Customer Reviews

Black Widow

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have read all the Doc Ford novels and some other of Randy Wayne White's fiction and non-fiction. I was first drawn to his works by the incorporation of the local color of the Fort Myers Beach/Sanibel/Captiva area, places I have visited. I thoroughly enjoyed the early Ford books and looked forward to each new publication. I especially enjoy the characters developed out of the Dinkins Bay Marina. But starting with Dark Night, I've enjoyed each successive book less and less. The latest villain from Black Widow seems more appropriate for a Mike Meyers movie. There are enjoyable moments, but some things are just getting too far fetched.

Far and away my biggest disappointment is what I view as changes in Doc Ford's basic character. Many successful authors who publish over a period of years run into a dilemma with their main characters (Parker's Spenser, Burke's Robicheaux, and White's Doc Ford). That problem is their aging. Parker seems to have frozen Spenser's age. Burke ages Dave Robicheaux much more slowly now. But White seems to have reinvented Doc Ford. Those of you who are long-time readers, did you notice how, for what I believe was the first time, there is no obvious or subtle mention of, or reference to Doc's age? Doc always had the combination of the professorial yet politely macho demeanor that appealed to women characters of substance over a wide but realistic age range. In this book, Doc seemed to be appealing to younger aged female characters, including a character he would have treated as a father figure in past novels. ALL the women had the hots for Doc this time! I found that cheapened him. And that conclusion??? Please. Also, I'm a city kid and have never found cursing objectionable, but some of Doc's dialogue just wasn't consistent with who Doc Ford has been. I found myself thinking "Who kidnapped Doc Ford and replaced him with this younger, "edgier" guy?" Also suspicious is the return to his former "career." Is this the Doc for a new generation?

A rhetorical question for thought: For those who know the series and all White's works, do you see signs of Doc Ford being reinvented as more of a Randy Stryker? If so, I believe that severely diminishes Doc as a character.

Again, I have very much enjoyed the bulk of the earlier works, my favorite being The Man Who Invented Florida. However, I didn't feel I was reading about the Doc Ford I knew previously in this novel and was comparatively disappointed.

I saw Randy Wayne White speak at a booksigning down here in Southwest Florida last night, and was impressed with his gift for storytelling and self-effacing sense of humor. I could see how this relaxed, funny guy wrote Black Widow, which is a shameless potboiling page-turner.

This is exactly the kind of book you want with you at the beach, preferably with an ice-cold Corona or frosty margarita. To be precise, on Lighthouse Beach or Bowman's Beach on beautiful Sanibel Island, the very real home of fictional Doc Ford, the hero of Black Widow.

I'm biased. I live on Sanibel, and I'm partial to books that focus on places I know. So I especially enjoyed the parts of the book set here. But even the segments set elsewhere stayed interesting and moved fast.

The story, which includes steamy tropical sex, blackmail, poisonous jellyfish and attacking hammerhead sharks, is outlandish and delicious. I enjoyed Doc's hippie neighbor Tomlinson, who thinks he can talk with whales. Doc himself seems cut from the same cloth as Indiana Jones -- just substitute biologist for archeologist and you're halfway there.

My only caveat: you'll enjoy the book the most if you're familiar with White's earlier Doc Ford titles. There's a lot of talk of things that have happened before. If you're a newbie to the joys of Randy Wayne White, I suggest starting with an earlier Doc Ford novel and working your way through.

This is my first Randy Wayne White book. I have heard the members of my book discussion group rave about his books even though we have never read one of his.

This book was all that was promised and then some. I was hooked on the first page. Now I will start reading the rest of his books.

This book was filled with suspense- but not overloaded with gore. It left a lot to your imagination.

It is interesting reading about the islands and it made me wonder if someone could film vacationers in that manner. It is kind of unnerving thinking you could be watched and filmed on your vacation. Hopefully if it happens to us we will have a "Doc" to rescue us.

Since I live in Florida, I enjoyed reading a Florida author. Hopefully the rest of his books will take place in Florida instead of an obscure island.

After being disappointed with Hunter's Moon, this book restored my enjoyment of the Doc Ford franchise. I have to say, however, that White wrote Hunter's Moon at the same time he was dealing with the aftermath of the hurricanes that hit his area of Florida in 2005.

