No Place for Memories

Rating:
Summary: The sixth Vickery novel is a victory for series fans
Review:

Cutler, Colorado is a small town where everyone knows each other. Seventy-three years old Fred Vickery has lived most of his life in the town. Since his beloved spouse Phoebe passed away five years ago, Fred spends most of his time successfully investigating, albeit mostly by accident, unsolved murders. When LeGrande Macafee speaks poorly about Phoebe at their fifty-fifth high school reunion, Fred defends his cherished wife by slugging it out with the man.

LeGrande has a history of obnoxious behavior that has led to many people despising him. Even his own son loathes him. When Fred steps outside to get a breath of fresh air, he discovers LeGrande's dead body. His widow accuses Fred of being the murderer and her consistent outbursts soon has most of the townsfolk convinced that he did kill the man. Fred starts to snoop in order to prove his own innocence.

The sixth entry in the Fred Vickery mysteries is the best one of what is already an excellent series because of the deep insights into Fred and his deceased spouse. This turns NO PLACE FOR MEMORIES into a more personal novel constructed around a great who-done-it. The ending is a shocker that seems to be out of Character for Fred, but stupendous Sherry Lewis makes the climax and, for that matter, the entire book succeed beyond exceptions.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A great addition to a fantastic geriatric mystery series
Review: Cutler, Colorado is a small town where everyone knows each other. Seventy-three years old Fred Vickery has lived most of his life in the town. Since his beloved spouse Phoebe passed away five years ago, Fred spends most of his time successfully investigating, albeit mostly by accident, unsolved murders. When LeGrande Macafee speaks poorly about Phoebe at their fifty-fifth high school reunion, Fred defends his cherished wife by slugging it out with the man.

LeGrande has a history of obnoxious behavior that has led to many people despising him. Even his own son loathes him. When Fred steps outside to get a breath of fresh air, he discovers LeGrande's dead body. His widow accuses Fred of being the murderer and her consistent outbursts soon has most of the townsfolk convinced that he did kill the man. Fred starts to snoop in order to prove his own innocence.

The sixth entry in the Fred Vickery mysteries is the best one of what is already an excellent series because of the deep insights into Fred and his deceased spouse. This turns NO PLACE FOR MEMORIES into a more personal novel constructed around a great who-done-it. The ending is a shocker that seems to be out of Character for Fred, but stupendous Sherry Lewis makes the climax and, for that matter, the entire book succeed beyond exceptions.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, Warm, and Intriguing
Review: This was the first Fred Vickery sleuth novel I have read. I've greatly enjoyed the romances written by Sherry Lewis, so I decided to try this book and am glad I did.

As usual for Ms. Lewis, she creates a main character with dimension. I felt as if Fred were an old friend after just a few chapters. She gives insight into the little, seemingly inconsequential details that really bring her character to life.

I don't want to give away to much, but suffice it to say that I couldn't guess who-dun-it. And was surprised who did and for what reasons.

The story also has a moral theme running through it. Without sounding as if she is stepping away from the story line, Ms. Lewis imparts a bit of wisdom to her readers. I have read other of her works where she manages to weave such things in without it seeming inappropriate. This really makes for fun reading.

I didn't realize it, but there are other Fred Vickery sleuth novels that come before this one. One such is "No Place For Tears", which I am reading now. I have found that there are bits that I can guess what is coming because I read this book first, although it isn't detracting from the story. I suggest checking the issue date of the books first if you plan to buy more than one of the Fred Vickery sleuth novels and start with the earliest.

Enjoy!