Points of Origin

by Darden North

In the Deep South appearances are not a luxury but a necessity. No family finds that more true than the Foxworths of Larkspur, a quaint but greedy Mississippi town. In that community or anywhere else for that matter, the life of handsome young Sher Foxworth would seem an enviable American high school star quarterback and valedictorian; successful plastic surgeon for a father; beautiful, supportive mother; rich grandparents. But then a single death at the hands of his father rips the town apart, throwing the life of Sher Foxworth and his family into a downward spiral, a corkscrew that entangles more devastation and turmoil as Sher himself lands in jail. It is that tangle with a female police officer which derails his own life from that of town hero into a journey he never intended --- far from his plans for medical school. While in Point of Origin readers will sample the return of endearing and despicable characters made popular in North's 2005 debut novel, House Call, they will become immersed in the tumultuous lives of a different set of the colorful inhabitants of Larkspur --- a new mix of personalities and egos that wraps the lover of fiction into the livid world of southern intrigue.

Genres: Fiction, Suspense

377 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2006

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

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of the audiobook version of this book in return for an honest review. This was my first book by Darden North. I would certainly read another! I do love to read Southern Fiction. Pat Conroy is one of my favorites, and Mr. North brought him to mind at times.
The narrator of the audiobook has a fitting Mississippi drawl that really set the tone for me. Sher Foxworth of Larkspur, Mississippi is a young man who has lost his parents to tragedy and lost his way in life. His only anchor is his loving grandfather who struggles with his own grief. Sher's father was a doctor who lost his fortune and his practice when a plastic surgery ends in death. This begins the downward spiral of the family and of Sher's life. He ends up broke, and a med school dropout.
Like all small towns, there are many interesting characters. Cordell Pixler, the lawyer who played a role in the destruction of the Foxworth family, wants to build the most impressive home in Larkspur for his trophy wife. There's a famous architect who comes to find the spectacular home an embarrassment. The fire chief who gives Sher a job as a fireman and gets him out of trouble with the law. The chief has a beautiful daughter who becomes a supportive friend and more to Sher. A family who is given millions through Cordell Pixler's skills with a jury but finds little comfort in it. An arsonist, a female cop who needs a man.....there are a lot of characters in Larkspur!
All of these lives come together to make for a powerful tale of revenge and retribution. This is a good story with characters who make it a great story!

[Nichole ~Bookaholic~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tech Details
• Narrated by: Fred Wolinsky
• Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
• Unabridged Audiobook
• Release Date:06-03-14
• Publisher: Ponder House Press


This is most likely a case of “it’s not you, it’s me”. This book is just not my “cuppa tea”. While I enjoy a good murder mystery/thriller/suspense this one just bugged the ever loving crap out of me. I was ready to DNF after the first hour, if it was not a review book I probably would have. I think what made it more difficult for me is the narrator; the “southern drawl” he tries to give the characters, Sher in particular, just seems so unreal that it made it difficult to listen to. And it took forever to get to the point; I kept going back to the blurb wondering if there was a mistake. The amount of detail and background before getting to the actual point was frustrating, extremely repetitive and honestly most of it was boring. I found Sher’s flashbacks and then jumping back to the present times very disjointed and in some cases incredibly confusing, and I found Sher to be a very bland character with the exception of trying to save the person from the fire…..there was nothing very memorable about him in the first 6 hours of the audio.

I think the biggest problem is that out of 12 hours of audio the first 6 hours of building the eventual connection between characters that bring us to the point of the story, the one you think you are getting when you read the blurb. After the first 6+ hours the story does pick up and is a bit more interesting but then comes the ending which while a bit surprising seemed rushed and could have been wrapped up better.

Fred Wolinsky did an okay job with the narration, I did not enjoy the southern accent at all and felt it detracted from the story, but would be willing to try something else by him.

If you like your story to meander, with side stories and the minutest detail you will most likely love this story, and there are several positive reviews, but as I said in the beginning this was just not my cuppa tea.

