The first Doc Ford novel was written in 1989. I've been reading Randy Wayne White since 1990 and am always on the lookout for his latest. He never disappoints. Deep Blue is his twenty-third in the "Doc Ford" series. The "doc" is a marine biologist living on Sanibel Island in Florida. He is also former agent who still takes on difficult assignments for our government.

Always relevant to the real time of each novel's writing, Deep Blue is no exception. References to current circumstances are plentiful. An American ISIS operative has executed three hostages and sent the video to Ford. Ford's current under cover assignment is to apprehend the executioner. In pursuing this assignment, of course, he becomes a target. Friends and cohorts at Dinkin's Bay marina are also threatened. Unlike in his previous books we see much of the story unfold through their eyes. White's descriptions of life at the marina and the natural, watery world of Gulf Coast Florida are always compelling but in this novel the fast pace of the plot dominates.

Randy Wayne White could very well be my favorite author...at least for the time it takes to read his current book. Thankfully, he is prolific. Along with the 23 Doc Ford mysteries (my favorite), he has written three starring Hannah Smith as the sleuth, 9 non-fiction books, including a cook book. Using two different aliases, he has written 18 additional works of fiction. (It's hard to know when the man has time to fish which he claims is his passion...or is that Doc Ford's passion.)

All I can say is, keep it up...I eagerly await your next compelling tale.