Bone Deep

Doc Ford #21

by Randy Wayne White

The stunning new thriller from the New York Times–bestselling author.
 
When a Crow Indian acquaintance of Tomlinson’s asks him to help recover a relic stolen from his tribe, Doc Ford is happy to tag along—but neither Doc nor Tomlinson realize what they’ve let themselves in for. Their search takes them to the part of Central Florida known as Bone Valley, famous primarily for two things: a ruthless subculture of black-marketers who trade in illegal artifacts and fossils, and a multibillion-dollar phosphate industry whose strip mines compromise the very ground they walk on.

Neither enterprise tolerates nosy outsiders. For each, public exposure equals big financial losses—and in a region built on a million-year accumulation of bones, there is no shortage of spots in which to hide a corpse. Or two.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

362 pages, Hardcover

First published March 4, 2014

About the author

aka 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

Reviews

[Herzog · Rating 1 out of 5]

That's it. I'm done. I've read all of the books in this series and enjoyed many of them immensely, but, no more. Horribly disjointed. I entirely lost sense of what was going on. He's humbled his fabulous characters. If he hadn't been so successful, I can't imagine this book getting published.

[Author Annabelle Leigha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just have to keep in mind that in EVERY freaking book there is a graphic event with an animal! This time it was an injured elephant/ :(

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always read White's books...not because he's a great author, but because I enjoy the location of his stories. SW Florida is one of my favorite places and I'm familiar with so many of the spots where the action in RW White's books takes place. (Yes, I'll admit it... I've gone to Doc Ford's Rum Bars on Sanibel and Ft. Myers Beach several times...the Yucatan shrimp are good and maybe I'll see Randy Wayne White.) Some of his plots are pretty intriguing and hold up alright, but lately, they are so far-fetched that I just haven't been able to buy them. And, worse yet, his dialog is so stilted and unlikely that I find myself saying, "Huh?" after reading a conversation between characters. So, why do I continue to read White's books? I like Doc Ford as a character and I love where he works...so, I'll let the rest slide, i guess, and keep hoping for another good one.

[Cathy DuPont · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone's mother (and no, it wasn't my Mother) said if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

Nothing at all.

Changed to 2 1/2 stars, the 1/2 star because I've read all of RWW's books and Randy Striker's (RWW pen name) six books.

[Gail Strickland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all the White books featuring Doc Ford until this one. A lot of action, kind of, leading to not much. To little Tomlinson here (Doc Ford's hippy dippy sidekick) and way to much Hannah Smith (the main character in White's new series). Seemed like White wandered around in search of either a story or an ending, finding neither.

I'll read the next Doc Ford, of course, in hopes that White finds his footing which in the past had been enjoyable. Keep the dog, tho', as he's one of the more charming characters in this one.

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duncan, a native American from Montana, is searching for two rocks with petroglphs on them. His relative had sold them and now before her death was guilty about taking them from her people. Duncan enlists Tomlinson's help and naturally he ropes in Doc Ford. They become involved in artifacts and fossils. I never realized that Florida was a haven for fossils. Naturally you learn, as Doc Ford learns about fossils and the Native Americans in earlt times, Florida was home to Mastadons and Mammoths and uvory is an expensive commodity. I love that area of the country and love Sanibel and Captiva. In the end, White writes a good yarn with plenty of action.

[Viccy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a Crow Indian shows up in Florida seeking two owl carvings his aunt lost years ago, Doc Ford and Tomlinson get caught up in the relic rustling business. I always enjoy Randy Wayne White's books and in this one we learn a lot about megladons and the other prehistoric animals that prowled Florida thousands of years ago. There is a ruthless subculture of black marketers who will kill to obtain prehistoric bones or ivory from mastodons or mammoths. Doc and Tomlinson have the usual lady issues and Doc works his ninja magic. Always entertaining.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ford is helping out a Crow friend of Tomlinson to recover some stolen artifacts when he stumbles into a fossil smuggling scheme.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This realistic mystery will make the reader feel as if they are close to the action.

Doc Ford is a marine biologist. His marijuana smoking friend, Tomlinson, is contacted by a man of the Crow Indian nation. This man is trying to find lost artifacts that had belonged to his tribe.

As Doc agrees to help, the man come into contact with a man named Mick who is a guide and knows about diving and artifacts. Their search leads to an area known for people involved in black market activities and who deal with illegal artifacts and fossils.

The trail leads to an area of land owned by a wealthy man named Albright. Albright's family was known for collecting artifacts. They also had a parcel of land they used for an elephant rescue area. They want to protect elephants from the predators who kill elephants for their tusks. Members of Albright's family are doing things behind his back. This adds to the suspense and makes Albright a sympathetic character.

Albright places his trust in Doc and since Doc is a marine biologist, he asks Doc to analyze the water by his property. Doc sees this as a chance to see if there are any artifacts or fossils that had been lost in the water.

