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Doc Ford #26
Salt River
The sins of the past come back to haunt Doc Ford and his old friend Tomlinson in this thrilling new novel from New York Times-bestselling author Randy Wayne White.
Marine biologist and former government agent Doc Ford is sure he's beyond the point of being surprised by his longtime pal Tomlinson's madcap tales of his misspent youth. But he's stunned anew when avowed bachelor Tomlinson reveals that as a younger man strapped for cash, he'd unwittingly fathered multiple children via for-profit sperm bank donations. Thanks to genealogy websites, Tomlinson's now-grown offspring have tracked him down, seeking answers about their roots. . . but Doc quickly grows suspicious that one of them might be planning something far more nefarious than a family reunion.
With recent history on his mind, Doc is unsurprised when his own dicey past is called into question. Months ago, he'd quietly "liberated" a cache of precious Spanish coins from a felonious treasure hunter, and now a number of unsavory individuals, including a disgraced IRS investigator and a corrupt Bahamian customs agent, are after their cut. Caught between watching his own back and Tomlinson's, Doc has no choice but to get creative--before rash past decisions escalate to deadly present-day dangers.
Marine biologist and former government agent Doc Ford is sure he's beyond the point of being surprised by his longtime pal Tomlinson's madcap tales of his misspent youth. But he's stunned anew when avowed bachelor Tomlinson reveals that as a younger man strapped for cash, he'd unwittingly fathered multiple children via for-profit sperm bank donations. Thanks to genealogy websites, Tomlinson's now-grown offspring have tracked him down, seeking answers about their roots. . . but Doc quickly grows suspicious that one of them might be planning something far more nefarious than a family reunion.
With recent history on his mind, Doc is unsurprised when his own dicey past is called into question. Months ago, he'd quietly "liberated" a cache of precious Spanish coins from a felonious treasure hunter, and now a number of unsavory individuals, including a disgraced IRS investigator and a corrupt Bahamian customs agent, are after their cut. Caught between watching his own back and Tomlinson's, Doc has no choice but to get creative--before rash past decisions escalate to deadly present-day dangers.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2020
785 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Randy Wayne White
79 books1,598 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 194 reviews
May 19, 2020
Another great entry in the Doc Ford series.
Doc Ford is puttering about, baby sitting his son with Hannah. Things start to happen, as they always do at the marina. Many of the denizens have taken DNA tests. It turns out Tomlinson donated a great deal of sperm, and now has kids coming out of the woodwork to see him. A few are insane, and want to kill him and their half-siblings. Meanwhile, people are sniffing around trying to get a piece of the treasure Doc salvaged in the last book.
Doc's got his hands full.
More continuity heavy than most of the books in the series.
Doc Ford is puttering about, baby sitting his son with Hannah. Things start to happen, as they always do at the marina. Many of the denizens have taken DNA tests. It turns out Tomlinson donated a great deal of sperm, and now has kids coming out of the woodwork to see him. A few are insane, and want to kill him and their half-siblings. Meanwhile, people are sniffing around trying to get a piece of the treasure Doc salvaged in the last book.
Doc's got his hands full.
More continuity heavy than most of the books in the series.
February 28, 2020
Doc Ford's latest escapade is perhaps his best- he embarks on a "con to con con men" over a sunken treasure in the Bahamas while simultaneously acting as a go between and protecter of his sidekick Tomlinson's biological children born through artificial or in vitro fertilization who have come of age and arrange a "reunion". We meet and like Delia, one of the offspring, as she competes with Hannah for a commitment from the elusive and secretive Doc Ford. The author offers two interesting tidbits: 1) The unexpected consequences of past artificial or in vitro fertilization combined with the popularity of DNA testing and 2) the use of solving math problems to cope with anxieties. The author's marine lessons in this novel are "blue green algae blooms" aka "red tides". You should not miss the opportunity to read White's latest mystery novel (but you should start at the beginning with Sanibel Flats)!
February 15, 2020
Is that you Randy?
Seemed like someone else wrote this one. Rather choppy. But I'm no expert...and doesn't change the fact that I am a huge fan. From his nonfiction to his fiction, I immensely enjoy reading about the area I grew up in. I find myself googling many different topics brought up in his books and learning more with every story he writes. Really interesting to read his nonfiction to see how his real life experiences tie into the fiction. I enjoyed reading something new from him that I hadn't read 3 or 4 times over but it was just not as intriguing as most.
