John Burdett "Bangkok 8" "The Last Six Million Seconds", "Bangkok Tatoo" I love finding a new author and here is one I particularly recommend as a gift for any guy who has spent some time living outside of the US. These books are set in Hong Kong and Thialand. A subtle and sly running comparison of Eastern and Western cultures, along with a cop mystery, keep things entertaining. Not a techno-thriller shoot 'em up, but rather interesting crime and culture. Well done. Recommended as a gift for a guy who like to see how things work outside the US.
Robert Parker: An author you can trust. One who is both prolific and good. That's Robert Parker. I particularly like his Jesse Stone character. I also like his Sunny Randall character. When Jesse and Sunny get together... as in "Blue Screen", it's very good.
Parker spins crime stories that are nearly as good as Woods in his middle years... and far better than Woods now. If you haven't discovered Parker yet, be happy! You have about 60 good books to read!
James O. Born "Walking Money", "Shock Wave" and more. Stories set in S. Florida, including near my house in the Keys, with excellent characters. The author has been a law enforcement agent and he writes from the inside. Any of Born's books would be a great gift for any guy who has ever set foot in Miami. Great fun to read. Always a good gift choice.
Mike Doogan -- "Lost Angel", "Capitol Offense" -- Crime set in Alaska! IF you have a man to buy for who has ever been to Alaska or who would like to go to Alaska, get him a couple of Mike Doogan's books. Doogan has a strong yet sympathetic character in an ex-cop who faces both crime and the environment. Excellent settings and good characters. Recommended for anyone who owns (or wishes for) a 4-wheel drive.
You are always responsible for your own safety and actions. Florida is a great place to fly, but there are hazards as different as 1000 foot+ plus antenna towers (a LOT of them!), birds, high winds, poor horizontal visibiity, thunderstorms that come out of nowhere, and many other airplanes. The information on this site reflects the impressions and opinions of the author and is not guaranteed to be correct when you read it or when you use it. Nothing can substitute for planning using information from official sources. All articles copyright Frank J. Derfler 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and may not be used without proper attribution.