Part of Doc Ford, book 2
First published 1993
Marine biologist Doc Ford poles his skiff through Southwest Florida's shallow waters, hunting for sea anemones. His quiet research trip turns deadly when he discovers the floating body of Marvin Rios, Sanibel Island's most despised resident. The local authorities quickly arrest the island's most innocent citizen for the murder. Doc knows his gentle friend has been set up. He abandons his scientific work to investigate the real killer. His search pulls him into Sanibel's corrupt underbelly, where developers scheme to grab valuable coastal land through intimidation and murder. Doc must expose the conspiracy before his friend faces conviction for a crime he never committed. The investigation forces the former secret operative to use skills he hoped to leave behind, as violence threatens to destroy the peaceful island community he calls home.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, conspiracy, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Sanibel Island, Southwest Florida
307 pages · Mass Market Paperback · St. Martin's Press