Seemed like someone else wrote this one. Rather choppy. But I'm no expert...and doesn't change the fact that I am a huge fan. From his nonfiction to his fiction, I immensely enjoy reading about the area I grew up in. I find myself googling many different topics brought up in his books and learning more with every story he writes. Really interesting to read his nonfiction to see how his real life experiences tie into the fiction. I enjoyed reading something new from him that I hadn't read 3 or 4 times over but it was just not as intriguing as most.
February 23, 2020
Full admission here: For someone who prides herself on reading every well-known and not-so-well-known series mystery writer on the planet, I somehow had missed Randy Wayne White. His backlist is impressive, to say the least, and I am all up for finding treasure troves of popular mystery/thriller authors. One of White’s main characters is marine biologist/CIA undercover operative Doc Ford, who lives on a boat moored in a bay on Sanibel Island.
Sanibel Island rang a bell when I read the novel’s teaser, and it all came back to me as I looked at the map in the front of the book. A plus for the author there; I love maps of the setting. In the early 1980s, I was devouring every Travis McGee mystery that I could get my hands on. The author, John D. MacDonald, happened to live just down the coast from my Aunt Evelyn’s beachfront condo on Sanibel Island, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. When I heard that he was practically a neighbor, I had spent much of my early May vacation wading in the bathtub-warm Gulf just across the road. I was warned to keep an eagle eye out for buried egg-laying stingrays and was told that my chances of seeing the elusive Mr. MacDonald were remote. I stepped on a stingray that slithered from beneath my foot (no harm done), but I never saw my idol.
So when I opened my first-ever Doc Ford novel, which is the 26th installment in the series, it rang a distant happy bell. It is often my habit when reading a new author to go back and check out their backlist. I’ll probably pass on this one; 25 is a daunting number to play catch-up with, and, to be honest, the Doc Ford at this point in the series isn’t a character I want to explore in-depth. Not because of him, but because of his best pal, Tomlinson, who is the main character in SALT RIVER.
Apparently Tomlinson spent a great deal of time in his youth donating to sperm banks, whether for money or for the sheer joy of the process. His Nordic stature and good looks, combined with a considerable IQ and his Ivy League pedigree, made him a perfect choice for couples seeking IVF sperm implantations. Via the combination of the current DNA craze, Facebook and other internet connectivity, several of his twenty-something bio-offspring have been able to track down their progenitor.
For fans of the series, it’s no secret that Doc uses marine biology as cover for his CIA activities. He has many connections in the security world, and Tomlinson, feeling somewhat threatened by this exposure of his past personal life, turns to Doc. Especially when he hears that a rather startling number of his bio-children are planning to hold a “family reunion” to meet each other at a hotel on Sanibel Island. And who is the guest of honor? Bio-dad himself.
This is an intriguing plot with twists and turns to spare. White clearly loves Florida, and knows his marine life and coastal flora and fauna. His focus on the effect of the red tide on the local fishing industry and wildlife is absorbing, and his concern about the environment and global warming are admirable. This resonated with me and helped make it a fun read.
However, Tomlinson turned me off. He’s a woman-chasing hedonist with the morals of an alley cat, and I was kind of glad when I got to the end. I’m no prude, but I had a hard time pairing the nature-loving, bad-guy tracer Doc Ford with the close relationship he has with his crass buddy.
Reviewed by Roz Shea
Sanibel Island rang a bell when I read the novel’s teaser, and it all came back to me as I looked at the map in the front of the book. A plus for the author there; I love maps of the setting. In the early 1980s, I was devouring every Travis McGee mystery that I could get my hands on. The author, John D. MacDonald, happened to live just down the coast from my Aunt Evelyn’s beachfront condo on Sanibel Island, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. When I heard that he was practically a neighbor, I had spent much of my early May vacation wading in the bathtub-warm Gulf just across the road. I was warned to keep an eagle eye out for buried egg-laying stingrays and was told that my chances of seeing the elusive Mr. MacDonald were remote. I stepped on a stingray that slithered from beneath my foot (no harm done), but I never saw my idol.
So when I opened my first-ever Doc Ford novel, which is the 26th installment in the series, it rang a distant happy bell. It is often my habit when reading a new author to go back and check out their backlist. I’ll probably pass on this one; 25 is a daunting number to play catch-up with, and, to be honest, the Doc Ford at this point in the series isn’t a character I want to explore in-depth. Not because of him, but because of his best pal, Tomlinson, who is the main character in SALT RIVER.
