Ten Thousand Islands

Doc Ford #7

by Randy Wayne White

Government agent-turned-marine biologist Doc Ford sails an endless sea of questions when he agrees to investigate a death from the past. Years ago, off Florida’s Gulf Coast, a teenaged girl found an ancient gold medallion. Then, she began having nightmares. Then she was found hanging from a tree.

Now, years later, the girl’s mother is being terrorized with break-ins, phone calls with no one there—and her daughter’s grave has been dug up. Somebody wants that medallion.

The search for answers will lead Doc through a shadowy world of ancient ritual and modern corruption, to an evil that was born in the past—but lives in the present…

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

311 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

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

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired by something like a true story,Doc Ford goes on the hunt for a mysterious medallion, found by a teenager who committed suicide by hanging--maybe.

He pokes around and finds a lot weird stuff in Florida, artifacts and more.

Quite good, especially if you are familiar with the true story.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happily enjoyed reading Ten Thousand Islands by Randy Wayne White. From word one to the end, RWW keeps you reading and totally enthralled - the rugged, yet appealing, Doc Ford and his many admirers, mostly strong females, and of course his villains. What I enjoy the most is his inclusion of Florida geography, marine biology, history and lore, and how he takes the time to explain it in a way that makes it relevant and significant. Ten Thousand Islands takes you from the fictional Dinkins Bay on the real Sanibel Island across the treacherous and real 10,000 islands west of the Everglades to Key Largo, the first main island of the Florida Keys south of Miami, on the east coast of Florida. The story includes historical references to the ancient and extinct Calusa tribe, their artifacts, and the extremes collectors and looters will go for them. TTI is action packed. It is my kind of entertainment. I give it 5 stars. I plan to read it again on my sailboat trip to that area. I look forward to my next RWW book – 'Gone' and sincerely hope he portrays Hannah Smith as well as he does Doc Ford.

[Kevin Findley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it just me or does Doc get his !@# handed him to him a lot in these first few books?

That aside, this is an excellent entry into the series. Doc and his buddy / spiritual sidekick Tomlinson are both in good form. Their task is to find out who has been harassing the friend of another Sanibel resident. They each approach their task according to their own strengths, but this time, Tomlinson's abilities fail him when they meet the villain of the piece. So much so, it puts almost everyone in danger.

Throw a hurricane into the middle of all of this and you have a movie-ready novel.

Why haven't these books been brought to the screen yet anyway? Is the author holding out for more money or are the folks in Hollywood that stupid? OK, we all know the answer to that.

Next to last comment: The final page will make you smile.

Find it! BUY IT! READ IT!

[Pat Stanford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good adventure with some unbelievable elements. I have read several of this series and while I like the the action and sense of adventure in these books, they all have elements I find hard to believe.
One of those is the seeming irresistible sexual allure of Doc Ford himself. True action adventure books don't need this element unless they are supposed to be appealing to teen boys or frustrated married men. I'm done with this author.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thinking about what I want to say for the moment, I will state that I am glad that there are at least eleven more Randy Wayne White books for me to read!

It has been 24 hours since I wrote that sentence, and I am going to leave it in place. This is book 7 in the Doc Ford series, and I plan to go back and read them all in order, before I move on to book 8. My enjoyment of this book was not impacted by the fact that I had not read the earlier books. There is a lot to be learned about the main character, Doc Ford, to enrich my reading experience and to clarify what makes him tick. The Florida keys setting was described so well, that it made me want to speed up our plans to tour the Florida Keys this fall. His buddy Tomlinson, is a great partner for Doc. Not as mysterious as Joe Pike or as lethal, but I definitely want to know more about him. I am not going to add details of the plot here. They can be found elsewhere.

Doc appeals to me as a blend of Dirk Pitt, James Bond and Elvis Cole. The story was plausible, and the history of the peoples who populated the Keys, leaving behind those interesting mounds, was an added bonus and important to the plot. Additionally, I enjoyed learning about the marine life Doc is involved with, as I prepare to visit the Keys later this year. I had never heard of a snook before!

Looking forward to reading lots more of Randy Wayne White...how did Doc and Tomlinson meet? What dark background does Doc have haunting his past? Can't wait to find out!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a thrilling, high action mystery-keeps you guessing til the end. A cold case that turns into a new mystery. Very good historical information on the Calusa Indians and the early modernization of Marco Island and the 10 Thousand Islands. Mr. White always makes you feel like you are in Florida, his descriptions are so realistic. Since I have read many in the series, I also enjoy the growing character development of the main characters in the series. I really liked this one!

