Deep Six [Paperback]

Years before Randy Wayne White started writing his wonderful Doc Ford novels - and wound up with the best successor to John MacDonald's Travis McGee - he wrote a series of minor adventure novels featuring ex-SEAL Dusky MacMorgan. As even White more-or-less admits in his introduction to this reissue of these books, these were never intended to be great literature. They were cheap adventure novels filled with action and sex, cranked out quickly and with a minimum of rewriting. Even if these were, in effect, "training novels", they are still, however, good, which just shows that a great writer can often produce minor gems even when he is just learning his craft.

In this second volume in the series, MacMorgan is wrapping up a "healing" voyage with Lisa-Lee Johnson from the first book, Key West Connection. "Lee" is recovering from a bad marriage; Dusky from more serious pains, both physical and emotional (including the death of his family and best friend). A month of lounging around with a beautiful woman out in the ocean off Florida has worked wonders. Towards the end of the trip, they meet amiable scavenger Gifford Remus, who produces a valuable gold chain and tells a tale of finding a lost Spanish treasure. Remus promises to tell Dusky more the next time they meet; of course, that means he will be killed before any more can be disclosed.

Dusky investigates Remus's apparent murder and in the process learns of a boat filled with Cuban-Americans that is in the same waters that Remus occupied. These Cubans are apparently up to no good, although Dusky and his government connections are not sure if it is illicit treasure hunting, drugs or espionage. In the course of his work, Dusky gets an unusual ally: an ex-Green Beret who is now a devout Christian and is leading a group of men and women in their late teens and early twenties. This group is also searching the waters, although with the more benevolent goal of archaeological research.

Although not a great novel, this is definitely a good one. The only real flaw in the book seems to be White's pacing; it takes a long time for the book to really cook into gear with Dusky's hitting the high seas in search of Remus's killer. That minor complaint aside, this is a fast-paced, entertaining story that can probably be read in a single sitting. If you are looking for a "beach read" or are a fan of White's other books, then this book should be enjoyable.

Another of the short books written by RW White years ago as Randy STRIKER..Much like the others in this series, very fast paced, somewhat predictable, but also very enjoyable.

As an author myself I scrutinize a new author as though he is after my money more than he/she/it is after me as a new fan...Randy, a fellow Floridian was apparently born with the gift of capturing a reader's attention on page one and not letting go until the last page...I have now read every book he's written, including his non-fiction and a few under his other name...Randy Striker.

Every one of them was entertainment at the highest level and I hope he can find time to send Doc Ford and his pal Tomlinson out on new adventures until he's my age...74.

Rick Magers
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