Apparently Tomlinson spent a great deal of time in his youth donating to sperm banks, whether for money or for the sheer joy of the process. His Nordic stature and good looks, combined with a considerable IQ and his Ivy League pedigree, made him a perfect choice for couples seeking IVF sperm implantations. Via the combination of the current DNA craze, Facebook and other internet connectivity, several of his twenty-something bio-offspring have been able to track down their progenitor.
For fans of the series, it’s no secret that Doc uses marine biology as cover for his CIA activities. He has many connections in the security world, and Tomlinson, feeling somewhat threatened by this exposure of his past personal life, turns to Doc. Especially when he hears that a rather startling number of his bio-children are planning to hold a “family reunion” to meet each other at a hotel on Sanibel Island. And who is the guest of honor? Bio-dad himself.
This is an intriguing plot with twists and turns to spare. White clearly loves Florida, and knows his marine life and coastal flora and fauna. His focus on the effect of the red tide on the local fishing industry and wildlife is absorbing, and his concern about the environment and global warming are admirable. This resonated with me and helped make it a fun read.
However, Tomlinson turned me off. He’s a woman-chasing hedonist with the morals of an alley cat, and I was kind of glad when I got to the end. I’m no prude, but I had a hard time pairing the nature-loving, bad-guy tracer Doc Ford with the close relationship he has with his crass buddy.
Reviewed by Roz Shea
July 16, 2020
"Salt River" is the latest of the Randy Wayne White's "Universe" of biologist/CIA undercover operative Marion "Doc" Ford...I can't help but see the resemblance, in this series, with John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series (Travis and Doc as well as Meyer and Tomlinson)...In this latest entry, we have 3 complimentary plots: The evolving, complicated relationship between Doc and Hannah, the conclusion of sunken treasure plot strands from "Caribbean Rim" with Doc "Conning the conmen" and Tomlinson's "sperm donation" progeny coming of age and arranging a "reunion" with their "bio dad"...Not his best, but it still is an entertaining Doc Ford mystery...There is certainly an appealing element to one of my favorite South Florida writers!
March 1, 2023
I admit I have lost my objectivity. After thirty years of following Doc Ford and his friend Tomlinson I am a diehard fan. Through thick and thin—and a few episodes in the series have been thin—I am still faithful to the world of Dinkins Bay and Sanibel Island, Florida which came to life in Randy Wayne White's first of many Doc Ford stories, Sanibel Flats, in 1990.
Is Salt River truly a four star adventure? I don't know anymore. Once I re-enter the Gulf coast world inhabited by Doc and all his friends, objectivity is out the window. There are few writers, Carl Hiaasen, among them, who can showcase Florida in so many interesting ways. I know the area well and I love both the specific references and the made up ones. I love feeling the sultry, changeable weather of the tropics, Doc's stilt house on this imaginary bay, the cast of characters from the loony to the corrupt, professionals to the crooks, the easy references to the Bahamas or Cuba or wherever the latest adventure takes me.
Naturally over three decades White has experimented with several different styles of writing and some episodes were less Doc Ford oriented than others. Over the years, regardless of style, the episodes rarely varied from the key pillars that make this a successful series: educate, entertain and make you want to visit if not live in the tropics. In Salt River the story makes mention of the Dinkins Bay crowd, but focuses mostly on Tomlinson and Doc. Both of these salty characters have aged appropriately and and White continues to expose more of the humanity that drives them both.
White's latest story takes readers to the Bahamas and back, the lesser known islands around Sanibel and Captiva and into the home of Hannah Smith, mother of Doc's third child out of wedlock. Fans of the series know the circumstances surrounding Doc's other two children although not much has been written about them in years. In later novels there is an ongoing approach/avoidance between Doc and Hannah, a lifelong fishing guide in the area, regarding the subject of marriage. Doc keeps asking. He wants to be part of his newest son's life, but will Hannah let him? Is Doc really willing and able to reveal to Hannah the truth of his hidden life?
The latest wrinkle in the series involves Tomlinson, Doc's brilliant, quirky hard drinking drug using Zen Buddhist friend who knows much of Doc's past. Over the years we have come to know quite a bit about Tomlinson; and now part of his past is paying him a visit in the form of adult children he has unknowingly fathered. The problem is they know who he is and some of them are not too happy about their family history.
