Customer Reviews

Sanibel Flats (Doc Ford Novels)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Assuming others will give you an overview of the story, let me simply state that this is the first of the series, and among the best. (And I've read every one). An excellent place to start, rather than the latest book, Everglades.

So if you've never read any of the Doc Ford series, or you're already a fan of author Randy Wayne White, by all means buy this book! My favorites in the Doc Ford series, are, (drum roll, please):

(5 stars)
Captiva
Twelve Mile Limit
Shark River
The Heat Islands
Ten Thousand Islands
Sanibal Flats (the first in the series)

The following are the 4 stars in the series--great stories, but I wouldn't recommend them as a first read of the author:

Everglades
The Man Who Invented Florida (a bit different from the rest of the series--Doc Ford isn't as prominent in the tale as his uncle, Tucker Gatrell, but this also is the funniest in the Doc Ford series)
North of Havana
The Mangrove Coast

My sister got me hooked up on Randy White's Doc Ford novels this summer. I am from Sarasota so it was interesting to read about action and adventure occurring in an area that is close to home. This is the first Doc Ford novel and although I liked it it is not my favorite.

Doc is an ex-NSA officer that has returned home to SW Florida to start a new life. He is a marine biologist (his front while being an NSA operative) who is the owner of the one man operation Sanibel Biological Supply. He lives in an old stilt house on fictional Dinkins Bay that also serves as his lab. Close by, at Dinkins Bay Marina, are his neighbors and friends. His best friend, Tomlinson, who reminds me physically of the character Jeff Bridges played in The Big Lebowski, lives on a sailboat at the marina. The two are opposites that author White has said in an interview represent his own coming to terms with his logical (Ford) and spirital (Tomlinson) sides.

This novel has Ford rescuing a dead highschool friend's small boy from a group of radical terrorists in a Central American country. Ford's NSA past is revisited as he sets off to save the boy with the freespirit "hippy" Tomlinson by his side. This novel has a twist for an ending and like all White's Doc Ford novels gives you a history lesson to boot.

White was a saltwater guide and does a wonderful job of explaining different mysteries the Gulf in that part of Florida holds. He also knows the ins and outs of a marina's micro-community and does an excellent job of describing how it feels to live with a group of boaters on the water. Also, White has done a great deal of research on the Calusa Indians of Florida as well as the ancient peoples of Central and South America.

As I said, this is not my favorite Doc Ford Novel. My favorites were Captiva (dealing with the Net Ban issue) and Heat Islands.
But it doesn't matter which one you start off with, if you like one, you'll like them all.

I'm never sure whether I enjoy Randy Wayne White's Doc Ford mysteries because I love Captiva Island, or because they're as good as they seem. I've read all of them, and re-read this one recently. Reading it in a more urban environment than Sanibel or Captiva Island has convinced me it's the latter. His ex CIA agent turned marine biologist detective is a wonderful character, virile, but sweet,too. While world-weary Doc Ford is as laid-back as only too many hours spent looking for fish on Florida's Gulf coast can make one, he's ready for action whenever he's got to get that boat moving!

I enjoyed this first Doc Ford novel. I am trying to read them in order. Doc has to help his high school friend get back his son who has been kidnapped by a Central American General.

When Doc and Tomlison find themselves held captive by this evil man, I thought RWW had written himself into the proverbial corner. Very inventive solution to escape the small army with the boy. Many adventures in the jungles of the rain forest lead to the surprise ending.

I look forward to all RWW books.

Hmmm, enjoyed this book even though the title, "Sanibel Flats" seemed to indicate there would be more about the real Sanibel, FL. Also thought that even though the book seemed to be written more for a male audience than a female audience, there was enough in it to keep the women readers entertained. The book had a satisfying conclusion, even though the ending was not as much of a "twist" to me as it seems to have been to other readers. The main character is likeable and yet somewhat mysterious and there was enough action and suspense to keep me turning the pages. I'm looking forward to continuing on with the series.

This was not my first Doc Ford novel; in fact my first and only other Randy Wayne White book, was his latest, Dead of Night. I thought Dead of Night was very good, but Sanibel Flats-the first book in the Doc Ford series-was much better. If you are reading this review then perhaps you have never read anything else by White, and if so, then I would recommend you start at the beginning. Doc Ford and some of the characters that are central to the series are introduced and explained in this book. It just makes for better understanding of everything that takes place in the previous novels if you read at least this one first. I don't know if the rest of the books need to be read in order, but I plan to read them that way, so if you are interested in my impression of the others, as I read them, then just check back every so often by clicking on the "see all my reviews" link.

Having said all that, I have nothing but the highest praise for Sanibel Flats. The plotting and pace were in my opinion perfect. A page-turner for sure. There was good character development even though some if the characters were a bit too over-the-top to be believable. But isn't that why you read books like this? I mean, it's fiction after all and the point of the story is to entertain! Some of the book was predictable, but the conclusion certainly was not. Overall story-telling was superb and the dialogue is about as good as it gets, so too was the apparent research behind the facts in the book. You get the impression that White is at the very least an ichthyologist who also happens be a great story teller!

There are a few (very few) mature sequences in this book, so be advised. This book is a great read and in fact memorable. There are unique aspects of White's writing and the manner in which Doc Ford is portrayed, that will appeal, equally well, to both men and women. I am highly recommending it, and it has my highest, five star rating.

A really solid beginning for White's Doc Ford series.
White is an excellent story teller with detailed background for the Florida West Coast and for Ford's marine biology. Toss in knowledge of Central America and you get a great story with a wealth of information.

As a lover of Sanibel Island, the author's portrayal of Sanibel whisks me back to paradise. As I read, I begin to experience the aroma of the salty sea air, the gentle lapping of the waves in the distance and the Sanibel breeze flowing through my hair. Randy Wayne White blends mystery, adventure, and espionage all set in the the beauty of Southwest Florida. Brilliantly written as well as a very entertaining mystery.

One of my favorite authors has always been John MacDonald with his Travis Mcgee sreies. The only problem is because of MacDonald's death there isn't anything new. After reading a newspaper paper article I decided to try White and his series about Doc Ford. Doc lives in Florida in Dinkins Bay. White has given Doc a personally that is kind of laid back but he is always on the edge of something new, sometimes a new lady to consider. This guy addes a new demension to the term of getting lucky with ladies in Sanibel Flats. Randy has included a very funny section in the book about a baseball game in the middle of a jungle. All Doc wants is to have his life continue from one point to another without a lot of problems, fat chance! With his friend Thomlinson, one of the strangest but most interesting people that I have seen in a book. Doc uses all his talent and abilities to get in and out of problems throughout the book.
If you are a fan of John MacDonald or just enjoy a good adventure story with people who aren't superhumans you'll enjoy Randy Wayne White. He's the kind of guy who lives next door.

Having heard this character mentioned in a song by Troprocker Jim Morris I just had to check out these books. I started with this one, the first, as I felt I may want to read the series. I am not disappointed. Mr White's development of Doc Ford is full, and his narrative of southwest Florida sublime. I could feel the sun and gulf breezes and taste the slat air.
I felt like I was reading of a "larger-than-life" character reminiscent of Ian Fleming's daring and dashing spy, only in SW Florida.

I intend to continue with the series, and hope to enjoy my way though all.