Having read a fair number of Randy Wayne White books I wasn't sure how I was going to like my first "Randy Striker". But not only was I pleasantly surprised, this might be my favorite RWW to date.

The introduction by White in my later edition is quite illuminating, and now I know the basic backstory of the Doc Ford series, how all that developed. I have also now come full circle from when I read my first RWW and Tomlinson jumped out as a likeness of John Steinbeck (to Fords resemblance to Ed Ricketts); I don't believe I was previously aware of the writer H. M. Tomlinson.

Cuban Death-Lift may have been a bit uneven writing-wise, but I still found all the characters and story to my liking. And it didn't seem to have any unnecessary filler or drama. Okay, the name "Dusky MacMorgan" could use some work, but I enjoyed it all nonetheless. This was a good, fast read. ( )

One of a thriller series originally published under the name Randy Striker, this book, while having some elements and cliches common to the genre, shows the promise that will come to fruition later in White's Doc Ford series. A satisfying story that picks up where John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series leaves off. ( )