[.uk] Captiva (Doc Ford) (ISBN 0425158543)

the best yet:
CAPTIVA is the 4th novel in the Doc Ford series and the first which is told in the first person. We're inside the orderly but active mind of the marine biologist-amateur sleuth as he gets caught up in a battle between sport fisherman and commercial fisherman over the use of nets. The novel begins with a very frightening scene involving a bombing at the Marina where Ford lives. The man who gets killed is the husband of Hannah Smith, who will become Ford's lover and the most compelling female figure in the series to date. Hannah is slightly idealized but still great fun, and gives the novel a lot of spark, especially in the absence of Ford's sidekick Tomlinson. I highly recommend CAPTIVA and this entire series, starting with SANIBEL FLATS. Doc Ford is the closest thing going to McDonald's Travis McGee

I think John McDonald would approve:
Having been a John McDonald/Travis Magee fan for a long time I have always been sad at John's passing. His Travis Magee novels are always good reading. I was pleased to read a review of Mr White and his comparision to McDonald. Our hero lives in Captiva, is a retired government agent named Doc Ford who talents these days are turned to marine biology. His side kick is a "way out" cat from the 60's named Tomlinson. This story takes place in a marina in Florida where more than Doc's biology projects seem to be blowing up. In fact half the marina is now charcoal. It could turn into all out war between the netters and the sportfishermen over the netting ban, with Doc caught in the middle. Ford trys to keep a middle of the road lifestyle, but it turns personnel when somebody puts Tomlinson in the hospital near death. Doc is looking for payback - for a lot things. The book has a real good ending and leaves the reader trying to get inside of Doc's head to figure out how and why he does things. Story is a little slow in the beginning but picks up to an international ending. I look forward to reading more of Doc Ford from Randy Wayne White.

Poor Follow-up to White's First Three Doc Ford Adventures:
I have to agree with another reviewer that Captiva is also my least favorite Doc Ford novel in the series so far. The plot is interesting and the mood is still compelling, but switching to the "first person voice" just ruins it for me. I suppose the reason for doing so might have been to soften Doc Ford's character, but this method comes off clumsy at times and makes Doc seem phony. Doc didn't need any fluffing up anyway. This is a complete and terrible switch from the masterful "third-person" storytelling in the previous book, "The Man Who Invented Florida". I hope Randy returns to his earlier writing style in the next Doc Ford novel.

Just OK Mystery:
OK Florida-based mystery. Not great. Too-early climax followed by too-telegraphed revenge plot and too-lame mild twist ending.

Big Six Wow:
This is my first randy wayne white novel and I thought it was a compelling read. Tomlinson was a bit unbeliveable in his sarong at age 60 at least-- if he was a hippy of the "60s. And I suppose the story didn't make too much sense. A stalker-bomber???? And all the cavats about Indonesia should have been researched away. Its creepy to accuse countries of false crimes. But the characters rang true and the nuggets of information were good and the chapters were incredibly well thought out and Ford is pretty damn cute. It was so sad that Big Six had to die: I figured that out early on. How else could the novel end with Ford free to love again? I am looking forward to reading more White.