Hunter's Moon

Doc Ford #14

by Randy Wayne White

Doc Ford faces his greatest challenge ever, in the stunning new novel by the New York Times-bestselling writer.

Book after book, Randy Wayne White's audience and critical acclaim continue to grow. His most recent thriller, Dark Light, was "one of his brightest novels" (South Florida Sun-Sentinel), "darkly marvelous" (The Miami Herald), "a compelling, readable tale in the justly celebrated Doc Ford series by one of this country's premier crime novelists" (Booklist). With Hunter's Moon, White is ready to take another giant leap.

On a foggy, tropic October night, the full moon burning through the mist, I stopped paddling when I heard unexpected voices. Muted whispers, neither English nor Spanish, the voices of men moving in stealth. They shouldn't have been here. I shouldn't have been here. There were plausible explanations, but I didn't like any of them.

When Ford saves from assassination a controversial former president of the United States who is staying on an island off Florida's west coast, he has no idea what he's just let himself in for. J. C. Wilson knows that he has only a short time to live, and he has a full agenda. In seven days, the United States is planning a secret strike on a Central American oil-rich nation, and Wilson intends to intercede-but he'll need help from certain people. One of them is an old adversary, the former dictator of the targeted country, long since disappeared and rumored to be a recluse. Another is a former lover, a woman of considerable influence and mystery. And the third is Doc Ford . . . whether he likes it or not. . . .

Rich with passion and vivid, pungent prose and some of the best characters found in suspense fiction today, Hunter's Moon is White's most remarkable novel yet.

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

336 pages, Hardcover

First published March 27, 2007

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

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 14th offering in the crime thriller series featuring Doc Ford. Here we have Doc Ford coerced by a former President to help him find the mastermind behind his wife’s murder so that he can satisfy his need for vengeance. The former President leverages Ford’s past association with the NSA to help him. The result is an action-adventure tale that defies believability and steers far away from Florida and the nuggets of Floridian natural history that White typically includes. They are an endearing hallmark of the series and totally missing here.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Semi-decent story that didn't make it to the end. Special Forces guy come marine biologist gets a call from "an important person" wanting to disappear for 2 weeks. The important person is a former president who wants to track down the men who killed his wife. Lots of travel through South America and Panama, some chases, some torture, killers are located, meaningful speech about Panamanian freedom, the end.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books keep getting better and better

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of White's better Ford entries. The plot is just too preposterous to be believed. Dying ex-president wants to kill the psycho who killed his deaf wife and enlists Ford and Tomlinson to help him. Not recommeded except to the most die-hard Ford fans.

[Anne (Booklady) Molinarolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

"On a misty, tropic Halloween Eve, an hour before midnight, I stopped paddling when coconut palms poked through the fog ceiling, blue fronds crystalline in the moonlight. An island lay ahead. Maybe the right island.

Hard to be certain, because the fog had thickened as it stratified, and my sense of direction has never been great. If it was the wrong island, I was lost. If it was the right island, there was a chance I’d soon be detained, arrested, or shot, maybe killed. I’m human. I was hoping it was the wrong island.


I’d never had reason to set foot on Ligarto. Until tonight. I was here because a powerful man had demanded a favor. Doctors had told him he was in the final weeks of remission, with a month at most before leukemia immobilized him. Would I help him escape?"

Randy Wayne White sure knows how to hook a reader. Obviously, I had to know the identity of this powerful man. He is Kal Wilson, a former President of the United States. And just to where he needs too escape? The why will blow readers away.

... predators hunting predators...

Saying more will out spoilers, so I won't.

This is my first Doc Ford novel, but it won't be my last. Evidently, the Marine Biologist was former CIA. There are references to his son's ordeal with a monster about a year prior to this adventure, but I didn't feel lost or confused. It almost read as a standalone novel. But I will definitely start at the beginning of White's Doc Ford Mystery Series.

[Mjke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this while I was on holiday in Western Florida for the sense of place: Sanibel Island, Fort Myers etc. It certainly had that, at least in the beginning, though the plot was a bit of a stretch, and the setting later shifted to Central America, so maybe I picked the wrong title for my needs - I believe others of his books are better for local history and culture. (It’s strange there aren’t more books set in Florida, apart from by this author.) it wasn’t a bad read, really, and the pace picked up okay towards the end, but not a book I’d shout about from the rooftops. Just…. Okay.

