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Doc Ford #11
Tampa Burn
The abduction of Doc Ford's son pulls the former assassin back into business--and into the trap of an avenging politico with a twisted and violent plan of revenge.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2004
286 people are currently reading
927 people want to read
About the author
Randy Wayne White
77 books1,590 followersaka Carl Ramm, Randy Striker
Randy Wayne White (born 1950) is an American writer of crime fiction and non-fiction adventure tales. He has written best-selling novels and has received awards for his fiction and a television documentary. He is best known for his series of crime novels featuring the retired NSA agent Doc Ford, a marine biologist living on the Gulf Coast of southern Florida. White has contributed material on a variety of topics to numerous magazines and has lectured across the United States. A resident of Southwest Florida since 1972, he currently lives on Pine Island, Florida, where he is active in South Florida civic affairs and with the restaurant Doc Ford's Sanibel Rum Bar & Grill on nearby Sanibel Island.
Series:
* Doc Ford Mystery
Randy Wayne White (born 1950) is an American writer of crime fiction and non-fiction adventure tales. He has written best-selling novels and has received awards for his fiction and a television documentary. He is best known for his series of crime novels featuring the retired NSA agent Doc Ford, a marine biologist living on the Gulf Coast of southern Florida. White has contributed material on a variety of topics to numerous magazines and has lectured across the United States. A resident of Southwest Florida since 1972, he currently lives on Pine Island, Florida, where he is active in South Florida civic affairs and with the restaurant Doc Ford's Sanibel Rum Bar & Grill on nearby Sanibel Island.
Series:
* Doc Ford Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
March 23, 2018
Doc Ford has been living on Dinkins Bay for a long time. He's accepted by his neighbors, and everything is going well.
Then the past catches up to him.
His former lover, now a politician south of the border shows up out of nowhere. Somebody has kidnapped their son. Ford has to find him before the abductor, a serial killer who likes to burn people to death, gives in to his baser desires.
Ford and Tomlinson try to find and rescue his son, which takes them to a weird carny town.
Great stuff. One of the better novels in a superior series.
Then the past catches up to him.
His former lover, now a politician south of the border shows up out of nowhere. Somebody has kidnapped their son. Ford has to find him before the abductor, a serial killer who likes to burn people to death, gives in to his baser desires.
Ford and Tomlinson try to find and rescue his son, which takes them to a weird carny town.
Great stuff. One of the better novels in a superior series.
June 18, 2016
In this eleventh novel in the Doc Ford series, the formal intelligence operative turned marine biologist has been told his teenage son to a Managuan national, and former lover, has been kidnapped. And held for ransom. But when Doc begins to piece together the demands, and the mystery of who was behind the kidnapping, he soon realizes he may have a slim chance to rescue his only child from a fiendish killer.
Taut, riveting, and intricately plotted, Randy Wayne White is a stellar storyteller at the top of his game.
Highly recommended!
Taut, riveting, and intricately plotted, Randy Wayne White is a stellar storyteller at the top of his game.
Highly recommended!
March 13, 2021
Doc Ford gets things done!
One of RWW’s best novels.
Lots of action, interesting observations on psychology, nature, boats, guns, etc.
I strongly recommend the whole series and especially this book.
One of RWW’s best novels.
Lots of action, interesting observations on psychology, nature, boats, guns, etc.
I strongly recommend the whole series and especially this book.
November 18, 2015
Marion Ford has quite a past, and now that past has come back to haunt him: Pilar Fuentes, his former lover, appears one day with disturbing news about their son, Laken: he's been kidnapped by a disfigured madman under the direction of Pilar's ex-husband, and now they have to cooperate with increasingly strange demands or the boy gets it. From there, Doc Ford employs his complicated form of investigation, drawing on the support of friends old and new and running into trouble from various old enemies (while making a few new ones in the process). Ultimately, Doc Ford will have to follow his son's careful clues to a face-off with burn fetishist Praxcedes Lourdes, but by the time he unravels the puzzle, there may be nothing left of his son to save.
