Book Review: The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

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The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker  was published on March 17, 2025. It opens with Detective Declan Shaw at a closed subway station trying to work up the nerve to commit suicide when he receives a call from his partner about a break in and homicide at the home of a true crime author. Shaw makes his way to the crime scene to work the case, and in a turn of events, Declan comes under scrutiny in another case loosely connected to this new case. I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Writer  from NetGalley and Little , Brown, and Company for free in exchange for my honest review. I'm appreciative that my request for this book was approved. With this story opening with the main character trying to commit suicide, I almost didn't go any further with the book. However, I am glad I stuck with it as it took me on a fantastic ride and had my emotions all over the place. There were so many twists and turns that just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was ...
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Book Review: Revenge of the Spellmans (The Spellmans, #3) by Lisa Lutz

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The Spellman Files Book #3 by Lisa LutzIncredulously funny and clever, Revenge of the Spellmans (The Spellmans, #3) by Lisa Lutz continues the story of dysfunctional family of the Spellmans. Isabel "Izzy" Spellman has taken a break from her parents' private investigation firm and started working as a bartender at her favorite bar, The Philosopher's Club. When her boss, Milo, introduces her to a patron looking for a private investigator that is affordable, Milo expects Izzy to take the case. When Izzy isn't working at the bar or on the case, she is attending court ordered therapy. To top things off, her personal life is falling apart.

This is a book series that just gets better as it goes and one that I am revisiting. Lisa Lutz is such a talented author. Although Revenge of the Spellmans is a mystery, it doesn't follow the normal formula that other mystery writers follow. One of the unique items of the book is that there are footnotes that further explain parts of the book and gives more insight into the main character, Izzy Spellman. On top of that, there are parts that are snarky that I find absolutely hilarious. Even with this being a reread for me, it still was super funny, and I'm glad I wasn't reading this in public because people would have given me weird looks for all the giggling and laughing I did.

the spellman files lisa lutzI'm not sure that I would've even heard of Lisa Lutz if it hadn't been for a Goodreads Giveaway on Goodreads.com that I entered for the second book, Curse of the Spellmans . . . and I won a copy of the book! For that, I am eternally grateful for being introduced to this fabulous author. I now read every book that she writes. My only complaint is that she isn't writing any more books in the series. This makes me sad. (There are six books total in the series with a few spinoff books that some of the characters "wrote".)

Some people might compare this series to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum book series, but in my opinion, they are very different styles. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the series by Evanovich, but no book can be called similar to this series by Lutz in my opinion. I gave Revenge of the Spellmans (The Spellmans, #3) by Lisa Lutz four out of five stars.


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