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Big Maria

By: Johnny Shaw
Narrated by: David de Vries
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Publisher's summary

Somewhere in Arizona’s Chocolate Mountains lie the Big Maria Mine and a wealth of gold lost for 100 years. There’s only one problem: Those mountains are now the home of the US Army Proving Ground, the world’s largest active artillery range. But for Harry, Ricky, and Frank, three down-at-the-heels guys with few dollars but plenty of dreams, the gold offers each of them a chance for a new life. Are scuba diving through an underwater ghost town; facing down a hungry mountain lion; doing the hesitation waltz across a minefield; matching wits with potheads, pit bulls, and bikers; and braving the might of Uncle Sam’s full arsenal worth it?

With little more than a samurai sword, a severed head, and an impractical amount of optimism, these intrepid soldiers of (mis)fortune are about to find out.

©2012 Johnny Shaw (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Big Maria

Average customer ratings
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A modern day Tressure of the Sierra Madre

Three down on their luck men become freinds, and a journey that will test their cores.

After relaying a old family tale of a lost gold mine, curiosity sets in and the hunt for gold begins.

Its difficult to give an adequate teaser with out giving away the glorious threds of this tale.
Probably my favorite Johnny Shaw novel so far but, I think I say that after each book.

I would recommend giving this gritty tale a chance.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun

thoroughly enjoyable listen great way to pass time I would highly recommend this book to anyone

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Funny, dry humor

This book was so funny with dry humor. Loved the main characters and their relationship.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I liked the story until ...

I was enjoying the story until the group got "higher than they'd ever been" from eating raw marijuana... dumb and irritating mistake... cannabis has to be decarboxylated to be psychoactive...

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Story & Performance

what a hoot, famtastic funny story. The narator was phenomenal and played all the parts great. I laughed from start to finish

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Three men walk into a desert

Three down on their luck men (an unemployed bus driver, a "disabled" prison guard, and a Cancer stricken Native American) are in pursuit of gold they believe lays undiscovered in an abondoned mine named Big Maria, which also happens to be in the middle of a desert. If that wasn't bad enough, it's in the midst of an army artillery range. AND chasing after them are enemies, family members, and just old fashioned bad luck. You won't learn anything from this story, but the crude humor, the outlandish horrible plot twists, and just waiting until the end to see if there really is gold or not kept me entertained, which in this current day is quite a feat. I'd recommend to my friends who still giggle at dirty phrases, but hey, I'm still friends with them in spite of that. If there's one thing that Big Maria does help you figure out: the journey of life is better with friends, even if you get nothing else from it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Adventure and smarmy humor - what's not to love?!

Awesome story! The excellent narration added to the depth of characters and the overall story.
I agree with some of the other reviews that there are crude parts and foul language - so if you find that offensive, you may want to take a pass on this.
But I disagree with comments that this is a 'guys' book. I am a middle-age female who keeps cursing to a minimum, but still really enjoyed this..

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Medium Hot

I am really surprised that no one else has rated this book yet because Johnny Shaw writes books for guys from a male's point of view. His humor really shows in his stories and his use of everyday foul language is so commonly use in his characters where it becomes laughable in his subtle jokes

After reading "Dove Season", I was really excited to read "Big Maria". It's not as good as his previous title, which you should read, but "Big Maria" will give you a good adventure, in finding the treasure of gold.

Once you read this book, you will understand the joke of being Medium Hot. I will always be a fan of Shaw because like a romance author, he writes with all of his testosterone firing.

I hope that I'm the not the only person that who writes a review on this book.

I finished it within a day.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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a positive in a world of negatives

All of the twists and turns and miraculous escapes made me believe in fate and miracles too. I cared about these characters.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Crazy Adventure and Crude Humor - GOOD STUFF

Every now and then I find an author I've never heard of before and it's like hearing a great new song.
In this case it's Johnny Shaw. This guy has the right combination of crude humor, bad-ass plot, and a certain quirky, slightly crazy, twisted point of view.
I should say this too: IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY.
It's more of a guy thing.
If you're PC, or easily offended, don't buy it.
If dirty jokes turn you off, go read something on Oprah's list. This is not for prudes.
It's not the work of a genius of literature.
If you love a dirty joke and a crazy adventure this is for you.
It's funny. It's raw. It makes me laugh right out loud even when I'm not feeling very well.
It's the kind of humor I grew up with when I hung around up the schoolyard.

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7 people found this helpful