TRAIL OF THE SPELLMANS

Christina Moore once again brings positive energy to Lutz’s “documents” about Isabel Spellman, a 30-something slacker PI. The family detecting business gets pushed to the limits when they find their clients are at cross-purposes. As usual, there are a number of family issues involving romance, visiting relatives, and strange behavior. Moore’s comedic tone and timing match Lutz’s hilarious style and plotlines. While navigating among a slew of characters, Moore creates a distinct and consistent voice for each. There are a few missteps in pronunciation of local place-names, and Moore lacks the distinct Northern California cadence of the novel, but otherwise a thoroughly entertaining reading. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2012]