A Frightening Vision of the Future, And an Electrifying New Thriller, from the Acclaimed Author of Dissection and Change of Heart

Dr. Cristina LePort raises the bar with Defrosted, a captivating fusion of science, medicine, and political intrigue that redefines the boundaries of the thriller genre.

Two centuries into the future, cryogenically preserved scientist Dr. Peter Royce and his wife, Monica, awaken to a dystopian world where human worth is dictated by productivity and freedom is a distant memory. A devastating biological entity, known as mitocancer, looms as a global threat, and Peter must uncover the truth of his past to save humanity's future.

From the icy wilderness of Alaska to the corridors of power in a reimagined Washington, D.C., Defrosted explores the clash of high-tech medical breakthroughs and ethical dilemmas. As power plays escalate and secrets unravel, Peter, Monica, and a cast of vividly drawn characters are thrust into a battle for survival that questions the very essence of humanity.

As Midwest Book Review notes, "This medical & political thriller pairs science, medicine, and cat-and-mouse games… Readers drawn by either the thriller promise or the medical backdrop will find that Defrosted's ability to thaw out the truth of purposes, visions, and the consequences of actions yet to be tested on moral and ethical grounds gives much food for thought.”

Perfect for book clubs engaged in debates on medical ethics and cutting-edge technology, Defrosted challenges readers to question where progress ends and humanity begins. A standalone triumph, it cements LePort's reputation as a master storyteller and a thought leader in speculative and medical fiction.

Excerpt

PRESENT TIME

Alaska, 7/13/2020

The Forest Service helicopter slowed to a cruising speed and hovered above majestic white-capped mountains towering over the deep green of pines. The young co-pilot’s eyes drifted over the territory below. He turned to the pilot sitting at his side.

“What are we doing here?” He exhaled forcefully. “I thought we were supposed to collect data on the shrinking glacier.”

The pilot sighed. New recruits were a pain to train. Always complaining about routine tasks. Always needing to be dazzled with sublime thrills. Always overwhelmed by boredom at the drop of a hat.

“Patience.” The pilot touched the controls screen. “I understand you’re anxious to get going on your first mission, but our job description includes checking out local sites. Especially when there may be a glitch in the satellite’s instruments.”

“What glitch?” The young co-pilot’s voice carried annoyance. “That’s all we need… glitches… to delay our mission.”

“No worries.” The pilot worked on sharpening an image now occupying the entire screen. He zoomed into the green wooded area. “Just a routine surveillance. Something apparently showed up in one of the satellite’s monitors. Something in this area that the second satellite didn’t pick up a week ago. We must establish which of the instruments is defective. After all, we need to know, because we’re going to depend on these very instruments during our mission.”

“What are we looking for?” The young man stared at the trees. “And what’s that?”

The pilot sighed again. The young man was ready for a lesson on why people called having a job “going-to-work” instead of “going-to-fun.” Probably the most important lesson of his Forestry Surveillance training.

“We’re over Independence Mine Park. Those are the Talkeetna Mountains.”

He stopped talking and looked at the image flashing on the screen. A frown formed on his forehead. “That’s—let me see. That’s something that’s not supposed to be there. That’s …”

“What? The lake?” The young man pointed at a light blue area surrounded by a rim of brown, arid-looking land sticking out in the middle of the trees. “Notice the edge of that water. So much darker, in an odd way—almost too blue to be real.”

“You’ve been playing too many video games,” said the pilot as he smiled and zoomed in for a closer view. “It’ll do you good to look at Nature—the real thing for a change. You’re lucky. You can even see animal life. Look. Elks.” Images of a mother elk with her calf sharpened on the screen. The cow approached the blue expanse with a calm and elegant stride. The calf sprang toward the smooth border. The pilot zoomed in closer. As the helicopter moved ahead, the animals disappeared behind large rocks.

“I’ll go around the mountain and come back from the other side.” The pilot winked at his young colleague. “You need a lesson on reality. Reality is very important, you know.”

“Aren’t we done?” the co-pilot huffed. “There’s a lake. If the instruments didn’t detect it last week, the satellite was obviously defective.”

Best ignoring childish little tantrums. The pilot touched the commands and the helicopter jolted into a sharp dive. The mountain’s back side shimmered in the glowing morning sun. The lake reappeared. The mother elk stood still at the edge. The pilot squinted. His eyes inspected the entire area.

The calf was gone.

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About the Author

Dr. Cristina LePort, an accomplished cardiologist and author, captivates readers with her medical thrillers that merge her rich medical background with gripping narratives.

Born in Bologna, Italy, and now based in Southern California, Cristina's novels, including "Dissection" and "Change of Heart," offer a unique blend of suspense, medical insight, and ethical exploration.

Her journey from Italy to the U.S. and transition from medicine to writing highlights her resilience, intellectual curiosity, and dedication to storytelling.

Cristina's work stands at the crossroads of medicine and literature, engaging readers with tales that resonate with authenticity and depth.