Deep Shadow (Doc Ford) [Hardcover]

Randy Wayne White (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. At the start of bestseller White's outstanding 17th Doc Ford thriller (after Dead Silence), two low-life ex-cons, King and Perry, are on the lam after killing a family of five in a burglary. They end up in Doc's neck of the woods, or rather his neck of the swamp, in central Florida. Doc; his boat-bum hipster pal, Tomlinson; troubled Indian teen Will Chaser, who played a key role in Dead Silence; and Arlis Futch, a crusty old fisherman, have arrived at a small lake, which they intend to search for Batista's treasure plane, which disappeared in 1958 while flying the ex-dictator's looted booty out of Cuba during the Castro takeover. King and Perry, who are as bad as they come, quickly take control of the others, forcing Doc and friends to continue diving in the lake, after which the pair plan to kill them all. Throw in a giant, mysterious swamp creature with an appetite for cattle, horses, and divers, and you've got a nail-biter that's virtually impossible to put down. Author tour. (Mar.)
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* Florida’s mystery heroes have been having a hard time this year. First, James W. Hall’s Thorn spent most of an entire novel trapped in a dry well (Silencer, 2010), and now, in Randy Wayne White’s latest Doc Ford thriller, the intrepid marine biologist goes underwater for a couple hundred pages. It starts innocently enough, with Ford, his hippie pal Tomlinson, teenager Will Chaser (from Dead Silence, 2009), and cranky old-timer Arlis Futch embarking on a treasure-hunting trip to an isolated lake, on the bottom of which is purported to be a mother lode of gold from Batista’s Cuba. Three problems quickly develop: a sort-of underwater avalanche that leaves all but Ford trapped under tons of limestone (a cave keeps the victims alive as their air supply dwindles); the arrival (on land) of two psycho killers right out of In Cold Blood (one is even named Perry); and, scariest of all, the lurking presence of, yes, a sea monster. Ford eventually surmounts all the obstacles before him, of course, but along the way, we are treated to a wonderful mix of hair-raising horror, grace under pressure, and fascinating natural history. There turns out to be a biologically sound explanation for the presence of the sea monster, but that doesn’t make it any less terrifying for anyone who remembers Creature from the Black Lagoon (as Ford notes, “The universe beneath is alive—relentlessly alive”). It’s no surprise that White’s long-running, always-popular series has broken through to mainstream best-sellerdom; his novels appeal on so many levels: as portraits of a steadily evolving, tough-yet-introspective hero; as eco-friendly investigations of natural Florida; and as muscular, head-banging adventure thrillers. And, now, there are sea monsters, too! --Bill Ott

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; 1ST edition (March 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399156267
• ISBN-13: 978-0399156267
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #22,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The real Doc Ford has returned, March 9, 2010

By	Ms Discus "aka Jo Barista" (Anywhere but Here) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deep Shadow (Doc Ford) (Hardcover)

I am a long time fan of the Doc Ford series by Randy Wayne White. Unfortunately, the last time I caught sight of him was in "Dark Light". Although not the typical Doc Ford tale, it was none the less interesting and showed a fasinating side of Doc and some of the Dinkin's Bay residents. "Hunter's Moon" was somewhat entertaining, but totally and completely implausible. Moreover, it seemed some flat, vacant secret agent man had replaced Doc, turning the whole book into a never ending action sequence with an ending too far-fetched and lame for words. "Black Widow" was so lacking in a cohesive plot I could not finish the book. A first for me with a RWW book.

When I read the synopsis for "Dead Silence" I believed that the Doc Ford I knew and loved had left the series for good. I saved my money and time, and began looking for another series that was as thoughtful and entertaining as the Doc Ford series had been. No such series existed.

