Book Title: Fast Times, Big City by Shelly Frome
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 284 pages
Genre: Historcal Escapade, Crime Fiction
Publisher: BQB Publishing
Release date: March 2024
Content Rating: PG. Rated PG for the times some of the mob characters utter mild curse words
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 284 pages
Genre: Historcal Escapade, Crime Fiction
Publisher: BQB Publishing
Release date: March 2024
Content Rating: PG. Rated PG for the times some of the mob characters utter mild curse words
~ International Impact Award ~
~ Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite ~
~ Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite ~
5.0 out of 5 stars Madcap Romp Through the Fifties!
Fast Times, Big City says it all as we are treated to not one, but two, and maybe peripherally even three or four major cities, as the action jumps from Miami to New York City to mentions of Havana and even Dublin. And once the action gets rolling, it never stops. But it's action unlike any that's ever been mishmashed together before. In a madcap romp involving a runaway nubile starlet and a silver briefcase we have gangsters, mobsters, grifters, beatniks, buskers, beat poets, method actors, hot off the press reporters, precocious kids, wisecracking detectives, smarmy street dealers and meddling families. Along the way we pick up several famous and infamous characters who make an appearance for a scene or two and then reappear later with a more interesting role. Some only have a walk-on and are never seen again. But everything ends up wrapped up neatly with a bow and even sprinkled with some sugar on top at the very end.
I found this to be extremely humorous and tongue-in-cheek and firmly ensconced in New York City and Miami of the Fifties. The scenery, down to the food, clothing, music and art, were so well depicted that I felt like I was along for the ride with Bud. This is truly a unique tale and a must read for those who love a type of noir you don't find every day.
-- review by DTChanel
Fast Times, Big City says it all as we are treated to not one, but two, and maybe peripherally even three or four major cities, as the action jumps from Miami to New York City to mentions of Havana and even Dublin. And once the action gets rolling, it never stops. But it's action unlike any that's ever been mishmashed together before. In a madcap romp involving a runaway nubile starlet and a silver briefcase we have gangsters, mobsters, grifters, beatniks, buskers, beat poets, method actors, hot off the press reporters, precocious kids, wisecracking detectives, smarmy street dealers and meddling families. Along the way we pick up several famous and infamous characters who make an appearance for a scene or two and then reappear later with a more interesting role. Some only have a walk-on and are never seen again. But everything ends up wrapped up neatly with a bow and even sprinkled with some sugar on top at the very end.
I found this to be extremely humorous and tongue-in-cheek and firmly ensconced in New York City and Miami of the Fifties. The scenery, down to the food, clothing, music and art, were so well depicted that I felt like I was along for the ride with Bud. This is truly a unique tale and a must read for those who love a type of noir you don't find every day.
-- review by DTChanel
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About the Book
Like most people, Bud Palmer felt this was just another day. Though the era was drawing to a close, he assumed his life as a sports columnist in the subtropics, in keeping with the benign fifties itself, would go on as predictable as ever. But that particular autumn morning he was thrust into a caper that was totally beyond him, forced him to leave Miami and take the train to Manhattan, and suddenly found everything in this restless "Big Apple" was up for grabs, at a dicey turning point.
My Review
Expect an Entertaining Journey into the 1950's. It took me a couple of chapters to settle into the writing style and the setting as the author jumped into the dialogue and the story began to take shape. I enjoyed the "historical" setting and the character dynamics--and the clean style of the storytelling. It was an entertaining look at the world through the author's descriptions of the times presented.
Expect More of a Character-Driven Story than a Mystery. In true amateur sleuth, cozy mystery fashion, the storyline is rather predictable, with some sometimes unrealistic coincidences, and some of the character interactions are somewhat cliche. While there isn't much of a thrilling mystery to solve, you will definitely find character dilemmas and you will enjoy reading along as the plot progresses and Bud battles through the situations thrown upon him.
Would I Recommend Fast Times, Big City by Shelly Frome? The author does a wonderful job bringing the 50s to life in this story--and transporting readers from city to city and scene to scene. There are enough moments of humor and likable characters to engage the reader from beginning to end. While I wasn't sure what Bud was doing at times--I enjoyed his character and rooted for him all the way through the novel. It's a fun crime novel that will appeal to amateur sleuth fans and lovers of light mysteries where the main characters are thrown into situations out of their elements.
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add to goodreads
Meet the Author
Shelly Frome is a member of Mystery Writers of America, a professor of dramatic arts emeritus at UConn, a former professional actor, and a writer of crime novels and books on theater and film. He also is a features writer for Gannett Publications. His fiction includes Sun Dance for Andy Horn, Lilac Moon, Twilight of the Drifter, Tinseltown Riff, Murder Run, Moon Games, The Secluded Village Murders, Miranda and the D-Day Caper and Shadow of the Gypsy. Among his works of non-fiction are The Actors Studio: A History, a guide to playwriting and one on screenwriting, Fast Times, Big City is his latest foray into the world of crime and the amateur sleuth.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ goodreads
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FAST TIMES BIG CITY by Shelly Frome Book Tour Giveaway
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