Book Review
Big Shoes by Jack Getze
Book 4: Austin Carr Mystery Series
Publisher: Down & Out Books
Publication Date: September 7, 2015
Format: Paperback - 198 pages
Kindle - 936 KB
ISBN: 978-1943402052
ASIN: B0140MXDFCGenre: Mystery / Crime / Humor
Buy The Book:
Buy The Series: Austin Carr Mystery Series
Book 1: Big Numbers
Book 2: Big Money
Book 3: Big Mojo
Book 4: Big Shoes
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Sage's Blog Tours.
Book Description:
Jersey Shore broker Austin Carr wants out of the stock and bond business but un-hooking from his mobbed-up partner won’t be painless. Angelina “Mama Bones” Bonacelli is best known for professional consultations that deteriorate into criminal violence, breakfast appointments raided by the FBI and one particular Power Point presentation to a Jersey state racing commission that ended in automatic weapons fire. Good thing she likes Austin.
Book Excerpt:
Two days later Mama Bones watches Johnny the Turk Korsay stride across the Pardon Me's main dining room, the king-size man seventy this year, same as Mama Bones, and still swinging his big you-know-what when he walks. Proud of himself. Not brainy and quick like smarty pants Austin, but street wise and tough, maybe a genius for odds and numbers. They say Turk also has a built-in, natural lie-detector.
Makes sense to Mama Bones. Before he brought the Korsay family to America in 1970, they say Turk's father was a Lebanese-born camel trader from Egypt. Made a fortune selling two-humped middle-eastern camels to Abdel Nasser's Egyptian army. You can't make up a story like that.
Mama Bones sits at her three-quarter-circle control station, the Pardon Me’s biggest corner booth. She's perched near the center, at the top of the circle, the orange leather cushions stretching out from her on either side. Enough room for six or seven adults. A right-angle corner of brick walls protects her back. Over on her right side, like always, is Gianni, and behind him the four-inch thick, bulletproof bay window she had made special. On her left is nobody.
The Turk marches to the edge of her table but keeps his gaze off Mama Bones. He stands with his hands hidden inside his suit coat pockets, staring at Gianni. There's a story about him killing a rival once this way, whipping a pistol from his coat and shooting. But Mama Bones isn't worried. Too many witnesses at the Pardon Me Diner.
Turk says, “Just the two of us, Angelina.”
Mama Bones glances at Gianni. He scoots around and out of the booth without a word to either one of them. She knows he won't go far, and she also knows he has two of his men in the room eating breakfast.
“Sit down and talk to me, Johnny,” Mama Bones says. She almost calls him Fat Johnny, the nickname Mama Bones gave him in high school. “How come you want to see me today, huh?”
The Turk slides his six-five, two-hundred and sixty pound body onto the far edge of Mama Bones’ booth. Nice suit he’s wearing. Charcoal gray, and -- what she hears -- hand made in London. Over fifty-thousand bucks apiece.
“Billy Z tells me you interfered with the stockbroker,” Turk says.
Mama Bones’ espresso is cold but not like the Turk’s dark brown eyes. Frozen solid. She gives him ice cubes back, says, “I know a guy says you tried to kidnap my nieces from a trailer.”
Makes sense to Mama Bones. Before he brought the Korsay family to America in 1970, they say Turk's father was a Lebanese-born camel trader from Egypt. Made a fortune selling two-humped middle-eastern camels to Abdel Nasser's Egyptian army. You can't make up a story like that.
Mama Bones sits at her three-quarter-circle control station, the Pardon Me’s biggest corner booth. She's perched near the center, at the top of the circle, the orange leather cushions stretching out from her on either side. Enough room for six or seven adults. A right-angle corner of brick walls protects her back. Over on her right side, like always, is Gianni, and behind him the four-inch thick, bulletproof bay window she had made special. On her left is nobody.
The Turk marches to the edge of her table but keeps his gaze off Mama Bones. He stands with his hands hidden inside his suit coat pockets, staring at Gianni. There's a story about him killing a rival once this way, whipping a pistol from his coat and shooting. But Mama Bones isn't worried. Too many witnesses at the Pardon Me Diner.
Turk says, “Just the two of us, Angelina.”
Mama Bones glances at Gianni. He scoots around and out of the booth without a word to either one of them. She knows he won't go far, and she also knows he has two of his men in the room eating breakfast.
“Sit down and talk to me, Johnny,” Mama Bones says. She almost calls him Fat Johnny, the nickname Mama Bones gave him in high school. “How come you want to see me today, huh?”
The Turk slides his six-five, two-hundred and sixty pound body onto the far edge of Mama Bones’ booth. Nice suit he’s wearing. Charcoal gray, and -- what she hears -- hand made in London. Over fifty-thousand bucks apiece.
