Gone

By: Randy Wayne White

Narrated by: Renee Raudman

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

Randy Wayne White has long been known for suspenseful plots, complex characters, and an extraordinary sense of place. His new series has them all - and then some.

Hannah Smith: a tall, strong, formidable Florida woman, the descendant of generations of strong Florida women. She makes her living as a fishing guide, but her friends, neighbors, and clients also know her as an uncommonly resourceful woman with a keen sense of justice - someone who can't be bullied - and they have taken to coming to her with their problems.

Her methods can be unorthodox, though, and those on the receiving end of them often wind up very unhappy - and sometimes very violent. And when a girl goes missing, and Hannah is asked to find her, that is exactly what happens....

©2012 Randy Wayne White (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Great new protagonist

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes

What other book might you compare Gone to and why?

Any of his Doc Ford novels

What aspect of Renee Raudman’s performance would you have changed?

With the main voice being that of Hanna Smith, a SW Fla born and bread woman and fishing guide, she would have a more country / cracker accent.

Any additional comments?

Like the new protagonist and the ties to the past novels of Randy's. Hope he keeps it up.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Plot of the Story was good, but not great

Any additional comments?

I've been reading R.W.W. for several years now, after I picked up an audiobook from the library about five years ago. I really like the majority of his work. The book was pretty good. I like Hana Smith, she's definitely the type of woman that I would find attractive. I like her down the business nature and no nonsense demeanor.

What I don't like so far is that the book is essentially set in the same location as the Doc Ford novels. I love Doc Ford, he reminds me of my Grandfather. The guy who is underestimated, but is surprisingly strong willed and strong minded.

What I really dislike most about the direction of this book is an alluded to romance between Doc Ford and Hana.....(YAWN!) This is so over done in novels, movies etc etc. Doc and Hana will play cat and mouse, they would be perfect together...but wait, they had that moment and if only "that thing/event/phone call/doorbell" didn't interrupt them......Randy, Move Hana somewhere else! James Patterson has both Alex Cross and Lindsey Boxer, but they work in much different parts of the United States.

Hana has the makings of a strong character, move her butt out of Florida and into Savannah, Tybee Island, Honolulu, Astoria (OR), Charleston, St. Pete or some other place where she doesn't touch Doc Ford again. This Character needs to be independent of Ford!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

GONE REVIEW

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I expected the same type of writing as in the Doc Ford series. Because of that, the book started out a little slow. However, it picked up and the story developed nicely. Overall, I'd recommend it.

Would you be willing to try another book from Randy Wayne White? Why or why not?

Always. I thoroughly enjoy his books.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Love Doc Ford. Hated this.

Would you try another book from Randy Wayne White and/or Renee Raudman?

I have all most all of Randy Wayne White's previous books, often in both hardback and digital. I loved his Doc Ford books, and would buy another one as soon as it becomes available. I also love the outdoor and adventure writing he did. Books like "Last Flight Out" and "The Sharks of Lake Nicaragua" keep me company on long kayak trips in the wilderness. I even like the early stuff he wrote as Randy Striker. I've know a lot of strong, adventurous, action oriented woman, and they didn't seem to act or think or talk like the lead character in this book.So would I try another book by RWW? Of course.

Would you ever listen to anything by Randy Wayne White again?

Yes. Definitely.

What does Renee Raudman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Renee Raudman is an excellent narrator, but RRW's efforts to write the way a woman thinks in first person was disappointing.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was disappointed.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Great descriptions of the Coastal Florida!

Very entertaining story, with written descriptions of wild Florida that dead on. Florida's backwater is a great stage and Mr. White does a very nice job painting the canvas.

I'd fish with her anyday, if I only had the bait

Just as riveting as any detective, hostage, shoot 'em up ever. Really about half way thru the book I was thinking go ahead and shoot him again... A real nail biter and I like this lady. She's tough and innocent at the same time. And she keeps a silk shirt and clean demi-bra in the forward locker... Woof!!

Detail--Accuracy--Predatory bum

This tale continues Randy White's fishing and weird stories about Southwest Florida. Ancestors and rumors and school friends mix it all together.

Entertaining +++++

loved it. Well composed. Edgy. Will look forward to future chapters in Hannah's world.

Gisappointed

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Big fan of RWW, and have read or listened to most or of the Doc Form books. This just did not meet expectation.

What was most disappointing about Randy Wayne White’s story?

not much of a story

How did the narrator detract from the book?

No

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Gone?

I would not have published it.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Like the book, Randy Wayne is GONE!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I was expecting something like an old Doc Ford. What I got was o Romance Novel

Has Gone turned you off from other books in this genre?

It has turned me off to any more books in this series!

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Renee Raudman?

Renee did OK, but the story killed her

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Great Disappointment!

1 of 3 people found this review helpful