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The Five Manners of Death
After a construction worker unearths a human skull on the campus of the University of Mississippi dating to the 1960s, an older woman’s desperate attempt to erase history counts down the five manners of death.
Dr. Diana Bratton is a surgeon surrounded by bodies after the discovery of her Aunt Phoebe’s 50-year-old note detailing the manners of death. Suicide, accident, natural cause, and one death classified undetermined are soon crossed off this list—leaving Diana to believe that only murder remains. When Diana spots photographs in a 1966 university yearbook, 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 the murder of several men she knew in college.
In “The 5 Manners of Death,” Dr. Diana Bratton steals precious time from her young daughter, her surgical practice, and her hopes for renewed romance to clear Aunt Phoebe’s name of multiple murder and uncover the significance of the list. Even as Diana searches Phoebe’s home basement for evidence, she works to trump the police and outrun the conspiracy between her ex-husband and Phoebe’s long-time lover—her quest to expose the truth overshadowed by a need to rebury the past. Even though she realizes there is a chance to save her shrinking family, Diana understands that of the five ways to die, murder is her family secret.
Dr. Diana Bratton is a surgeon surrounded by bodies after the discovery of her Aunt Phoebe’s 50-year-old note detailing the manners of death. Suicide, accident, natural cause, and one death classified undetermined are soon crossed off this list—leaving Diana to believe that only murder remains. When Diana spots photographs in a 1966 university yearbook, 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 the murder of several men she knew in college.
In “The 5 Manners of Death,” Dr. Diana Bratton steals precious time from her young daughter, her surgical practice, and her hopes for renewed romance to clear Aunt Phoebe’s name of multiple murder and uncover the significance of the list. Even as Diana searches Phoebe’s home basement for evidence, she works to trump the police and outrun the conspiracy between her ex-husband and Phoebe’s long-time lover—her quest to expose the truth overshadowed by a need to rebury the past. Even though she realizes there is a chance to save her shrinking family, Diana understands that of the five ways to die, murder is her family secret.
- GenresFiction
298 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2017
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52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 7, 2017
My favorite book so far Darden North! Started one Friday and finished by Saturday Night. Loved the suspense it has, couldn't wait to turn the page. Loved how it kept me guessing and loved being from Jackson, the plots that took me here and all over Mississippi! This was awesome, can't wait till next one!
August 16, 2018
Dr. North's best book yet, IMHO!!!
I did run across a few "errors"... Near the end, as the ambulance was pulling away, the blue of the lights pulsed across the trees. In MS(in fact, I believe in all of the US of A), emergency medical vehicles run red strobe lights.
A couple minor grammar glitches... Most glaring was the reference to padding the city of Oxford's "coiffures"(we know those Ole Miss co-eds love their tresses), but should have been "coffers".
All of which I'm willing to accept, because, as the author told me once at a book signing that he did "have a day job"!!!
I did run across a few "errors"... Near the end, as the ambulance was pulling away, the blue of the lights pulsed across the trees. In MS(in fact, I believe in all of the US of A), emergency medical vehicles run red strobe lights.
A couple minor grammar glitches... Most glaring was the reference to padding the city of Oxford's "coiffures"(we know those Ole Miss co-eds love their tresses), but should have been "coffers".
All of which I'm willing to accept, because, as the author told me once at a book signing that he did "have a day job"!!!
July 10, 2017
There are said to be 5 manners of death. North’s characters explore each of them in his latest novel of the same name. They are as follows:
Natural Death – due to disease or old age
Accidental Death – most often by an accident or mishap, sometimes by overdoses or allergic reactions
Suicide – intentionally taking one’s own life
Homicide – murder
Undetermined – could be any of the above, but the information isn’t clear enough to be definitive
As a surgeon, Dr. Diana Bratton often sees dead bodies. But when they start showing up in her personal life, she begins to get spooked. The victims are not especially close to Diana, but somehow she feels as though they are linked to her. She talks to her friend Key Martin, who happens to be the Chief of Police in their town. Diana helped him solve crimes before when he was a detective and she hopes to get his thoughts about the recent deaths she either witnessed or heard about after she crossed paths with the deceased.
Martin is more than willing to get any extra information from her, and will share a bit of his findings with her. As the story progresses, they find more pieces of the puzzle due to their collaboration. Unfortunately, the clues are leading them closer to people she cares about or cared about at one time.
Diana is determined to get to the bottom of the situation before it comes home to roost. After all, she has a teenage daughter to worry about as well as her Aunt Phoebe, the only two people she loves and cares about. There is a doctor that she fancies, but her involvement with the police does not sit well with him.