[RANGER · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written but unsatisfying Doc Ford mystery involving ancient Indian artifacts
This is my first Doc Ford mystery. Never had much interest in Randy Wayne White's series before but I found this at the library for a dime and, being in the mood for some vintage mass-market paperback casual reading fare decided to give it a run.
No question, Randy Wayne White is a good writer. Technically this is a fine read and I like the incorporation of Southwest Florida history, especially the Calusa Indians, into the story that is his stock in trade.
I've spent a lot of time around the Ft. Myers area including many of the locations in this novel (Florida inspires writers and I even worked on a draft of one of my novels on Pine Island many moons ago). Doc Ford, like RWW himself, is a classic Florida character. RWW clearly caught the writing bug from the likes of Floridian scribblers like John D. MacDonald and Ernest Hemingway. The Florida of this novel is a haven for retired, world-worn Baby Boomers and elder GenXers who listen to Jimmy Buffet, drink too much, sleep around, beach bum, boat bum, sometimes dive and fish, and live a life of comfortable ease in the FLorida tropics. At one point, the main character Doc Ford speaks of Southwest Florida as a haven for retired intelligence types from around the world. Wow, that's where I fit in... except I don't run to type nor do I particularly care for the world of people like Doc Ford... which is probably why I had a hard time liking this novel.
In this episode, our retired NSA agent turned Marine Biologist is asked to help a friend of a friend whose dead daughter is the victim of grave robbers. The girl, who died mysteriously as a teenager, had an obsession with new-agey Indian stuff and a penchant for finding rare Calusa Indian artifacts among the mounds of the Ten Thousand Islands mangrove area south of Marco Island. The investigation, kicked off by Doc Ford's faithful stoner sidekick, Tomlinson, opens a Pandora's box of strange connections to the rich and powerful of South Florida political and business elites--especially a local family with a taste for Indian artifacts, bizarre occult rituals, and human trafficking.
This novel has interesting nuggets and well-developed suspense scenes. But I found the story structure to be convoluted and confusing. Some seemingly important characters disappear to be replaced by newcomers who aren't compelling. I couldn't sympathize with any of them. While the book's ending was pretty good, RWW resorted to an old plot device to develop suspense in a story that was moving a little slow -- an inbound hurricane. While hurricanes are part of the Florida environment, to the point of having a role in the Calusa Indian lore that colors the text, it's still a plot device and suggests lazy writing. Hurricanes are the ultimate Deus Ex Machina for tying up loose ends and erasing evidence at sea... although, weirdly enough given Florida, it's not unrealistic!
Doc Ford remained a blank slate for me. Maybe that's my fault because this is episode 7 of the series and I have not read any others. The bad guys are truly bad but unreal. Doc Ford seems like a guy who can't get his personal life straight who spends too much time with friends who have addiction issues. And no, "normal people" are not all like that.
I hope someone reading this review can guide me to a book in the series that develops Doc Ford's character so I can finally meet him. I don't want to give up on RWW yet, even if I may never sympathize with the drunken denizens of his marine mystery novels.

[Chris Bauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm continuing my quest to complete all the Doc Ford books this year.

IMHO, "Ten Thousand Islands" is simply one of the best books in the long-running series I've yet read. The plot is sufficiently interesting without being overwhelming and overly complex. Reading about Doc Ford is like hanging out with a good friend whom you're only able to speak with on infrequent times. One aspect of the series I've enjoyed consistently is the formula of combining half of the setting in Sanibel and Captiva Islands while the other half is much more exotic.

In "Ten Thousand Islands" readers are given a rare glimpse into Ford's background which up to now has largely been hinted at, but never detailed. Tomlinson remains a steadfast companion, spouting New Age BS with insights of deep wisdom. In this book, specifically, it was remarkable to see how White uses Tomlinson as an emotional whiteboard for Ford to express his emotions and inner feelings without actually saying as much.

Readers are also given a glimpse of Ford in full on "beast-rage" mode. Several characters comment on how he seems to turn off emotion and struggle with his ability to go cold and serve up revenge to those deserving it. He triumphs but not without damage. It is almost as if for every violent act he performs a fragment of his humanity erodes away, no matter how deserving the bad guy might be.

