Deep Shadow

by Randy Wayne White

Book Overview

In a remote Florida lake, a cave collapses, trapping Doc Ford and two of his friends. Ford manages to escape and surfaces to find help-but two ex-cons are waiting for him. They're intent on diving to the bottom of the deep lake and finding the remains of a legendary plane, supposedly loaded with gold. Ford's expertise is just what they need. And if he doesn't help, Ford and his friends are dead in the water.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425240096
• ISBN13: 9780425240090
• Release Date: February 2011
• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 7.4"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Exciting

I could not put it down! When you have lived in this area it really comes home to you. I really enjoyed this one!

Relentless, Claustrophobic Suspense--Stay Out Of The Water!

Randy Wayne White fans argue that recent Doc Ford novels have been uneven in quality. As a reader of all 17 Ford novels, I can only say that this one examines Doc's abilities, philosophies, and depth of character as perhaps no other novel has done. It is totally different in that it occurs almost completely in one small area near a remote lake in Florida with the principal activity occuring underwater. It brings together the worst of man and the worst of nature to produce a spine-tingling, highly charged novel that will, at times, have the reader gasping for breath--both figuratively and literally. Doc, his buddy and confidant Tomlinson, troubled teen Will Chaser(see "Dead Silence"), and cantankerous old Arlis Futch are gathered at a clear water lake in remote Florida to search for the missing treasure laden plane of deposed Cuban dictator, Fulgencio Batista, which crashed and disappeared from history in 1958. While Doc, Tomlinson, and Will are diving the lake, Arlis remains on land to guard the valuables and provide backup. Two unfortunate factors collide almost simultaneously--a rookie mistake by teen Will Chaser precipitates an underwater landslide that traps he and Tomlinson in an underwater cavern separated from Doc and help from above. At the same time, Arlis is overpowered by two moronic yet deadly ex-cons who have escaped into the swamp after killing a family of five. Doc is forced to use his wits in a battle to convince the ex-cons (King and Perry) that he can help them find riches if they help him save his trapped friends. Doc is the hunted who becomes the hunter as it appears his friends have drowned due to the reluctance and even interference of his major antagonist, King. Adding to the suspense are the back and forth chapters detailing Doc's efforts to get help for his trapped friends and chapters detailing the heroic efforts of Tomlinson and Will as they attempt to stave off drowning while the air pressure drops inevitably in their tanks. Add the last ingredient, a massive swamp/sea creature which induces fear in all that hear its movements on land and in the water at night, and you have a recipe for nail biting suspense. Do any of Doc's friends somehow find a way to survive, is Arlis a help or a hindrance after being beaten by the murderers, can Doc outfox the ex-cons and exact his revenge, and what is the massive sea creature and what part does it play in the story's outcome. Although the novel started a little slowly, it soon gained traction in a manner that resembled a freight train rumbling to an inexorable destination. If you are claustrophobic or somewhat afraid of what may lurk below the waterline, read this one with the lights on. All in all, "Deep Shadow" is a Doc Ford novel set in a totally new and strange venue that ultimately reminds us what it is we love about Randy Wayne White's signature character. A highly recommended read!

RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "A SIMULTANEOUS BATTLE FOR LIFE UNDERWATER... AND ABOVE GROUND... WHILE