Audiobook provided by Author/Publisher via Audiobook Reviewer for an honest review

[Ralph Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you listen to Points of Origin again? Why?
Yes the intricate story the author weaves is filled with subtle twists and turns that a second listening would undoubtedly uncover more details.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Points of Origin?
There were several scenes with Sher and his Grandad that were particularly moving, but the story of his parents leading to their stayed with me.

What does Fred Wolinsky bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Although the southern accent was a little heavy in my opinion Fred did a great job of putting just the right amount of emotion and depth into each character.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I think this book would best be consumed in a single sitting. A car ride or other situation where you can listen without distraction.

Any additional comments?
Without giving anything way this is a storing of the collision of several lives. The author spends the first few chapters setting in motion the events that propel the rest of the book. I wasn't sure where he was going at first but once the story took shape it was hard to stop listening.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always glad to discover a new Mississippi author. This was a quick read. I look forward to reading more of his books!

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book club read. It felt slow with multiple story lines. I didn’t not like this book but it was slow to tie together and hold my interest.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sher (short for Sherwood or Sherman, I forget) Foxworth grows up in the deep South in Larkspur, Mississippi. His grandfather has money, like mansion-size money, and his father was a successful plastic surgeon for a number of years. The first half of the book meanders through Sher’s early years and his family, his constant lack of attention in school, and his relationship with his grandfather. We know that Sher’s parents are out of the picture, but it’s not until much later in the story that we find out why.

I know I might be in the minority with this book, since it won an award or two, but I felt that it needed some work in several areas. First, it is very repetitive in some areas and this made the book longer than it needed to be (and potentially boring). As an example of the repetitiveness, I will point to a scene where Sher and his girlfriend get pulled over for supposed reckless driving. It takes ~20 minutes to get through this scene where Sher goes over again and again, verbally with the cop and in his own head, all the reasons he shouldn’t be ticketed. There are several scenes where this happens.

About half of the book is set up for all the good stuff you read in about in the book description posted on Goodreads, etc. If you read that blurb, then you know that eventually Sher joins a fire department. But this doesn’t even happen until 3/4 of the way through the novel. So the arson mystery is lightly touched on here and there but not really investigated until near the end of the book.

There were some discrepancies, places where a characters words or actions contradicted what they had said or did prior. I don’t know if this was something missed during the final drafts or left in and the explanation for the discrepancies were not made clear. For example, one of Dr. Foxworth’s plastic surgery patients came in for some fat removal and boob job. He also decides to give her a butt lift. As such, he has to draw the correct incision marks on her rump before she goes in to surgery. She is awake, aware, and not drugged when he does this. There was a whole discussion among all the characters involved. Later on, after surgery, the patient claims she didn’t know she was getting a butt lift. So, discrepancy? Or did the author plan to add in a bit about how the sedatives gave her a little memory loss but then forgot to do so?

Since the fire department stuff and arson mystery are part of the book’s description, I feel I can talk about them (even though some might feel they are spoilers since that all happens near the end of the book). Sher does a stupid thing at one point, running into a burning building without having called 911 or alerted a neighbor, etc. He has no equipment and no training at this point. Afterwards, Sher is regarded as a hero and invited to join a fire department. He eventually does so and goes off to firefigther academy, which takes up like 3 sentences. Sigh…..This could have been one of the most interesting parts of the book and instead is 3 sentences. Also, his fellow firefighters don’t beat the habit of running into burning buildings without backup out of him, which is what would happen in real life. Instead, he is praised by the fire department. So, I found that whole part (a crucial part to the plot) unbelievable.

OK, I just gave you 4 paragraphs of stuff I didn’t like. I can tell you I did like Sher’s complicated relationship with his grandfather. His life started off privileged and happy, with parents and a grandfather. But when his father’s surgery practice takes a decline, they have to live in the poolhouse at the grandfather’s estate. Depression and failure affects all, even the privileged. Still, I didn’t feel too bad for the Foxworth’s at that point. Later, when Sher’s parents are no longer in the scene, his bond with his grandfather grows, even as he struggles with college. I found these scenes concerning Sher’s family to be some of the best written in the book.