There is murder and with realistic dialogue, the story continues. One of the highlights of Randy Wayne White's writing is his descriptions of the land and businesses in the Sanibel, Captiva Island area in Florida.

I enjoyed the story and found it even more enjoyable since I read it while vacationing in Sanibel, Florida.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only read this if you have already read the previous books in the series.


I have been a fan of Randy Wayne White since I could only find them for sale in South Florida. I love the whole history of Doc. I love the setting. I admit a prejudice here as the area will always be home in my heart.

What I liked about this book:

1) Doc Ford, a lethal nerd;

2) Not much of Tomlinson in this one. I am tired of Tomlinson and the last books have just had too much of him. I upped a star just because he had limited appearances in this one;

3) The setting. If you have never been to Sanibel, Captiva and Fort Myers Beach, GO!

4) History. You always learn something interesting in White's books;

5) Being in Ford's head;

6) Boats;

7) The elephants.


What I didn't like or liked less:

1) Ford's relationship or lack thereof with Hannah. Maybe with his lack of success with women (which I do NOT understand) he should take a swing with the other team?????

2) We saw less evidence of Ford's past. (Although see #5 above as we got it in his head.

I enjoyed the ride.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the read and Doc Ford and friends and Sanibel and Captiva ( a favorite part of FL)and learned a bit about fossils and such in Florida,but I have to say -having read and loved all or most of the previous Doc Ford adventures that this one was like the elephant tracks that went no where. The plot seemed a bit disjointed and the characters introduced were superficially drawn and not particularly likeable or interesting. Neither Doc nor Tomlinson seemed happy in their usual rum drinking,womanizing , pot smoking skins that make them so endearing.And the usual Dinkins Bay quirky characters seemed to only put in cameos.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading other reviews I realize I'm not the only one who felt this book was not as good as Randy Wayne White's earlier Doc Ford novels. I've read all of them and always felt they were a sure bet for some fun escapism. Doc Ford and Tomlinson are wonderful characters and usually well fleshed out. Not so in this case. At many points I couldn't follow the conversation between the characters as the dialog is disjointed and choppy. At best, the plot was thin and the action was sparse. I may try Randy Wayne White one more time, but if the next book is as disappointing as this one was it will be my last.

[Michael Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again we have Doc falling into something that takes awhile to start making sense. Once the pieces begin to line up for the doc to see the linear data ( since he has trouble just jumping into a problem at times ) we know more than he does. White's background data and side stories all give a good deal of info that is not really germain to the story but adds depth to the tale. Once again though he seems to have run out of steam and the story just ends. Not all is revealed and we are again left with the feeling that something is still missing.

[Adihelin Urquia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read all the Doc Ford books. I've liked some more than others. This is truly the worst one of all. It seems as though Mr. White wrote this book because he had to. The book has no real plot. The characters are two dimensional. I'm not done with the book yet but I doubt I will finish it.

[Grey853 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doc Ford gets roped into a fossil hunt for some Indian artifacts that were sold years ago. It's a interesting ride that includes murder, smuggling, and betrayal.

This has a lot more action in it that most mysteries I read, but it was a fun departure from my typical cozy or police procedural.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aside from his early works, this is the best RWW in some time. In fact, I had nearly given him up completely after his previous slump of worthwhile stories. The only problem with this was its ending, which is lacking and less than fulfilling. 5 of 10 stars

[Tony Sannicandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, ending page is kind of, well let's just say fair. Other than that a very good book, it entertains you all the way thru.

[Jeff P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book rates about 3 1/2 stars.

[Dan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When a Crow Indian acquaintance of Tomlinson’s asks him to help recover a relic stolen from his tribe, Doc Ford is happy to tag along—but neither Doc nor Tomlinson realize what they’ve let themselves in for. Their search takes them to the part of Central Florida known as Bone Valley, famous primarily for two things: a ruthless subculture of black-marketers who trade in illegal artifacts and fossils, and a multibillion-dollar phosphate industry whose strip mines compromise the very ground they walk on.”

[Mlg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book of White’s with an interesting subject, but a meandering plot line. The best part was the information about bone hunters in Florida, both legal and illegal. I had no idea that you could find Mastodon and Saber toothed tigers in Florida. The rest of the story was just ok.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good exciting series.

[Nolan · Rating 2 out of 5]

My mind wandered a lot through this one. Yet another artifact/treasure hunt. This series is boring me. I can't imagine how bored the author got as he slogged through the last books in the series. Do I even continue on with it? I don't know; I can't decide.

