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, on the brink, at a dicey turning point.

Excerpt

The looming billboards were so massive, in contrast the Times Square sign jutting out of the lamppost was totally eclipsed. As if it might have been a relic from a long-ago era before everything had given way.  Here, high above the rooftops to Bud’s right, was a massive Pepsi bottle doing its best to block out the sky, not to be outdone by an equally outsized bottle top on its side. Further ahead as the Square verged into a tip of a triangle, other billboards joined the fray, starting with a domineering Admiral Television and Appliances sign, topped by a Canadian Club whiskey sign, topped by a Chevrolet sign.  All but eclipsed, a lesser billboard around the corner advertised the musical West Side Story—the very same black-and-white logo with the girl ecstatically racing by the tenements pulling her boyfriend along. Other logos and marquees took part by marking the street entrances to buildings so that the Statler Hotel sign didn’t stand a chance.

At the same time, fighting off the prospect of becoming overwhelmed, Bud couldn’t help wondering if Amy had been among the rushing pedestrians who had gotten off the buses and trains. Had they too gotten wind of small town dreams—that legendary call of the lady carnival barker promising never-ending opportunities?

~*~

Getting as overtired as can be, he opted for the radio once again and the show tunes station. Within minutes another song from West Side Story came filtering into his room. This time the star-crossed lovers put the images on the poster to words, yearning for “a special place,” claiming if they held on tight they could take each other there. Somehow, some day, somewhere.

Even after he switched the radio off, the sweet melody and yearning lyrics stayed with him. But soon faded and dovetailed into the dread of what might await him under these pressing circumstances. He finally let go of it all and sank into a fitful sleep.

Readers Favorite

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2024

Bud Palmer's original plan for the weekend involved taking his niece to the Parrot Jungle, but when his Uncle Rick reached out to him with a problem, Bud reluctantly answered the call. Upon arrival, he finds his uncle involved with unscrupulous individuals who demand that he retrieve a valuable case stolen from them by an innocent-looking woman; if he fails, his uncle will ultimately bear the consequences. Time is of the essence as Bud journeys to the Big Apple to find this mysterious woman whose dreams of becoming a star may cost Rick his life in Shelly Frome's Fast Times, Big City.

The character development is remarkable; it provides in-depth justifications for Bud's unwillingness to help Rick, paints an engaging portrait of their family dynamic, and gives readers insight into Rick's character. Shelly Frome's use of subtle references to Batista's struggle with the rebels in Cuba and Irish Republican Army sympathizers' activities creates an impressively realistic background for a narrative set in 1950s America. The dialogue is the best element. Readers will love how each character Bud meets has a charming, brief origin story that perfectly matches their colorful banter. Fans of suspense will appreciate Frome's meticulous attention to detail, which is evident throughout the novel, particularly in Bud's perplexing improv session and the fascinating dynamics surrounding Rick's captors. The author incorporates these distinctive elements gradually into subplots that range from politics to classic mystery. Fast Times, Big City shows a remarkable ability to captivate a diverse readership through a distinctive storytelling approach.

www.shellyfrome.com "All art is the result of having been in danger. Venturing as far as one can go and beyond." Rilke