[DemetraP · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I thought the former President character Kal Wilson was very interesting. Especially what we found out about him towards the end of the book. And his past. And what he asked Ford to continue doing.

I really, REALLY hated the villain in this book. Frankly, Ford should have killed him in an earlier book, we knew he would cause more trouble. I didn't like that the same villain was used as in a previous book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good one. Doc Ford and Tomlinson go on an adventure w/ a secret important person, lots of action, and antics (from Tomlinson, who is my fave character in Ford series), enjoy.

[Jeff Tonkinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book appears to suffer from the need to escalate. It's no longer enough that Doc Ford work as a biologist in Old Florida with an occasional covert op to take out a bad guy. Now he's guarding presidents and flying around the world like James Bond. The bad guy is a ridiculous psychopathic pyromaniac. Also the mystery of Doc Ford is more unveiled as we learn more about the covert organization he was trained in.

This book lacks the wordsmith of the earlier books. It's all about plot. A plot escalated above Florida backwaters to world terror. Not even Tomlinson can save this book. I'm going back to find books earlier in the series.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Doc Ford thriller. I love the Florida stories and story tellers. This one is more macho and guns blasting than previous books I have read by RWW. The things I liked, it had lots of sailing, and to interesting places - Key West, Panama. Didn't like - the political side, you could tell he was a specific president's fan. One funny scene though, was when Doc Ford attacked a woman he thought was the criminal dressed as a woman, and when she screamed, he thought that the criminal was so surprised/shocked at the attack, he screamed like a woman, too!

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this almost ten years ago according to Goodreads. I do not remember why I rated it as three stars then. It was a good listen this time around even though I figured out some bits that had these specialists stumped. I mostly listen to or read this series because I adore Tomlinson, Doc Ford's friend. A free spirit, a bit damaged, and a lovely soul.
I can recommend this addition to the series.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#14 in the Doc Ford series.

Doc Ford is convinced to join a dying former President on a secret mission. The ex-President is convinced that his wife was murdered by the same sociopath that kidnapped Ford's son in Tampa Burn (2004). Ford and Tomlinson travel to Panama with the rather cold former President as he seeks revenge and speaks out against Islamicists in this lesser entry in the Ford canon.

[Philip · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very slow starter that drags until midway in the read. Different story line of a President seeking revenge of the 1st Ladies tragic murder by the killer that has avoided Doc in previous works. This one has to many peaks and valley's like a struggling beginners novel without direction or excitement.

[Jeannine Wickliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doc Ford works out of his lab in Florida and to the outside he is just a scientist. But in reality he is so much more. In this book he is out to help ex Preisdent Kal Wilson in solving the mystery of his wifes death. This book gets you from the beginning and keeps you going to the end with twists and turns. I so want to read all the other books

[Jay Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is perhaps the best Doc Ford book I have read to date. The action is nonstop. You gain understanding of both Doc Ford's and Tomlinson's pasts. Sam is an unforgettable character possessing a love to last the ages. The bad guys are pulled from today's headlines.

[Jacqulyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Associated Press described this book as, "Another rip snorting Doc Ford page-turner." I couldn't agree more. It features the United States President of my dreams, and it's worth reading just to hear the speech he delivers. This story would make an excellent movie.

[Mike French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another page turner from one of favorite authors!

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave this a three, but this book was a disappointment from previous reads by this author.

[Patricia Ludwiczak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great summer read!

[Eloise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be my favorite of the Doc Ford mysteries. The plot was straightforward and the characters especially mesmerizing. RIP, Kal.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fictional Former President Cal Wilson is dying as the book begins. He has nothing to lose, and he wants answers before he dies. Doc Ford is the only guy he knows who can get him answers.

Someone killed the former president’s wife. She died in a plane crash, but Wilson doesn’t believe it was an accident. Doc Ford’s mission is to find and kill the cartel leader who caused the plane crash. There are plenty of reasons for Ford to carry out this assignment, and he takes it knowing who the cartel leader is and how evil he is.

The author fills the book with lots of fast action that will engage you to the back page and make you feel good about investing your time.

The villain is someone you’ve met before if you’ve read prior books in the series. Ford has a personal interest in getting this guy since he kidnapped Ford’s son in an earlier book.

