Darden North, MD

New 5-star review of "The 5 Manners of Death" on audible.com— Performance: 5 out of 5 stars, Story: 5 out of 5 stars "Thrilling Murder Mystery" This is an entertaining murder mystery set in modern southern USA. People seem to be dropping like flies around Dr. Diana Bratton, and she is convinced that there is more to the story than just coincidence. Her search to find out who or what is causing the deaths leads her in a direction she is hesitant to take. The story jumps back and forth from the University campus in the 1960s to present day Jackson, Mississippi, which helps create depth, intrigue, and also muddies the water so that you are left suspecting everyone. The narrator did an excellent job of giving the individuals their own voice and captured the southern feel of the book well. His narration builds suspense, brings out the humor and moves the story forward at just the right pace. It is fast-paced mystery with great characters, multiple layers, and g...

August 18, 2018, marked the fourth annual Mississippi Book Festival, an expanding and highly energetic literary lawn party gracing the beautiful, oak – draped grounds and surrounding buildings of the historic Mississippi State Capitol in downtown Jackson. The first two years of the festival, I worked as a volunteer in the Author Panelist room, having the opportunity to meet the visiting authors as well as local writers scheduled to present. In 2017 and again this year, I joined other writers outside in the Authors Alley tent on Mississippi Street, bordering the south lawn of the Capitol. This was an amazing opportunity to visit with many of my readers and to meet many new ones. Lots of signed books were discussed and placed in the hands of readers that Saturday in Authors Alley. Mid-August weather in Mississippi with its 90+ degree humidity will never dampen literary spirits, and fortunately we escaped the forecasted downpour! Thank you to Holly Lange and the other organizers and suppo...

In "The Five Manners of Death" there are five ways to die.  Surgeon Diana Bratton believes that homicide is the only one left. Then the police prove her wrong. Diana learns that murder is her family secret.  After a construction worker unearths a human skull on the campus of the University of Mississippi that dates to the 1960s, an older woman’s desperate attempt to erase history counts down the five manners of death. Surgeon Diana Bratton is surrounded by bodies after the discovery of her Aunt Phoebe’s 50-year-old note detailing the five ways to die. Suicide, accident, natural cause, and one death classified undetermined are soon crossed of this list—leaving Diana to believe that only homicide remains. Then the police prove her wrong.  When Phoebe is linked not only to that death, but to the recent deaths of two local men, Diana is torn between pursuing Phoebe’s innocence and accepting police theory that her aunt is involved in multiple murders...

I'm not sure what's going on with the Easter Bunny's left eye, but it was indeed a Happy Easter event at our neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt today. Our organizers for 2016 didn't have an area roped off for egg hunters in the 40-plus crowd, but there was plenty of socializing to make up for that slight. Anyway, I never was any good at finding Easter eggs. It is a special Easter for me, and I hope for you, too. The weather through Saturday of this spiritual weekend in Jackson, Mississippi, is beautiful; my wife and I have had a chance to relax and enjoy our home; our two kids are busy and happy; and (Of course, only a writer would include this one) I have finished the draft of my fifth novel, "When the Bee Stings." -----Darden North        www.dardennorth.com

“The Son – Silas Rising” introduces the world to a unique serial killer. At first glance, a stealthy political assassin driven by personal revenge may not seem to represent a new story line. But when the early back story reveals that Silas seeks payback for his parents’ premature death as the result of the newly enacted, but stingy, U.S. health care laws, the reader knows that the congressmen responsible don’t have a chance.   Of course, becoming a millionaire through shrewd investing initially gives Silas the benefit of playing the eccentric while having the resources to take down the reckless politicos in imaginative ways, including barbed wire on a Texas ranch.   The first novel of this exciting new series by Doug Dahlgren introduces Silas, the self-made millionaire and serial killer, who leaves clues to his crimes through the words of Revolutionary War heroes.  A reader must admire a new novelist such as Mr. Dahlgren who has a grasp of history and can weave it in...

Sometimes fiction writers have to get serious, even if they are known for writing murder mysteries. When I mentioned the issue of night-time and early morning pedestrian safety to the director of our neighborhood homeowner's association, I was asked to address the problem in an article for the neighborhood magazine! (Surprised?)  I hope you'll take a moment to go to the online link that follows, scroll to page 26 for the article, and find the discussion about neighborhood safety enlightening.  And as far as walking and jogging goes in Jackson, Mississippi, you just don't do much of it when you sit in front of a laptop typing...   http://legacy.n2pub.com/newsletter/files/MS_Madison/Eastover/2014/Eastover_Dec14.pdf

An agonizing story that you wish were only fiction ..... I shelved my personalized-signed copy of the lengthy novel and instead enjoyed the digital audio version of this latest Penn Cage installment. Admittedly, I was at a slight disadvantage since I have not yet read "The Devil's Punchbowl," Iles' preceding novel.  However, I quickly absorbed the sickening back-story of racism and political assassinations that filled so much of the news while I was in elementary school and growing up in Louisiana and Mississippi. Much of the first 40 chapters of "Natchez Burning" builds for the reader the sickening story of the KKK and Brody Royal's Double Eagles, a group bent on a degree of terror and torture that rivals any modern-day terrorist organization. It is after these chapters heavily laced in back-story that the novel finally accelerates, earning for Iles the reviewer cliché: "Couldn't put it down." Natchez (Mississippi) mayor and novelist P...

