Seduced

Hannah Smith #4

by Randy Wayne White

Hannah Smith returns in the stunning new adventure in the New York Times–bestselling series by the author of the Doc Ford novels.
 
A fishing guide and part-time investigator, Hannah Smith is a tall, strong Florida woman descended from many generations of the same. But the problem before her now is much older even than that.
            Five hundred years ago, Spanish conquistadors planted the first orange seeds in Florida, but now the whole industry is in trouble. The trees are dying at the root, weakened by infestation and genetic manipulation, and the only solution might be somehow, somewhere, to find samples of the original root stock. No one is better equipped to traverse the swamps and murky backcountry of Florida than Hannah, but once word leaks out of her quest, the trouble begins. “There are people who will kill to find a direct descendant of those first seeds,” a biologist warns her—and it looks like his words may be all too prophetic.

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

352 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2016

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

[Author Annabelle Leigha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm confused! How did she get pregnant if they only kissed?!?! Otherwise, a good read.

[Sandy Kay Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Hannah Smith series because I learn interesting information about Florida history and because Hannah Smith is such an interesting character. She is self reliant but she has friends and isn't a "lone wolf" kind of character. This wasn't my favorite book of the series (the first two books in the series are) -- and I'm getting tired of Hannah making bad choices because of men -- but it kept my interest all the way through. I wasn't able to predict the ending, which is always nice.

There is a lot about the Florida citrus industry and the citrus greening disease that is threatening it and I thought it was very interesting.

This book has more about Hannah's mother and puts her in a more sympathetic light. And dangers from enormous pythons so you may want to avoid this book if you have a snake phobia.

I received this book as a free e-ARC from NetGalley.

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of the Hannah Smith novels I have read. The beginning was a bit farcical, but I enjoyed the story and learning about the characters. Living in SW Florida, I particularly appreciated the history, biology, and insight into problems in our area relating to the citrus industry and our well known issues with pythons. If you are a fan of Randy Wayne White, or SW Florida, don't miss it. If you haven't read White before and are looking for a light, quick read in which you will learn a bit about the area, read this book.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't realized how severely Everglades wildlife is affected by the invasion of Burmese pythons. Decimate is only 0ne in ten! As of 2012, native species are at 88-100% decline, including raccoons, foxes, bobcats and whitetail deer.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this was my least favorite in White's "Hannah Smith" series.
I always enjoy the scientific research that goes into his books; in this case, the destruction of the Everglades ecosystem by non-native snakes, specifically Pythons, and the search for ancient orange trees that might be disease resistant. But the plot seemed too intentionally convoluted and contrived.
There is also a puzzling conclusion which I won't disclose.
I'll continue to read the series, but was less than thrilled with this one.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

White fans know that Hannah Smith was at one time involved with Doc Ford and that she is a fishing guide and PI. She is brave and intractable and can readily handle most situations she runs into. In this novel she meets a twenty foot Python in the Everglades along with some rally bad men. The story starts somewhat slowly, but gradually heats up to the point where the reader will neglect other chores in order to learn what happens next. More great reading from Randy Wayne White.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second Randy Wayne White book and I will be watching out for more. In this one we encounter Hannah Smith, single, captain of a charter sport fishing boat who discovers her mother has been having a long time secret affair with a local big time politician when her mother calls for help. It It seems that said politician has expired at the worst possible time and Hannah and the politician's long time driver conspire to move him to his cabin on the river. That turns out not to be as easy as they had hoped. There is also, being Florida, an infestation of the citrus orchards and Hannah has some old trees on her property that are showing signs. We mix in a man who was working on the problem at the Politician's large orchard, a couple of client fishermen, some of Hannah's friends, and a small island with possibly an ancient orange tree that may be immune to the problem but is infested with Gators, saltwater Crocodiles and huge pythons, oh and others who sensing huge profits to be gained by controlling the source of infection proof trees makes for a lively time for Hannah.

[Emily Louwsma · Rating 3 out of 5]

What
did
I
just
read


and






WHY?

