An adventure with more violence then detection, this book features a strong protagonist, a slightly slanted view of life, relativey predictable plot and a solid background of Florida nature.
Reviewed by David on February 14, 2004
Genre: Mystery (Amateur Sleuth)
Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of Shark River. Doc Ford—Marion Ford, a Marine Biologist, is combining business with pleasure. He came to an exclusive resort island off the coast of Florida to relax with his former hippie friend, the Zen Master Tomplinson. Tomlinson is giving seminars on meditation to the rich and idle, while Ford is counting fish populations around the island.
Ford's pleasant interlude is interrupted when he help two women escape a kidnapping attempt. Simultaneously, an attractive woman from the Bahamas shows up claiming to be Ford's sister.
Once again, Doc Ford is forced to abandon his love of water creatures for his old rusty skills of violence.
Full Review: The book shines with its rich—and sometimes intrusive—depiction of Florida, its colorful sealife and vegetation. In this lush and sometimes fragile background the adventures take place—a very deadly struggle with a Colombian drug lord and a vexing, although only slighly less dangerous puzzle of the annoying and captivating Ransome, who claims to be Ford's sister, and is certainly a close relative. The adventure uncovers painful past—Ford's dangerous, clandestine past, his own painful family memeries; Ransome's own hard but always amusing history, and even the overly colorful Tomlinson's old secrets.
The adventure is entertaining, as is the setting. The narration occasionally slows into Ford's monologues or observations, and there are plot elements that seem more annoying than diverting. On the whole, this is a satisfying and not overly deep read, delivering perhaps a bit less than its dramatic promise, but a good diversion nonetheless.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 6; World-building: 6; Originality: 5;
Copyright date 2001, Recorded Books, 2001, Audio Cassette, 7 cassettes
Order from: Recorded Books