Sanibel Flats: A Doc Ford Novel

The first chapter set up the background. Fine. Then the main character does something that is so ridiculously stupid I couldn’t read any further.

This is an interesting book about this island.

I would like to get a complete list of all of his books so I can continue to enjoy his stories. I also like James W. Hall's books and have read them all. I live in Key Largo and so I can relate to the many places he mentions in his books.

RWW's relaxed, easy flowing style reminds me very strongly of Robert A. Heinlein

I enjoyed this first Doc Ford novel. I am trying to read them in order. Doc has to help his high school friend get back his son who has been kidnapped by a Central American General. When Doc and Tomlison find themselves held captive by this evil man, I thought RWW had written himself into the proverbial corner. Very inventive solution to escape the small army with the boy. Many adventures in the jungles of the rain forest lead to the surprise ending. I look forward to all RWW books.

This was not my first Doc Ford novel; in fact my first and only other Randy Wayne White book, was his latest, Dead of Night. I thought Dead of Night was very good, but Sanibel Flats-the first book in the Doc Ford series-was much better. If you are reading this review then perhaps you have never read anything else by White, and if so, then I would recommend you start at the beginning. Doc Ford and some of the characters that are central to the series are introduced and explained in this book. It just makes for better understanding of everything that takes place in the previous novels if you read at least this one first. I don't know if the rest of the books need to be read in order, but I plan to read them that way, so if you are interested in my impression of the others, as I read them, then just check back every so often by clicking on the "see all my reviews" link. Having said all that, I have nothing but the highest praise for Sanibel Flats. The plotting and pace were in my opinion perfect. A page-turner for sure. There was good character development even though some if the characters were a bit too over-the-top to be believable. But isn't that why you read books like this? I mean, it's fiction after all and the point of the story is to entertain! Some of the book was predictable, but the conclusion certainly was not. Overall story-telling was superb and the dialogue is about as good as it gets, so too was the apparent research behind the facts in the book. You get the impression that White is at the very least an ichthyologist who also happens be a great story teller! There are a few (very few) mature sequences in this book, so be advised. This book is a great read and in fact memorable. There are unique aspects of White's writing and the manner in which Doc Ford is portrayed, that will appeal, equally well, to both men and women. I am highly recommending it, and it has my highest, five star rating.

Assuming others will give you an overview of the story, let me simply state that this is the first of the series, and among the best. (And I've read every one). An excellent place to start, rather than the latest book, Everglades.So if you've never read any of the Doc Ford series, or you're already a fan of author Randy Wayne White, by all means buy this book! My favorites in the Doc Ford series, are, (drum roll, please):(5 stars)CaptivaTwelve Mile LimitShark RiverThe Heat IslandsTen Thousand IslandsSanibal Flats (the first in the series)The following are the 4 stars in the series--great stories, but I wouldn't recommend them as a first read of the author:EvergladesThe Man Who Invented Florida (a bit different from the rest of the series--Doc Ford isn't as prominent in the tale as his uncle, Tucker Gatrell, but this also is the funniest in the Doc Ford series)North of HavanaThe Mangrove Coast

One of my favorite authors has always been John MacDonald with his Travis Mcgee sreies. The only problem is because of MacDonald's death there isn't anything new. After reading a newspaper paper article I decided to try White and his series about Doc Ford. Doc lives in Florida in Dinkins Bay. White has given Doc a personally that is kind of laid back but he is always on the edge of something new, sometimes a new lady to consider. This guy addes a new demension to the term of getting lucky with ladies in Sanibel Flats. Randy has included a very funny section in the book about a baseball game in the middle of a jungle. All Doc wants is to have his life continue from one point to another without a lot of problems, fat chance! With his friend Thomlinson, one of the strangest but most interesting people that I have seen in a book. Doc uses all his talent and abilities to get in and out of problems throughout the book. If you are a fan of John MacDonald or just enjoy a good adventure story with people who aren't superhumans you'll enjoy Randy Wayne White. He's the kind of guy who lives next door.

I'm never sure whether I enjoy Randy Wayne White's Doc Ford mysteries because I love Captiva Island, or because they're as good as they seem. I've read all of them, and re-read this one recently. Reading it in a more urban environment than Sanibel or Captiva Island has convinced me it's the latter. His ex CIA agent turned marine biologist detective is a wonderful character, virile, but sweet,too. While world-weary Doc Ford is as laid-back as only too many hours spent looking for fish on Florida's Gulf coast can make one, he's ready for action whenever he's got to get that boat moving!