The Last Word by Lisa Lutz

So I’m guessing that this was originally going to be the final Spellman book since its first title was The Last Word. The edition I read, however, had been re-titled The Next Generation, and since the last chapter was written by Rae, not Izzy, I’m assuming that the series will be having a major change come the next book. That makes sense. Izzy has kind of run her course, and putting her in charge of the agency, while fun for the purposes of the book, did not work out so well for her (since her parents are made of the same stubbornness that the Spellman children are). I can see Rae taking over for the next entry into the series (although none has been published, so I’m just guessing).

Focusing back on this book, The Next Generation has skipped forward a bit in time. Izzy has taken over the Spellman Detective Agency by buying out her siblings’ shares, in an effort to prevent her own firing by her parents. It works, but no one is happy or cooperative as a result. Izzy also ends up under investigation for embezzling funds from her benefactor/employer, Edward Slaytor.

This book is similar to the others, several plot-lines that converge in the end. I will say I’m unhappy with what Lutz did to my favorite character, and Izzy’s ex, Henry Stone. He started out a grumpy, health-conscious foil to Rae, and after dating Izzy, he’s become clingy and a bit whiny. Plus he knocked up his new girlfriend, rendering my OTP rather difficult to recoup.

Still, it’s a good read and while it would have made a fine end to the series, I’m hoping Lutz comes out with more.