[Gwen Blakley Kinsler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I lived in Coral Springs Florida from 1977 until 1985, my husband and I had a young baby girl. We didn’t live a sunny beach-seeking or have an understanding of marine life or the open ocean that was close-by.
Ironically I am am enamored by the Florida-based fiction of Randy Wayne White. I randomly chose to read “Key West Connection” in 2023 from Libby because I was privileged to have visited there. Since then, I have read 9 others from this continuing series about Marine Biologist Doc Ford and his hippie, weed-smoking sidekick, Tomlinson!
White is a Floridian who is well-educated about his subject matter and a consummate story teller. These books have everything I need to fill my reading time between waiting on a library book on hold and my monthly book club: crime, intrigue, justice, rich characters and a real look into marine life in Florida both on and off shore.

[Marlene Chabot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed Hunter's Moon. Really didn't want to put it down. It's the third novel I've read by author Randy Wayne White who lives in Sanibel, Florida. White does an excellent job of describing the novels main characters, Doc Ford and his friend Tomlison as well as the lesser ones. This story starts off in Florida, but the author also takes you to Panama and other areas. Doc Ford, mainly a marine biologist now, finds he can't turn down the request of an ex U.S. president to help him escape from the security detail that keeps him safe night and day so he can enjoy down time away from everything and everyone. Except, Kal Wilson, the ex-president isn't really on a holiday, he has a hidden agenda that he slowly parcels out to Doc Ford bit by bit.

[Lynn Weigand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this episode in the Doc Ford Series. I've read the series in order and I think it enhances the experience! Some reviewers had a problem with the fact that most of the novel does NOT take place in Sanibel but I thought it was refreshing. Doc Ford is a seemingly mild-mannered marine biologist and nerd with a zany best friend called Tomlinson. They are opposites in most ways but complement each other beautifully. This adventure is something they've both agreed to, due to the person asking them to get involved. Without giving anything away, each of them have special skills which are used toward a good end. I found the ending to be quite satisfying and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story!

[Dan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can NEVER get tired of Randy Wayne White. Whether it is the Doc Ford series, the Hannah Smith series, the Hawker series, or any others, you will be entertained and hungry for more.


“When Ford saves, from assassination, a controversial former U.S. president of the United States who is staying on an island off Florida's west coast, he has no idea what he's just let himself in for. J. C. Wilson knows that he has only a short time to live, and he has a full agenda. In seven days, the United States is planning a secret strike on a Central American oil-rich nation, and Wilson intends to intercede-but he'll need help from certain people. One of them is an old adversary, the former dictator of the targeted country, long since disappeared and rumored to be a recluse. Another is a former lover, a woman of considerable influence and mystery. And the third is Doc Ford . “

[Chris Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even Randy Wayne White needs an editor at times. This book was average for action level, but very annoying in its liberal use of "the man" when referring to a male individual (one individual in particular), rather than "him" or "he". This really got old. Examples like "I watched the man cook breakfast" or "The man steered the sailboat skilfully". I guess it is meant to show distance and deference, but in my opinion it is way overdone. Good luck getting through this one.

In this book we see the return of villain Praxcedes Loudes from the story Tampa Burn . I'll let you find out what happens -

[Frank Dodds · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the characters, the history and the location, but the stories move agonizingly slow due to all the psycho babble. Is Marion Ford a detective, a secret agent or a psychologist? I would suggest the later. I want to like this author, but I continually find myself reading four or six pages and putting the book down. Take a John Sandford book, I have to make myself stop reading it. This is my second book with this author and I’m not sure this guy is for me. Like I said, the story line moves too slow.

[Viccy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ex-president wants to travel to Panama to kill the man responsible for his wife's death. Kal Wilson's wife was his shining star who made him a better person. Now he wants vengeance. But not just any vengeance, he hires Doc Ford to do his dirty work. Doc doesn't mind, he has wanted to kill the man for a long time; he is responsible for the horrible deaths of many people. But, first, he as to get the man to Panama, along with Tomlinson, and then protect him long enough to get the job done. Another adventure in the long-running series, full of improbable, but entertaining actions.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual request from a former president takes Doc and Tomlinson on a journey that puts them face to face with an old nemesis. It's a thrilling race against time to that puts all of them in jeopardy.
Can they survive and vanquish this monster criminal once and for all? The answer will keep you turning pages until the very end. While this is great as a stand-alone, if you can read Tampa Burn first, it will definitely enhance reading this book. It is an excellent thriller, either way.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't care for this book so much. None are great literature and not even good examples of this type, but I have found them a pleasant light read occasionally. This book was bland. There usually some aspects of his books previously that had one or more novel character or plot to action or something. There was nothing here to get my attention and I had trouble finishing. First part was way too long.