Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I was stunned to see so many negative reviews regarding what is among the funniest, most compelling books I've ever read until I took a closer look and realized many if not most of these "reviewers" could not have possible read the book. Jealousy, envy, or perhaps yet more "sock puppet" reviews paid for by some pissed-off would-be writer. (Amazon is infamous for allowing this.) Who knows. But back to the book: This may be the best Doc Ford novel ever. It is certainly the most original and funniest. Marion Ford is smarter, slyer, tougher than ever, yet in a way that reveals the small self doubts that plague us all at a certain age. In the first scene, he has his first one-night-stand (that I remember) and also rescues a drowning sea turtle that, because of weather conditions and his haste to save the animal, he fails to note physiological markers that would tell him whether it is a young loggerhead turtle, or a mature green turtle. The scene itself is compelling enough, but this subtle touch tells us (in very few words) more about Doc's personal discontent, and his frame of mind, than an entire chapter of self reflection (which would be typical of less accomplished writers.) Tomlinson is hilarious, particularly with the introduction of Figueroa Casanova, a Cuban shortstop who, while not the brightest of men, has taken a vow to never lie. Figueroa -- "Figgy" -- is in possession of an antique leather briefcase. On the brass lock are the initials FAC. Only Tomlinson would correctly suspect (or intuit?) this initials stand for Fidel Alejandro Castro. And, by god, he is right. Inside are love letters written by Fide and Raul Castro in the early 1960s. Ever the romantic, Tomlinson decides these love letters rightly belong to the woman to whom they were written. Like contrasting Don Quixotes, these two remarkable characters set off on a sailboat journey during which they are seduced by a trio of Key West Siren witches (Cercis as in the Iliad) and then set adrift -- a literary Homeric touch that is as delightful as Doc Ford's determination to save Tomlinson from his own misguided quest. Doc fuels and provisions his boat -- as only a man with his dark past could -- and sets off for Cuba . This trio of timeless characters is on a collision course with a Russian KGB agent, and a deep, dark secret about Fidel Castro that has to do with baseball and the power of propagated mythos. Upon reflection, it might be White's rare gift for creating truly literate and literary works that are NOT typical Clive Cussler potboiler thrillers that outrages less demanding readers. However, those of you who love seamless writing, description so vivid you can smell the mix of mangrove musk and cigars, will love Cuba Straits which, like White's "The Man Who Invented Florida," is destined to become a Florida classic. A side perk: the author's knowledge of Cuba, baseball, Fidel Castro and the Cuban people answers, I think, the popular question "What will happen when Fidel finally dies?" The future is right there for us to see in Cuba Straits. G. Hess