Rating: 
Summary: The best Page Turner Yet!!!!!
Review: 1) I read this book almost straight through over two and a half days.
2) Yes you should read the series in order
3) Isn't it wonderful when your favorite authors get better!
Rating: 
Summary: Been in the sun too long
Review: Doc Ford is usually interesting and fun to follow. This time he seems to have left his brain at home. Great bad guy, but no conclusion. Personal relationship revisions, past history revised, juvenile emotions in adults, missing the obvious- what's happening here? A narrative that is disjointed and unfocused. A son kidnapped, but Ford goes off on all kinds of secondary tangents. A frustrating, disappointing read.
Rating: 
Summary: Tampa Burn
Review: I am a great fan of Randy Wayne White, but this latest in the series disappoints. Too many side trips, everything gets solved in the last 10 pages, with enough cliff hangers to let you know there's another one coming. Pilar disappears as a character half way through-although she is one of the main parts to the story. EVERY other character we've ever met seems to play a bit part, Janet, Ransom, etc etc but they are not part of the story line. Not enough detail in the ending, and lots left unsaid. I hope for greater attention to telling a good tale in the next one. We love Doc and Tomlinson!
Rating: 
Summary: Superb story, but you should start with earlier titles first
Review: I finished the first book I've read of Randy Wayne White, Tampa Burn. A pleasant surprise, and I'm sure I'll be reading more of his stuff down the road.Doc Ford is a marine biologist with a murky past as a government agent involved in some killings in foreign locales. He's living a quiet life around Tampa until he gets a call from Pilar Fuentes, the mother of his child and former wife of a corrupt Central American general who wants him dead. Their son has been kidnapped, and Pilar wants Ford's help. The kidnapper is a killer who is called Incindiaro, as he's fascinated by fire deaths and in fact is severly burned over most of his body. The kidnapper appears to want the kid's skin for a face transplant, and Ford isn't about to let that happen. To complicate everything, Pilar now wants nothing to do with Ford romantically, Ford's new love overhears his confession of love for Pilar and dumps him, and his sidekick Tomlinson may not be who Ford thinks he is... Nice plot and pace, with some left-field (but reasonable) plot turns as the story comes down to the final pages. There was definitely the potential for an "everyone *doesn't* live happily ever after" ending, but it resolves without being overly sappy or abrupt. If I had read other books in the Doc Ford series first, I'd probably give this a top rating. Starting here, there's some character development that's left out (and I assume is covered in earlier books). Still, a very good read and well worth the time.
Rating:
Summary: Superb story, but you should start with earlier titles first
Review: I finished the first book I've read of Randy Wayne White, Tampa Burn. A pleasant surprise, and I'm sure I'll be reading more of his stuff down the road. Doc Ford is a marine biologist with a murky past as a government agent involved in some killings in foreign locales. He's living a quiet life around Tampa until he gets a call from Pilar Fuentes, the mother of his child and former wife of a corrupt Central American general who wants him dead. Their son has been kidnapped, and Pilar wants Ford's help. The kidnapper is a killer who is called Incindiaro, as he's fascinated by fire deaths and in fact is severly burned over most of his body. The kidnapper appears to want the kid's skin for a face transplant, and Ford isn't about to let that happen. To complicate everything, Pilar now wants nothing to do with Ford romantically, Ford's new love overhears his confession of love for Pilar and dumps him, and his sidekick Tomlinson may not be who Ford thinks he is... Nice plot and pace, with some left-field (but reasonable) plot turns as the story comes down to the final pages. There was definitely the potential for an "everyone *doesn't* live happily ever after" ending, but it resolves without being overly sappy or abrupt. If I had read other books in the Doc Ford series first, I'd probably give this a top rating. Starting here, there's some character development that's left out (and I assume is covered in earlier books). Still, a very good read and well worth the time.
Rating:
Summary: Pushing the envelope a bit, but worth reading.
Review: I had mixed feelings after reading "Tampa Burn".
White expands on his charactor development of Ford and Tomlinson, and further explores their complex history and relationship. But other aspects of the book, the overly convoluted plot and general tone of the writing, I found somewhat disconcerting. White seemed at times to be writing more in the style of some of the other "off-beat" Florida mystery writers(Hiaasen or Tim Dorsey), which felt out of place in this novel.