I think it may have been a mistake for me to read this book without reading the others in the series. It was chosen by my book club because we live in Tampa and wanted to read a Florida author, and others noted that the books are more or less standalone. What I found while reading it was that it was very, very clear there was a HUGE amount of history to this character and his web of relationships, and while on the surface I really liked that the character was so layered, as a reader who had not read the previous books, I found it a little overwhelming. There were so many threads going on in this book that would have probably had a ton more impact for me if I had "been there" for the history, but as a book by itself, I had this continuous sensation that it was just trying to do too much, and if I'm honest, the pacing suffered because of it.
That said, White is a very good writer on most of the levels this type of book requires. And as a reader who appreciates nuances of character, I very much liked that the plot was honestly character-driven; it was pushed forward by clear human elements with double-crosses and loyalty shifts that made sense in context. (They sometimes felt rushed, but not inauthentic.) And even though Doc Ford made short work of most of the people he fought with, I didn't get an entire feeling of "hard-boiled rock of an enforcer doing his badass thing" from him, because he was human and had many weaknesses and fears. The book did try to put enough context in so people who either hadn't read the previous books (like me) or people who had been away from them for a while would be able to follow, and while that succeeded to the point that the huge cast of characters was almost never indistinct in my mind, I felt again that the pacing took a hit from it. I struggled to sense how much time was passing for the characters, and every new mini-crisis took center stage for a couple chapters before running off into the wings to get solved in a much later chapter or probably another book.
The stuff I appreciated the most was the interaction between Doc Ford and Dewey, the interaction between Doc Ford and Tomlinson, and the funny little bit about trying to sink the police boat.
I think it may have been a mistake for me to read this book without reading the others in the series. It was chosen by my book club because we live in Tampa and wanted to read a Florida author, and others noted that the books are more or less standalone. What I found while reading it was that it was very, very clear there was a HUGE amount of history to this character and his web of relationships, and while on the surface I really liked that the character was so layered, as a reader who had not read the previous books, I found it a little overwhelming. There were so many threads going on in this book that would have probably had a ton more impact for me if I had "been there" for the history, but as a book by itself, I had this continuous sensation that it was just trying to do too much, and if I'm honest, the pacing suffered because of it.
That said, White is a very good writer on most of the levels this type of book requires. And as a reader who appreciates nuances of character, I very much liked that the plot was honestly character-driven; it was pushed forward by clear human elements with double-crosses and loyalty shifts that made sense in context. (They sometimes felt rushed, but not inauthentic.) And even though Doc Ford made short work of most of the people he fought with, I didn't get an entire feeling of "hard-boiled rock of an enforcer doing his badass thing" from him, because he was human and had many weaknesses and fears. The book did try to put enough context in so people who either hadn't read the previous books (like me) or people who had been away from them for a while would be able to follow, and while that succeeded to the point that the huge cast of characters was almost never indistinct in my mind, I felt again that the pacing took a hit from it. I struggled to sense how much time was passing for the characters, and every new mini-crisis took center stage for a couple chapters before running off into the wings to get solved in a much later chapter or probably another book.
The stuff I appreciated the most was the interaction between Doc Ford and Dewey, the interaction between Doc Ford and Tomlinson, and the funny little bit about trying to sink the police boat.
October 4, 2018
Didn't get good until 3/4 of the way through
April 24, 2021
This is my first Doc Ford book but it won't be the last. I really enjoy Mr. White's writing, the characters, and the story line. Perhaps just a little less character development would have been fine with me because it slowed the story down, but that's just me.
February 3, 2022
Love this series. In this one, his son is kidnapped and he must save him.
October 27, 2024
The author does do his research in order to produce the most realistic novel possible. Another 'edge of the seat' read.
March 14, 2020
The 11th in the Doc Ford series maintains the typical and enjoyable formula of new characters, new adventures, and growth of recurring characters. This is as good a book as any I've read in the series thus far (reading them in order). This one has the added benefit of incorporating St. Pete into the story.