All the elements of a classic Doc Ford novel are in Salt River. From learning about red tide, to learning more about Doc's relationship with Hannah; from corrupt Bahamian government officials to a former IRA agent on the trail of stolen gold; from Tomlinson's biological daughter to the famous Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, White once again brings to life the complex imaginary world of Marion Ford, a longtime marine biologist with a most unusual past.
Is Salt River truly a four star adventure? I don't know anymore. Once I re-enter the Gulf coast world inhabited by Doc and all his friends, objectivity is out the window. There are few writers, Carl Hiaasen, among them, who can showcase Florida in so many interesting ways. I know the area well and I love both the specific references and the made up ones. I love feeling the sultry, changeable weather of the tropics, Doc's stilt house on this imaginary bay, the cast of characters from the loony to the corrupt, professionals to the crooks, the easy references to the Bahamas or Cuba or wherever the latest adventure takes me.
Naturally over three decades White has experimented with several different styles of writing and some episodes were less Doc Ford oriented than others. Over the years, regardless of style, the episodes rarely varied from the key pillars that make this a successful series: educate, entertain and make you want to visit if not live in the tropics. In Salt River the story makes mention of the Dinkins Bay crowd, but focuses mostly on Tomlinson and Doc. Both of these salty characters have aged appropriately and and White continues to expose more of the humanity that drives them both.
White's latest story takes readers to the Bahamas and back, the lesser known islands around Sanibel and Captiva and into the home of Hannah Smith, mother of Doc's third child out of wedlock. Fans of the series know the circumstances surrounding Doc's other two children although not much has been written about them in years. In later novels there is an ongoing approach/avoidance between Doc and Hannah, a lifelong fishing guide in the area, regarding the subject of marriage. Doc keeps asking. He wants to be part of his newest son's life, but will Hannah let him? Is Doc really willing and able to reveal to Hannah the truth of his hidden life?
The latest wrinkle in the series involves Tomlinson, Doc's brilliant, quirky hard drinking drug using Zen Buddhist friend who knows much of Doc's past. Over the years we have come to know quite a bit about Tomlinson; and now part of his past is paying him a visit in the form of adult children he has unknowingly fathered. The problem is they know who he is and some of them are not too happy about their family history.
All the elements of a classic Doc Ford novel are in Salt River. From learning about red tide, to learning more about Doc's relationship with Hannah; from corrupt Bahamian government officials to a former IRA agent on the trail of stolen gold; from Tomlinson's biological daughter to the famous Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, White once again brings to life the complex imaginary world of Marion Ford, a longtime marine biologist with a most unusual past.
February 25, 2020
#26 in the Doc Ford series. This 2020 series entry by author Randy Wayne White is a mixed bag. There are so many plot elements, this seemed like a short story collection shuffled to become a novel. A crooked ex-IRS agent accuses Ford of stealing sunken treasure and offers to let him off for a share of the treasure. He's in cahoots with a crooked Bahamian customs agent who is dangerous and resorts to kidnapping and torture to find the treasure. A young lady shows up and claims that Tomlinson is her father through a sperm donation over 20 years ago. Besides developing a crush on Ford, she is organizing a meeting of a number of other purported offspring of Tomlinson. A Red Tide is finally departing and the Dinkin's Bay community is looking forward to recovering from a disastrous season of poor fishing and tourist income. Ford is working on a third proposal to Hannah Smith, the fishing guide mother to his young son. This mixture is enjoyable to a series fan, but I can imagine a newcomer being overcome by the plethora of plot arcs.
Remember all that Spanish gold that Doc Ford, marine biologist and black-ops specialist, and his pal Tomlinson, world-class hedonist and internationally revered guru and hippie philosopher, were hunting in Caribbean Rim (2018)? Well, Doc's got it, or at least some of it, but gold brings trouble, as becomes all too clear when a bent IRS investigator, in league with an equally bent Bahamian customs official, comes calling. But that's not even the biggest problem on the agenda: years ago, we learn, Tomlinson supported himself largely through donations to a for-profit sperm bank; now, with the help of DNA testing and genealogy websites, numerous of his grown offspring have also come calling, some to sit at the knees of a famous guru, others with a multitude of grievances, including a crazed terrorist who has been targeting infertility clinics. While trying to fend off the customs agent and help Tomlinson deal with possible trouble at a proposed ""reunion"" of his brood, Doc struggles with his relationship with Hannah, the mother of his young son.
