Frozen Lives

Leaving behind her successful life in Chicago, Dr. Emily Hartford returns to her Michigan hometown when the son of her best friend mysteriously disappears. As the ‘coroner’s daughter,’ Emily steps into her father’s shoes to unravel the twisted tale of deception and danger. In a race against time, Emily must navigate the shadows of her past and the chilling threats of the present, proving that sometimes, home is where the darkest secrets lie.

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Frozen Lives Description:

Dr. Emily Hartford is back in Frozen Lives, the next thrilling mystery from Jennifer Graeser Dornbush.

Chicago surgeon Emily Hartford has never quite shaken off the dust of her hometown in Michigan. She may be a professional success and have a princely boyfriend in the Windy City, but she can’t seem to let go of being “the coroner’s daughter” from Freeport.

Once again, she finds herself pulled back to her hometown when Jeremiah—the eleven-year-old son of her best friend, Jo—goes missing on the frigid shores of Lake Michigan.

To everyone’s relief, Jeremiah turns up days later, alive and unharmed. But tensions remain high, and suspicions of every sort continue to grow. Jeremiah’s account of his abduction doesn’t add up, and Emily worries about Jo’s unraveling marriage. Jeremiah’s recovery, it turns out, is not the end of their terrifying tale. It’s just the beginning …

For moving among them is a devious, malevolent force. Sowing panic while seeking to fulfill his own twisted needs, this wolf in sheep’s clothing leaves a trail of rack and ruin, heedless of the damage in his wake … and the bodies he leaves behind.

Emily solidifies her role as the coroner’s daughter when she puzzles out this madman’s chilling machinations. Risking everything dear to her, Emily is determined to go the icy distance and end his killing spree.

Book 4 of 5

A Coroner's Daughter Mystery

Print length

350 pages

Language

English
Spanish

Audio

Avaiable

Published Date

October 29, 2024

The First Chapter:

Reviews:

Jennifer Dornbush scares the living hell out of me. When I want to stay up all night, I just read one of her books, and Frozen Lives doesn’t disappoint. On par with Dennis Lehane’s Mystic River, Frozen Lives weaves a terrifying tale of evil and paranoia, and when you go to bed at night, make sure your doors are locked tight. A terrific story.

—Don Bruns,
Bestselling Author & Editor Of Back In Black

Chilling! Jennifer Dornbush has crafted a thriller that haunts the mind and can keep you deep in the pages into the wee hours! A not-to-miss psychological mystery with twists and turns throughout.

—Heather Graham,
New York Times Bestselling Author Of The Krewe Of Hunters Series

Frozen Lives is what a thriller should be—dark, twisty, and oh so crazy. Lock your doors and enjoy.

—D. P. Lyle
Award-winning Author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper Thriller Series, Co-Creator of the Outliers Writing University.

ennifer Graeser Dornbush’s Frozen Lives is a masterclass in suspense and storytelling. From the harrowing disappearance of young Jeremiah on the icy shores of Lake Michigan to Dr. Emily Hartford’s unyielding quest for answers, this book grips you and doesn’t let go. Dornbush expertly layers tension and emotion, crafting a narrative that keeps you guessing at every turn. With a devious antagonist and a heroine who won’t back down, Frozen Lives is a chilling, exhilarating read.

Jeffrey Alan Schechter,
Creator of Stitchers

I just finished Frozen Lives, and I was completely pulled in from the first few chapters. The way you blended the emotional depth of Emily’s return home with the eerie, forensic details was incredible; it felt so vivid and real.

Knowing your own background in forensics made it all the more fascinating. You can tell the realism comes straight from lived experience; it gives every scene a quiet intensity that’s hard to find in most thrillers. I especially loved how you balanced the procedural with such heartfelt character work between Emily, Jo, and Jeremiah.

Thank you for creating such a tense, human, and beautifully written mystery. I’m already looking forward to whatever Emily faces next and to seeing how your Coroner’s Daughter world continues to grow.

— Debby H.

Other Books In the Series

The Coroner’s Daughter Mystery Series

Dr. Emily Hartford has lived with death since the day she was born. It’s hard not to when your father is the medical examiner and his office is your family home. Emily is now a tenacious, curious big city surgeon. Strong and competent. Vulnerable and kind. Sometimes too insular and self-dependent. It’s hard to peel back her layers– especially when it comes to family.

But as Emily continues to get reeled back into the investigative life she left behind when she became estranged with her father, she begins to see how she’s broken and what’s missing in her life… and discovers that home is where the bodies are.