The ending was a surprise, but it also felt rushed. It came so quickly that I actually relistened to a few minutes of it to see if I had missed something. While the twist was welcome, making sense as it did, and giving me a bit of a surprise, I felt there could have been a little more to the wrap up to explain things.

The Narration: Wolinsky’s narration of males in this tale were good, each one being distinct. He carried out a believable Southern accent for the characters that required one. However, nearly all of his female characters sounded like little kids, and many of them were not discernible from each other. I have listened to other books narrated by Wolinsky and they are well narrated. Perhaps this was a book he narrated earlier in his career.

[Martha Cheves · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Cordell Pixler, Esquire, had a new wife, his fourth... Anyone who already knew the latest Mrs.. Cordell Pixler, or subsequently met her, thought her more attractive and definitely much younger than her attorney husband. Much to his chagrin, Pixler had not been persuasive enough to coax his voluptuous bride to move permanently into the mortgage-free home, the one his third wife insisted he buy and remodel extensively several years before his third divorce... Rachel Pixler wanted a brand new house... Furthermore it would have to be located in the most exclusive area of Larkspur, that being Manorwood Heights.'

Cordell Pixler obtained his money through the destruction of others. When Flowers Ridley's mother Charity decided Flowers needed "adjustments" to bring her inner beauty to the surface she went to the best plastic surgeon around, Sheridan Smith Foxworth, Jr. And when her daughter later died from blood clots she again went to the best plantiff's lawyer who was Pixler. Unknown to Charity, her decision to sue Foxworth would end up causing a snowball effect destroying many. One person who feels the effects the most is Sheridan (Sher) Foxworth, III who will loose both of his parents and give up his dreams to follow in his father's footsteps by failing to become a doctor himself. Instead he becomes a firefighter.

Wayne Simmons was a high school classmate of Sher and he loves to "create" fires. But not just any kind of fire. His fires appear to be of natural or neglect causes. Plus he's for hire. So when a fire occurs in Manorwood Heights killing the owner, was it accidental or intentional? Was Simmons involved and if so who hired him? One thing for sure is that Pixler wasted no time in buying the property.

Hobby Dencil is one of the best architects around and will become involved in the "Pixler Snowball" as he designs the perfect house for Rachel. Just days before construction is to start Rachel makes a few changes of her own to the plans causing Hobby to start from scratch with his drawing with the ending being a structure he really didn't want his own name associated with.

In the process of building Rachel's "palace" Pixler ends up angering half the community. So when the house burns during a charity party, was it an accident or was it planned? Could the Real Estate agent undercut by Pixler in the purchase of the property have set something up? Or the female police officer who enjoyed going after the "rich and famous?" Or maybe even Sheridan Smith Foxworth, Sr. for destroying his family?

I will give you a clue. North has done it again. The ending was a total shock to me.

[Powder River Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been so much better. The mid-section and the narration were really the better parts of the story. My least favorite part was the beginning to about 5 hours in, and the ending. At about 5-6 hours into the story I finally decided it was starting to get interesting and had a much better flow. From here and up to the time of Simmons getting caught in the shed by the female officer after the fire started, I was anticipating a rather exceptional finish, but then the author just "fell asleep at the wheel."

With all the tediously detailed events in the beginning that had me wondering whether or not to continue, and the interesting mid to near finish of the story that kept me listening and waiting for the big finale, to dump the ending in that way was rather sad. It was as if he got tired of writing and just wanted to get it over with. So I must say without a doubt the ending, was surprising but a dismal failure the way it was written.

Although the variety of voices was not top-notch, it was decent; Mr. W's thick southern accent was a great addition to the story but makes for harder voice range distinction. I think narration of stories (at least most of them) provides a better pace as well as a more emotional tie to a book.