Remember all that Spanish gold that Doc Ford, marine biologist and black-ops specialist, and his pal Tomlinson, world-class hedonist and internationally revered guru and hippie philosopher, were hunting in Caribbean Rim (2018)? Well, Doc's got it, or at least some of it, but gold brings trouble, as becomes all too clear when a bent IRS investigator, in league with an equally bent Bahamian customs official, comes calling. But that's not even the biggest problem on the agenda: years ago, we learn, Tomlinson supported himself largely through donations to a for-profit sperm bank; now, with the help of DNA testing and genealogy websites, numerous of his grown offspring have also come calling, some to sit at the knees of a famous guru, others with a multitude of grievances, including a crazed terrorist who has been targeting infertility clinics. While trying to fend off the customs agent and help Tomlinson deal with possible trouble at a proposed ""reunion"" of his brood, Doc struggles with his relationship with Hannah, the mother of his young son.
February 22, 2020
This latest Doc Ford novel was pleasant to read. There is not a lot of tension or suspense, partly because some of the most dangerous action occurs "offstage " or in the past tense. And while there is some humor injected into the narrative, Carl Hiaasen has nothing to worry about here. The plot meanders at times, with a story line less than compelling. I find the Hannah Smith character somewhat annoying, and as a result haven't ventured into reading the series where she is the protagonist.
So what did I like? The Doc Ford and Tomlinson buddy scenes, which are plentiful, are entertaining. And White has become a better writer, so despite the lack of page turning tension the narrative flows well. White describes the Florida environment interestingly and intelligently, particularly around the Sanibel area. I will continue to read these novels if only for those things.
So what did I like? The Doc Ford and Tomlinson buddy scenes, which are plentiful, are entertaining. And White has become a better writer, so despite the lack of page turning tension the narrative flows well. White describes the Florida environment interestingly and intelligently, particularly around the Sanibel area. I will continue to read these novels if only for those things.
February 9, 2020
I hate to admit it, even though I live in the area where Salt River takes place I have never read a book by Randy Wayne White. Salt River is a well written entertaining story. I plan on going back and reading the rest in the series.
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June 25, 2022The twenty-sixth installment of Randy Wayne White’s Doc Ford series has three intertwining plot threads. The first deals with red tide, a biological Florida phenomenon with controversial economic implications. The second thread involves Doc Ford’s access to a fortune derived from the discovery of sunken treasure. The final raucous plot thread involves Tomlinson, Doc Ford’s mystic goofball friend, who was a frequent donor to a fertility clinic back in the 1970s. With the popularity of easily available DNA tests, Tomlinson’s biological progeny are finding each other and their bio-daddy who doesn’t quite know what to make of this brood. Salt River is one of the more entertaining Doc Ford books of recent vintage. If you have read the previous twenty-five books, you will want to pick up this one too.
May 31, 2022
Another Doc Ford adventure, including a string of "children" of Tomlinson, who apparently got extra $ back in his college days by donating to a fertility clinic. Doc gets involved, of course, to help out. his friend, and then there is the issue of the lost gold...
January 16, 2026
I met my goal of finishing the last book of this Sanibel Island based series before reaching Sanibel Island tomorrow . It was actually the best book of the series / easier to follow the plot and more development of the characters
April 8, 2020
One of the best ones yet
May 28, 2020
Lesser White. The focus is on Tomlinson, his long time friend--but not a character I've ever cared for. Danger, science, strong sense of place in Florida.
January 30, 2022
I always buy a Doc Ford mystery to read when we are in South Florida. This was not as good as some of his earlier books but still entertaining.
February 23, 2020
A fun propulsive read. I enjoy it much more when Ford and Tomlinson remain in Florida for most of the action. Also, I loved this line from Tomlinson: “It’s the days that pass by unnoticed that are probably the best days of our lives.”
February 23, 2020
Back to 5 stars for Randy and Doc. I enjoyed this one better than the last 2.
March 10, 2020
I love visiting with Doc Ford, it is like taking a Florida vacation with thrills. This time Doc is still trying to win Hannah's hand in marriage but.... meanwhile Tomlinson discovers that the fertility clinic he frequented in his college years has opened its records to the offsprings of its patients and he now has an increasing number of sons and daughters making contact. This causes complications and dilemmas. Ford is also working an unofficial undercover operation against a corrupt ex-IRS agent , a more corrupt Bahamian Customs Agent to straighten out an ongoing treasure seeking problem.
