Customer Reviews

House Call

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am not a medical doctor, so Dr. North used just enough medical jargon to make the novel real, but not so much a layman was lost. It was a great, quick and enthralling read. Wonderful first novel, and we all anxiously await what suspense the next will bring. Buy this one, read it, and then put it away, as this author could really take off.

I was really impressed with this first time author. I had a hard time putting this book down. I love mysterys and can usually figure them out before the end of the book, but not this one, it kept me in suspense until the end. I would highly recommed this to anyone who loves mysterys.

I read the book while traveling by plane and literally walked through the ATL airport reading and walking because I could not put it down while changing planes. I enjoyed the plot--especially the twists and turns along the way. I found the accuracy in medical terms, hunting and southern lifestyle to be refreshing (unlike many television portrayals). I look forward to Dr. North's follow-up novel.

In House Call, Darden North successfully experiments with various literary techniques that ensnare the reader in this realistic Southern environment. North's return to modernism is by far the most appreciable aspect of his novel. The character descriptions are obviously well thought out believable. My main qualm about this book is North's Russian, in general, and Dostoyevskian, in particular, approach to the ending. This concerns me on the basis of innovation, not quality. I expect North's second novel to encapsulate the South as perfectly as House Call did. Perhaps he can shed new light on the plague of Southern reverse discrimination.

THE JACKET COVER AND TITLE CAUGHT MY ATTENTION...THE CONTENTS
KEPT MY ATTENTION. HOUSE CALL FEATURES A UNIQUE MIX OF INTRIQUE AND PAGE TURNING SUSPENSE. I HOPE THIS FIRST TIME NOVELIST WILL NOT BE CONTENT WITH JUST ONE BOOK.

BARBARA PHILLIPS
MADISON, MS

What a great book for a first time author. I loved the way he has taken into account some of the great things that people love about Mississippi and incorporated them into a novel that is exciting and fun to read. I was so shocked at the outcome of the last chapters that it has left me longing for more. Hope there is a House Call 2 in the works.

I read this novel when it first came out and loved it so much that I bought copies to give my relatives for Christmas. They were thrilled! I was amazed at the detail of the character descriptions. You don't have to know anything about medical care to enjoy it but I think the book was so realistic because a real doctor wrote it. I can't wait until Darden North, MD, writes another book. What a great fiction writer!

This novel is so very interesting and entertaining that I read it in 2 days!!! I could not put it down... A must have!!!

I took House Call to our lakehouse hunting camp for the weekend. This is a book that you will not put down and is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. As a practicing Labor and Delivery RN, I found North's laguage real and relative. This book kept me face forward and involved. I felt like a character in the book until the very end. You will really enjoy reading House Call, especially on your next weekend getaway, GUARANTEED.

FOREWORD REVIEWS

In Dr. Darden North's debut novel House Call, readers will be quickly drawn in by North's suspenseful writing as he skillfully unfolds several
mysterious deaths within the small Southern community of Montclair,
Mississippi. Using his background as an obstetrician and gynecologist, North sufficiently sets the stage for the action at a prosperous OB/GYN clinic, its affiliated hospital, an exclusive hunting camp, and the surrounding communities.

Shortly after introducing Grace Community Hospital Nurse Taylor Richards, readers will witness her tragic death in her own home at the hands of a stranger. Richards' death is soon followed by that of Dr. Cullen Gwinn, the very likable principal and founder of a Montclair medical clinic. Initially believed to be an accidental death, a mysterious shooting at hospital administrator Jay Rutledge reveals that Dr. Gwinn's death was intentional, but who would kill the dedicated doctor and why?

In addition to the unexpected murders, several of the story's primary
characters become embroiled in staffing controversies and shortages. Faced with rising costs, both the clinic and hospital must increase their
workloads and profitability without adding staff. Stuck in the midst of the clinic's quest for profits is Dr. Knox Chamblee who has been unsuccessful in building a patient base of his own, despite his stellar qualifications and agreeable bedside manner. Without Dr. Gwinn's support, partner Dr. Aslyn Hawes is quick to fire Chamblee despite the clinic's need for more manpower. Can the clinic sustain itself without him?

Sprinkled throughout the story, North offers limited profiles of both major and minor characters, doing so in such a way that won't leave readers confused or overwhelmed. North shares just enough information for readers to get a sense of the characters and how they contribute to the story without offering extraneous details. For readers who crave a little more one-on-one interaction, North deftly sprinkles in a little romance without overtaking the main storyline.

Despite the gruesome cover photo, the book leaves little to be desired.
While the astute reader will find the occasional grammatical error or
misused word, this first novel by Dr. North is not only well written, but
also well edited. The story flows smoothly, the suspense is sufficient
without being overwhelming, and the characters are both interesting and
likable. North does an excellent job of bringing his characters to life in a well-woven, intricate tale. For mystery lovers, the debut novel House Call is a sure bet.

--Dana Blozis Foreword Reviews
--Five Stars