Grave Misgivings

Mother Lavinia meets a man and his teenage daughter in the rain in a cemetery. She kindheartedly asks them home with her and they tell her they are looking for the grave of the man's father. He died in the great flood of 1955, or did he? Someone is also stealing the ornaments from the graveyard. Mother Lavinia takes both mysteries in hand.While this isn't my favorite of the Mother Vinnie mysteries, it is still very entertaining. The mysteries of the past and present blend very well together, and the ending is somewhat surprising.

I wish Kate Gallison would hurry up and write another Mother Lavinia Grey mystery. The premise for her novels is so different...and wonderfully done.!

I can't believe LGandle read the same warm and witty book I did. Of course I am a fan of Mother Lavinia Grey and have read all Kate Gallison's books. Mother Grey and her wacky assortment of parishoners are always a hoot. The uproariously odd coincidences and dizzying plot twists of Grave Misgivings kept me up until 3:00am.

Mother Vinnie Grey found the two waterlogged individuals wandering in the Mount Overlook Cemetery in Fishersville, New Jersey. She brings the pair home with her to warm them up and to hear their story. Mark Smith and his adult daughter Shannon traveled from Phoenix to bury the ashes of his recently deceased mother, Mary Agnes, next to his long time interred father, James. However, Mark and Shannon admit that somehow the grave of his father, who died in 1955, is no where to be found in any of the nearby cemeteries, regardless of religious affiliation.His mother never told Mark much about Fishersville as he lived out west since he was six years old. A few elderly citizens remember James, but no one seems to be able to find the grave site. One particular person, John Ferryman, even cried to learn his former love, Mary Agnes, died, but no one tells the Smiths how James died and where he is buried. Mother Vinnie takes over the investigation even as other in! cidents seem to interfere with her inquiries.No readers will have any GRAVE MISGIVINGS after perusing the latest Mother Vinnie novel. The witty story line is simplistic, a bit offbeat, yet outrageously genuine, and definitely exciting. Readers will feel the motivations and grief of all the characters and Mother Vinnie is a unique amateur sleuth. However, the fifth Mother Vinnie entry, which may be the best of a great series, is superb because of the brilliantly written, elementary yet complex puzzle. The great Kate Gallison will rightfully receive critical and reader accolades for her newest novel.Harriet Klausner 7/26/98