I love books set in Florida for when I am feeling a bit nostalgic. This book was all over the place. I skimmed the last few chapters because... what the heck?
Hannah Smith has some intriguing qualities, but overall, the voice is so strongly that of a man (Randy Wayne White) that it was a struggle to relate. Hannah is CONSTANTLY wooed by men who adore her because she's just not like other women. Why do men think it is such a huge compliment to insult an entire gender? I don't hate women, so that doesn't sweep me off my feet. We get it, Hannah is still beautiful despite a make-up free face and baggy clothes. Gosh. Isn't she so lucky?
Pythons? Do they do that? I don't think so?
Kermit Bigalew is the dumbest name ever, and I've read Harry Potter.

Everybody is saying that this is the weakest of the Hannah Smith books, so perhaps I'll check out the rest. It was a nice way to spend a few brainless hours on a Sunday.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy all of White's story lines and the wonderfully drawn characters with all their eccentricities and frailties...interesting the male Randy Wayne White can flesh out a female character as complex as Hannah Smith...With the death of her mother's long-time lover, Hannah becomes involved in a complicated, deadly race to save the Florida citrus industry and maybe, just maybe amass a huge fortune as well...White gives us plenty of twists & turns in the plot as well as plenty of twists & turns in Hannah's personal life as well...WHOA!!!

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, I can't believe how many enjoyed this.

[Des · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I may have liked it more if I'd read the others in the series, but I don't think I'll be going back to try them any time soon.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m giving this book a 4 for fun light reading. Another easy read about Hannah Smith who always seems to find trouble. Anyone familiar with the Sanibel area or who is interested in the environmental impact on the area would relate to this story. Love her quirky moms who keep thing on the funny side. As far as it’s literary aspect, maybe only a 2 1/2

[Nick Stika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemingly the last in the Hannah Smith series. All four were very good, I feel like I need to go back in the Doc Ford series and read those.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had trouble getting into this one, was not pleased w/ some of it, and it was slow to action. But,did manage to have a good ending and nice explanations of all that occurred after.

[Dorann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will read 1-3

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seduced (Hannah Smith #4) by Randy Wayne White (G.P. Putnam's Sons 2016) (Fiction – Mystery). This fourth installment in the Hannah Smith series finds Hannah searching the deepest darkest Everglades for a botanical dinosaur: a direct descendant of the original orange trees planted in the New World by the Spanish Conquistadores in the sixteenth century. She's also still looking for the right guy. My rating: 7/10, finished 4/27/18.

[Roger Scherping · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so confusing at times. The author was not clear at all, and he weaved in so many possible lies and counter-lies that it was impossible to figure out who was honest and who was a crook.

Other parts of the book just plain made no sense at all. There is no reason the two men wouldn't have killed Hannah on the island; instead they talked to her until she got the drop on them. There were also way too many lucky coincidences: all of Hannah's friends and clients were experts in the citrus industry!

Finally, at the end of the chapter just before Hannah and Roberta arrive at the island, the author foreshadows Roberta's death -- but then she doesn't die! What kind of editor let that gaffe through!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love ALL books by this author! This one features fishing guide Hannah Smith, overall bad ass lady who is searching for an ancient orange tree planted on an island in Florida to rejuvenate the U.S. orange groves. Her problem is the opposing searchers trying to steal her ideas and kill everyone involved with her. This was a Goodreads giveaway.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am having a hard time getting into this story. An old man has died in the middle of a romp with a neighbor and spirited home to save everyone grief. The first half of the plot is filled with fishing expeditions and talk of finding seeds from original Orange trees whose fruit is not affected by disease. I find the whole thing boring and can not finish.

[Lchamp · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think I have read every book he has written, including the early ones written under a pseudonym, and this is definitely the worst of them all. I just couldn't make myself care about any of the characters.

My OCD made me finish the book, but I really had to push to do so.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

[library audiobook]

Went on too long. Too many hidden identities. Multiple Perils of Pauline scenes. Protagonist won't pull the trigger. On the other hand, an attractive and able female protagonist.