The conclusion of this book is much more dark than most and deals with some serious topics. Yet another strong entry in the series. Can't read 'em fast enough.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

A teenager girl who has a gift for finding things supposedly commits suicide after finding a haunting and valuable Native American medallion, among other artifacts. A man decides to investigate further 9 years (i think) after her death, when her grave was plundered. the book started off good, but shortly into it, it seemed to drag on...a lot of dialogue with no action until the end. It was one of those books that I couldn't wait to end--not quite bad enough to make me drop it in the middle of the book (it helped that I was listening, rather than reading or I am afraid I'd have fallen asleep. It did give some interesting facts about Florda and the history of the Native Americans there.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I really like this author, to me personally, this is not one of his better books. Gets to be a bit wordy and he's making an effort at being witty. I skimmed and scanned through Parts. The ending was decent and I liked it overall. I'll be reading another one of his but glad I'm done with this one.

[Megan Bogert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good detective novel...if the detective is a marine biologist from South Florida. I loved all the references to the Keys, Everglades City, Marco, e.t.c. I could picture the setting so clearly and the characters were good too. Now I have to read this series in order!

[Dale Leever · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of the Doc Ford books that I have read- Ten Thousand Islands, #7. I read the first book, Sanibel Flats, which I really liked. This was a good book, as well. Good read. It moves very quickly through the story. Doc Ford is a great characher who lives in a stilt house near the marina in Dinkins Bay on Sanibel Island. He is doing a lot with Marine Biology and being part of the crowd around the marina. He seems to fool people with his mannerisms and intellect while working with the sharks and fish, etc. Many think he is a really nice guy (he is) who will help out anyone (he does). But most don't know about his past, at all, and his ability to handle himself. In the stories, as situation arise, he surprises the people he knows or is trying to help. He, also, fools the people he runs up against in the stories and surprises them when things get physical.
Good story, good read! I would recommend it.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doc Ford has a friend who has a friend with a problem - her house has been broken into by someone looking for ancient Native American artifacts.
Throw in grave robbers, a megalomaniac dad and son duo, Tomlinson and his consciousness altering drugs, and an approaching hurricane and you have a fun story with mystery and humor galore.

[John Hatfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the seventh in Randy Wayne White's Doc Ford Mystery series. Our beloved protagonist is Doc Ford, a former government agent and now a marine biologist, who lives in a house on stilts on Sanibel Island; he lives near a marina which is filled with characters who are "characters." They are like family to him. His villains take many forms, often the rich and powerful, and they sometimes catch you off guard. This is true in his “Ten Thousand Islands.” Years ago, a teenage girl found an ancient gold medallion. Then, she began having visions and nightmares. Later, she was found hanging from a tree. Now, years later, the girl’s mother is being terrorized —and her daughter’s grave has been dug up. Things are not always what they seem.

White's stories are carefully crafted which is part of his ability of being a good story teller. At times, his plot does bog down - often from some excessive details or explanation, but White keeps the reader involved. What I enjoy is some of this very descriptive writing: I enjoy his inclusion of Florida geography, marine biology, history and local color and folklore, and how White takes the time to explain it in a way that makes it relevant and interesting. This story is a thrilling, high action mystery that keeps the reader guessing. It is a "cold case" that turns into a "hot" new mystery. If you have never read these stories, I would certainly recommend them!

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Warning for potential minor spoilers about the pacing of the book, though nothing super important to the novel will be discussed.]

I thoroughly enjoyed my read of Ten Thousand Islands, a mystery novel set, unsurprisingly, in the Ten Thousand Islands, which allows for fun in its many local references. The book felt pretty fast paced once it picked up and I became unable to put it down until the book reached its resolution. Ten Thousand Islands is about the mystery of stolen Calusa artifacts, and it feels intense as you watch your small breaking and entering mystery balloon into a conspiracy involving important politicians and researchers. I highly recommend reading the book. The book felt a little bit slow to start as it introduced its characters, as I felt that the descriptive nature of White’s writing slowed down the pace of the novel, but it only made the book that much better once you reached past the first few chapters. To be specific, the ending of the book, a longer, action sequence, that brings many of the mysteries of the book to a resolution, is intense and enthralling. Anyone who likes mystery novels, or likes action, or even just lives in Florida and likes good literature, I would recommend them this book as a must-read. I will certainly be reading more in White’s Doc Ford series.

[Peter Lemonjello · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a fan of the Doc Ford character for a while now. This is my third book I've read of the series. This was a short, fairly quick read and honestly, I would normally give these a 4 star rating, this one came out at a 3. That's not to say I didn't like it. It's that I felt the book got wrapped up pretty quickly and conveniently. There weren't many twists in the book and it rarely kept me guessing.

