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Title: North of Havana by Randy Wayne White ISBN: 0-425-16294-X Publisher: Prime Crime Pub. Date: 01 May, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.86 (7 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A Wonderful Glimpse Into the Darker Side of Doc Ford
Comment: While I agree with some of the other reviewers that this book was a bit of a different type of Doc Ford story, I disagree that the book wasn't one of the best in the series. In fact, I'd put it as one of my favorites. This story, which focuses on Doc's efforts to rescue his buddy Tomlinson who is stranded among revolutionaries in Cuba, takes us back to the roots of Doc Ford and gives us a good look at his past life. The first half of the book is a very traditional Doc Ford story, with the return of his friend/lover Dewey Nye and plenty of the traditional Florida scenery and flavor to get you settled in. Then, just when you're getting comfortable, the scene shifts to Havana and the intrigue begins. This story reads almost like a Tom Clancy novel with Russian agents, anti-Castro revolutionaries, gunfights, car chases, etc.
The thing I liked about this story is how it brought out the darker side of Doc Ford. The Doc Ford from his NSA days. He's still the same guy, and you get to see him struggle with his past and the things he's done, but you also see him use his training to take care of the people he cares for, and who he is trying to save.
The charactizations and dialogue in this book are very good. Particularly the boy named Santiago and Lenny Geis (Canadian businessman who befriends Ford). Also, it was great for so many of the past characters to play roles in this story. I won't give them away, but expect some faces from 'Sanibel Flats' to show up, as the stable of regulars (Tomlinson and Dewey Nye primarily).
Finally, for those who said the book started to drag about 1/2 way through, I totally disagree. Instead, I thought it actually picked up speed. After all, during the 2nd half of the book, Doc was pretty much running for his life or trying to rescue Tomlinson and Dewey. He's pitted against some very bad people, including Cuban military, priests from a voodoo cult and the aforementioned Russian agents.
Bottom line is that this story isn't the slow-paced, languid Florida story that Captiva or The Heat Islands was. It's a fast-paced story of intrigue and espionage. People get killed, and we get to see what Doc was like before he became the mild-mannered biologist that we all know and love.
To me, this glimpse into Doc's past and what his life used to be like is the best reason for giving this book such a high rating.
Rating: 4
Summary: A great read, but not his best
Comment: I'm a big RWW fan and enjoyed this book as well, but as stated by an earlier reviewer, I thought "North of Havana" lost a little steam midway through. It may have been the fact that Tomlinson, whose eccentricities are normally a source of mild consternation for Doc Ford, are the cause of some major problems, both to Ford and to his female companion. That those character flaws lead indirectly to several deaths makes Tomlinson less quirky and more downright irritating.
Otherwise, an action-focused entry in a great series of novels.
Rating: 5
Summary: The next best thing to Travis McGee
Comment: If you liked MacDonald's McGee series, you'll like Randy Wayne White. And this is the best of them. Very readable, well plotted and fun.
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Title: Man Who Invented Florida (Dead Letter Mysteries) by Randy Wayne White ISBN: 0312953984 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: 01 March, 1997 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: The Heat Islands (Doc Ford Novels (Paperback)) by Randy Wayne White ISBN: 0312929773 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: 01 February, 1993 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Ten Thousand Islands by Randy Wayne White ISBN: 0425180433 Publisher: Prime Crime Pub. Date: 12 June, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Shark River by Randy Wayne White ISBN: 0425185214 Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group Pub. Date: 04 June, 2002 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Sanibel Flats by Randy Wayne White ISBN: 0312926022 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: 01 June, 1996 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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