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Florida Readers Will Feel At Home With This Thriller

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By Al HUTCHISON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 7, 2008

"Blood Island," by H. Terrell Griffin (Oceanview Publishing, $24.95)

Here's a recipe for a surefire, contemporary Florida-based yarn: fast-paced adventure, danger at every turn, an evil plot by religious zealots to trigger an international crisis and, importantly, principal characters who are bold, brave and likable, if rather ruthless.

No, "Blood Island" is not the latest from Randy Wayne White, who in recent years has more or less cornered the market for thrillers set on or near Florida's Gulf Coast. But it bears some resemblance, and those who enjoy White's stories will surely find Griffin's tale worthy of their attention. It may also remind some of the popular John D. MacDonald novels of years ago. It doesn't hurt that the dialogue is snappy and spare.

The hero is Matt Royal, a former Orlando lawyer who had enough money to give up his practice after a very sad divorce and move to a home on Longboat Key, just north of Sarasota. But if it's a life of leisure Royal seeks (he calls himself a fun-loving beach bum), he's in for a surprise, and it begins with his discovery of a mutilated body at a nature preserve.

Naturally, one thing leads to another and Royal finds himself in danger at every turn. The scene shifts from Sarasota to Tampa to Key West and, finally, Orlando, so Florida readers will recognize many of the story's stopping places. They'll also recognize the timeliness of the plot as the Good Guys battle not just the Bad Guys but also a fast-approaching moment of bloody horror.

Al Hutchison of Citrus County is a freelance writer.

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