Big Time: Big Time

The book feels like it ought to be trash. But it isn't. It is histrionic - almost, but not quite, to the point of absurdity; and is really a compulsive read.

this book was a breathtaking heart racer every minute was either suspensful or dramtic or action packed its been one of the greatest books I haven't seen book quality like this since the stephen king collection of novels came abroad. "Big time" was worth every minute of the 18 hours i read it i coudln't put it down it was 530 pages of pure murder/suspense gold i haven't read a book this good in a while "BIG TIME" is a must read thrill ride of a book the details displayed are the most mind blowing imagery details this book is the best

If you want to judge Big Time go to page 264 where the musician is hiding as a piano player on "the Love Boat" and discovers a young South American singer with a voice like Billie Holiday. The scene moves. It doesn't have the Pirandello intricacies of a Puzo plot, nor is there any particular point to the novel: but it is a plan good well written read. Forgetting about Elmore Leonard and Eugene Izzi for a moment, the only writer of suspense that I know who equals Montecino is Gerald Petievich. And if you have never read Paramour by Petievich then you are in for a second treat.

For those of you who liked "Crosskiller" you will almost certainly enjoy "Big Time." Set in Louisiana, the high seas, Brazil, and L.A., it spans the globe to give you the constant variety of a man relentlessly pursued. What makes this book better than "Crosskiller" is the convincing interplay between the protaganist and that teenybopper, sexpot, Madonna wanna-be Isabel. Montecino makes them work well, oh so well, together, and also convincingly pulls them apart. The book's only problem was its first 100 or so pages, which mainly consist of the protaganist being hysterical with himself ("I gotta get outta here!" etc. etc.). But enjoy, enjoy everything else. And for Brazilophiles there's even the added bonus of having the leading lady be a Brazilian. Que bom!

Previous to this book, I read Montecino's Crosskiller. This book is far better, though I thought Crosskiller was great. Big Time is a great book if you like those shoot-em-up, mafia, run-for-your-life type of books. Very suspenseful, full of energy. I would recommend it.