Blackmail and voodoo are among the evils that Ford is faced with in this fast paced novel. There are also the usual `nature lessons' that pertain to Ford's job as a biologist. The descriptions of poison shrimp and the dangers of jelly fish are an added feature to the story. Ford and Tomlinson's encounter with beached Pilot Whales and the Hammerhead sharks that are attracted to the distressed whales is an interesting side bar.

Along the way, Ford teams up with an elderly British gentleman who brings James Bond to mind. He comes across as a former British operative who now lives on St. Lucia in the Caribbean. He also fancies himself as a descendent of the Knights Templar. All in all a very likeable character and plays a vital role in the story.

Without spoiling the plot, the ending definitely leaves one thinking about the plot line in the next book in the series.

Thank you, Mr. White, for another entertaining novel.

Three major problems with this one make me really think it's not for everyone:

1) LIKE COMING IN MID-SEASON TO A TV SHOW SERIES: Didn't realize this was part of a series until I began reading. Throughout, many (seemingly endless) pages are devoted to previous not-very-well-explained happenings, how the characters are recovering, and follow-up to them.

2) EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK - DID ANYONE EDIT THIS?: It's a long book. Did it really need so much filler that doesn't lead anywhere?

Exploring deadly jellyfish and shrimp, a side job with the government, whales beaching themselves, an encounter with a steroid-driven husband, a diatribe on massage therapists, the seemingly obligatory reference to free masons... The list goes on of endless pages devoted to things that are mildly interesting but have nothing to do with the story!

3) UNBELIEVABLE ACTION: Doc Ford is the "guy's guy", Rambo disguised as a biologist. There are some truly evil villians. But, there's far too many irrelevant, caricatures and unbelievable action to care what happens to anyone!

UPSIDES THAT DON'T OUTWEIGH THE DOWNSIDES:
- PREMISE: "What happens on vacation, doesn't stay on vacation".
- A COUPLE OF TWISTS: I didn't connect all the dots before I reached the end - but I also didn't care.

BOTTOMLINE: If you're a Doc Ford follower or if you're lounging on a beach somewhere exotic, and are a fan of Rambo type stories - you might find something to enjoy in it. If not, I'd leave it.

I'm a big fan of South Florida crime novels but strangely I haven't (until now) read anything by Randy Wayne White. When Black Widow hit the library shelves I was keen to read it. Unfortunately it was a big disappointment. Not only did it lack the quirky humor that novels of this genre typically revel in, it wasn't even a decent crime novel. I found it formulaic, simplistic, and silly.

While the drugging, seducing, videotaping and blackmailing of women is, without question, a terrible thing, I can't say that I was overly concerned about the impact these videos would have on the women being blackmailed. The problem for me was that at least two of the women were unsympathetic characters. They struck me as manipulative and self absorbed. The potential that these videos would ruin their love lives and career opportunities just didn't matter enough to me. The fact that their men were even less likeable than they were made it all the more difficult to care about their plight.

White dedicates a number of pages in this novel to inform his readers about the evils of massage therapists who use their seductive fingers to lure customers into compromising sexual situations. Doc's first-person narrative takes a rather clunky detour so that he can rail against these unscrupulous masseuses. This multi-page tirade doesn't flow well with the rest of the narrative, standing out like a bad 60 Minutes expose.

But the biggest problem with Black Widow is its formulaic and silly plot. The plot is predictable, simplistic, and riddled with holes. The story zips along but generates virtually no suspense. Doc Ford is a decent enough leading man, and his hippy sidekick has some potential, but the villains in this novel are just silly.

Unless fans of the author can convince me otherwise, I don't think I'll be reading anything else by Randy Wayne White anytime soon. Based on the positive reviews posted for this novel so far on this site it appears the fans are happy with this effort and aren't likely to agree with me.

Trust me though. This one isn't worth reading. Try something by Hiassen or Hall instead.

Once again Randy Wayne White has proven himself to be one of the finest writers. Black Widow is a terrific read and I enjoyed it. The Doc Ford Series just keeps getting better. My advice is to read them all and in the order they were written.