The book centered around some indian artifacts a gifted young girl had found and her mysterious death about 15 years ago. Her death was deemed a suicide, but later discovered to be murder. Doc Ford sought after the men responsible and the important artifacts the young girl how found.

I enjoy the books because I like the character of Doc Ford and since I live in Florida, it's nice to read about the state I live in as the backdrop. But this one wasn't as good as the Heat Islands or Sanibel Flats.

[MisterLiberry Head · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the silliest entry so far in what is proving to be a very uneven series of mystery novels by the popular Randy Wayne White. An ancient gold medallion, lost or hidden, is believed by otherwise sensible Florida power-brokers to possess mystical powers, and they will stop at nothing to acquire its mojo. Hyper-rationalist “Doc” Ford senses a deep karmic link with a dead girl while examining her exhumed coffin and looking “into her dazzling blue eyes; eyes that would be forever familiar on the distant rim of memory” (p.224). But enough about eyes – which are a love connection for Doc and a menu entrée for a bad guy in TEN THOUSAND ISLANDS. Mr. White tosses in some historical lore about the Calusa Indians and the Spanish Conquest, plus staging some action scenes for Doc worthy of Aquaman’s comic-book feats – in the face of an oncoming Cat 5 hurricane, no less. Like I said: silly.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book promised to be a modern mystery with a little dark magic underlying it, but what it really produced was a modern mystery with a crazy villain who believes in dark magic. I found the parts dealing with the theft of ancient artifacts quite interesting, but I never found myself deeply involved in the mystery itself—at least not once I realized that it really wasn’t about an allegedly magical medallion.

[DemetraP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite book in the series. This book got a little "out there" for me. It seemed to go into reincarnation.

I'm still not sure why Tomlinson secretly drugged Ford with mushrooms. And I'm sad about Pilar.

Also some bad things happened to good people in this book and I don't like reading about that.

[Jan Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK but not real great but it good distraction to life. Doc Ford is that his best doing what he normally does best. I live in the area where Randy White writes about. The places he talks about are really there. The Mote aquarium in Sarasota is A real place. I love hearing about the areas where I have been. We have vacation a number of times on Sanibel.

[Keith A · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not good. Feels like an amateur author's first attempt at a novel. Unlikable, under developed characters. Unrealistic dialog. Over explaining everything. Horrible editing. And worst of all boring undeveloped story line.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still reading old Doc Ford series that I missed. This one is set around artifacts found by a young girl who was know for a "person who finds things". Based on a true story of a boy who found things, and had a mysterious ending.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doc Ford is a marine biologist who lives in Dinkins Bay on Sanibel Island on the Gulf coast of Florida. He is also a highly skilled former government operative. He is like two people - mild mannered academic by day, Jason Bourne by night. A friend of his from the close knit community approaches him and asks for his help. A long time friend of hers named Della needs help. Della lives in Key Largo. 17 years ago her teen daughter died. Dorothy had a special gift. She was able to find valuable artifacts from the ancient indigenous people who lived on Marco Island where she and her mother lived. She found a unique golden medallion thought to have belonged to a powerful chief in the 1500’s. She also found an intricately carved totem. Then inexplicably she died by hanging. It was ruled suicide, but her mother never believed she would do that. In her grief Della was conned out of the medallion, but she buried the totem with Dorothy. Now, 17 years later, someone seems to be looking for the totem. Della’s home has been burgled twice. The police don’t seem to take it seriously. Doc is asked to go Key Largo to help. He can’t go right away, so he sends his hippie friend Tomlinson in his stead. He is distracted by his marine work, but when Dorothy’s grave is dug up, he comes himself. The grave robbers failed to find the totem, but Doc does and he lets it be known that he has it. A sleazy construction company owner is interested, as is a wealthy developer. The wealthy developer has a slick son who is running for senate. The smooth talking politician knew Dorothy and says he is concerned. He confides to Ford that his father is probably behind the search for the totem. He believes it will give him power. The myths about power and magic surround the artifacts. Doc befriends the local police detective and hopes for his help to find out who is threatening Della’s peace and trying to steal the totem. He meets an archeologist who is interested in the history. Tomlinson, who seems to have a psychic radar of sorts believes the politician is sincere. Usually he is right, but Doc feels something else. He must trust his own intuition. To cap things off a powerful hurricane is brewing in the Gulf and heading straight for Marco Island. Can Doc protect the totem and Della? Will the storm complicate the situation. The end is full of action. I enjoy this series.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten Thousand Islands Randy Wayne White. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2000. 320 pages. Book 7 of 28 in Doc Ford series.

