Caribbean Rim

Doc Ford Mystery #25

by Randy Wayne White

Murder, sunken treasure, and pirates both ancient and modern send Doc Ford on a nightmare quest in the thrilling new novel in the New York Times -bestselling series.

Marine biologist Doc Ford's been known to help his friends out of jams occasionally, but he's never faced a situation like this.

His old pal Carl Fitzpatrick has been chasing sunken wrecks most of his life, but now he's run afoul of the Florida Division of Historical Resources. Its director, Clive Nickelby, despises amateur archaeologists, which is bad enough, but now he and his young "assistant" have disappeared--along with Fitzpatrick's impounded cache of rare Spanish coins and the list of uncharted wreck sites Fitz spent decades putting together. Some of Fitz's own explorations have been a little...dicey, so he can't go to the authorities. Doc is his only hope.

But greed makes people do terrible things: rob, cheat, even kill. With stakes this high, there's no way the thieves will go quietly--and Doc's just put himself in their crosshairs.

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

310 pages, Hardcover

First published March 13, 2018

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 3 out of 5]

This novel reads like the last book of a series.

A treasure seeking friend of Ford's is in trouble with the government, and some low level bureaucrat has stolen treasure, and clues to another treasure. Ford goes looking for him, and meets up with an island of inbreds, pirates, and assorted other low quality people.

I can't say this is one of the best in the series.

[Terence G. OHara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Convoluted

Convoluted, confusing. Didn’t understand what was happening half the time. And I’m pretty intelligent. Doc Ford is a peripheral character —- again. Not what I hoped for in a Randy White book.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

So-so entry in Randy Wayne White's Doc Ford series...Doc's on a "road trip" in the Bahamas on the trail of an archeology professor in a "mid-life crisis" with a former female student...they're on a hunt for lost Spanish treasure...plenty of cultural background & an interesting background on the "treasure business," but only a mediocre "Doc Ford" mystery...as a tag at the end, there might be some personal resolution for Doc

[Joan Westgate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest read by Randy Wayne White + his book has gotten only fair reviews from other commenters. It's a light read + I enjoyed the adventure, though Doc Ford wasn't truly a main character in this edition. We see a lot of Tomlinson who, of course, I love: the hippie that seems to appeal to women. There's some religious symbolism, sunken treasures, stolen gold, bizarre romance, + descriptions of hide-a-way Islands off the western Florida coastline, that I know exist outside of this fiction story. Marine biology was vividly described well. Bits of historical fiction can be discovered throughout White's novel, too. The reason for the lack of a "*" was for multiple characters and sub-plots, at times became confusing, or maybe because I didn't read it over a few nights. All in all, I look forward to investing more time on Sanibel Island with Randy White's characters, as it's always a fun escapade!

[Spectre · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of the story dragged on as it consisted of a long conversation between treasure hunter Fitzpatrick and Tomlinson which was probably meant to be background but actually was confusing as one person was untruthful and the other under the influence of some drug. The missing couple seemed to be more of a focus than Doc Ford and his exploits which was a disappointment. Although this was not the strongest Doc Ford novel in this 25th episode, I always look forward to following his challenges! Congratulations to the author reaching a commendable milestone!

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the cover and the setting, but I usually like island settings. I disliked the characters. None were likeable. Also, I disliked the story. I thought it was slow and boring. It was a lot of conversing and not much action. This wasn't the exciting mystery that I was expecting, which was quite dispiriting.

[Russell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like Randy Wayne White and the Doc Ford books. They can be hit or miss. This is definitely a miss. His character dialogue seems so, how to describe it...vague. As if he is trying to not give things away by having his characters interact vaguely. And the book kept introducing new characters and not giving them context. Kind of a convoluted mess.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better story than the previous book. Doc Ford is in the Bahamas testing a form of shark deterrent. Tomlinson asks him to be on the lookout for a former professor who is rumored to be there.

This somehow leads to a bit of a treasure hunt, along with killers who want the treasure too.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#25 in the Doc Ford series. I love this series but in this turgid 2018 entry, author White has tried to shoehorn in too much of his research. In addition to the main story arc, we have protagonist Doc realizing that the dive master he is chatting up is his second cousin, Tomlinson arrives and gets involved with a would be starlet who read his book in rehab, there is the reclusive colony of Marl people, and an old preacher who establishes a Masonic bond with Tomlinson. A device I feel slows down the action further is having chapters told from the viewpoint of Tomlinson or Prof. Nickelby. Perhaps next time out Doc Ford will return to his lab on Sanibel Island and clear up the hanging plot line with ex-lover Hannah Smith.

A chance meeting in Ocala National Forest between unhappily married Leonard Nickelby, a college professor working for a Florida state agency that monitors treasure hunters, and much younger Lydia Johnson, a former student of his who's illegally looking for treasure in the park, leads to an affair. Doc Ford's old pal Carl Fitzpatrick has been chasing sunken wrecks most of his life, but now he's run afoul of the Florida Division of Historical Resources. Its director, Leonard Nickelby, and his young "assistant" have disappeared--along with Fitzpatrick's impounded cache of rare Spanish coins and the list of uncharted wreck sites Fitz spent decades putting together. On their trail is marine biologist and sometime government operative Doc, who's worried that the pair might get into trouble, as they soon do. The diminutive Leonard proves surprisingly brave, but he can't prevent Efren Donner, a nasty Hollywood mogul in cahoots with Salvadorian drug dealers, from taking him and Lydia captive.

