Part of Doc Ford, book 7
First published 2001
Doc Ford thought his days as a government agent were behind him. The former operative turned marine biologist now spends his time in the waters off Florida's Gulf Coast. But the past pulls him back when a desperate mother seeks his help. Years earlier, her teenage daughter discovered an ancient gold medallion. The artifact brought the girl terrible nightmares. Soon after, she was discovered dead, hanging from a tree. Now someone is terrorizing the grieving mother. Anonymous phone calls arrive at all hours. Her home is repeatedly broken into. Most disturbing of all, her daughter's grave has been desecrated and emptied. Someone desperately wants that medallion back. Ford's investigation drags him into a world where ancient ceremonies intersect with contemporary crime. The deeper he digs, the more he realizes that whatever evil claimed the girl's life remains active and dangerous.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: government-agent, reluctant-hero
Setting: Florida, Gulf Coast
Period: Contemporary
297 pages · Mass Market Paperback · G.P. Putnam's Sons