Wall
Street’s miasmal garbage washes up on the Jersey Shore when a small
time broker falls in love: Is he attracted to the beautiful lady—or her
brother’s inside information? Held spellbound by a steamy, auburn-haired
woman with a dubious past and a get-rich-quick, insider trading scheme,
Austin Carr knocks down a beehive of bad-acting Bonacellis, including
the ill-tempered “Mr. Vic” Bonacelli, who wants his redhead back, and
local mob lieutenant Angelina “Mama Bones” Bonacelli, architect of a
strange and excruciating death trap for the fast-talking stockbroker she
calls smarty pants. To survive, Austin must unravel threads of
jealousy, revenge and new affections, discover the fate of a pseudo ruby
called the Big Mojo and slam the lid on a pending United States of
America vs. Austin Carr insider trading case. Can Austin and his Jersey
Shore mouthpiece possibly out maneuver the savvy U.S. District Attorney
from Manhattan? Will anything matter for Austin ever again if Mama Bones
flips that switch?
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Jack Getze hasn't disappointed yet - Austin Carr continues battling bad luck in the third of the series, 'Bad Mojo.'
While the second ended on a cliffhanger which shows the main character's financial fortune may finally be turning around, this continuation of the story shows that particular journey is always perilous and on the brink of being lost.
While Carr holds back a little with his trademark 'full-boat grin' being written in' he's as likeable as ever. Unless it's my imagination, his previous brushes with danger have given him more of a backbone now when facing foes who want to beat him to a pulp or worse. He's still as tempted by dangerous women, however, which almost always gets him into some kind of trouble.
Mama Bones has a stronger firmhold on the story as she dabbles with superstitious creations, resulting in the heart of this book's humor. Louis is as clever and captivating as ever, even if he may have finally met his match.
I enjoyed Austin's parenting woes with his aging daughter, Beth, especially in a funny exchange at the bar and grill. These funny touches are a delight to read, but even if the humor is removed, there's always something happening and pacing is strong to the end. I can almost hear TV show theme music playing in the background as Austin either saunters or flees from one adventure to another.
Mystery wise, there's a nice twist or two at the end I wouldn't have guessed, as well as a clever save that results in yet another turn-around in Austin's life. The series continues to improve with each book, with this one being the best of the three. Can't wait to read more!
