the Spellman Files

I can’t decide what I thought about The Spellman Files. Isabel definitely reminded me of Veronica Mars, which I loved, but there was just one too many story lines going on that the whole novel felt a bit ADD.

“I liked finding dirt on people. It made all my trespasses seem trivial.”

There is boy drama,  family drama and one last case.

Like Veronica, Isabel is a private investigator who works for her family and has a natural knack for the profession. Her family is a bit over protective and after a series of embarrassing run-ins (including her 14-year old sister following her) Isabel quits the family business. Her parents will let her off the hook with a glowing recommendation if she takes a 15-year old cold case her family has been unable to solve. Izzy gets caught up in the cold case and when it hits a little too close to home it becomes the case she can’t quit.

“My father insisted that the boys in my life were directly responsible for my juvenile-delinquent tendencies. My mother, more accurately, assumed that I was the bad influence.”

I think anyone who likes mysteries (or at least kick ass girl sleuths) will enjoy the Spellman Files. The various plots are a bit overwhelming but, all in all, it’s a fun read.