Night Vision (A Doc Ford Novel Book 18)

I'm a Randy Wayne White fan so this book was a good fit for me. I've been reading Doc Ford's escapades for years and I like him as a character. He's similar to other recurring characters by other authors, men who are almost undefeatable loner heros who have dark past but now use their more-than-typical skills to take care of themselves and others. I find Doc to be a little more believable in that the testosterone doesn't flow quite so freely. Sort of a more believable Jack Reacher.Specifically, this book was a good read. The plot was well laid out and as usual, Doc was addressing a real social problem, in this case, the abuse of migrant workers and the growing criminal industry of human trafficing. Read it, learn and have fun all at the same time.

Having read every Doc Ford novel, I am disappointed in "Night Vision". I am not as jaded as other early reviewers but 3 stars is the lowest I have ever given a Doc Ford novel. Remember, an average Doc Ford read is better than many other writers' better efforts. "Night Vision" has a great opening including a breath holding battle with a huge alligator that is trying to eat an elderly man. It concludes with an intense and deadly confrontation between Doc and a half dozen gang banger/bad guy types in the dead of night deep in the forest. But between these two notable events, very little of consequence or interest occurs.It is hard for long time Doc Ford readers to accept that he could fall so quickly in love for someone he barely knows or that such a thin plot could confuse Doc. Additionally, Tomlinson is relegated to a small role as a spectator and conscience tweaker for Doc, 40% of the novel does not even have Doc or Tomlinson in it, there is no Doc puzzling through thorny mysteries and dilemmas, no Doc struggling with his inner demons, and the whole book seems devoted to the spiritual mysticism of a 13 year-old girl who "talks" to her patron saint, Joan of Arc.In summation, a young, apparently "gifted" illegal Guatemalan, Tula Choimha, who lives in the Red Citrus Mobile Home Park, sees the steroidal freak who runs the park, Harris Squires, disposing of a body in the lake where he keeps his pet 'gator. Squires and his girlfriend, Frankie, an-out-of-control steroidal slut manufacture and sell illegal steroids and make porn films using illegal females. They work closely with the V-man, Victorino, leader of the Latin Kings street gang. Soon, Harris kidnaps Tula with the intention of killing her to silence her and in short order, Frankie, Victorino, and assorted gang bangers show up to disrupt Harris' plans and to implement their own viscous plans. Enter Doc, who has been prompted by Tomlinson to help search for the missing girl. Doc discovers the entire group at an isolated camp and all hell breaks loose.Doc will always be Doc and Tomlinson will always be his conscience and the barometer for his life. But in "Night Vision", neither has much to do and Doc, while becoming the deadly warrior that he futilely tries so hard to repress, is hardly challenged as mentally or physically as we have come to expect in past experiences. While the book is a decent read, it is not up to the bar that Randy Wayne White set so long ago for his signature character, Doc Ford.

I loved the history, visuals and incredibly suspenseful scenes.The characters are amazing and well developed. Thank you another great read.Better editing in this one.

Simply put, I liked it. Like others, I've read most, if not all, of the series. I enjoy it because White mixes his fiction with fact, making each book a discovery of something new (if not many things). Less political than some (kind of a relief), this novel looks at a type of spiritualism, along with the normal tech toys and diversions. However, the story, as always, reigns supreme. It moves fast, builds to a climax, and has some great twists. No, it's not the same as all the other books but I think it's a great departure...and one that was due. The writer matures and the character does as well. If you just want the same thing over and over again, reread the old books. I'm looking forward to more development. Hopefully, we'll hear more from the girl (Tula) as well.

Randy Wayne White novels have, in the past, been worth the read simply for the marine biology, occasional anthropology and conversations between Tomlinson and Ford. But there is a annoying habit he has that is starting to distract me from the plots and dialogue. For example, in referring to biologist/love interest of the month, Emily Marston, hementions her name then says "I made note of the lady's name, her number . . . " instead of saying "I made note of her name . . .". Later, "I patted the lady's hand and steered her past the bait tank, . ." . The use of "the lady's" seems like something out of John D. McDonald who might be excused for his sexism because of the era he created Travis McGee. White also (or should I say "the man") uses this phrase in referring to Tomlinson - ie "One by one," Tomlinson replied, " whole village . . . ." An instant later, the man's attention wandered . . . instead of saying "his attention wandered" or Tomlinson's attention wandered he repeatedly uses "the man's" or the woman's or as stated previously "the lady's" when we know from the previous sentence that it's a man or woman. I don't remember if White used this phrasing in his earlier books. Perhaps I have to go back and examine "the man's" previous work. The main problem with this novel, though, is that way, way too much time is spent in the mind of this religiously deranged girl who thinks her psychotic episodes are conversations with Joan of Arc. All the time she's talking to herself, I'm thinking "Please Doc Ford, get this disturbed young girl out of that trailer park and into an office of a good psychiatrist!" The plot not only slowed down during Tula's reverie's, it came to a complete halt.The scenes where Doc Ford engages in introspection coming to grips with his true hunter/warrior nature are interesting and revealing. The old Doc Ford seemed to regret his violent past, this one embraced it. "The man" seemed more real and more dangerous than in previous novels by embracing his "inner Jack Reacher or Mitch Rapp."The shoot out at the end was a great action scene but it took too, too long wandering through Tula's looney interlude with her patron saint to get there. Perhaps Randy should start inviting more WOMEN and less "ladies" to his Sannibel Rum Bar and Grille and his writing about women characters might progress past the Playboy Magazine era. Nonetheless, he still makes me want to go snorkeling off Sannibel.

I’ve read almost all of docs books - this one, however stands out and certainly is the best one yet - I love the YOLO acronym

Night Vision (Doc Ford Novel) - normally I enjoy these books, this one however was hard work...meh!

Really good read.My wife wishes she could get his books on Kindle!Having visited where Randy writes about, I can visualise where the characters are.Bring on his next book!!

Very nice reading, great suspense, nice story.