Big Money is a great read!! It's Book Two in the Austin Carr screwball mystery series, following Big Numbers (which I reviewed here).

Austin Carr is a lovable scamp of a stockbroker who, through no fault of his own, manages to find himself in one crazy scrape after another.

Author Jack Getze hooks his readers from the beginning, by starting Big Money (told from Austin's point of view) near the end of the action. Austin is in a perilous predicament, where he's in fear for his life from an undisclosed practically nude woman with a loaded shotgun. (She is wearing white athletic socks, like that really makes a difference, but I digress.) Austin then tells his tale from the beginning, so the reader can find out how Austin gets into that predicament, as well as many more precarious situations prior to it.

This technique works - it was so hard to put Big Money down. I wanted to continue reading, because I had to find out the identity of the shotgun-wielding woman, plus learn how Austin got himself into that mess in the first place. Getze kept me guessing until the end.

Have I convinced you yet? Big Money is a great read, four-star rated, and I really enjoyed it! I think you will enjoy it also, if you like light funny mysteries that are more noir than cozy. The characters are well-written, interesting, and quirky. Big Money is entertaining, fast-paced, action-packed, thrilling, and suspenseful, with unexpected twists and turns, and highly recommended by Jane Reads.

Stop by our blog to learn more about Big Money.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of Big Money from the author, with no expectation of a positive review.


{Review originally published at Jane Reads}


( )

My first Jack Getze and it won't be my last.

Mix of Noir with Humour.

Is Noir really only about sex and money, and revenge? I'd say not as this book (and others) have proved.

There have been several attempts where the combination of Humor and Noir succeeded. Not many unfortunately. There's a very thin line of authors who were (are) able to write in this vein. If the situation of the doomed noir protagonist is made humorous, I may not believe in it. Lose the accepted doom and Noir can easily become ridiculous. Only Charles Willeford comes to mind. I won't say there are not other writers who haven't successfully done it, but I don't recall any.


You can find the rest of this review on my blog. ( )

I was pleased to re-read and re-visit this after several years, having remembered it fondly from the first read years ago.

Carr is a character you love to love. Clumsy-mouthed, endearing but all male and honest about it, his witty sarcasm incites nearly constant chuckles as the poor sap finds himself in bizarre messes that only further complicate his already haphazard-laden life. Understanding Carr made it easier to feel the frantic tension - and there was loads of it - that Getze kept throwing at the protagonist. I dig his feelings and thoughts toward his kids, his way of twisting things around at the end of the story, and his general life outlook.

Being in the villains head sometimes bounced from disturbing to intriguing, for 'the Creeper' was an especially fascinating villain. The ending with him was a suitable scene, but I do kind of wonder what would have happened if the deal that was made with him played out. Probably wouldn't have lasted long!

Mama Bones was a riot and a mystery of her own. And, after loving Luis from the original book, I enjoyed seeing more of him here, where he meets life changes of his own.

Typically books (and films) feel the urge to introduce some sort of love story, almost as if it's a required afterthought, but I'm pleased to have been left on the tips of my toes as to whether that would have happened here or not. There were plenty of surprises encountered when it came to characters, twists I never anticipated coming. The ultimate villain was one I didn't suspect, and one of the accomplices? Whoah. Somehow Getze made this all a big mystery without the reader necessarily knowing it's supposed to be such a mystery. With my guard down, I didn't look for as many clues as I should have.

For a thriller, pacing was continously rife with uh-oh moments that held no easy resolution in sight. Just when I was getting near what turned out to be either the climax or resolution of a certain story-line, something jumped up and struck me, introducing a whole new story arc I never saw coming. Who I thought would be the main villain, didn't always turn out to be. This is a "thinking" book in which many points and questions are constantly afloat in the brain. Excellent writing techniques led me places I had no idea I'd be visiting, written in ways that flowed smoothly and made the finish line appear quickly.

With such a marriage of characterization and hefty plot lines that head out in so many bizarre directions, this book was an easy read to finish. A rich mystery it is, heavy with in-depth layers that take awhile to uncover and are nearly impossible to guess yourself. Twists and surprises that always left me wide eyed. Sarcastic one-liners and bizarre characters (Creeper) which left me giggling. The ending was a polished gem, finalizing the journey with extreme oomph that made it even more worthwhile. Big Money in no way short-changes the reader as it doles out fun times that keep coming. ( )

I found Big Money a light, humorous and entertaining read. Not only did I laugh with Austin, I laughed at him. Jack Getze and Austin Carr have a rather perverted sense of humor and I love it. There is more mystery and thrills going on than first meets the eye. It seems like a simple little story, but keeps spreading out, drawing in characters you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley, or anywhere for that matter. So, don’t blink. You may not see it coming.

Let’s see what kind of mayhem Austin Carr is up to today. I’m sure we can find him at his usual haunt, Luis’s Mexican Grill.

A naked lady is pointing a shotgun in Austin Carr’s face. I am not surprised that the book starts out this way. It is par for the course in Austin Carr’s world.

Austin is a hard drinking, margarita loving kinda guy that seems to attract trouble just by breathing. I would like to compare him to some noir character, but he is so low, I don’t think there is another one like him. When I think he can’t get any lower, he digs the hole deeper. Morals and ethics are nonexistent when the femme fatale walk into the room. He’s a horny, seat of your pants kind of guy.

Austin’s stockbrokers license has been suspended, so he joined forces with Vic and some other pals at Shore Securities.

There is no lechery too base in the pursuit of love or big commissions.

Humor and mayhem rule Austin’s life. I can’t help but laugh at the messes he gets himself into, mostly because of women. He tends to think with the wrong brain. He has a bad habit of opening his mouth and inserting his foot.

All that being said, I love him. Just can’t help myself. So join me while we see how he gets out of another fine mess.

I received a signed paperback from Jack Getze in return for an honest and unbiased review. I have reviewed another books of his, Big Numbers so I was happy to oblige. ( )

Big Money is a great read!! It's Book Two in the Austin Carr screwball mystery series, following Big Numbers, which I reviewed on my blog.

Austin Carr is a lovable scamp of a stockbroker who, through no fault of his own, manages to find himself in one crazy scrape after another.

Author Jack Getze hooks his readers from the beginning, by starting Big Money (told from Austin's point of view) near the end of the action. Austin is in a perilous predicament, where he's in fear for his life from an undisclosed practically nude woman with a loaded shotgun. (She is wearing white athletic socks, like that really makes a difference, but I digress.) Austin then tells his tale from the beginning, so the reader can find out how Austin gets into that predicament, as well as many more precarious situations prior to it.

This technique works - it was so hard to put Big Money down. I wanted to continue reading, because I had to find out the identity of the shotgun-wielding woman, plus learn how Austin got himself into that mess in the first place. Getze kept me guessing until the end.

Have I convinced you yet? Big Money is a great read, and I really enjoyed it! I think you will enjoy it also, if you like light funny mysteries that are more noir than cozy. The characters are well-written, interesting, and quirky. Big Money is entertaining, fast-paced, action-packed, thrilling, and suspenseful, with unexpected twists and turns, and highly recommended by Jane Reads.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of Big Money from the author, with no expectation of a positive review.

{Review originally published at http://janereads2.blogspot.com/2014/03/big-money-by-jack-getze-blog-tour.html#mo... } ( )