While the plot I just described may sound like a cozy mystery, rest assured The 5 Manners of Death is not. This fast paced crime novel alternates between 1965 and present day. The events that occurred in 1965 come crashing to a halt on the doorstep of a present day murderer who will do anything to remain unidentified.
North expertly crafts the characters and settings to pull the reader into the story and holds you until the last pages bring the novel to a spectacular end. It is no surprise that Darden North is an award winning author. He paints landscapes and parlors with his words, filling every scene with lifelike characters that could be the people next door. Of course you might not want some of them as neighbors.
This is the first book by North that I have read, but I am looking forward to reading his previous books, House Call, Points of Origin, Fresh Frozen and Wiggle Room. I highly recommend The 5 Manners of Death to anyone that enjoys a great mystery with complex characters.
Copyright © 2017 Laura Hartman
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
Natural Death – due to disease or old age
Accidental Death – most often by an accident or mishap, sometimes by overdoses or allergic reactions
Suicide – intentionally taking one’s own life
Homicide – murder
Undetermined – could be any of the above, but the information isn’t clear enough to be definitive
As a surgeon, Dr. Diana Bratton often sees dead bodies. But when they start showing up in her personal life, she begins to get spooked. The victims are not especially close to Diana, but somehow she feels as though they are linked to her. She talks to her friend Key Martin, who happens to be the Chief of Police in their town. Diana helped him solve crimes before when he was a detective and she hopes to get his thoughts about the recent deaths she either witnessed or heard about after she crossed paths with the deceased.
Martin is more than willing to get any extra information from her, and will share a bit of his findings with her. As the story progresses, they find more pieces of the puzzle due to their collaboration. Unfortunately, the clues are leading them closer to people she cares about or cared about at one time.
Diana is determined to get to the bottom of the situation before it comes home to roost. After all, she has a teenage daughter to worry about as well as her Aunt Phoebe, the only two people she loves and cares about. There is a doctor that she fancies, but her involvement with the police does not sit well with him.
While the plot I just described may sound like a cozy mystery, rest assured The 5 Manners of Death is not. This fast paced crime novel alternates between 1965 and present day. The events that occurred in 1965 come crashing to a halt on the doorstep of a present day murderer who will do anything to remain unidentified.
North expertly crafts the characters and settings to pull the reader into the story and holds you until the last pages bring the novel to a spectacular end. It is no surprise that Darden North is an award winning author. He paints landscapes and parlors with his words, filling every scene with lifelike characters that could be the people next door. Of course you might not want some of them as neighbors.
This is the first book by North that I have read, but I am looking forward to reading his previous books, House Call, Points of Origin, Fresh Frozen and Wiggle Room. I highly recommend The 5 Manners of Death to anyone that enjoys a great mystery with complex characters.
Copyright © 2017 Laura Hartman
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was not expected to return this item after my review.
June 21, 2017
Last weekend on a visit to Natchez, I sought the local bookstore--Turning Pages--and visited while Darden North was signing copies of his latest book. Always ready for a mystery, I bought a copy and started the adventure of a series of murders somehow linked to a 50 year incident. The writing was clear, and the plotting was tight. I especially enjoyed a character who appears in a few chapters--Drusilla Minton--who is a wonderfully described Southern eccentric. The book delivered several reversals and surprises, always satisfying for a mystery novel. Well done!
June 18, 2017
The writing in this book is unorthodox. I felt as if I was reading something that wasn't germane to the plot and then BAM! There was then a connection for why those two pieces of information or those two people were important. And then it went back to not really seeming important and another BAM! It took me longer to read this book than usual, as I did have to read some sections twice. About three-fourths into the book, the mystery is uncovered, and I was pleased to see that I guessed correctly. (Sorry, no spoilers here.) I really liked Dr. Bratton, the main heroine. As a lover of Nancy Drew, it was fun seeing a female detective of sorts. It was a bonus that I could actually picture the locations that were mentioned in the book because I'd been there before. I recommend the book if you like mysteries.
May 8, 2017
Plenty of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat in this contemporary whodunit, set in the modern South.
October 15, 2017
The 5 Manners of Death is a book that really pulls you in on the first page. I love how you follow the Aunt's essay through the story along with the main character. And the ending is a total surprise which at first, you feel cheated. And right at the very last, you end with a very satisfying conclusion that makes you want to immediately reread to see if you can pick up any clues as to the villain's true intentions. Very well written.
February 27, 2018
Suspenseful and entertaining!
December 8, 2017
At Least 5 Manners of Great Mystery
Brad, the boyfriend of this fine novel’s heroine Diana, says at one key juncture: “Closure. That sounds like dialogue from a Lifetime movie.” Given its skill, style, and cleverness, The 5 Manners of Death by Darden North is the furthest thing from a Lifetime movie.