May 27, 2011
Not having ready anything by Mr. White before I was interested to see what all of the fuss is about since he is a very popular author. I can't say I was overwhelmed with this novel. His depiction of Florida cities and towns around the state are pretty spot on, but the story just seemed to drag on in some places. So many characters were introduced (maybe for future novels)it seemed like you almost needed a flow chart to keep track. I recommend you check this author out at the library before you purchase a copy of his books.
December 5, 2015
Tampa Burn (Doc Ford #11) by Randy Wayne White (G.P. Putnam's Sons 2004) (Fiction - Mystery) finds the love of Ford's life Pilar in Florida from Central America. She is chasing the evil kidnapper Praxades Lourdes who has taken Doc's and Pilar's teenaged son Laken. My rating: 6/10, finished 8/27/12.
September 29, 2016
Another intriguing Doc Ford thriller. The novels are mysteries within mysteries. Each book has a villain to be dealt with, but there is also the continued revelations regarding Doc Ford and Tomlinson, and their past. This novel delved a bit more into that aspect-but also left more than a few unanswered questions! Definitely makes you want to read the next one!
June 25, 2010
A story about the abduction of the son of an undercover intelligence
agent's son. Takes place on Florida's west coast. Pretty good plot but
the introspective thought processes of the protagonists are a little much.
agent's son. Takes place on Florida's west coast. Pretty good plot but
the introspective thought processes of the protagonists are a little much.
February 10, 2015
fast paced, but well thought out, and full of great details. The plot is balanced, with all the adrenaline rushes you crave, and enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. White has done it again!
January 3, 2016
Typical Doc Ford: placid Dinkin's Bay life; glacial revelations of Ford and Tomlinson's back story; plenty of lady problems, Florida history and bad guy dispatching.
July 26, 2017
I didn't like how mean Pilar was to Ford in this book. Ford basically finds out Pilar doesn't love him and never loved him. Very sad.
August 18, 2012
Nancy 5 Stars; Ron 5 stars
February 19, 2023
"In the human brain is a tiny region called the 'amygdala,' a section of cerebral matter so ancient that scientists refer to it as our 'lizard brain,' or 'reptilian core.' It's here, in this ancient, isolated cellular place, that the killer that is in us all resides. It is from here that a million years of genetic memory encodes us with a horror of spiders, snakes, and tight, black places that might rob the air from our land-breathing lungs. Rage resides in that dark area, as well."
-Doc Ford, from the novel
This is the February selection for our Page Turners book club. I have read Randy Wayne White before but not in a long time. As I expected it was a page turner!
In this installment of Doc Ford's adventures, he must take the crime VERY seriously as it involves the kidnapping of his son, whom he barely knows, the result of an affair with a woman in Central America. The abductor is Práxedes Lourdes, the vilest sort of sadist who has earned the nickname "Incendiary" or Man Burner. Need I say more?
A huge ransom is demanded of the kid's mother, Pilar Fuentes, former lover of Marion "Doc" Ford. Doc and friend Tomlinson with some help from Pilar search out the place where Prax is holding Lake, Doc and Pilar's son. The hunt takes them from Miami all the way to Tampa, the home of Tampa General Hospital, famous for its burn center---not surprisingly pointing to the book title. Later in the novel a noted plastic surgeon is kidnapped from the hospital.
Secondary characters include a nasty female boat captain; Ransom, a Bahamian "cousin" of Doc's who seems very wise and likeable; Harris Lily, a (former?) naval intelligence officer; and a tattooed giant and a clairvoyant dwarf. And I mustn't forget Doc's girlfriend, Dewey Nye, who is furious at what she views as infidelity. Sound crazy? Yep, but MOST of it makes sense. Interesting that Dewey was a tennis pro at the South Seas Plantation on Captiva Island where my husband and I vacationed years ago.
The novel was definitely hard to put down toward the end, but I found the ending confusing. Maybe someone in our book club can clue me in. I'll rate the book a 3, liked it, didn't love it. We'll see what the others think soon.
