Memories Live Here

Fiction - Mystery - General
292 Pages
Reviewed on 02/03/2021
Buy on Amazon



Author Biography

Marc Sheinbaum grew up in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. After attending SUNY Albany and NYU, he worked as an executive for over thirty-five years, mostly within large corporations like American Express, GE Capital and JP Morgan Chase. Now retired, Marc spends his time writing and serving on public and non-profit boards.

From the Author: Writing had been my passion growing up in Brooklyn, but sometimes life has a way of intruding on your passions. Retirement has giving me a second opportunity--a second chance. I started small--enrolling in a writers workshop where we riffed on "prompts," and from those early exercises, my first novel started to emerge. It has been a wonderful journey, and I'm already deep into my second project, which I hope to complete in 2022.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Memories Live Here by Marc Sheinbaum is a fast-paced thriller that follows three brothers, Josh, Louie, and Donny Brodsky, in the wake of their mother's death. Josh is on the rise as his new career in California's Silicon Valley at Sway, a cutting edge technology firm, provides the money he never had in his previous government job. But his work at the U.S. Department of Defense gives him the credibility he needs to spearhead Sway's ambitious artificial intelligence project named CHERL, Computerized Human Experienced as Real Life. He's able to channel historical greats such as Ulysses S. Grant, Napoleon, and Churchill. Donny is looking for money to start up his AI boot camp as he works to learn enough coding to get his foot in the door. He sends out a proposal to his wealthier brothers with an attachment. Donny becomes the lead suspect when Louie and Josh discover malware that cripples their work, leading to a showdown that may dig up the dead and some old family secrets along with them.

Memories Live Here is an incredible book. Mark Sheinbaum had me hooked in under a minute with an opening that is absolute fire and followed through with the compelling development and backstories of Josh, Louie, and Donny, who all have chutzpah to spare. The brothers share a balanced spread of moving the plot forward and are as authentic as any person standing right in front of you. The conversations between Louie and his no-b.s. wife Vicky are perfection, especially when she leans in hard. I loved all of their personalities, their casual f-bombs, and the diversity of motivations that holds the trio together by a common bond: the loss of their parents. Brotherhood. It's what keeps Louie from going to the Feds and provides Josh with the fodder needed to justify ambushing Donny to get the damn encryption code. This is one of the best reads I've invested my time in all year. Very highly recommended.

Susan Sewell

When two brothers believe their carefree brother is attempting to sabotage their careers, they call upon their recently deceased mother to set him straight in the fascinating science fiction mystery Memories Live Here by Marc Sheinbaum. When Josh, Louie, and Donnie Brodsky's mother dies, Donnie thinks it is the ideal time to pitch his newest business scheme to his highly successful brothers. However, Josh is tied up with his latest groundbreaking technology and doesn't even come to the funeral, and Louie won't give him a chance to make a pitch. Frustrated, Donnie sends them each an email with an attachment of the business proposal his prospective partner gave him. When Josh and Louie open their emails, they unwittingly infect their respective company's computer systems with malware. Josh and Louie are not only about to lose their jobs; they are facing severe legal allegations. Using Josh's newest creation, they lure Donnie into a trap so they can induce him to undo the damage that he has done. But what if Donnie isn't responsible?

Memories Live Here by Marc Sheinbaum is an intriguing mystery with a science fiction undertone. Even though it seems far-fetched, this fascinating novel embraces mind-blowing technology that probably isn't too far off the mark from what is evolving in today's technologically advancing world. With an inspired plot, relatable characters, and plenty of backstories, the narrative is so absorbing it is easy to get caught up in the characters' conflicts and drama. The provocative plot portrays a realistic and slightly frightening illustration of possible exquisite technology in the not so distant future. It is an absorbing novel that will delight readers who enjoy mysteries with authentic scientific foundations.

Sandy Masia

Memories Live Here by Marc Sheinbaum follows three brothers - Josh, Donny, and Louie - who aren't as close to each other as they should be. Not even the death of their mother could bring them together. It follows them as they try to deal with their demons and challenges. At the crux of the book are the mysterious events surrounding their father's death, new AI, and a malware attack. It is a story about the past and how it can illuminate the present, helping us make a new future.

Memories Live Here by Marc Sheinbaum is well developed and put together. It feels polished, well-thought-out, and detailed. The book's most impressive feature is crisp character building, revealing interpersonal dynamics, and the author's ability to thread past events with the present seamlessly. I had no trouble understanding the characters' motives or relating to their reasoning despite how different they were. Family-centered stories offer a wealth of opportunity that the author can mine to crystallize their characters and flesh out interesting themes. Memories Live Here manages to do that, even when it is not primarily a family drama. It is based in the future and features incredible technology that plays an important role in the plot, making it sophisticated. It has a cold, suspenseful element that draws you in and makes it hard to put the book down. Memories Live Here is an absorbing work. It's powerful, vivid, and stimulating. Marc Sheinbaum is a talented writer, gifted with creating believable characters who are relatable despite their flaws.