A question was posed to me "if this book were a movie would you go see it?" Yes, I actually think a movie would be better....they wouldn't have all the superfluous details and could fix the ending.

There were several very good parts to the story actually....the fire and dog rescue, Sher's remembrance of his parent's and grandmother's death, the meeting of Sher's grandfather and new girlfriend at the party. Even the description of the M's fire was pretty good.I think the author had a story with great potential but he and the publisher just dropped the ball.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, but more in the afterthoughts than the actual reading process, if that makes sense. Another book club pick (I think it makes a difference in knowing whether this was a book I would've picked up on my own, or was compelled by others to read.), this was a little slow to get into, but picked up after a couple chapters. It follows a number of characters through a series of crises that intersect, usually in a highly negative way, throughout. I was mildly intrigued while reading, but felt let down by the end. The author does a great job of developing conflicts of class, greed, jealousy, pride, ect, and the story seems to build toward a "Shawshank Redemption" type end where most of the characters get what they deserve. It just didn't get there and fizzled out instead. Part of the problem was with the main character. Although he was sympathetic and likable in the beginning, he didn't seem to grow up or develop much through the story. In the end, it seemed most of his positive changes were nagged into him by a well-intentioned, ambitious girlfriend (funny how negative "ambitious" sounds there, but I don't mean it to be). It was just a little too wishy-washy and uninspiring for me. I'm looking forward to meeting the author at my book club's meeting tomorrow, but hope he doesn't read this review before then! I enjoyed this book - really - but wished the ending was more fulfilling.

[Sally Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a saying it takes a village and this book is no stranger to that sentiment. It chronologically follows the lives of several people in the upper class community of Larkspur, Mississippi, and details how they directly or indirectly affect the life of Sher Foxworth and his family. The underlying theme of this book is the path of one individual as he makes his way on a unique journey to true manhood. However, there are several other stories woven in that prove that, while each individual is living out their own story, at the same time there are other stories to tell in which the original subject may or not have a role. In other words, we are all connected, yet we stand alone.

This is the most uniquely laid out story of any I have ever heard. It was as if I was a fly on the wall watching the lives portrayed in this book as they unfolded. I would recommend this book if you like heavy drama. The audio book was well laid out and the attempt of the narrator to do female voices was hilarious and broke up the darkness of the story, making it a more enjoyable read.

[Harold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of this book. It is hard to categorize, but it definitely kept my interest throughout. It is not really a mystery, a romance, or a thriller, but has elements of all of those mixed together. 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 of the audiobook moved the story along with perfect pacing and emotion, and created a unique voice and personality for each of the characters. It really brought the book to life! The audiobook version is definitely worthwhile, as the total is greater than the parts.

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was marked as a thriller/mystery. To me, it was not a thriller at all. There were a few mysteries throughout the book, but more like a southern fiction novel. This is a story of numerous lives in one southern town, how they all collide and how little things that one person or multiple people do ripples throughout many other lives. It is an interesting book, but don't expect a thriller.

Fred does an excellent job of narrating the story. I have listened to him before, but this is the first time I've heard him do a southern accent. It was a little strong to begin with, but smoothed out pretty quickly and was quite enjoyable to listen to!

[Stacy Boyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story. I liked reading about the southern rich. This book had a lot of back story build up to get to the point but it was enjoyable and worth it. I listened to this book and there were times that I wish I had read it because the narrator was so overbearing. He had an unnatural "fake" southern accent and it was hard to stomach at times.
I did get used to his speech and enjoyed the story line and gave it 4 stars.

[Amy Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the colorful characters to the slow-burning mystery, this book grabbed me at the beginning and held my attention until the last page. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from this author.

[Vamparilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Really Great read. I really enjoyed this as fast moving, kept attention and had great dialogue. It was fun to read and has a palatable plot with believable characters. Nicely done.