-Doc Ford, from the novel
This is the February selection for our Page Turners book club. I have read Randy Wayne White before but not in a long time. As I expected it was a page turner!
In this installment of Doc Ford's adventures, he must take the crime VERY seriously as it involves the kidnapping of his son, whom he barely knows, the result of an affair with a woman in Central America. The abductor is Práxedes Lourdes, the vilest sort of sadist who has earned the nickname "Incendiary" or Man Burner. Need I say more?
A huge ransom is demanded of the kid's mother, Pilar Fuentes, former lover of Marion "Doc" Ford. Doc and friend Tomlinson with some help from Pilar search out the place where Prax is holding Lake, Doc and Pilar's son. The hunt takes them from Miami all the way to Tampa, the home of Tampa General Hospital, famous for its burn center---not surprisingly pointing to the book title. Later in the novel a noted plastic surgeon is kidnapped from the hospital.
Secondary characters include a nasty female boat captain; Ransom, a Bahamian "cousin" of Doc's who seems very wise and likeable; Harris Lily, a (former?) naval intelligence officer; and a tattooed giant and a clairvoyant dwarf. And I mustn't forget Doc's girlfriend, Dewey Nye, who is furious at what she views as infidelity. Sound crazy? Yep, but MOST of it makes sense. Interesting that Dewey was a tennis pro at the South Seas Plantation on Captiva Island where my husband and I vacationed years ago.
The novel was definitely hard to put down toward the end, but I found the ending confusing. Maybe someone in our book club can clue me in. I'll rate the book a 3, liked it, didn't love it. We'll see what the others think soon.
December 3, 2025
This lands on a shortlist of Randy Wayne White books. There's more backstory on Pilar Fuentes and a little more on Thomlinson. Doc's son, Lake, is kidnapped, and Pilar comes looking for Marion's assistance. We got enough of Prax Lourdes to know he's evil to the core—just a bad dude. Doc goes looking for his son after alienating Dewey, his current love in life. With the help of some clues from Lake, Doc can narrow his location and recapture his son. The subplots are interesting and revealing to the rest of the series, and Mr. White never reveals enough to close a door on a future plot twist or character feature, e.g., Dewey's preferences. The only criticism I could have is that Lake shows a maturity well above his years in the end, which ultimately squelches the darker ending the reader might have been hoping for. Marion took the high road.
I put this one in Randy's Top 3-5 in the series. Very enjoyable.
I put this one in Randy's Top 3-5 in the series. Very enjoyable.
August 22, 2021
When Ford’s son Lake is kidnapped for political reasons by a psychopath, Lake’s mother Pilar comes to Ford for help. But along the way, he discovers a lot of heartbreaking information that affect his relationships with his friends.
This one made my heart hurt several times, crying and weeping. But I’m glad things got settled.
I love Hugh and Elmase. They’re so cool bad guys. And I’m glad to see both Ransom and Bernie in the story.
Footnote: 1) Since I grew up in Tampa about the same era as this book was written, I love the description of Tampa and St. Peterburg. So many memories of living there with my grandparents.
Fave scenes: Ford explaining things to Dewey on her porch, the story of Forty Mile Bend, the alligator clue and the band America & their songs.
This one made my heart hurt several times, crying and weeping. But I’m glad things got settled.
I love Hugh and Elmase. They’re so cool bad guys. And I’m glad to see both Ransom and Bernie in the story.
Footnote: 1) Since I grew up in Tampa about the same era as this book was written, I love the description of Tampa and St. Peterburg. So many memories of living there with my grandparents.
Fave scenes: Ford explaining things to Dewey on her porch, the story of Forty Mile Bend, the alligator clue and the band America & their songs.
October 13, 2022
“Tampa Burn” is another book in the Doc Ford series. I feel it is one of the best in the series so far.
Doc and his best friend, Tomlinson, have a visitor who tells them that her son has been abducted, the reason she came to Doc is because the boy is his son too.