Twenty-three-year-old Perry and thirty-one-or-two-year-old King "had been cellmates at Statesville Correctional near Joliet" and now that they were free... it didn't take them long to head straight for deeper trouble. Acting upon stories shared by a fellow inmate the two dim-wit convicts headed to Florida to steal gold coins and whatever additional monetary treasures resided in the West Haven residence of the old man who had employed their former fellow inhabitant at Statesville. The robbery quickly escalates into a cold-blooded murder of five people which included the old man... his maid... and her three children. As the two psychopaths flee the scene they wind up at the same small lake swampland as Doc Ford... his friend the always "dippy" Tomlinson... the most cantankerous old man this side of John Wayne/Rooster Cogburn... Arlis Futch... and in a delightful surprise a key new character introduced in White's last book "DEAD SILENCE"... sixteen-year-old William (Will) J. Chaser... who among other things was a rodeo star in Oklahoma... has escaped reform school... has Indian blood... and lived to tell about being buried alive. What is so enjoyable about Will's inclusion in this story... in addition to his finely carved unique character... is that the author has this story take place a mere few weeks after the supposed ending of his prior novel. This tight coupling in literary terms is really enjoyable for Randy Wayne White fans since it's like you take up right where you left off immediately. The purpose of the trip to this tiny lake in the middle of a swamp in the middle of nowhere for the good guys... is Arlis's belief that he has found the final resting place of a crashed plane full of gold that had been stolen from the Cuban treasury by former Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista over fifty years ago. Arlis has even bought the acreage that includes the lake from an unknowing farmer. As Doc, Tomlinson, and Will... dive underwater looking for the "golden-treasure"... Arlis watches his truck and equipment above ground. Almost simultaneously the two main events collide. An underwater rim of a cave crumbles to pieces which leads to Will and Tomlinson being buried in rock... sand... and water... and as each minute of depleting air supply and unknown location increases the odds of their sure death... and as Doc short handedly attempts to first locate... let alone... try to rescue the guys... above ground... Arlis is beat savagely by the miscreants Perry and King who show up with five brutal murders on their ledger since leaving prison... and a manhunt under way to capture them. When Doc comes out of the water he has to use all his wits to try to bargain and entice the loutish killers with dreams of Cuban gold. Doc's hatred for these lowlife's grows quickly to the point that his every thought is of killing them... as all signs point to the demise of Will and Tomlinson. And there is also a quick sighting of a giant shadow in the lake... there is the ho

Who will leave Central Florida alive?

During a robbery, ex-cons, King and Perry kill a family of five. They flee from a massive manhunt hiding in the swamps of Central Florida. Their plan is to wait till the heat cools down a little though both know that will be some time as the media has stirred the public and the police. Doc Ford and his three friends (Tomlinson, Will, and Arlis) go to a small lake in search of the late Cuban dictator Batista's treasure plane, which vanished in 1958. However King and Perry capture Doc and company; and force them to keep diving in search of the plane. None are aware of what lurks in the nearby swamps. Readers will knows the swamp is far from Dead Silent between Doc and his buddies, the two deadly thugs, and a Swamp Thing that wants to dine on divers. Fast-paced throughout the exciting story line, fans will be hooked from the moment everyone converges and readers will never stop reading as the tension mounts with anticipation of one hell of a climax. Who, if any of the four buddies, will leave Central Florida alive? Harriet Klausner

The real Doc Ford has returned

I am a long time fan of the Doc Ford series by Randy Wayne White. Unfortunately, the last time I caught sight of him was in "Dark Light". Although not the typical Doc Ford tale, it was none the less interesting and showed a fasinating side of Doc and some of the Dinkin's Bay residents. "Hunter's Moon" was somewhat entertaining, but totally and completely implausible. Moreover, it seemed some flat, vacant secret agent man had replaced Doc, turning the whole book into a never ending action sequence with an ending too far-fetched and lame for words. "Black Widow" was so lacking in a cohesive plot I could not finish the book. A first for me with a RWW book. When I read the synopsis for "Dead Silence" I believed that the Doc Ford I knew and loved had left the series for good. I saved my money and time, and began looking for another series that was as thoughtful and entertaining as the Doc Ford series had been. No such series existed. I am thrilled to report that Doc Ford has returned to the series with this new installment. It has everything I loved about the earlier books and some interesting information on the so called bottomless lakes,underground rivers and sink-holes which are present in Florida. Add to that the discovery of an aircraft which departed Cuba and disappeared between Key West and Tampa and you have the beginning of a return to form for Doc.