The Heat Islands: A Doc Ford Novel (Doc Ford Novels, 2)
The Heat Islands: A Doc Ford Novel (Doc Ford Novels, 2) book cover

The Heat Islands: A Doc Ford Novel (Doc Ford Novels, 2)

Mass Market Paperback – February 15, 1993

by
Price
$9.93
Publisher
St. Martin's Paperbacks
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0312929770
Dimensions
4.26 x 0.86 x 6.87 inches
Weight
5.4 ounces

Description

“The rightful heir to John D. MacDonald.” ― Tampa Tribune-Times “[White] continues to portray the world of mangrove swamp, gulf, hummock islands and tidal inlets with palpable description. The characters are deftly drawn and the villain is someone you'll love to hate.” ― Rocky Mountain News “The best new writer since hiaasen.” ― Denver Post “Few writers have more skillfully mingled the familiar conventions of the mystery genre with the larger, more ambitious vision of serious literature than white does.” ― Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel “He describes Southwestern Florida so well it's easy to smell the salt tang in the air and feel the cool gulf breeze.” ― Mansfield News Journal Randy Wayne White is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of the Doc Ford series. In 2011, White was named a Florida Literary Legend by the Florida Heritage Society. A fishing and nature enthusiast, he has also written extensively for National Geographic Adventure , Men's Journal , Playboy and Men's Health . He lives on Sanibel Island, Florida, where he was a light-tackle fishing guide for many years, and spends much of his free time windsurfing, playing baseball, and hanging out at Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille. His first middle-grade novel is Fins.

Features & Highlights

  • In Randy Wayne White's
  • The Heat Islands
  • , marine biologist and former secret operative Doc Ford is lazily poling his skiff along Southwest Florida's flat copper sea in search of sea anemones, when he runs into the body of the most hated man on Sanibel Island-Marvin Rios.And when the Island's simplest and sweetest resident is arrested for the murder Doc heads straight into the heart of the sunshine state's dark side-to save his friend from being framed, and to save Sanibel Island from a rising tide of land-grab schemes, blood money and violence.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(266)
★★★★
25%
(111)
★★★
15%
(67)
★★
7%
(31)
★
-7%
(-31)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

a worthy series

HEAT ISLANDS is the second book in the Doc Ford mystery series, after SANIBEL FLATS. Ford, a marine biologist and ex-secret agent, is pulled into trouble when a friend is accused of murder. The case is tied to some shady dealings involving land and the Floridian environment-destroying building boom.
Ford mourns for a lost Florida, everywhere he goes the state has been overrun by tourits and developers. He's trying to hide at a quiet marina, but (like his forefather Travis Mcgee) can't resist a friend in need. White's description of Florida's nature is wonderful. The villain is sort of a stereotypical nut job, but Ford's quiet heroism makes up for it. Recommended.
11 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

RRW novels are being devoured by my husband

I bought my husband a couple of Randy Wayne White novels because we were going on a mini vacation to Sanibel Island, FL and had plans to eat at Doc Fords while there. He didn't read them before the trip because he was in the middle of another large book. But upon his return, he read the 1st 2 I got him at lightning speed, and then went out of town. When he returned, he found a stack of ten or so, and proceeded to go through them rather quickly too. Then he went out of ton again so I got him another stack. He has slowed a little bit, but still glued to them. He says their is a little bit of repetitive set-up in each one because it has returning characters, and this is to be expected in serial novels. Over all though, the more he reads, the more he seems to be enjoying them. I don't guess it really matters which one you start with and which order you go in. Anyway, he loves fishing and the water, so I figured these would be his cup of tea. A few years back I got him Linda Greenlaw's books and he love those so much, he reread them several times. She writes a different kind of novel, but the fishing and sea thread is there and tha's all it takes to get him "hooked".
8 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Tarpon Tournament surprise

Having never been involved in a Tarpon Tournament, I found the whole premise of the book a delightful surprise. The whole experience came alive for me when reading the pages of this novel. This is a gifted author who knows how to plot a story and bring the reader along on an adventure. Be careful though in reading any Randy Wayne White book: they are addictive.
6 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

LOVE ME SOME DOC FORD!!!

I found this series by accident and LOVED the first book so much I have bought the entire series on audio (there are a couple of the books that are no longer available that way, so I had to break down and read a book) but Doc Ford is just the bee's knees and I love the adventures and details to life on Sanibel Island. Sanibel Island is a real place and RWW draws on his experiences as a fishing guide to write the stories. I have a friend who lives in Florida and vacations there and there is a Doc Ford Restaurant there with great seafood (so he tells me) and kind of a Doc Ford fan club. I hope and pray the stories never end.
5 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

I couldn't put it down ! What a page turner !

The Heat Islands is a great book! I highly recommend it. I also recommend Sanibel Flats, the first Doc Ford novel. Growing up in South Florida, reading a Doc Ford novel is just like reading about old friends. Randy White is so accurate in his descriptions of the islands, fishing, the South Florida coastal towns, and the people that live and work there. Doc and his friends are so "real-life". I can't wait for the next one !
5 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

The Heat Islands

A sound follow up to White's "Sanibel Flats". Interestingly, White chooses to change his style and still makes it work. He adds an environmental flavor and again comes up with a thoroughly interesting story and a great read.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Top Writer, Top Researcher Excellent Doc Ford Series #2

I have read all of Randy Wayne Wright's Doc Ford books and am anxiously awaiting his next. This particular book is the one that really got me hooked into the characters and Doc Ford. Mr. Wright is an unusual writer in that his books are based in Florida and are quite accurate and informative about the state, as well as entertaining about the characters and intriguing about the mysteries he incorporates. I have encouraged several fellow Floridians to read him and they all feel the same way. This man is OUR FLORIDA AUTHOR and in my opinion has John MacDonald beat by a mile.

Keep on writing Randy.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

The Seconf in the Doc Ford Series

Reading the Doc Ford series. Several of the early books in the series are not available in our library district. These early books are a good read and provide an insight into the growth of Florida and the role of the water men who plied their trade on the West Coast of Florida.
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Another Great Doc Ford Book by RWW

I'd already read the first six books in the series but had missed this one for some reason. I finally got my hands on a copy and like this one as much as the others. The characters are carried over nicely from the other books and their development fits in nicely with the series.
I'm familiar with the area and have fished most of the places mentioned. In fact, my most favorite fishing spot of all times is not far from "Dinkin's Bay" (actually Tarpon Bay in real life). I grew up fishing in this part of Florida with my father and uncles, so the old fish and ice houses on stilts were always a fond memory.
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Five Stars

Husband loved it. He's read the next several already.
1 people found this helpful

Related Books