Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) - , reviewed on 9/29/2013 + 569 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

This is the 15th novel in the Doc Ford series. If you've read any of the other 14, you know pretty much what to expect: A little hanging out in Dinkin's Bay, a little marine biology, a little ocean / Caribbean travel and a little romance and a little understated sex (not necessarily the same thing) and a little understated mayhem and violence. If you like that, you'll like this. If you do not fill in the blanks.

Tomlinson does not play as large a role in this book as he does in most of the others. Instead, Ford is assisted in his mission on St. Joan of Arc's (shortened to St. Arcs) by Sir James, a retired British officer living on St. Lucia (with broad hints that he may be another British Sir James of literary espionage and lots of movies fame). I found this frustrating; it felt like the author simply didn't know where to take our favorite supporting character, so he simply decided to replace him with a polar opposite. (Better than killing him off, I suppose; there's always a chance he'll return to a more powerful role in the future.)

I know what I like about Doc Ford novels, and this contained those aspects of the previous books in the series. I credit the author for attempting to keep things fresh by bringing in a new supporting character; I hope he'll grow on me in future books in the series. (After all, I have to admit that Tomlinson didn't exactly grab me when we first met, either.)

Rating: 3 1/2 stars, rounded up to 4 stars where applicable.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details