This review was posted on audible.com 07/11/2014 by a  listener to  the audio version of "Points of Origin" and is reprinted in its entirety: 07-11-14 Overall Performance Story "An intriguing, multi-level story brought to life" Any additional comments? This book is hard to categorize, but it definitely kept my interest throughout. It is not really a mystery, though a lot of mysteries unfold. It is not really a romance, though several romances are central to it. It is not really a thriller, though it is full of excitement and twists and turns. It is the story of numerous lives in a small Southern town, that interconnect through various twists of fate, with each ripple in one person's life creating a tidal wave in another person's life. Before you realize it, you get drawn into the lives of these people, and become a fascinated voyeur. The narrator moved the story along with perfect pacing and emotion, and created a uni...

Points of Origin Small southern towns are not always sleepy—particularly in Larkspur, Mississippi, where homes burst into flames and lives crumble. It is the suspicious death of a young woman that costs premiere plastic surgeon Dan Foxworth his surgical dynasty, his life, and that of his wife. Devastated by the loss of both parents and unable to meet a bitter grandfather's expectations, Sher Foxworth tries to save an elderly woman from her burning home. Suddenly the accidental hero, his life is turned upside down by disturbing twists of fate. To dig his way out, Sher makes a deal to wear a fireman’s hat and remains the hero. But it is the philandering, wealthy trial lawyer Cordell Pixler who collects the enemies. Many in the boiling southern town seek revenge against Pixler—some because of sex and some because of money—and it’s a race to see who nails him first.  “Points of Origin” was awarded nationally in Southern Fiction by the Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards ...

Darden North 's review Apr 26, 14    ·    edit 4 of 5 stars Read from March 24 to April 26, 2014 I had the pleasure of meeting the author James Rollins at a ThrillerFest Writers Conference a couple of years ago in New York. He introduced author Robin Cook as the ThrillerMaster of the annual event. Jim signed my purchased copy of his then current novel "The Doomsday Key." Another Sigma Force novel, "Blood Line" is back with Director Painter and his team of highly trained male and female operatives who at times seem just plan lucky. While some of the fertility science in "Blood Line" has been included in other works (namely "Fresh Frozen" by yours truly), Rollins exploits the technology into elements of what we hope is only science fiction. Weaving in bibilical history, he reveals how humanity can take a second to the advancement of science, power, and domination. While the constant mind-bending action and character flips can be ...

My review of "The Goldfinch" appears in print and online in the January 25, 2014 edition of "The Clarion Ledger." F or this reader,  a bsorbing  Donna Tartt's newest novel i s a step away from the thrillers I write and typically enjoy. Authors who review the work of other authors are said to help all concerned.  "The Goldfinch" is a opportunity to indulge in a rather lengthy, but beautifully written, work of literary fiction. http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20140126/FEAT/301260058/Book-review-Goldfinch-both-complex-dark ----- Darden North is the IPPY-award winning author of four novels and murder mysteries, most recently "Wiggle Room."

A recent publication discussed the growing role of powerful female characters in many popular televison series and that many times the male lead becomes their kryptonite. This theme also drives the plot of many murder mysteries and thrillers. Whether on television, in the movies, or in novels, those of us seeking escape are drawn to flawed characters. Male and female characters create many conlicts with the opposite sex and drive a novel's plot. Murder mysteries and mystery fiction novels abound with men who lose the sexual battle but somehow find redemption. Are audiences as forgiving when a female protagonist is derailed by a love interest? Contemporary television does not seem to think so, and that concept helps this writer create flawed female characters that practically write award winner books themselves . To read more:  http://bit.ly/174GWC1 Darden North is the author of four novels including "Points of Origin," awarded an IPPY in Southern Fictio...

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http://terashanley.blogspot.com/2013/09/author-spotlight-darden-north.html Texas author Tera Shanley crossed genre lines and asked me to stop by her lively writer's blog today. Please take a look and leave a comment. ----- Darden

In this news release, I comment on a contemporary news article about women physicians breaking the "glass ceiling" regarding salaries as compared to males and how the discrepancy pushes character Diana Bratton into conflict in my latest novel "Wiggle Room." http://www.freepublicitygroup.com/release_darden_north_murder_mystery_sept113.html I would appreciate anyone sharing his or her own experience in such promotional efforts: that is, publicly commenting on true-to-life issues and how those issues are used in a novel's plot or character development. Thanks, Darden Darden North www.dardennorth.com IPPY winner in Southern Fiction for "Points of Origin" "Wiggle Room" Summer 2013