Fresh Frozen

by Darden North

In this third medical thriller by award-winning author and practicing physician Darden North, human reproductive tissue becomes an unexpected commodity. In "Fresh Frozen," a young policeman and his tormented wife fail miserably to produce a family, finding themselves outcasts of the renewed baby boom sweeping the United States. However, there is one last hope for them: a catalogue of human embryo and egg donors peddled by a woman whose standards are easily dismissed for the right price. Pursuing their futile attempts to become parents have nearly cost the wife her life and pushed the couple to the brink of bankruptcy. This seemingly last chance for Wesley and Carey Sarbeck to satisfy their place as parents in Middle America unknowingly tosses them in the midst of a grisly murder, the world of Hollywood celebrities, and a heist of freshly frozen human embryos. The lives of Carey Sarbeck and two other women intersect at the Van Deman Institute, once a decaying brick building complex just north of Jackson, Mississippi, but now a state-of-the-art center for the resolution of human infertility. While an internet voyeur and thief looks on, each of the three women, one of whom an internationally-known entertainer, has her own reason for entering the Institute. However, as a result of subjecting herself to a concoction of hormones and surgical procedures, one of the three is gruesomely murdered in an intriguing twist of human greed, mental torment, and medical science.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

299 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

About the author

Darden North's mystery and thriller novels have been awarded nationally, most notably an IPPY in Southern Fiction for "Points of Origin."

"The Five Manners of Death" released June 15, 2017, joins his other novels "Wiggle Room," "Fresh Frozen," and "House Call." Darden has served on author panels at writing conferences including Killer Nashville, Murder on the Menu, SIBA Thriller Author Panel, and Murder in the Magic City. To book Darden for a book club, book signing, or presentation contact: Darden@DardenNorth.com.

A board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist practicing at Jackson (MS) Healthcare for Women, Darden North is Chairman of the Board of the Mississippi Public Broadcasting Foundation and member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of the Mississippi Medical Association. He lives in Jackson, Mississippi, with his wife Sally and enjoys family, travel, and, outdoor activities. The Norths have two adult children, who also work in the medical field.

Darden invites his readers and friends to visit his author page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DardenNorthA...

Reviews

[Martha Cheves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm about 100 pages into Fresh Frozen and I can already see things heating up.Fresh Frozen – Author Darden North, M.D.

2/20/09
I’m so involved in this book that I can’t wait to see what will happen next. Fresh Frozen is different from most books I’ve read. In most books, no matter what the genre, the characters are introduced and “join” each other early in the book. Not in this case. Each character has been introduced with little connection to the others. As you go along, you read the stories that make up the characters, you get to know them and their problems and all of this comes before the real connections are made. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle without a picture. You know all of the pieces fit and can’t wait to see what the end result will be. This is different and quite refreshing. I have about 100 pages left to read and I’m really enjoying Fresh Frozen. Of all the books I’ve read over the years, this is one that I would never be able to guess who the bad guy or girl will be until the end. A great book!

My final review for Fresh Frozen

I've finished Fresh Frozen....
And the ending?... I would NEVER have guessed the turn of events that
make up the last 20 pages of Fresh Frozen. The hiring of the spy will
surprise you and the murder will surprise you even more. So if you love
a good mystery, this book is definitely for your.

Fresh Frozen is a great book that I highly recommend!

[Deb Hockenberry · Rating 2 out of 5]

TITLE: Fresh Frozen
AUTHOR: Darden North, M.D.
COPYRIGHT: 2008 Darden North, M.D.
FORMAT: Hardback
GENRE: Mystery
PUBLISHER: Ponder House Press, Jackson, MS
PRICE: $17.79
PAGES: 297 pages
ISBN-10: 0977112632
ISBN-13: 97809772630


Want to read a different kind of mystery? If you like you mysteries loaded down with description then this is the book for you! This story is based in and around an in vitro fertilization clinic in Mississippi.

The author takes us through page after page of description when finally, we meet somebody.

We meet Officer Saybeck and his wife, both of whom want a baby in the worst way. When we meet the Saybecks, Mrs. Saybeck is being rushed to the hospital emergency room for internal bleeding. The last Officer Saybeck sees his wife she is being rushed into the operating room with blood transfusions dripping into both arms.

After the operation, the doctor speaks to worried Officer Saybeck. Does the doctor inform him that his wife is alive and recovering? No. The good doctor isn’t that compassionate. Instead, he drums up business for his in vitro fertilization clinic. I think this doctor needs to learn some people skills.

After we leave the good doctor and the Saybecks, we go back to pages and pages of description again. It goes on like this throughout the book. In fact, you don’t find a dead body until you’re half way through the book! It’s very rare that I read a book that I can’t wait to put down but this is one of them.

I don’t recommend this book at all.


by
Deborah Hockenberry

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Wow, unique let busy- intrigue, infertility story"
What did you like best about Fresh Frozen? What did you like least?
Fresh Forozen explores the consquences of couples desperate to do anything to conceive a baby.PI Tinker Mudogh is tasked with stealing eggs for a person of the law, but along the way we meet all sorts of incendiary characters in a film-noir style. The story is really fast paced--reader feels as if they are in a maze with surprises in every corner.

If you’ve listened to books by Darden North before, how does this one compare?
Darden North writes energetic books.

Have you listened to any of Flora Plumb’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I have never listened to Flora Plum but I really enjoyed her performance. She delivered lines with the appropriate amount of softness yet mystery, and did a good job of dinstinguishing her characters.

Do you think Fresh Frozen needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
This book needs a follow-up.

Any additional comments?
I received an audio book version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Rabid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A medical thriller that illustrates not only the devastating psychological effects that infertility can have on individuals but also the potential that exists within the fertility business for unscrupulous and avaricious practices. This well written book contains many surprises, twists and turns, with multiple characters lives crossing and intertwining in unpredictable, and sometimes deadly, ways. You can not help but feel the sorrow and loneliness of some of the characters and your heart breaks for the devastation of their lives. The narration seemed to fit most of the characters well, but I did feel it fell a bit flat with some of the men. It is a fast paced, enjoyable book but I would have liked the author to do more of a round up at the end of the book, as I was left wondering what the outcome for some of the characters were. I received this audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting, made me think especially with regards to the octuplets scandal that has recently been in the news.

[Randall Reneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Fresh Frozen is a page-turning, five-star, medical thriller in the style of Robin Cook. A must read for devotees of this genre!"

[Bev Rausch]

.9