The Avid Book Collector: Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ BIG SHOES (Austin Carr Mysteries) by Jack Getze

Big Shoes

Series: Austin Carr Mysteries
by Jack Getze

Paperback: 198 pages

Publisher: Down & Out Books (September 7, 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1943402051

ISBN-13: 978-1943402052

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.

She just won’t let Austin out of the business. Plus Johnny “The Turk” Korsay is on a rampage and had his crooked cops arrest Luis, the bartender Austin’s best friend. Why? Because Austin saw The Turk kill Heriberto. And now he’s gunning for the stock broker.

It’s another brush with violent death and a sexy redhead for Austin Carr when Mama Bones and her rival Jersey associate of a fading New York crime family battle for the future of imported sex slaves, boardwalk tourist business and surprising horse racing secrets, past and present.

“Big Shoes is a five-star romp.”
--Rick Bylina, best-selling author of One Promise Too Many

In his fancy London-made charcoal gray suit, Johnny the Turk Korsay studies his old high school rival, Mama Bones. Just like half a century ago, his dark eyes don’t blink or show her what he’s thinking. Turk watches her in a cool and easy way, his baseball-glove size hands resting on the coffee shop table, fingers folded together, lips grim, waiting for Mama Bones to explain what happened with Billy and Austin Carr. Turk always knew the golden rule of getting wise: you learn nothing while you talk.

Fat chance I tell you the truth, Fat Johnny. “I paid Billy twenty-five thousand to shoot the stockbroker,” Mama Bones says. “I paid for Billy to shoot and bury him somewhere so I can dig him up later.”

Turk’s jaw sets like quick-dry cement. His eyebrows push so low, they cover half his eyeballs. “You paid Billy to disobey my orders, tried to turn him against me?”

Mama Bones sets down her espresso cup hastily. The China rattles. “No. That’s not right. I offered to pay Billy twenty-five grand to shoot and bury the stockbroker instead of throwing him in the water. I figured dead is dead, what’s the difference?”

“Why would you do that?”

Mama Bones spreads her hands in front of her chest like she’s gonna catch a giant beach ball. “Just business, Johnny. My son Vic and I have to prove Austin Carr is one hundred percent, completely dead to the insurance company. Without a body, we can’t get legal control of Bonacelli Investments for years.”

Turk sighs. “So you can show me Austin Carr’s body?”

“No. Billy didn’t get a chance to tell me where he put him.”

The Turk frowns. Uncertain.

Mama Bones tries to look like she lost a big bet. “It’s a big problem. You have any idea where Billy might have stashed him? Without a body, our lawyers say it could be seven years before he’s declared legally dead.”

She stares confidently into Turk’s probing gaze. He’s pissed she did something behind his back, but he’s confused about the rest. She fooled him, pretty much. Her story makes sense and he can’t really believe she’d lie to him—total baloney like a cheating husband. He couldn’t imagine Austin is standing fifty feet away in a fake wig and beard, the new cook, that tall skinny biker guy tossing burgers.

She pours herself more coffee from the pot Marlene left. Takes her time. Smiling at him. “Sure you don’t want a piece of pie?”

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Former L.A. Times reporter Jack Getze is Fiction Editor for Anthony nominated Spinetingler Magazine, one of the internet's oldest websites for noir, crime and horror short stories. His award-winning Austin Carr mystery series is published by Down & Out Books. The latest, BIG SHOES, won Deadly Ink's David Award for Best Mystery of 2015. His short fiction has appeared in A Twist of Noir, Beat to a Pulp, The Big Adios and several anthologies.