The Mangrove Coast (Doc Ford)
Randy White's mysteries are tailor-made for fans who've  exhausted the novels of the late John D. MacDonald. White's series hero, Doc  Ford, a marine biologist whose résumé includes a Vietnam-era  stint with the Special Forces, is a somewhat cynical philosopher whose toughness masks a  tender heart; he's a worthy successor to Travis McGee.  In this  fast-paced,  well-written thriller, a nearly forgotten promise to a long-dead  comrade gets Doc involved in a daughter's search for her mother. Gail  Richardson's house is empty, and so are her bank accounts. Her daughter Amanda  is sure that  Gail's being held against her will by her would-be protector,  Jackie Merlot, a mysterious man whose connections reach deep into Central  and South America. The trail leads from Florida to Colombia and then  to Panama, site of a private, heavily guarded retreat catering to the  perverse tastes of the wealthy and powerful. Getting in takes all Doc's skill and  cunning. Getting out is another matter entirely, as he learns with the help  of a few of Bobby Richardson's old Vietnam buddies who turn up in the  proverbial nick of time. The denouement is full of surprises, including one  that even the most discerning reader won't see coming. The writing is swift, deft, and full of the crunchy nuggets of world-weary wisdom that  admirers of the MacDonald genre loved and that White's growing number of  devoted readers have come to expect.--Jane Adams--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.