OK, so here is a review of a non-romantic drama. This book is actually better described as a dark comedy. The writing is witty and the characters do funny things, but if you take a step back, you realize how dysfunctional the Spellman family is. I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because the ending felt a bit abrupt, and it definitely was not the happy ending I desired after the rest of the sadness in the book. If this were a movie, it would be rated R for language, thematic elements and some sensuality.
The Spellman Files is about Isabel Spellman and her family, all private investigators except for her brother, David, who is a corporate attorney. The story is told in a manner similar to the Lost TV series - you get a bit of present day drama and then a lot of back story/ family history. Ultimately, the big mystery is what happened to the 14 year old Rae Spellman. She is missing, and in order to find her, Izzy recounts the family's history to the detective investigating her little sister's disappearance. I won't spoil the book for you, but let's just say that the writing is real. This is no fluff piece that you read when you want to feel good, but as I said earlier, the book is also funny. The characters' dialogue is witty and sharp, and some of the things they do are outrageous. I enjoyed this book immensely, but would have preferred a happier ending.