I've been a fan of Randy Wayne White since the publication of his non-fiction collection _Batfishing in the Rainforest_. Certainly the man can write, and write well - Sanibel Flats and Captiva are remarkable reads, and testament to the skill and talent of the author. For all of these reasons I was disappointed with Black Widow.

One of the endearing features of the series is the interaction between Doc Ford and Tomlinson (and the other residents of Dinkin's Bay). The last few books have had considerably less of this, as Ford has traveled farther and wider from Ft. Myers - a disappointment, although not my greatest complaint with the latest installment in the series.

Another development that has been troubling is the "machismo factor" - looking at the character arc from the earlier novels, Ford has become increasingly similar to a Bond or a Spade as women literally throw themselves at him - Ford has become a charactaure of himself, another disappointment.

Yet what was most troubling in _Black Widow_ was the antagonist. As a previous reviewer pointed out, the bad guy was more suitable for a Mike Meyers film than a Randy White book. I was suprised (and not in a good way) at the silliness of the climax and the trite plot development. As a side note, I am wondering if White is preparing readers for a conclusion to the series, given the medical condition mentioned early in the book. That nothing more was done with it was odd, I thought - perhaps an editorial oversight, or perhaps a device to be used in the future.

Yet still I give it three stars. Why? No one (not even Haissen) can write South Florida like White - he has talent, making this latest book all the more frustrating for me. I also remain a Doc Ford (and Tomlinson) fan; I am hopeful that his next effort will be better.

The Doc Ford series by Randy Wayne White is so good that I buy each novel immediately when released and read cover to cover in place of whatever I am already reading. They are that good! Ford is such a textured and rich character that the reader wants more and more. Although flawed, as we all are, he is believable, addictive, and a downright joy to follow on his trail of adventures. And he is currently having difficulty being just a marine Biologist having renounced his ultra-secret role of a special-ops agent for the US government.

White is a genius at characterization and certainly Doc and his hippie, Zen teaching, boat bum pal, Tomlinson clearly reflect that as they arrive as fully developed characters with deep back stories for the loyal readers. And in "Black Widow", White adds an enigmatic yet wonderful character in Sir James Montbard, a 70ish Brit who is clearly more than he seems and ultimately convinces us he is an aged special-ops, James Bondish hero.

"Black Widow" revolves around a blackmail plot aimed at Doc's God-daughter, Shay, and 3 of her friends who had a wild but lamentable bachelorette fling on the Caribbean Island of St. Arc. They played into the hands of a highly sophisticated and ruthless blackmail ring that secretly film famous and wealthy women in compromising positions after having been given a date-rape type drug. The tapes are then used to blackmail the individuals for political favors or simply for money.

Ah, but this time they erred in pissing off Doc who initially serves as bagman to deliver the blackmail payment for the girls, while suspecting that there will be more demands. There are, and Doc goes into action to deal with those who have threatened Shay and her friends. The task is more difficult than it seemed and Doc hooks up with an aging James Bond type Brit and Senegal Firth, a French woman of some mystery who also seeks revenge on the black mailers.

The story includes Caribbean voodoo religious beliefs, the Maji Blanc, a Caribbean witch or priestess, some archaeological back story, and issues involving the Masons and Knights Templar. There is even an early attack by hammerhead sharks while Doc and Tomlinson are swimming among killer whales trying to beach themselves-yes, you heard me right.

If you are already a Doc Ford fan, be assured "Black Widow" is a quality addition to the series...even while taking both the back story and the future story in new directions. You see, Doc's past may again become his future--read it and see what I mean. Oh, and Tomlinson has a very reduced role in this novel, and I found that to be a good thing. Sometimes a little Tomlinson can go a long way. Now I have to wait another year for my next Doc Ford fix.

I've read just about all of Randy's books and have been a big fan of the Doc Ford series, but this one seems like he just mailed it in. Lousy characters and plot. I agree with another person of noticing a change in the Doc Ford character too. I also prefer a little less moralistic education in my entertainment reading, he seems to have been increasing it a bit lately. Parts of this book read like a Public Service Announcement. Hopefully Randy & Doc will return to normal in subsequent books.