That being said, "Doc Ford" is still the best series being written today, and "Tampa Burn" is well worth reading.
Randy Wayne White is still better than all the others at what he does.
Rating:
Summary: the power of blood kinship
Review: In Randy Wayne White's latest installment in the Doc Ford series, Doc's son is kidnapped by a psychopathic pyromaniac - Ford must rescue his son before harm is done. As the story progresses, we learn a little more about the past of White's characters - Ford, Tomlinson, and Pilar, Ford's ex-lover and the mother of his son. Throughout the book the issue of "family" is visited and revisited, with all its various meanings and implications. A great theme to tie the sub-plots together, and a brilliant way of providing more depth and detail to the characters. White's descriptions of the coast of southwest Florida give the reader a "you are there" feel to it, while keeping the story moving at a fast pace. The only issue I had with an otherwise fantastic book was the way in which points would be made but the reader was given resolution only after hints and allusions. While it was effective in keeping me riveted to the story, it was a bit frustrating as the issues were not directly related to the main plot line. Nonetheless, a really enjoyable read, and the best Ford book since Ten Thousand Islands. Randy Wayne White is certainly evolving into a first-rate writer, as _Tampa Burn_ demonstrates. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: the power of blood kinship
Review: In Randy Wayne White's latest installment in the Doc Ford series, Doc's son is kidnapped by a psychopathic pyromaniac - Ford must rescue his son before harm is done. As the story progresses, we learn a little more about the past of White's characters - Ford, Tomlinson, and Pilar, Ford's ex-lover and the mother of his son. Throughout the book the issue of "family" is visited and revisited, with all its various meanings and implications. A great theme to tie the sub-plots together, and a brilliant way of providing more depth and detail to the characters. White's descriptions of the coast of southwest Florida give the reader a "you are there" feel to it, while keeping the story moving at a fast pace. The only issue I had with an otherwise fantastic book was the way in which points would be made but the reader was given resolution only after hints and allusions. While it was effective in keeping me riveted to the story, it was a bit frustrating as the issues were not directly related to the main plot line. Nonetheless, a really enjoyable read, and the best Ford book since Ten Thousand Islands. Randy Wayne White is certainly evolving into a first-rate writer, as _Tampa Burn_ demonstrates. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Once Again
Review: RWW keeps the bar set high. Doc is getting more sensitive with age but he appears to be growing in a good direction. RWW has written about these character so much that they are truly coming to life. I think that the direction the characters are taking seem natural and not forced. I feel the series is coming to a close becuase I think that Doc is about ready to settle down:( However I think this is another exapmle of RWW timeless literature. I think that this is a book that my children will read years from now and still feel the great sense of adventure that RWW incorporates in all of his work.
Rating:
Summary: Hotter Than Ever!
Review: Tampa Burn heralds the eleventh appearance of Doc Ford, whose cover as a marine biologist from Dinkins Bay on the Southwest coast of Florida masks his role as an agent engaged in deadly assignments well outside the limits of international law. Doc has previously wrestled with coming to terms with his essentially predatory nature, but when his son Lake is kidnapped by a homicidal pyromaniac, all introspection comes to an abrupt halt as Doc goes after the villain with every primal urge to hunt and kill on red hot alert. The ensuing action is full of the pulse pounding scenarios for which White is justifiably famous. The author's love and intimate knowledge of the land and water, flora and fauna of coastal Florida come vividly to life as White paints a lush and vibrant backdrop for Doc and his hippie pal Tomlinson as they race against the clock to rescue Lake from the clutches of a truly gut wrenching predator. Many authors have series based on continuing characters, but White's collection is set apart by the brilliant character development that continues with each new adventure. The reader comes to know and care about Doc and his friends on a very personal level. Doc's desperate search for his son is set against his own discovery of the depth of bonds of family and friendship, forged by blood and choice. Tampa Burn is thoroughly entertaining on it's own merit, but the real treat is beginning with the first book, Sanibel Flats, and following Doc as each adventure tantalizingly reveals a bit more about the complicated psyche that powers this engaging yet imperfect man. No wonder that die-hard fans' number one complaint is waiting a year for each new book to be published! Buy and enjoy Tampa Burn, and if you are extremely fortunate, snare a signed copy, as this author is headed for the stratosphere of literary success.
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