping outside hotel rooms, trailing men in San Francisco's Tenderloin district, and doing background checks on all of her "future ex-boyfriends," Izzy's story is one funny adventure after another. Graynor's aplomb, dynamism, and sassiness help make this first novel a laugh-out-loud treat. S.E.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

February 26, 2007
In a family of private investigators, privacy is nonexistent. The Spellman parents spy on the kids just as much as the kids spy on the parents. But after 28 years of this, middle child Isabelle wants out of the family business. Her parents agree, but only if she solves the 10-year-old cold case of a missing teenage. Amusing and entertaining, Lutzs tale of investigation, family and love is given an additional bemusing touch by Ari Graynor. She grasps the material and Isabelles resigned disposition of both loving and loathing her family. She captures Isabelles more emotional responses and the youthful tone of her younger sister, Rae. However, she is occasionally too breathy, literally blowing into the microphone. While these come off as sighs, they still seem to cross that line between narration and interpretation. The abridgment of some of the books various subplots increases the speed of this already fast paced comedy-mystery. Simultaneous release with the S& S hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 1). (Mar.) .