The book is a bit disjointed and slow to effect outcomes but it is still a fun read.
The book is a bit disjointed and slow to effect outcomes but it is still a fun read.
December 14, 2019
Randy Wayne White continues to churn out page turning tales featuring marine biologist cum secret agency soldier, Doc Ford, and his beach bum genius friend, Tomlinson. In SALT RIVER a slew of Tomlinson’s test tube heirs arrive on his island slice of Florida paradise to make sense of their shared history and dubious lineage. With this crew comes dangers, double crosses, and dalliances only found in a Doc Ford novel. The descriptions are beautiful, the dialogue sparkling, and the plot just labyrinthine enough to keep readers anxiously turning pages. Highly recommend!
March 27, 2021
This is going to be my last Doc Ford book. Overall, 4 stars to the series. But each subsequent book gets more diffuse, and seem to stray further from the characters I used to love. This one seemed pointless. So, I recommend the 1st 20 or so, but diminishing returns after that. Feel the same way about Daniel Silva, and more so Janet Evanovich. So far, still happy to read a new Michael Connelly, Jonathan Kellerman, Tim Dorsey or Carl Hiaason book. Worried about Christopher Moore, though.
June 15, 2020
Doc Ford is a nerdy looking biologist who works covertly for a governmental agency when needed and can be quite deadly. He returns from an assignment to find his friend, Tomlinson, dealing with his previously unknown offspring want to get to know him. He had donated sperm many years ago and has found out he has sired quite a few children. The fertility clinic where he donated is under attack and some of his 'kids' are responsible. One of the daughters is spending a lot of time trying to organize things and get to know Tomlinson. Doc is drawn into all the drama and the girl is starting to get a crush on him. In the meantime Doc is still romancing Hannah Storm the mother of his young son.
He is also encountering some problems from a guy who thinks he knows where some stolen gold is. Doc does but is not in a hurry to confide in this guy. The guy just wants some money for himself and Doc decides to help him take care of a corrupt Bahamian Customs agent who is causing problems. There is a con involved and Doc goes back to the Bahamas for a short trip. He recovers some more gold at the same time as trying to get the customs agent arrested.
Tomlinson's bio children have come together for their 'reunion' and Doc agrees to go provide some security. It appears that one of them may be trying to kill the others possibly or at least cause problems.
A good paced story with some action and quirky characters. Brings up some good points about fertility clinics. I personally don't care for the character of Hannah Storm and wish Doc would move on to someone else but that is just me. Does talk about some interesting Florida history and about red tide.
He is also encountering some problems from a guy who thinks he knows where some stolen gold is. Doc does but is not in a hurry to confide in this guy. The guy just wants some money for himself and Doc decides to help him take care of a corrupt Bahamian Customs agent who is causing problems. There is a con involved and Doc goes back to the Bahamas for a short trip. He recovers some more gold at the same time as trying to get the customs agent arrested.
Tomlinson's bio children have come together for their 'reunion' and Doc agrees to go provide some security. It appears that one of them may be trying to kill the others possibly or at least cause problems.
A good paced story with some action and quirky characters. Brings up some good points about fertility clinics. I personally don't care for the character of Hannah Storm and wish Doc would move on to someone else but that is just me. Does talk about some interesting Florida history and about red tide.
September 1, 2022
I think I have read all 26 of the Doc Ford books, plus definitely the four related Hannah Smith books and the first of the Sharks Incorporated kids series set in the same world. Clearly, I'm a fan. Still, my review of the Doc Ford entry before this one included the words "phoned in." I couldn't help but fear that White had grown tired of his characters -- honestly, that's why I hadn't read this 2018 book until now.
This one was much better! I don't know why, but I have a feeling it might prove to be the last ever Doc Ford book. And if it is, he will have gone out on a high note.
This book has three main plot lines. Tomlinson reveals that when he was young and desperate for money, he sold sperm to a private sperm bank multiple times, and now through the miracle of DNA testing a bunch of progeny have turned up. They bring a lot of trouble with them, and Doc is on hand to have his buddy's back. Meanwhile Doc continues to try to convince Hannah Smith, the mother of his infant son, to marry him, but consistently fails to seal the deal. That's partly because he's distracted pulling a con job on some evil guys who were out to kill him because of some trouble he got into before this book opened.