As the title suggests, the victims are delivered in many forms of termination. All are punctuated by those human little dramas intermingled of stress, suspicion, and blame that make the characters believable and engaging. North can write – even scenes like the one in the lobby of a clinic crackle with humor and poignancy. While major characters like Phoebe can be potent fusions of vitality, ego, and hostility, the minor characters give The 5 Manners of Death a narrative richness rare in most mysteries, whether it be the teenage Kelsey’s sardonic distance or Mrs. Drusilla Minton’s hilarious eccentricities.
North deftly shifts the plot in and out of time and place, hurtling from present in Jackson, Mississippi to 1965 at the university campus in Oxford, then bounding back to present, then to a few days prior, back to present, all seamlessly rendered. These movements in time serve to develop multiple layers of plot and allow for many ominous and ironic conversations.
The 5 Manners of Death is a terrific mystery, and boy, do the revelations keep coming right up to the very last page. North writes with such a keen eye and with such lucidity that the reader is rewarded with great pleasure as the lurid secrets unfold.
Brad, the boyfriend of this fine novel’s heroine Diana, says at one key juncture: “Closure. That sounds like dialogue from a Lifetime movie.” Given its skill, style, and cleverness, The 5 Manners of Death by Darden North is the furthest thing from a Lifetime movie.
As the title suggests, the victims are delivered in many forms of termination. All are punctuated by those human little dramas intermingled of stress, suspicion, and blame that make the characters believable and engaging. North can write – even scenes like the one in the lobby of a clinic crackle with humor and poignancy. While major characters like Phoebe can be potent fusions of vitality, ego, and hostility, the minor characters give The 5 Manners of Death a narrative richness rare in most mysteries, whether it be the teenage Kelsey’s sardonic distance or Mrs. Drusilla Minton’s hilarious eccentricities.
North deftly shifts the plot in and out of time and place, hurtling from present in Jackson, Mississippi to 1965 at the university campus in Oxford, then bounding back to present, then to a few days prior, back to present, all seamlessly rendered. These movements in time serve to develop multiple layers of plot and allow for many ominous and ironic conversations.
The 5 Manners of Death is a terrific mystery, and boy, do the revelations keep coming right up to the very last page. North writes with such a keen eye and with such lucidity that the reader is rewarded with great pleasure as the lurid secrets unfold.
March 5, 2018
The Five Manners of Death - Review by Martha A. Cheves
What are the five manners of death? They are:
Homicide
Suicide
Natural
Accidental
Undetermined
It appears that someone in Jackson, Mississippi, is following suit with each of the manners of death. As each person dies, Dr. Diana Bratton finds herself, as well as her aunt Phoebe, more and more involved. The tangle of lies begins to unravel after a body buried 50 years earlier is discovered on the Ole Miss college campus during a construction project. According to Aunt Phoebe, she never knew the deceased. Diana learns of the deception after seeing a 1966 yearbook from Ole Miss in her aunt's belongings. Aunt Phoebe not only knew dead Rusty Reynolds well but she also knew several of the newly deceased. So, what could possibly be the connection between 50-year-old skeletal remains and more recent deaths among the same a circle of friends from that era in college?
I've read everything written and published by Author Darden North and have to say that with each novel he gets better and better. "The 5 Manners of Death" has to be his best yet and I hope will become a long time series. Every time I thought I had come up with a connection between the Ole Miss students from 50 years earlier and the contemporary deaths, I found myself to be wrong. I incorrectly pegged the whole motive and killer all the way to the very last pages. The cover drew me to this book. I immediatley wanted to pick up, start reading, and NOT put it down until finished.
Keep them coming Dr. North!
What are the five manners of death? They are:
Homicide
Suicide
Natural
Accidental
Undetermined
It appears that someone in Jackson, Mississippi, is following suit with each of the manners of death. As each person dies, Dr. Diana Bratton finds herself, as well as her aunt Phoebe, more and more involved. The tangle of lies begins to unravel after a body buried 50 years earlier is discovered on the Ole Miss college campus during a construction project. According to Aunt Phoebe, she never knew the deceased. Diana learns of the deception after seeing a 1966 yearbook from Ole Miss in her aunt's belongings. Aunt Phoebe not only knew dead Rusty Reynolds well but she also knew several of the newly deceased. So, what could possibly be the connection between 50-year-old skeletal remains and more recent deaths among the same a circle of friends from that era in college?
