Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed: A Novel [Hardcover]

Marc Blatte (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2009

On a manic ride from the mixing boards of hip-hop recording studios to mansions in the Hamptons and the projects of the urban ghetto, Detective Black Sallie Blue Eyes ventures behind-the-scenes of the record business in search of a street-side assassin. Casting a widely satirical net on all spectra and species of the Manhattan social scene—from tweaking downtown hipsters, wrestling fetishists, and rapper wannabes to real estate moguls and hip-hop impresarios—this satirical urban noir novel offers intrigue, insight, and an innovative brand of humor.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Blatte's inartful debut presents a murder investigation through the eyes of three characters: a traditional NYPD detective, Sal Messina (aka Black Sallie Blue Eyes); a young thug called Scholar, who manages Proof Positive, a hip-hop group; and Spahiu Congoli (aka Vooko), a refugee from Kosovo. When Vooko's cousin Pashko is gunned down in a Manhattan parking lot, Vooko vows revenge on those responsible. Black Sallie, who's developed an uncanny shit detector, pursues leads ranging from players in the music industry to Sheldon Kessler, an influential real estate mogul. What little insight Blatte, a Clio Award–winning songwriter and producer, offers into the music business doesn't compensate for mundane prose ("Four dudes emerged from the heat and flames and came to a swift halt once they saw several officers with drawn guns") and a routine plot. (Mar.)
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Review

"Entertaining debut mystery."  —Library Journal

"Marc Blatte puts his street cred on the line with this hugely entertaining, rollercoaster ride through New York's most dangerous, most colorful precincts. His bouncers, police detectives, and hip-hop musicians are unforgettable men and women who collide, with unfortunate results in one unforgettable novel." —Ken Kalfus, 2006 National Book Award Finalist in Fiction

"Reading Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed, the pages flew. I went through them like money. Marc is a natural born storyteller, as incapable of writing a boring sentence as he was in his former life of writing a lackluster melody."  —Peter deJonge, coauthor, Beach House

"After living in California all these years, it's a pleasure to be hit with this big dose of New York energy. A broad spectrum of characters appears here, dangerous flaws and wild humanity intact."  —Marianne Rogoff, San Francisco Chronicle

"A rollicking page-turner that engrosses the reader from page one—a unique, hip, urban whodunit that ushers in a new voice to the mystery genre."  —John Burdett, author, Bangkok 8 and Bangkok Haunts

"Marc Blatte writes like a freight train on fire. Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed is as elegantly twisted and satisfying as the best urban crime novels . . . as crackling and colorful as the city of New York itself."  —Fred Berner, executive producer, Law & Order

"A dark, witty, and often brilliant novel . . . such shocking good fun, you won't feel guilty about laughing at all the carnage."  —Mystery Scene

"The audacious dialogue makes Humpty Dumpty seem like a cross between a Grand Theft Auto game and a Richard Price book."  —Philly.Com (Philadelphia Inquirer Online)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 275 pages
• Publisher: Schaffner Press, Inc. (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0980139414
• ISBN-13: 978-0980139419
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,433,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Foreground:
My novel Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed is being made into a movie by Raymond de Felitta writer/director of City Island.
The book has gotten many reviews from fellow authors and critics about which I'm thrilled. Among them:

"Blatte is utterly fearless...the audacious dialogue makes Humpty Dumpty seem like a cross between a Grand Theft Auto game and a Richard Price book."
--The Philadelphia Inquirer

"A dark, witty, and often brilliant novel. Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed is such shocking good fun, you won't feel guilty about laughing at all the carnage."
--Mystery Scene

"A rollicking page turner that engrosses from page one -- a unique, hip, urban whodunit that ushers in a new voice to the mystery genre."
--John Burdett, Author, Bangkok 8


Best of Crime Fiction 2009- January Magazine
Top Fiction Picks 2009- Mostly Fiction



see more at www.marcblatte.com

BackGround:
Grammy nominee, Country Music Award Winner. Peer Publishing Lifetime Acheivement Award, Multiple Clio Awards

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intense, dense, exciting read, April 26, 2009

By 

Duncan McHale (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed: A Novel (Hardcover)

I just finished reading this book. What a read! I just zipped through it. Vivid characters, tight action, multi-level humor, mayhem, cruelty, stupidity, and a whif of love.

The book works great as a detective novel, but it's also a love letter to New York City.

I found it interesting how the depiction of so many unsavory characters left me feeling good about belonging to my species. That's the writer's gift to us.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humpty Dumpty is all it's cracked up to be, March 24, 2009

By 

Charlie "wordwiz8" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed: A Novel (Hardcover)

Humpty Dumpty was Pushed is mystery story that's truly original. The characters are very cool, and Marc Blatte has an impeccable ear for crisp, street-wise dialog. His blend of police action and hip hop music makes for a book you just can't put down. I loved it and so will anyone else who appreciates a good, offbeat thriller.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed, March 17, 2009

By 

Anne K. Edwards "AKE" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed: A Novel (Hardcover)

For any mystery fan who enjoys hip hop, the good life, or a darn good tale with interesting characters, this is for you. This is a story set at the crossroads of our cities with characters from the tenements who have broken away from poverty and those who want to break out but end up doing everything they can to remain as street thugs; the wealthy who enjoy rubbing elbows with the thuggy types but don't acknowledge their existence, and immigrants trying to find a place in this strange world. Standing in the midst of this chaotic mixture is the policeman who must deal with the results of clashes among these groups--murder, theft, stabbings, drugged out rich kids who have no thought for those they hurt.

Talented author Marc Blatte has crafted a story in easy-to-read language that is well worth the time of any mystery or thriller fan. The settings and mix of characters found in any large city are a blend guaranteed to keep you turning the pages.

Detective Black Sallie Blue Eyes and his team must simultaneously find the killer of an immigrant and the gang that stabbed a music producer. With a rich man throwing threats at him, his captain wanting the crimes solved yesterday, and his suspects being freed by a publicity seeking civil rights attorney, the detective is feeling the pressure.

Street thug Scholar and his gang have decided they are going to be hip hop stars and his successful cousin will (or else) make their dream come true. When they are told they need to work on their presentation, they cut up the producer. That Scholar is suspected of murder doesn't help them.

A rich kid has a confrontation with a bouncer and the bouncer ends up hurt with his cousin slain. His rich father hires a top attorney to free him on bail.

I'm pleased to recommend this tale to anyone looking for a good read. There are twists in the plot and the personalities of the characters to make for an excellent tale. You won't want to put it down. Enjoy. I sure did.