Plot & Structure
1. Defrosted blends medical thriller, political intrigue, and dystopian fiction. Did the combination work for you? Which genre element stood out most?
2. How did the pacing of the novel impact your reading experience? Did the book feel more like a thriller, a science fiction novel, or something else?
3. The novel opens with a mysterious, evolving biological entity in Alaska. How did this opening scene set the tone for the rest of the book?
4. The plot jumps between past and future, with a scientist from 200 years ago waking up in a radically different world. How did this structure affect your engagement with the story?

Characters & Their Motivations
5. Dr. Peter Royce is revived because of his scientific knowledge, not because of personal choice. How did this impact your perception of him as a protagonist?
6. The government in Defrosted decides who is valuable enough to be revived. If you were in Peter’s position, would you feel grateful, guilty, or terrified?
7. The antagonist in the novel is not a person, but an unstoppable bio-organic entity (the Mitocancer). Did you find this kind of villain compelling?
8. Dr. Ralph Clifford, the Chief Medical Officer, is both powerful and ruthless. Do you think he truly believes in what he’s doing, or is he just protecting his own interests?
9. Several characters face moral dilemmas about the survival of others. Who in the book made the toughest moral decision, and do you agree with their choice?
10. If you could ask one character anything, who would it be, and what would you ask?

Themes & Ethical Dilemmas
11. The novel explores who gets to live and who doesn’t. Do you think a future government would really have the power to decide who is revived or who gets medical care?
12. If science allowed people to be cryonically frozen and revived, should society bring back only those who could contribute something valuable? Why or why not?
13. Defrosted raises the question of whether someone from the past can ever truly fit into the future. What would be the biggest challenge for Peter Royce in adapting?
14. The novel suggests that government-run healthcare could lead to extreme control over life and death. Did you find this vision of the future believable?
15. The Mitocancer is a biological organism that constantly adapts. What real-world parallels did you see in its evolution and resistance to treatment? (e.g., pandemics, antibiotic resistance)
16. Did Defrosted make you more hopeful or more fearful about the future of science and medicine?

Real-World Comparisons
17. Cryonics is a real but controversial practice today. Do you think people who sign up for cryonic preservation are making a smart bet on the future, or are they just chasing an impossible dream?
18. If we could pause people with terminal illnesses until cures are found, would that be a moral advancement or a dangerous precedent?
19. What are the historical parallels to the government control seen in Defrosted? Did any past or present political systems come to mind while reading?
20. If you could freeze yourself today and wake up in 200 years, would you do it? Why or why not?

1. How does Dr. Cristina LePort use her medical expertise to enhance the authenticity of the medical scenes in “CHANGE OF HEART”?
2. Discuss the ethical dilemmas presented in the book. How do they reflect the complexities of the medical profession?
3. What role does family play in the lives of the main characters, Kirk and Charlotte? How do their familial relationships influence their decisions?
4. The story merges genres of crime, mystery, and romance. Which element did you find most compelling and why?
5. Discuss the representation of cybercrime in the novel. How does it add to the tension and progression of the plot?
6. The novel includes a sinister organ donation chain. Discuss how this plot element impacts your view of organ donation and the possible darker sides of it.
7. Charlotte has a secret heart condition that she hides to protect her career. Discuss how her condition and her secrecy impact her character development and relationships.
8. Kirk is drawn back into criminal investigation despite the risks to his family life. Discuss the internal and external conflicts he faces throughout the story.
9. The book is set in New York City. How does the setting influence the story? Do you think the story would change significantly if set in another location?
10. How does the relationship between Kirk and Charlotte evolve throughout the novel? What do you think draws them together?
11. Dr. Zayne Wilder is a significant character whose professional and personal lives intersect with the main plot. Discuss his role and how he affects the storyline.
12. Santo Montepulciano is portrayed with a complex background in organized crime and cybercrime. Discuss how he serves as both a character and a plot device.
13. The narrative includes themes of conspiracy and corruption. Which scenes were most effective in developing these themes?
14. How do the thriller elements of the novel affect the pacing and your engagement with the story?
15. Discuss the portrayal of women in the novel, particularly focusing on Charlotte and how she navigates her career and personal challenges.
16. The book includes a blend of professional and personal challenges for the characters. Which character’s journey did you find most relatable or compelling?
17. How does the novel address the theme of sacrifice? Which character makes the greatest sacrifice, and what do they gain or lose as a result?
18. Forbidden romance is a recurring theme. How does this theme play out between the characters, and what consequences does it have on their lives?
19. Discuss the cinematic qualities of the book. Which scenes do you think would translate best to a film or TV series?
20. The author, Dr. Cristina LePort, includes many medical details in the book. How do these details contribute to the story’s realism and your understanding of the characters’ professions?

1. Discuss Kirk and Mulville’s views on justice. How do they differ?
2. How do Kirk and Mulville’s approaches to investigation differ?
3. Discuss Mulville’s character development. What major events or characters, if any, caused him to change?
4. Does the relationship between Kirk and Mulville change throughout the novel? How so?
5. Dissection presents a very interesting form of terrorism. How does it differ form more traditional forms seen in the media? Do these differences have any effect on your investment in the story?
6. After finishing the novel, would you say you are at all empathetic towards Aziz, Tashfeen, and Sayed? Explain.
7. Would you say Aziz, Tashfeen, and Sayed are motivated by their religion or fanaticism? Use specific scenes as evidence.
8. What is the difference between religiosity and fanaticism?
9. Do you think the “faith” Aziz, Tashfeen, and Sayed claim to follow influenced their relationship at all? How so?
10. The end of the novel illustrates a crisis situation. What would you say was the role of women throughout the crisis? Which female characters stood out to you the most?
11. What would you say was the role of men throughout the crisis?
12. Would you say there was a heroine or hero who saved the day, or was it a group effort?
13. Dissection explores the topic of medical malpractice and the flaws within the medical system. Do you believe any of the doctors took part in malpractice? Discuss.
14. Is Dr. Nirula responsible for the death of Dr. Moretti’s brother?
15. Should Dr. Nirula have approached the treatment of Dr. Moretti’s brother differently?
16. Discuss Dr. Moretti’s role in the terrorist attack. Do you think she is responsible for the lives lost to the terrorists?
17. Was saving her daughter a valid excuse for aiding terrorists? Would you have done the same as Dr. Moretti?
18. Do you think Dr. Moretti deserved the presidential pardon? Discuss.
19. What was your perspective on the ending? Are there any loose ends you would like to have seen tied in the future?