[William Howle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book although it seemed to drag in spots. I had no idea that Florida was such a hotbed of fossils and that there was a market for them. I gave the book an extra star for the educational aspects. It is always good to see the bad guy get his just desserts at the end of the book. The wife of one of the characters, an obvious gold digger also was taken care of. Her husband was rather stupid.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting book from Randy Wayne White, back to doc Ford now, and he is my preference of characters, him and Tomlinson. They get mixed up in the illegal digging for bones, and meet a very dangerous and "crazy" man not connected w/ the trade, but there to collect a debt from a client of Doc's. Looks like a lot of people did not like this one, but I am open minded to the mysteries of the Native Americans and others.

[Vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Randy White has been pumping out episodes of Doc Ford for a lot of years and I, for one, am glad that Doc is still in business. Bone Deep, #21 in the series, is a solid offering.

Thinking up interesting facts about Florida and turning them into an adventure mystery can’t be easy, and some of the charm of the earlier stories is missing: the in depth relationships that exist at the Dinkin’s Bay Marina; the often intense banter between Tomlinson and Doc that defined the series for so many years.

On the other hand, some great scenes between Doc and Hanna Smith, his friend and lover, felt like vintage Doc. Quirky characters, including a tame elephant living near a phosphate mine, a questionable indian medicine man who has skipped parole in Montana, a one handed outlaw, a dying woman trying to make amends, and cameo roles by some of the longtime Dinkin’s Bay crowd provided a well rounded cast of characters.

What White uncovers in Bone Deep, literally and fictionally, is a world of pre-historic bones and fossils. A peek at Florida long before it looked like it does today. And not just the bones, the ruthless, selfish reprobates who would plunder and pillage the state’s hidden treasures for personal gain.

This is the Florida that doesn’t show up on the travel posters. The Florida away from the beaches and the well worn paths of the touristas. This is Doc Ford territory.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I picked up this audiobook, I didn't realize that it was the 21st book in a series. As I was listening, I had a lot of questions about the backstory. The fact that I was a little confused wasn't really the problem. I was just bored. This book should have been, if anything, interesting. The plot involved archeology, dinosaur bones, a dog, elephants and a psychotic biker. Instead of being on the edge of my seat, I was patiently waiting for it to be over.

[Stephanie Lind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

Chose this book because of the involvement of a Crow Indian character. Being raised on the Crow Reservation and having familiarity, I was pleasantly surprised with the author’s obvious research into relevant topics. Beyond that, I enjoyed the book and appreciated the author’s writing chops. This was the first Doc Ford book I’ve read but it won’t be my last. Stephanie’s husband.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doc Ford is minding his own business, when a Native American shows up on his doorstep, wanting help recovering some artifacts. Of course, this leads Ford not only to underground fossil and artifact sellers, but to phosphate mining and an elephant shelter.

Not a whole lot of action in this one, mostly Fords pines for Hannah, as stuff happens all around him.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay states two stars..and that was because the last few chapters were entertaining. This book was a mess. Had me wondering if I had lost my sense for reading script. I lost all sense of what I had read having to go back and reread only to find it had not changed. I read a few reviews and am happy to say I did not have a stroke because others seemed to feel the same.

[Lee Carlson]

I have been reading Randy Wayne White for years, back before he was a novelist, when he wrote the “Out There” column for Outside magazine. I always appreciated his crazy adventures and irreverent take on third world travel, a refreshing departure from more serious travelogues (which I also appreciate). So when I found out he was writing novels I picked one up. I was pleasantly surprised to discover his books were set in Southwest Florida, where I spent much time as a child. His main character, Doc Ford, is a marine biologist and fisherman whose hidden life as a former deep-cover spy keeps coming back to haunt him, taking him on adventures to exotic locals to South America and the Caribbean (which White knows well from his travels for Outside). Marine biology, boats, fishing, Southwest Florida mangroves, Central American jungles, Caribbean islands: all of these things have been a part of my life as well, so I immediately related to Doc Ford and the books. There is even a trusty sidekick, a kind of Watson to Doc Ford’s Sherlock, who is a buddhist priest; right up my alley! The books are light reading, no literary pretensions about them, but I like a good light spy or detective novel—something to read on a plane, or before falling asleep at night. Something that doesn’t tax the brain too much after a long day. Unfortunately, as the series has gone on, the formulaic nature of the series seems to have taken over from White’s earlier, more creative books. (This is the twenty-first book in the series). White seems to have exhausted his trove of more exotic locals and the most recent books all have stayed closer to home, never leaving their Southwest Florida setting. And the characters seem to have become caricatures of themselves, lacking much in the way of real depth. Maybe it’s just me getting tired of them, but I never get tired of Sherlock Holmes, no matter how may times I reread the Holmes oeuvre. Bone Deep has Crow Indians, black marketers, the illegal fossil trade, spoiled rich heirs, poisonous snakes, a psycho biker, sexy women and more. All very entertaining, if a bit too much at times. I enjoyed the book, and I’ll probably keep reading new Doc Ford novels as they come out, hoping that White will do some more heavy lifting with his next crack at Doc Ford’s world.