All three plots unfold appropriately, with the usual amount of marine biology education woven in as in every Randy Wayne White book. The tension never gets as high in this one as in some of the earlier ones, but at least the characters are back to form and the relationships feel real and deep. As I said, I just have a hunch White may never get back to another book centered on Doc. If that's the case, at least I feel good about the way he went out.
This one was much better! I don't know why, but I have a feeling it might prove to be the last ever Doc Ford book. And if it is, he will have gone out on a high note.
This book has three main plot lines. Tomlinson reveals that when he was young and desperate for money, he sold sperm to a private sperm bank multiple times, and now through the miracle of DNA testing a bunch of progeny have turned up. They bring a lot of trouble with them, and Doc is on hand to have his buddy's back. Meanwhile Doc continues to try to convince Hannah Smith, the mother of his infant son, to marry him, but consistently fails to seal the deal. That's partly because he's distracted pulling a con job on some evil guys who were out to kill him because of some trouble he got into before this book opened.
All three plots unfold appropriately, with the usual amount of marine biology education woven in as in every Randy Wayne White book. The tension never gets as high in this one as in some of the earlier ones, but at least the characters are back to form and the relationships feel real and deep. As I said, I just have a hunch White may never get back to another book centered on Doc. If that's the case, at least I feel good about the way he went out.
November 15, 2021
I listened to this audiobook. Doc Ford is a marine biologist living in Florida amid a host of strange characters. His best friend is Tomlinson, an aging hippie, tells Doc that as a young man he, for money, donated a lot of sperm to a for-profit sperm bank. He has just learned that he has multiple bio-offspring. With the advent of widely available DNA testing, a group of grown men and women have learned that he is most likely their father. Some are wanting to get together to meet him. Doc immediately sees the danger. Tomlinson is estranged from his ultra-wealthy family. Doc is afraid that some person or persons may be out to exploit his friend. One of the bio-daughters has come to meet Tomlinson. She falls for Doc. But, Doc is trying to repair his relationship with Hannah, the mother of his son. While Tomlinson’s past is catching up with him, Doc, who is a sometimes special operative for a shadowy government agency, has his own worries tied to his murky past. Doc is in possession of gold he recovered in the Bahamas while helping find a the crook who stole it. Now a crooked former IRS agent and a corrupt Bahamian customs officer are after the gold. Doc must devise a con job on the fly in order to stop them and maintain his anonymity as a government operative. He convinces the customs officer that he is a corrupt wealthy businessman who has found the sunken gold and will partner with him to steal it. This is a fun book.
June 3, 2020
Salt River could be titled Son of Deja Vu. But I mean that in a good way. Sometimes the familiar provides a respite ... in this case from the s#itstorm that seems to be everywhere else this week. This fun yarn reads like a collection of Randy Wayne White's best Doc Ford scenes collected into one great retrospective. Though I was certain I hadn’t read Salt River before there were many moments when I questioned that certainty. But, after a disappointing slump marked by a string of potboilers, RWW has returned and provides some of his best escape fiction. I don't know whether he has consciously honed his skills as a storyteller recently, but this is vintage stuff that feels fresh - as unlikely as that might seem. Part of the reason it works is that everyone is in attendance. Longtime pal Tomlinson is ever-present in this book, providing an odd balance with his jangled wisdom countering Ford's darker tendencies offet by his shrewd drunken master cavorting. These guys sure drink a lot of beer. Why not occasionally try something more interesting and local or exotic. Anyhow, I digress. All your favorite series characters poke their heads up, and we have some interesting new faces as well - although confidently drawn from the RWW playbook. This latest installment is just what the doctor ordered for anyone in need of a pleasant distraction.
April 1, 2025
“Doc Ford is sure he's beyond the point of being surprised by his longtime pal Tomlinson's madcap tales of his misspent youth. But he's stunned anew when avowed bachelor Tomlinson reveals that as a younger man strapped for cash, he'd unwittingly fathered multiple children via for-profit sperm bank donations. Thanks to genealogy websites, Tomlinson's now-grown offspring have tracked him down, seeking answers about their roots. . . but Doc quickly grows suspicious that one of them might be planning something far more nefarious than a family reunion.