“Billy Z tells me you interfered with the stockbroker,” Turk says.
Mama Bones’ espresso is cold but not like the Turk’s dark brown eyes. Frozen solid. She gives him ice cubes back, says, “I know a guy says you tried to kidnap my nieces from a trailer.”
My Book Review:
What's a nice guy like New Jersey stockbroker Austin Carr doing getting himself in the middle of a mafia war?
Austin wants out of the stock and bond business, but his temporary business partner, Angelina "Mama Bones" Bonacelli won't have any of it! Mama Bones is a tough old mafia lady who dabbles in racketeering on the Jersey shore, and has direct ties to a once powerful New York crime family. So when Mama Bones tells Austin that he can't leave the business, all hell breaks loose, and Austin finds himself caught up in the middle of a mafia war with a rival boardwalk crime crew. So who will end up wearing the big shoes in this humorous mystery tale?
In Big Shoes, the fourth book in the Austin Carr Mystery Series, author Jack Getze weaves an entertaining mystery tale that transports the reader to the New Jersey shore town of Branchtown to follow the latest madcap adventure of stockbroker Austin Carr.
This fast paced thriller of a crime story easily keeps the readers entertained as Austin and Mama Bones deal with Johnny "The Turk" Korsay, a local rival mob boss and his crew. I really enjoyed how the author provides the reader with a crime tale that has a great mixture of humor and mystery, you can't help but get hooked as Austin and Mama Bones deal with the rival mob crew, and finds themselves in some pretty crazy laugh out loud circumstances that will tickle your funny bone.
In Big Shoes, author Jack Getze weaves a well written tale that has an action packed storyline with intriguing twists and turns that will easily keep the reader turning the pages, and an interesting cast of characters who will keep the reader in stitches with their madcap interactions and quirky banter. I haven't read any of the previous books in the Austin Carr Mystery Series, but after following the charming big grin wearing Austin and my favorite Italian bossy lady Mama Bones, I find myself wanting to go back and read about Austin's past adventures. Big Shoes can be read in sequential order of the series, or it can be a stand alone read. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I really enjoyed the NJ shore setting, the author gets two thumbs up for providing the reader with a rich description of the local shore towns and attractions from my home state that are close to my heart.
If you are looking for a thoroughly entertaining mystery tale with an enticing mixture of comedy and noir intertwined, then look no further, Big Shoes is the book for you!
RATING: 4 STARS
About The Author
Author Website / Blog
Goodreads
Contest Giveaway
Author Jack Getze is giving away 20 copies of his book, Big Shoes!
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Virtual Book Tour
Tour Schedule:
January 6th my name is Sage ~ REVIEW
January 8th Brayton's Briefs ~ INTERVIEW
January 10th The Goth Girl Reads ~ REVIEW
January 11th Fiction Zeal ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT & EXCERPT
January 12th Puddletown Reviews ~ REVIEW
January 13th Around the World in Books ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT
January 14th The Book Adventures of Emily ~ INTERVIEW
January 15th Freda Hansburg ~ INTERVIEW
January 16th Celtic Lady's Book Reviews ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT
January 17th Indy Book Fairy ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT
January 18th Books are love ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT
January 20th Outset ~ REVIEW
January 22nd Jersey Girl Book Reviews ~ REVIEW
January 22nd Ali - The Dragon Slayer ~ REVIEW
January 23rd Book and Ink ~ REVIEW
January 24th enthralling dimple ~ REVIEW
January 24th Hogwash ~ REVIEW
January 25th Reecaspieces ~ REVIEW
January 25th The Book Adventures of Emily ~ REVIEW
Thank you for the kind words, Kathleen. You really made my day with this review. Feels like I wrote this book for you as you seem to understand EXACTLY what I was trying to do. Thank you again. FYI, Mama Bones made her first appearance in #2 Big Money and has expanded her role in each of the two books since. If you're a Mama fan, you'll want to read Mojo next. Let me know, I'll send you one.
ReplyDeleteHi Jack! Thank you for the opportunity to host your virtual book tour event. I really enjoyed reading Big Shoes, I laughed a lot as I read the book. Being from Jersey, I definitely got it, boy did you nail everything right on the head. lol I loved Mama Bones, I think she should get her own series, just saying! ;) I am going to go back and read the series in sequential order, you got yourself a new fan! :)
DeleteHi - I promoted this book but haven't had a chance to read it ... yet. I think I already like the character of Angelina “Mama Bones” Bonacelli just by her name. :)
ReplyDelete@dino0726 from
FictionZeal - Impartial, Straightforward Fiction Book Reviews
Hi Diane, thank you for stopping by, I appreciate it. :) You'll love Mama Bones, she was definitely my favorite character, but all of the quirky characters and the fun storyline make this a really enjoyable book to read. :)
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