Probably read another.

[Joe Flynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last (#4) Hannah Smith novel and I hope it stays that way. This is a little better than Haunted but neither of these books are worth reading. Stick to the Doc Ford series or the first two books in the Hannah Smith series

[Arianne Good · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this was part of a series and this is the first Hannah smith novel I have read. I think if I had read the others prior my review would have leaned closer to 4 stars. Easy read with some interesting background on Florida. Good descriptions of the environment.

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story with a female detective. I look forward to reading more from the series. I won it in a contest and it was a good read.

[Valerie Kerwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the setting and learning about orange trees, but mostly rather tedious. I skipped the middle and went. The end which was good.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

slow. writing was unclear at times, so the conclusion was more coincidental than logical.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This book is the 4th in a series about Hannah Smith, female Florida fishing guide, adventurer and amateur sleuth. I have not read others in this series, but I like Hannah enough to try another of these books.
The story opened with a retired politician dead in Hannah's mother in bed. Hannah and the old guy's chauffeur partner to move the body to a more favorable environment in which to be found. At this point, I almost decided I did not want to continue with this book. However, the story line changed quickly to what I was expecting: a horticultural issue and subsequent search for feral citrus trees.
I really enjoyed the botany aspect of this story. Hannah is also involved in a romance, an Indiana Jones type adventure in back country Florida, and some dangerous confrontations with crooks who want to steal her scientific ideas. That part got a little sloppy, but supposedly the "cure" for the citrus disease is worth multi-millions of dollars. This story line involved several characters, most of whom were not who or what the claimed to be. I couldn't keep it all straight. The narrative was not necessarily unclear. I listened to the audio version, and maybe I missed something important. While I though the novel stood well on it's own, maybe some of the confusion (and the ridiculous opening situation) was tied to previous installments. I'm still willing to read another Hannah Smith novel.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Florida’s citrus crop is dying, and botanists throughout the state scramble for solutions. Hannah Smith is a fishing guide, not a botanist, but she understands life off the beaten path as well as anyone in her state, and if anyone knows where old-growth citrus trees exist, it will be her. But the death of a former lieutenant governor in her mother’s bed temporarily complicates things for Hannah. The old man is married to a former high-school cheerleader turned sex kitten, and if the word gets out that the old boy expired while rattling the rafters with Hannah’s mother, the much-younger sex kitten is going to turn dangerous. And killing someone isn’t out of the range of her options.

I loved the suspense White builds into this book. He gets that significant numbers of us would rather not deal with snakes if we could avoid it in any way. But he gives you permission to peak around the book player you’re hiding behind to see whether Hannah can indeed blow the head off a python ready to kill a man who had earlier threatened Hannah’s life.

I loved the ending. I didn’t expect the ending. It opens new and exciting doors for Hannah that I can only hope she goes through.

Renée Raudman does an excellent narration that added much to the book.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seduced (Hannah Smith #4) by Randy Wayne White

You have got to love Randy Wayne White’s twisted sense of humor in the first two chapters of the book. A wealthy retired 80 year old Lieutenant Governor dies under unusual circumstances. The ensuing story of a cover-up, past misdeeds, and the desires all involved getting a piece of his estate leads to a fast paced story that at times boggles the mind.

The author’s knowledge of Florida’s history, wildlife and citrus growing industry is fascinating.
The reader will learn about the citrus greening disease (HLB) that threatens the citrus crops and the invasion of Burmese pythons that has decimated much of Florida’s wildlife population while being thoroughly entertained by the story.

[Susan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The pace was good and the characters were interesting. The location, Florida, USA was one I know fairly well, so place descriptions and habitat/environmental representation was spot on. The subject matter for this mystery is the citrus industry and blight that can infect the groves which are a major source of income to middle and southern Florida. Hannah Smith, the intrepid charter fishing boat captain, becomes involved which leads to suspense and possible death. The ending was a bit of a nice surprise.

I donated this book to a charity in Sanibel Island, Florida.