Doc finds out the the kidnapper is a nut job that likes to burn people. The kidnapper has demands for the boys mother to follow of course one of the demands is to not involve the police.
Doc’s challenge is to find his son before he is burned alive or something else happens to him.
Doc and his best friend, Tomlinson, have a visitor who tells them that her son has been abducted, the reason she came to Doc is because the boy is his son too.
Doc finds out the the kidnapper is a nut job that likes to burn people. The kidnapper has demands for the boys mother to follow of course one of the demands is to not involve the police.
Doc’s challenge is to find his son before he is burned alive or something else happens to him.
June 7, 2021
Another excellent story in the Doc Ford mystery series, this one sees Doc getting involved in trying to rescue his kidnapped son. That involves a lot of complicated situations, especially those with the ex-girlfriend and mother of his son as well as his friend Tomlinson and his current girlfriend Dewey. Things get dangerous quickly, and Doc has to make some difficult decisions before the situation can be resolved.
May 5, 2017
This is not my favorite Doc Ford entry. All of the books set in, or about, Masagua pale in comparison to his adventures in Florida. This one is very violent and White's decision to make one of his former good characters into a crazed character looking only to themselves is a serious mistake. Recommended only to die hard Ford lovers.
November 1, 2018
Another great book in the Doc Ford series. Doc confronts a pyro crazed series killer that likes to burn people alive. Full of mystery of suspense from start to finish. Also a number of secrets from the past creep out. Love the way Randy Wayne White describes the surroundings especially the Florida wildlife and fauna. Loved this story.
November 15, 2018
Doc and company never disappoint. This was an especially harrowing tale of kidnap and full face transplant involving Doc's son and a totally insane man who likes to burn people alive. When Doc gets ready to murder the guy, Lake interferes and explains that it was all caused by a terrible fall when Prax was a child. Good read.
April 5, 2019
I enjoy the Doc Ford series as a diversion from my regular reading. The writing is entertaining. There is always an unexpected plot twist that keeps the reader engaged, but not so heavy that it is hard work to read the book. I credit White's writing style for keeping me engaged in the series. Very enjoyable.
May 18, 2019
I keep picking up Randy Wayne White's Doc Ford mysteries. This one has some interesting developments, especially about the occasional character Pilar who has always frustrated me. Let's just say--there is some resolution. There is introduction to Ford's son. Tomlinson is his usual crazy. I'll keep reading them but "Dead of Night" (Doc Ford Mystery, #12) will have to get in line.
January 20, 2022
Doc's son is big!
They have a fairly new relationship.
Gibonston features
Tomlinson and Pilar get along very well, and after she leaves (?) Tomlinson shares some Very Important Psychological information about her, with Doc.
Lake has researched Doc's past and Pilar saw it; Lake confronts Doc at the end of the book.
Dewey! Sees Doc with Pilar. Moves away. Has to Make A Decision.
They have a fairly new relationship.
Gibonston features
Tomlinson and Pilar get along very well, and after she leaves (?) Tomlinson shares some Very Important Psychological information about her, with Doc.
Lake has researched Doc's past and Pilar saw it; Lake confronts Doc at the end of the book.
Dewey! Sees Doc with Pilar. Moves away. Has to Make A Decision.
July 9, 2022
I enjoy reading books of this type- setting, plot and characters- and I was not disappointed! I should have started with #1 in the series but saw this book at my library and went for it! I will be on the hunt for earlier ones so I can continue in a more orderly manner. I recommend this to anyone who likes action, a food storyline and characters you can become attached to.
September 19, 2022
100 starts would not be enough to say how great I found this book to be. Fast moving, suspenseful and with an ending that made me run and check to see if I had the next Doc Ford book in the series.
(and I did!!). Mr White's book never disappoint and I'd highly recommend this read to anyone who loves a true page turner that keeps you guessing all along the way.
(and I did!!). Mr White's book never disappoint and I'd highly recommend this read to anyone who loves a true page turner that keeps you guessing all along the way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews