Customer Reviews

Points of Origin

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Dr North's story idea is at least passable. His novel, however, is not. Anticipating a new Greg Iles, or at least a reasonable facsimile, the reader begins the novel with anticipation. After 50 pages, however, too much time is spent parsing sentences and paragraphs to see how they could have been better, and more clearly, written. Only then does the reader note that the novel is published at a residential address in Jackson, Mississippi, and therein lies the problem: a good editor (a corollary to a real publisher) would have proven invaluable.

Darden North is not your typical author. In his day job, he's an obstetrician/gynecologist and has delivered mor babies than most people can count. But it's his work as a writer, and his second novel POINTS OF ORIGIN that is still gaining cheers all across the country.

The book, set in Mississippi, takes us into a world that seems so unlike any that many of us know with its glitz and glamour and high-priced facades. But a second look reveals that nothing is ever as it seems, and in that view, we begin to see more of the world in which all of us live.

North's book ultimately shows that there is not always just one action that begets a troublesome reaction. Sometimes retribution is days in the making.

It is up to us to be ready when the cost of our facade is to be paid in full.

'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

This great Southern novel makes you laugh and holds you hostage for the entire book. The twists and turns weave in and out as you become intrigued with the depth of the characters. I couldn't put it down!

Reviewed by Susan Pettrone for Reader Views (4/07)

Sher Foxworth has it all, he's a star football player, popular kid, the son of a wealthy, successful plastic surgeon and a young man who, as they say, "has the world on a string with a down pull"...then his life changes in a heartbeat. His father is accused of medical malpractice in the unfortunate death of a young woman Flowers Ridley, whose mother, Charity, has high hopes of her as a pageant queen. Spurred on by a lawyer with dollar signs in his eyes and a greedy sister, Faith, Charity is relentless in her search for justice. The fact that Charity is honestly grieving for her lost daughter is lost on her relentless sister who sees no closure for Charity but unending funds to support her daughter's hopes of future pageant crowns.

The malpractice case ends badly, and Dr. Foxworth is forced to sell his practice and liquidate his assets to settle the lawsuit. He loses virtually everything including his dignity as deep depression sets into his life. Trying desperately to put his life back together Dr. Foxworth and his wife plan a getaway to New Orleans hoping that the trip will reestablish them in society and give him a fresh start while lifting his depression at the same time.

But as these things so often happen, something goes drastically wrong as Dr Foxworth's plane is taking off at a small airport. Somehow it fails to gain altitude as it should, crashing into trees at the end of the runway, scorching the playing field on the outskirts of Sher's private school Whitestone, and leaving Sher shocked and alone with only his grandfather in his life, his parents killed instantly in the crash.

For about a year after this event, Sher's grandfather visits his grandmother who has been admitted to a medical center for Alzheimer's until one day the visits stop and Sher's grandmother is gone, dead from aspiration pneumonia. Again Sher loses someone in his life he loves.

The decline of Sher is dramatic. His life is a mess and an end to his decline doesn't seem to be in sight. He enters college and continues on with his wayward life, ending his freshman year with a dismal grade point average of only 1.8, dashing his hopes of medical school, as if with cold water, as he realizes his dreams as a surgeon are most likely lost. Though he works throughout the following years to regain his stature in academics, his medical entrance exam scores and low grade point cannot gain him admittance into medical school and Sher is forced to rethink his life.

Far from the future he had hoped and planned on as a surgeon. Sher finds himself drawn into the life of a firefighter and his life takes a turn of fate which proves instrumental in the storyline. For throughout this book we are given glimpses into the thoughts and actions of an arsonist and watch with horror as he wreaks lives and homes with his use of fire and destruction. We see how he works with cold determination to destroy and enflame whatever displeases him at the time...or whatever he is paid to destroy.

The ending to this book is as shocking and surprising as the reactions of the characters when the final fire is raging and the last few pages of this book leave the reader in a state of emotional exhaustion due to the intensity of the scenes and shocking revelations within. I will not give away the ending of the book but I will say this much. The ending is one of the most heart-stopping, spellbinding endings I have read in a long time and one which haunted me for days after closing the cover.

I would highly recommend this book for those who like suspense, intrigue and a book filled with characters which seem to leap from the pages and fill ones thoughts far after the book is done. A perfect book for those suspense lovers in your life or a great book which will transport you from everyday life to that of Sher Foxworth, simply said, this book is a masterpiece of interwoven stories and one not to be missed. Read it yourself and see if you agree when I say, "Points of Origin" is a 'must read' and one which must be experienced to truly appreciate the intricate characterizations within.

Received book free of charge.

I found Points of Origin to be an outstanding novel because it draws the reader into the storyline, then has unexpected twists and turns along the way. With the vivid description of each character, I felt like I actually knew Sher Foxworth, Hobby Dencil, Flowers and Charity Riley and the hilarious character of Minor Leblanc--which had me laughing out loud. I would put Points of Origin in the same class as Turning Angel by Greg Iles--which I also recommend.