This Doc Ford mystery is really focused on Marco Island Florida and the Calusa people who occupied it before the Spanish invasion. Like the other indigenous peoples who occupied Florida before the Spanish, we know very little about them. Almost all of Florida's first peoples died of disease and murder in the earliest days of contact. The Calusa were thought to be a powerful confederacy that dominated southwest Florida that fished and traded and probably had connections to the Mayas. The region, and especially Marco Island, were once covered with mounds and remains of settlements. Then the developers came. That's the backdrop for this mystery that surrounds the death of a teenage girl fifteen years earlier. She seemed to have a special psychic connection to the Calusa that allowed her to find artifacts including a Marco Island cat figurine, one of the most intriguing artifacts ever found in the Americas, in my opinion. (The real one, about 6 inches high, was discovered in 1896.) Her psychic gift and her discoveries may have her death. Now, strange things are happening, her grave has been disturbed, and her mother turns to Ford for help. Like the other Doc Ford books, you'll probably figure things out before he does, but it's still a good story.

[Keith Hewitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Ten Thousand Islands" (2000)
Randy Wayne White
320 pages
February 10-13, 2024
My 8th novel of the year
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Randy Wayne White is comfort food literature, nothing more. It tastes good, it’s nutritious in a pinch and it’s the perfect indulgence on a beach vacation in South Florida along the Gulf of Mexico. Every year we hit Ft. Myers/Sanibel and every year I read a couple of Randy Wayne White books under a big umbrella by the pool, properly sunblocked, margaritas close at hand. It’s become an annual highlight of life.

White’s “Doc Ford” character is a favorite. A Jack Reacher type is Jack Reacher were a former military intelligence advisor who’s now a marine biologist living in a stilt house on the fictional Dinkins Bay in the leeway side of Sanibel Island, with an amusing cast of characters that are his neighbors in this little fisherman’s village. He’s smart and brawny and a hit with the ladies (but not too much) and every new novel brings another challenge to be met, another mystery to be solved. I found this seventh novel in the series to be of average quality storywise, though offering a nuanced growth in the character I found interesting. Three stars.

[John Biddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doc Ford is at it again. Our trusty marine biologist gets involved in a hunt fir a missing ancient gold medallion. It had been found many years ago by a young girl, later found dead by hanging. Now her mother, one of the extended family of marina residents where Ford has his stilt home. is in need of help and we're off to the races.

The Randy Wayne White books are always full of interesting info about Florida, especially the older, more natural Florida. He writes with a joy of place that infective; you feel like you're there, mosquitos and all.

His old friend Tomlinson is in this one too, but IMHO doesn't add to the story. His relationship w/Ford is hard enough to understand given they are so different, but after one incident, it's hard to see how they could remain close.

Good pacing and action, I'll definitely continue reading this series.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Ford’s marina friends asks him to investigate an odd situation for one of her friends. Someone’s been breaking into her friend’s trailer. Not taking anything but searching the house, especially her daughter’s former bedroom. Her daughter had had an unusual ability to find things and had discovered some remarkable native artifacts just before she died.

The archaeological situations and information was interesting. I also liked how they survived the hurricane.

Fave scenes: catching & processing the snook at the research center, Mrs. Copeland replying to the reporter’s question about what Ford was carrying, Ford needing to swim in the clear water and Ford falling into the sea grape tree.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

My experience reading Ten Thousand Islands as a continuation of the Doc Ford mystery series was a thrilling read. Randy Wayne White employs an amazing plot with thrilling scenes. From a corrupted politician to a cursed medallion. After a girl supposedly found an ancient gold medallion from the sea, she shortly started having nightmares and was later found hanging from a tree. Several years later her mother is experiencing break-ins and death threats. Could this all be a politician's ploy? Doc Ford will have to juggle protecting the medallion to fending off corrupted politicians who have an addiction to gold. A common language used in the book is treasure hungry. This book is highly recommended for people who like thrilling action books with murder and a side of treasure.

[Peggy Huey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first visit into the world of Doc Ford, a government agent (with unspecified skills, at least here) who has become a marine biologist living on Florida's Gulf Coast near Sanibel. A friend asks him to help her friend, whose daughter had a sixth sense for finding ancient Indian artifacts in the swamps of South Florida. After the girl finds an ancient gold medallion, she is found hanging from a tree--fast-forward to the present, when her grave has been dug up, apparently in search of that medallion she had found. Doc finds the culprits and puts the girl back to rest in a way that will draw in fans of the mystery genre.