With recent history on his mind, Doc is unsurprised when his own dicey past is called into question. Months ago, he'd quietly "liberated" a cache of precious Spanish coins from a felonious treasure hunter, and now a number of unsavory individuals, including a disgraced IRS investigator and a corrupt Bahamian customs agent, are after their cut. Caught between watching his own back and Tomlinson's, Doc has no choice but to get creative--before rash past decisions escalate to deadly present-day dangers.”
With recent history on his mind, Doc is unsurprised when his own dicey past is called into question. Months ago, he'd quietly "liberated" a cache of precious Spanish coins from a felonious treasure hunter, and now a number of unsavory individuals, including a disgraced IRS investigator and a corrupt Bahamian customs agent, are after their cut. Caught between watching his own back and Tomlinson's, Doc has no choice but to get creative--before rash past decisions escalate to deadly present-day dangers.”
February 4, 2026
Salt River (Doc Ford #26) by Randy Wayne White (G.P. Putnam’s Sons 2020) (Fiction - Mystery) (4019).
The Florida marine biologist and government agent Marion “Doc” Ford and his hippie-author-zen sidekick Tomlinson are back in action. This tale revolves around the fact that Tomlinson has learned that he is a father - many times over in fact, for in his younger days when Tomlinson had been broke, he often raised a little cash by selling his sperm to a sperm bank. Now those chickens are coming home to roost.
Doc Ford is also on the trail of a Spanish treasure that, according to rumor, one of Doc’s counterparts was said to have recovered shortly before he died. Other salvors have been sniffing around, for the dead man is believed to have recovered and hidden four tons of gold treasure.
This is another good story from an author who reflects well on his home state.
My rating: 7/10, finished 2/4/26 (4019).
January 14, 2021
finished 14 january 2021 it was okay two stars kindle library loaner have read others from white and the politics gets in the way...most of it familiar enough, that's saying something, hey? though i cannot remember the plot or other details of the other stories i do remember the politics since it is a repeat been there done that enough already an environmentalist is the last man or woman to buy or build their mansion on the beach. never addressed is that gov't is often the culprit though the blame is laid elsewhere, same-o same-o. will gander over to the other white reads i have see if there is anything redeeming in whatever review i left there, see if i want to read another...it wasn't all bad though honestly it was difficult to develop any sympathy for any of the characters although one truth be told, there was, the irs guy. heh! saying something, there.
June 1, 2021
Predictable stuff from White, as his yin yang Sanibel Island duo, Doc Ford and Tomlinson wade into trouble. Both men have pasts that bring some interesting characters to their doors, this time Tomlinson’s sperm donations from 20 years ago arrive in the form of grown children—lots of them. Ford, with his unidentifiable job as part time spook, has connections with some important agencies as well as shady individuals who he uses with finesse. There’s also his religious fishing guide girlfriend, his infant son, and the tales of the fishing/resident community around the island and further afar, all the way to the Bahamas and north to St. Petersburg. This tangled tale spins the trials of both men into a fun adventure, filled with boats of all kinds and a mother lode of gold.
As much fun as this book was, I was disappointed with the editing. Someone was asleep at the helm.
As much fun as this book was, I was disappointed with the editing. Someone was asleep at the helm.
April 7, 2020
Great story! I love the Doc Ford series and have read every one. I enjoy how Randy Wayne White pulls us into his books with his descriptive writing. This story has Doc dealing with several issues. First is conning a couple con men resulting from the treasure he found in the Bahamas. The other is watching out for Tomlinson’s ‘offspring’. That’s right! In his younger days he needed money and gave to a sperm bank. Now with all the ancestry & DNA testing being done, they’ve tracked him down. And one or more of them might be plotting something besides a reunion. Also Hannah, his young son and her crazy mother appear again. With the unexpected ending to the book, I’m curious if they’ll finally get together.
June 20, 2022
2.5 stars for me. I have to admit it has been a long time between reads of Randy Wayne White's Doc Ford series. I was recently in Sanibel Island at Gene's Bookstore (Wow, what a Place! 5 Stars for Gene's Books!) looking for something to read. I think I left off with #10 0r 11 in the series (it was before Goodreads helped you keep track of such things) so I decided to try his latest. I don't remember them being quite so wordy, philosophical, or light-hearted before but I also remember like the early books very much. This one, not so much. Too much about Doc's introspection and personal problems and not enough action, intrigue or mystery. I guess it has its place as a lighthearted beach romp but not the international man of mystery aspect I remember from before.
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