Shark River

Randy Wayne White

1/23/2004

A marine biologist on Sanibel Island, Doc Ford is working on Guava Key, a private island off the Florida Coast. He is there with his still-hippie friend, Tomlinson, who is now a meditation guru. Tomlinson is also stoned most of the time, but Doc doesn't mind

One evening Doc realizes two women on Guava Key are about to be ambushed. He realizes the boats coming too near the island are not out for their normal test runs. Doc follows the women on their jog and his almost forgotten skills return. He runs a man down, shoves the girls off and under the pier, takes a bullet in the arm from another kidnapper on the island, overtakes one of the approaching speed boats, knocks the driver out, and is able to speed around and foil a kidnapping attempt. Then he tries to make all believe that he didn't know what he was doing, just was in the right place at the wrong time and did what any person would do - he panicked, accidentally knocked the women in the water, sliced his arm falling off the pier, and grabbed the boat in order to get away from the madmen. He has a secret past he wants to stay a secret.

This same day he is approached by a beautiful Bahamian woman claiming to be his sister. Although he determines she is really his cousin, she insists that he is her brother. Ransom also is determined that Doc will help her find the fortune their "daddy" left for them. Meanwhile, Doc is trying to prevent being killed by a Colombian drug lord, maintain Ransom's belief in her father, and preserve Tomlinson's past.

I found Shark River to be a fast paced, fun novel. The mystery around Doc's past is revealed with good timing, not too soon nor frustratingly late. The characters feel right, and Ransom shines. Actually, this book teaches quite a bit about marine life as well as delivering a good mystery. Only about half of Shark River is actually devoted to the action filled struggle with the bad guys. The other half is sheer fun with Tomlinson and Ransom, and a tribute to the Gulf of Mexico west of Florida.

You can find more about this book at .

Notice: Explicit sexual situations, recreational drugs, language

Sanibel Flats
The Heat Islands
The Man Who Invented Florida
Captiva
North of Havana
The Mangrove Coast
Ten Thousand Islands
Shark River
Twelve Mile Limit
Everglades
Tampa Burn
Dead of Night
Dark Light
Hunter's Moon
Black Widow