I am thrilled to report that Doc Ford has returned to the series with this new installment. It has everything I loved about the earlier books and some interesting information on the so called bottomless lakes,underground rivers and sink-holes which are present in Florida. Add to that the discovery of an aircraft which departed Cuba and disappeared between Key West and Tampa and you have the beginning of a return to form for Doc.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "A SIMULTANEOUS BATTLE FOR LIFE UNDERWATER... AND ABOVE GROUND... WHILE A MONSTER LURKS!", March 13, 2010

By	Rick Shaq Goldstein "*SHAQ*" (Danville, Ca, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Deep Shadow (Doc Ford) (Hardcover)

Twenty-three-year-old Perry and thirty-one-or-two-year-old King "had been cellmates at Statesville Correctional near Joliet" and now that they were free... it didn't take them long to head straight for deeper trouble. Acting upon stories shared by a fellow inmate the two dim-wit convicts headed to Florida to steal gold coins and whatever additional monetary treasures resided in the West Haven residence of the old man who had employed their former fellow inhabitant at Statesville. The robbery quickly escalates into a cold-blooded murder of five people which included the old man... his maid... and her three children. As the two psychopaths flee the scene they wind up at the same small lake swampland as Doc Ford... his friend the always "dippy" Tomlinson... the most cantankerous old man this side of John Wayne/Rooster Cogburn... Arlis Futch... and in a delightful surprise a key new character introduced in White's last book "DEAD SILENCE"... sixteen-year-old William (Will) J. Chaser... who among other things was a rodeo star in Oklahoma... has escaped reform school... has Indian blood... and lived to tell about being buried alive. What is so enjoyable about Will's inclusion in this story... in addition to his finely carved unique character... is that the author has this story take place a mere few weeks after the supposed ending of his prior novel. This tight coupling in literary terms is really enjoyable for Randy Wayne White fans since it's like you take up right where you left off immediately.

The purpose of the trip to this tiny lake in the middle of a swamp in the middle of nowhere for the good guys... is Arlis's belief that he has found the final resting place of a crashed plane full of gold that had been stolen from the Cuban treasury by former Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista over fifty years ago. Arlis has even bought the acreage that includes the lake from an unknowing farmer. As Doc, Tomlinson, and Will... dive underwater looking for the "golden-treasure"... Arlis watches his truck and equipment above ground. Almost simultaneously the two main events collide. An underwater rim of a cave crumbles to pieces which leads to Will and Tomlinson being buried in rock... sand... and water... and as each minute of depleting air supply and unknown location increases the odds of their sure death... and as Doc short handedly attempts to first locate... let alone... try to rescue the guys... above ground... Arlis is beat savagely by the miscreants Perry and King who show up with five brutal murders on their ledger since leaving prison... and a manhunt under way to capture them. When Doc comes out of the water he has to use all his wits to try to bargain and entice the loutish killers with dreams of Cuban gold. Doc's hatred for these lowlife's grows quickly to the point that his every thought is of killing them... as all signs point to the demise of Will and Tomlinson.

And there is also a quick sighting of a giant shadow in the lake... there is the horrifying sound of branches breaking in the night... there are dead animal skulls with the horns actually eaten off... putrid smells. Giant gator? Giant croc? Giant snake? A combination? You'll have to read this enticing book to find out!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who will leave Central Florida alive?, March 12, 2010

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Deep Shadow (Doc Ford) (Hardcover)

During a robbery, ex-cons, King and Perry kill a family of five. They flee from a massive manhunt hiding in the swamps of Central Florida. Their plan is to wait till the heat cools down a little though both know that will be some time as the media has stirred the public and the police.

Doc Ford and his three friends (Tomlinson, Will, and Arlis) go to a small lake in search of the late Cuban dictator Batista's treasure plane, which vanished in 1958. However King and Perry capture Doc and company; and force them to keep diving in search of the plane. None are aware of what lurks in the nearby swamps.

Readers will knows the swamp is far from Dead Silent between Doc and his buddies, the two deadly thugs, and a Swamp Thing that wants to dine on divers. Fast-paced throughout the exciting story line, fans will be hooked from the moment everyone converges and readers will never stop reading as the tension mounts with anticipation of one hell of a climax. Who, if any of the four buddies, will leave Central Florida alive?

Harriet Klausner