[Hrn1947 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was ok. I thought the sharks would play a bigger part. I didn’t know Doc could fly a plane. Just a small mention of his new relation later in the book. As usual many questions left unanswered

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another entertaining yarn from Randy White. Doc Ford and his pal Tomlinson are hired to retrieve a logbook and some coins stolen from a treasure hunter. When the trail leads to the Bahamas, the plot escalates dramatically, involving missing gold, a sleazy Hollywood type, and the descendants of an 18th century shipwreck from Scotland.

Unfortunately it feels hastily written at times, often racing past events that could be more fully explained. Still a fun, quick read.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, but it's not one of my favorite Doc Ford books. I feel as though Doc Ford & Tomlinson were not involved in the action as much as they usually are.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It isn't up to my expectations of a Doc Ford adventure,

However, the plot moved along at a satisfying pace. The dialog often seemed choppy and difficult to follow.
Leo and Lydia were frustrating as main characters, I found their development to be as choppy as the dialog.
I look forward to learning something new and worthwhile from a Doc Ford novel. The story about the Caillech and Lady Anne were worth it.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always liked the Doc Ford series by Randy Wayne White, and this one was no exception. In this adventure, a former stodgy university professor decides to live a little, and he and one of his former students get together, he leaving his wife back in Florida. Leon Nickelby and his romantic interest, Lydia Johnson, steal a chart book from a salvage diver friend of Ford's, Carl Fitzpatrick. According to Lydia's research, there may be millions of dollars worth of gold and artifacts from an 18th century Spanish shipwreck hidden off of one of the lesser known Bahamian islands. They decide to go look for it. In the process, Carl Fitzpatrick contacts Ford to try and find the professor and Lydia in order to get his belongings back. Unbeknownst to any of them, there are several people searching for them, all for various reasons. Efron Donner, a doped up Hollywood 'film producer' is after whatever he can get, and of course the Treasury Department is after Lydia for stealing secrets from her former employer at a private agency. At the same time, Tomlinson travels down to the same islands where he meets Brother Josiah, the seeming leader of the people native to the area. He and Tomlinson are both Masons, so form a bond. This is a modern day pirate story and very, very entertaining. Randy Wayne White has written another very good story!

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caribbean Rim (Doc Ford #25) by Randy Wayne White (G.P. Putnam's Sons 2018) (Fiction – Mystery). This has never happened to me before: I just read this entire novel and never did figure out what was going on. The characters, the plot lines, and the detail – I just never was able to parse out the thread that led to the various characters and sub-plots twining into a coherent narrative. Truth be told, I never figured out which of the various bad guys the author had even intended to be THE bad guy in this Doc Ford volume.
The story revolves around a lost treasure ship, an isolated island population, and whether a leopard can change its spots. Author Randy Wayne White provides plenty of the maritime segues that I love as he zooms off on tangents on the subjects of ocean life; in this volume, sharks, ambergris, and bonefish are featured.
One other item of interest to readers of the Doc Ford series: there is an enormous and unexpected stunner of a spoiler on the last page of the novel. I really enjoy the Doc Ford novels, and the author's bombshell has me ready to start the next installment as soon as it has been written! My rating: 7/10, finished 4/26/18.

[Peggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of the better ones. First I listened to this on CD from the library but I couldn't get into it. I thought maybe it was the narrator that I didn't care for but no, this narrator has done other of White's books just fine. So then I checked the print version out and read it. Still was disappointed. Unlike the other Doc Ford novels, this one was written with a very confusing time / event pattern. The narration would talk about something that happened as though the reader knew about it happening. Only in later paragraphs would the narration then take the reader through the "past" event. This writing style was very difficult to read and therefore the book did not take you on an enjoyable ride like past Ford novels. Plus, there were too many characters thrown at the read all at once. At first, in order to keep track of who was who and what their role was in the story I had to keep a written list of characters and events. Another not pleasant task when reading a novel.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caribbean Rim is a great read! The nightmare for Doc Ford & Tomlinson begins when they leave the comforts of Dinkins Bay to help out an old treasure hunter pal recover some rare Spanish coins and a list of unchartered ship wreck sites dating back to the late 1700’s.
This action packed story takes place in the Bahamas and encompasses modern pirates and sunken treasure, Masonic lore and the strange Marl people, a psycho movie producer and more, all driven by memorable sympathetic characters and brought to a climactic ending. Loved the new characters, particularly the unbeautiful Lydia, the unpredictable Leonard Nickelby, and Bahamian charter boat captain Tamara. Some very funny stuff in the dialog too. White’s research is always top notch. No wonder this wildly successful Doc Ford series continues to skyrocket.

[Marilyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I chose this author because he is a Sanibel Island resident and has written many books about Doc Ford. He even has Doc Ford restaurants here.
However, after reading just the first chapter, this author may target men as his audience.
I will not waste my time on this book while many more enjoyable books are waiting for me!

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adventure in tropical climes and a likable set of recurring characters make the Doc Ford series novels a good read. Rarely are they a great read though, as White sometimes gets bound up in minutiae (usually first person musings of Doc Ford) and the plotlines sometimes wander. This book is neither the best nor the worst Doc Ford novel, but it holds true to the formula that has helped sell so many books.

A midlife-crisis professor and a young former student have stolen a logbook and taken off to the Caribbean. In the process Doc, later joined by Tomlinson, encounters a series of people, including an isolated tribe of islanders. Sometimes who's killing who gets confusing although it ties up neatly at the end.

I didn't do much fact checking because White has historically been a good researcher. Sometimes the plot stretches credibility but never egregiously. Doc Ford fans will like this book, I thought it was OK.

[Viccy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clive Nickelby and his former graduate student, Lydia, have disappeared somewhere in the Caribbean, along with Carl Fitzpatrick's log book that may, or may not, be the key to $4million in gold ingots, mined in Ecuador and sent to Spain, only to be lost in a ship wreck. Marion Ford, marine biologist and secret agent man, is looking for them, along with his friend, Tomlinson. There are also some very bad men looking for them as well. Murder and mayhem ensue, along with some interesting information on indigenous people that have lived in the Caribbean for centuries. Doc Ford and Tomlinson always win, but along the way, the reader can learn new things.

[Shelley Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another adventure Doc style

Entertaining as always. Not as violent, as some of Randy's books have been, and no romance for a change. Doc does have his share of danger, but it doesn't consume the whole book. His good buddy appears and it makes life more interesting. A good read, but the ending was unexpected. Can't wait for the next one!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Doc Ford mystery. This takes him and Tomlinson to the Caribbean in search of a log book that was stollen from an old friend, however, it seems there was a little more stolen, and a lot of very bad guys are on the hunt also.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not up to the standards of White's last book.
Two odd characters, archaeologist and professor Clive Nickelby and former student Lydia Johnson, are the main characters. They are on the run with false IDs, stolen doubloons and Carl Fitzpatrick's guidebook. Marion Ford will need the help of Tomlinson to catch this surprisingly clever pair and their stolen goods.
The story line is confusing and includes historic Masonic ties and an island harboring people without ties to any mainland - for centuries. A lot of my confusion is from Lydia's background, disappearance from college and alliance with Jimmy Jones and Benthick Exploration, which "were not to be discussed." Jimmy ran off with $400,000,000 in gold bars and coins.
When I need to re-read sections of a book for clarification, that's not usually a good thing.
The ending promises - what?

[Ruell Bean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light read and adventure with the marine biologist Doc Ford and
his friends. Although Doc played a part in the story, he was not the main
character this time - Tomlinson was. There was plenty of action with
sunken treasure, pirates, murder, suspense and mayhem and greed.

[L. Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Karen Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

This is an entertaining book and does not disappoint. As soon as Randy's new book comes out I have it

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun summer read, a good edition to the Doc Ford cannon. It is not nearly as good as his last couple have been, but it was entertaining. If you're a fan of the series, you'll like it. Period.

[Don Gorman · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2). I was really surprised here, because the last couple of Doc Ford books have been really solid efforts. This one is totally disjointed. We don't get that much of Doc, what we get of Tomlinson is mostly ridiculous jibberish and the side characters are nothing special. Some of the premise is cool (in fact, I think it was based on a true story from a shyster from my hometown of Columbus, OH) but everything is fairly hard to follow. Randy Wayne Whhite has been on my must read list for many years, so I will give him a pass on this one and see what happens the next time around.

[Vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Randy Wayne White continues his Doc Ford series with minimal participation from his main character, Marion Ford, and Ford's longtime friend, Tomlinson. It's a shame really. Both Doc and his friend have a rich history of shared adventures and mind expanding conversation. Readers just coming on board with Caribbean Rim will find a decent story, interesting information about the Bahamas and the people who live there, but longtime fans will probably be disappointed.

I was and I wasn't. I was because I am a character driven reader and continue with this series primarily because I love the characters who have populated this series, in particular, Doc and Tomlinson. I wasn't because White has been moving away from actually building his stories around them for a number of years now.

The one thing White still excels at is bringing the tropics alive with the details in his stories. Whether writing about southwest Florida, Central America, Cuba or as in this story, the Bahamas, it is the details that make these stories educational as well as entertaining. Whether writing about marine biology, watercraft, scuba diving, snorkeling, treasure hunting or lowlife hunting, White is in a class by himself.

Caribbean Rim has a number of interesting characters, especially the owner of an island dive shack who may or may not be related to Doc's uncle. White entices his longtime fans with some vintage Doc interactions, and then drops her character as the story moves on. Tomlinson's appearances were so minimal he could have phoned in his role.