I've read everything written and published by Author Darden North and have to say that with each novel he gets better and better. "The 5 Manners of Death" has to be his best yet and I hope will become a long time series. Every time I thought I had come up with a connection between the Ole Miss students from 50 years earlier and the contemporary deaths, I found myself to be wrong. I incorrectly pegged the whole motive and killer all the way to the very last pages. The cover drew me to this book. I immediatley wanted to pick up, start reading, and NOT put it down until finished.
Keep them coming Dr. North!
January 30, 2019
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.
Dr. Diana Braton lives with her daughter, but her medical practice pulls time away from her family life. Her ex-husband [who has remarried] lives nearby but Diana doesn't trust him. Suddenly people around her begin to die and her Aunt Phoebe might be connected to their deaths. Diana does not want to believe that Phoebe is involved. On top of the current murders, a skeleton is uncovered and identified as a boy Phoebe went to college with and went missing back in the 1960's. Dr. Bratton begins to work with the police to hopefully uncover evidence which will lead away from Aunt Phoebe but the more she probes, the more questions she has.
This is a solid mystery which switches from the 1960's when Phoebe was in college to present day. The character development of Dr. Braton and her Aunt Phoebe were fantastic. Her ex-husband was a bit one-dimensional. However, there are plenty of quirky and sinister characters which add to wonderful layers to the story. The setting of the south provided a lot of intrigue to the mystery. There were plenty of suspects and twists to this story, which keeps you guessing as to what really happened.
I listened to this story -- the narrator, Steven Jay Cohen, did a wonderful job in creating the atmosphere of the south with all of the different characters. He enhanced the written word with his narrative and was able to deftly create a feeling of suspense/anxiety.
Dr. Diana Braton lives with her daughter, but her medical practice pulls time away from her family life. Her ex-husband [who has remarried] lives nearby but Diana doesn't trust him. Suddenly people around her begin to die and her Aunt Phoebe might be connected to their deaths. Diana does not want to believe that Phoebe is involved. On top of the current murders, a skeleton is uncovered and identified as a boy Phoebe went to college with and went missing back in the 1960's. Dr. Bratton begins to work with the police to hopefully uncover evidence which will lead away from Aunt Phoebe but the more she probes, the more questions she has.
This is a solid mystery which switches from the 1960's when Phoebe was in college to present day. The character development of Dr. Braton and her Aunt Phoebe were fantastic. Her ex-husband was a bit one-dimensional. However, there are plenty of quirky and sinister characters which add to wonderful layers to the story. The setting of the south provided a lot of intrigue to the mystery. There were plenty of suspects and twists to this story, which keeps you guessing as to what really happened.
I listened to this story -- the narrator, Steven Jay Cohen, did a wonderful job in creating the atmosphere of the south with all of the different characters. He enhanced the written word with his narrative and was able to deftly create a feeling of suspense/anxiety.
January 2, 2019
This is an entertaining murder mystery that is 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 1960’s 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 great narration.
January 25, 2020
This story seems somewhat disjointed. Perhaps some of my trouble following it is due to the narration. Although the performance by Steven Jay Cohen isn't bad, he doesn't give distinctive enough voices to the characters, making it difficult to follow dialog. But the mystery is suspenseful with a surprising twist at the end.
Note: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Note: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
September 19, 2017
Best yet
I have read all of Darden North's books and found that his work continues to improve, even as the reader thinks the last one was already perfection . The Five Manners of Death is an intense, fast moving mystery that kept me turning pages in an effort to keep up with the pace of the story. Well done! I can hardly wait for the next one!
I have read all of Darden North's books and found that his work continues to improve, even as the reader thinks the last one was already perfection . The Five Manners of Death is an intense, fast moving mystery that kept me turning pages in an effort to keep up with the pace of the story. Well done! I can hardly wait for the next one!
July 4, 2019
I loved this right from the beginning!A doctor believes she is being puled into a scenario of The 5 Manners Death,a chart that is used to describe ways a person can die for coroners to use.It is a twisty tale right up to the end. Stephen Jay Cohen is a fatastic narrator and it shows in this book. I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
October 23, 2019
I wanted to like this book but didn't.
I initially picked this book because I thought more of the story would take place in Oxford, but it was pretty much all in Jackson. It also got very long.
I initially picked this book because I thought more of the story would take place in Oxford, but it was pretty much all in Jackson. It also got very long.
July 22, 2017
Decent enough pacing and premise. Just OK.
March 13, 2018
2.5 / 5 stars
I loved the setting and most of the mystery, but had some issues with the ending and the writing itself. A full review will be available on Reader Views soon.
I loved the setting and most of the mystery, but had some issues with the ending and the writing itself. A full review will be available on Reader Views soon.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews