Hipster Death Rattle

by Richie Narvaez

Murder is trending. Hipsters are getting slashed to pieces in the hippest neighborhood in New Williamsburg, Brooklyn. While Detectives Petrosino and Hadid hound local gangbangers, slacker reporter Tony Moran and his ex Magaly Fernandez get caught up in a missing person’s case—one that might just get them hacked to death. Filled with a cast of colorful characters and told with sardonic wit, this fast-moving, intricately plotted novel plays out against a backdrop of rapid gentrification, skyrocketing rents, and class tension. New Yorkers and anyone fascinated with the city will love the story’s details, written like only a true native could. Entertaining to the last, this rollicking debut is sure to make Richie Narvaez a rising star on the mystery scene. Praise for HIPSTER DEATH “Richie Narvaez has created something that’s been missing from recent a vivid, loving look at city living from the street view.” —Sara Paretsky, award-winning author of Shell Game “Hipster Death Rattle is a smart piece of work featuring the unlikely yet likeable hero Tony ‘Chino’ Moran. Fierce and funny…with a light touch that masks Narvaez’s biting social commentary.” —Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of What You Break “[Narvaez] has one of the most compelling writing styles I’ve come across in years.” —Lawrence Kelter, author of Back to Brooklyn “Hipster Death Rattle is a debut bursting with verve and personality, loaded with memorable characters and a clear, distinctive voice—courtesy of Richie Narvaez’s knack for sly wit and a crackling plot. A love letter to a forgotten slice of New York that manages to also evoke classic mystery novels of years past, Hipster Death Rattle is both of the moment and evergreen. Not an easy feat, but Narvaez does it with panache. I couldn’t put this book down.” —Alex Segura, author of Blackout and Dangerous Ends “Edgy and wildly entertaining, with a colorful cast of characters and a sweep reminiscent of Tom Wolfe, Hipster Death Rattle is the slasher novel you need in your life right now.” —Michele Campbell, international bestselling author of It’s Always the Husband “Narvaez has some brutal points to make about gentrification…that give the text a crackling fission you don’t find in a typical mystery.” —Mystery Tribune

Genres: Mystery, Latinx, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary, Young Adult, Fiction

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2019

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect with this book given the cover and the shade being thrown at the hipster population, but I should've known that a title from this publisher would encompass much more than you can envisage at first glance. This was right up my street: yes, there is humour interspersed throughout the pages, but there is also a serious side. It's a highly original composition of dry wit, exciting murder mystery and exploration of prevalent social issues. The narrative is exceptional and easy to engage with, and the clever social commentary adds to the plot rather than just being there. Well written with a multi-layered, complex plot that holds your attention from the very beginning, this is a superbly accomplished and entertaining debut novel.

The struggle a community goes through to try to retain its social identity through increased gentrification, spiralling rents and issues of class and racial tension feature heavily here, and it's clear the author either knows this area very well or has researched it meticulously; I would say it's more likely to be the former. The characters are beautifully rendered, quirky and realistic. Chino Moran is a somewhat unlikely protagonist, but he is conscientious, hard-working and easily likeable. When all of these features come together it creates a fast-paced, twist-filled story that is more than a little difficult to put down.

Many thanks to Down & Out Books for an ARC.

[Nancy Bilyeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story captured my interest immediately. I love edgy, dark, witty writing and this novel sparkles with just that. The dialogue is especially pitch perfect. When you read it, the descriptions make you feel you are in the subway, on the streets of New York City. In a subtle way this book has a lot to say about gentrifying neighborhoods, delivered with suspense and humor. I'd rather read this than another domestic thriller about a bad husband in the suburbs any day of the week.

[Neil Plakcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My digital bookmark has just left HIPSTER DEATH RATTLE by Richie Narvaez. It's a very funny book, with lots of great one-liners. "The man turned to look at Magaly, giving one of those lifeless stares you get from ex-cons, killers, and video gamers."

Narvaez also has a real talent for description. The streets of Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood come alive in its mix of summer heat, hipsters moving into brand-new high-rises, and the old guard of Latins, Italians and Poles struggling to stay in place.

Every character, even those who are about to get murdered by the slasher who is haunting the streets, gets enough detail and characterization to make you care. Narvaez really knows his people and his neighborhood.

The only problem is with the plotting. There are so many plot threads, some of them unnecessary, that the ending gets bogged down with resolving each one of them.

Admittedly I did read a digital ARC, so I'm giving Narvaez a pass for the many typos in this version. I hope that his publisher does a better job with the final version.

[V.S. Kemanis · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my full review, and a fun Q & A with the author, go to my website:
Hipster Death Rattle: Book Review and Conversation with Richie Narvaez.

If you enjoy crime fiction and want something different, this is it. If you have ever lived in New York City or the City fascinates you, this is it. Hipster Death Rattle is a well-written, fast-paced murder mystery with a broad spectrum of colorful characters you can see, hear, feel, taste, and smell. The humor is dry and at times hilarious. Social commentary about gentrification and ethnic tensions is expertly woven into the plot in a non-preachy, entertaining way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish.

[Kevin McNamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Debut Novel

Just finished this book and very much enjoyed it. The characters are well defined and the plot keeps you guessing. Mr. Narvaez describes Brooklyn with passion and brings it to life for us who have never had the pleasure of being there. Looking forward to his future novels. Highly recommended.

[S.T. Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

New York, mystery and fabulous characters. What else do you need? I enjoyed this book with good dialogues and a warm atmosphere. It would be nice to have a sequel.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gentrified Brooklyn has high rents, coffee shops, tour buses, hipsters, and murder in HIPSTER DEATH RATTLE, the debut novel of native New Yorker, Richie Narvaez.

The neighborhood is changing too quickly for the residents of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and one person in particular decides to weed out the hipsters...with a machete. While detectives are looking at gang members, a local reporter stumbles on a missing persons case that may or may not be linked to the attacks.

This fast-paced novel is chock full of evocative characters and plots that flawlessly twist together in the end. I really enjoyed the author's cynical, belly-laughing humor, which almost got me kicked out of the quiet car of the train.

[Theresa Varela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Format: Paperback
I thoroughly enjoyed Hipster Death Rattle and anyone who truly knows Brooklyn and its history will too. Each character is true in his or her depiction. The writing is humorous and kept me engaged as I rode the train from Manhattan to Brooklyn back and forth from home to work. I looked up and saw other passengers who could be any of the souls Narvaez writes about. I made sure to keep the cover and title visible knowing many others sharing the ride would also share my love of this book! Go for it. Try it, you'll like it.

[Elizabeth Mannion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cynical mystery does a great job in capturing the wildly changing neighborhood of Williamsburg. Perfectly pitched snark, a well-paced mystery, and lots of inside baseball for those of us who know and love Brooklyn. Recommend.

[Madison Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous story line with excellent characters. There are pieces of every chapter we can all relate to. If you love the city you will love this book. Thanks for a good read!

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hipsters in New York are in danger. Drinking that $6 matcha latte on the street means you run the risk of being taken out by a masked assailant. But who is the real villain, the murderer or the property developers who are raising rents and demolishing old neighbourhood haunts?

I really enjoyed this, it works as a noir crime novel, and as a relevant social commentary on gentrification. It feels that the author had the most fun writing the hipster death sequences though, to the extent that it will make you look around to check you are safe before you eat that rainbow cronut!

[IE Latinx Book y Chisme Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speaking as the organizer of this book club, this was a personal favorite! I love mysteries and this is the first one I've read that has Latinx main characters but that's not the reason I loved this book - it's just a really fun page-turner. I was left missing the characters when the book ended but satisfied nonetheless; always a good sign for me. And although the POV changed with each chapter, it was never convoluted, confusing, or distracting; it was like watching a Latinx version of Law & Order in some ways. I kept hearing the "dun-dun" noise as I started a new chapter.

The other book club members felt the same. One member, a high school English teacher, plans to use parts of the book in her class; she felt that her students would really connect with and enjoy the story and the themes. We all commented on our enjoyment of the pace, the descriptions of NYC, the theme of gentrification, the representation of strong women of color, and the humor! If this book sets the tone for the author's other books, we're excited to read them all.

The author joined our book discussion this month (November) and he was fun, charming, and engaging. We thoroughly enjoyed this book and the discussion. Our post-discussion chisme went on for several hours afterward.

5/5

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yo, I loved this book! It had everything I ever wanted in a Latinx noir. The characters were complex, witty, charming, and chingonas (Magaly character). When people talk about decolonizing our literature this book should be on that list. We need more books with cultural representation and diversity. Of course it was also well written and witty! I totally recommend this book, me encanto este libro!

[Elizabeth Crowens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this. Great characterization, and Richie painted a painfully accurate portrait of the neighborhood's ups and downs. Couldn't put it down. A real "Brooklyn" story.

[Jessica Nordström · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone is murdering hipsters in Brooklyn and it's up to one part-time journalist to stop them if that's not actually a net benefit to the city. There's some good snark peppered throughout the book, but it never loses sight of the material effects that gentrification has on local economies and cultures which actually drive most of the story -- it isn't just a bunch of "lol manbuns amirite" gags.

[Bart Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read with a believable set of twists and turns. The characters were vibrant and fun to get acquainted with. I hope to read a sequel some time soon and I am looking forward to the TV adaptation.

[Catherine Siemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely slice of NYC life, all wrapped up in a nicely complicated noir mystery.

[Thrillers R Us · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clad in a mohair turtleneck, minimalist designer shades, and ineffectively puffing on a cigarette with blase enthusiasms, Kramer inimitably proclaims that he's 'hip to the scene' while investigating SEINFELD's accountant for narcotic predilections. The 68th episode of the show about nothing aired in the fourth spot of season five, cementing its hold on prime time with physical comedy, wry wit and social commentary. Taking up this formula with brutal serial killings effectively sprinkled into its chapters, HIPSTER DEATH RATTLE is a novel as colorfully honest as graffiti, in equal parts chilling, shocking, and gruesome, guaranteed to cling to your thoughts like plastic wrap.

Taking readers deep into the nooks and crevices, and maybe creviche, too, of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC, HIPSTER DEATH RATTLE rattles the faint of heart early with grisly mutilations and death the way only Jason Vorhees can, making it abundantly clear that Hipsters of any shade or kind are not welcome. From hipsters to slicksters, everyone, it seems, in this hood equally hates public transportation, cops, and hipsters. Hipsters especially. Natives and non-New Yorkers alike show their aversion to this special brand of inked-up, ear-stretchered, bearded, micro-brew slurping denizens of zero-cool, so much so that it sort of interferes with the narrative, even only at Chapter 5. This hipster-hating groupthink of an entire city is no Gouda, even if it mirrors the sentiment IRL. Cruising in with Jeff Lebowski flair, Tony 'Chino' Moran can't be bothered with anything save for quasi pro bono reporting at a small community paper, watering his plant, and spending lots of time at the neighborhood petanque court. That's like bocce, but not really. Though don't argue that with this reporter whose investigative skills are a little dull, for by the end he'll turn up a regular super hero of the people, facing down guns, crazed Nightslasher type killings and killer, tall buildings, Puerto Rican cuisine, media shame, and rum, plenty of rum...For all those involved, it's NO SLEEP TILL BROOKLYN for sure.

With mucho respect for the character of the neighborhood, the people, the buildings of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, HIPSTER DEATH RATTLE is a veiled homage to Ozymandias and metaphorically speaking applicable to the micro communities of big cities. As such, the story asserts that nothing is anonymous in this world anymore, that if criminals were smart, they'd be bankers, nothing good ever came from the East River, and that Coincidences only seem meaningful because people try to explain them. No matter how the die fall, stinky hipsters are at the mercy of the Williamsburg Slasher aka the Southside Slashers aka Hipster Slashers, making HIPSTER DEATH RATTLE seemingly the book that CITY ON FIRE could've been. That one book by Garth Risk Hallberg that publishers were in a bidding war over that was like 10,000 pages of boredom in 2015. HIPSTER DEATH RATTLE is easily the flavor, the tension, the drama of a city on the edge in the wake of cultural upheaval and a rampaging serial killer, of course. Basically a Spark Notes version of Tom Wolf's novels, HIPSTER DEATH RATTLE has humor, murder, mystery, social issues and racial tensions, picking up where Spike Lee left off and with plenty to say about the destructive politics of gentrification. Though painfully obvious where the plot is headed about fifty percent through, HIPSTER DEATH RATTLE is a novel that features the world's slowest foot chase through the crowded sidewalks of NYC, in true POLICE SQUAD! fashion. Take the LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN and experience a novel that showcases how disturbingly easy it is to get killed, for HIPSTER DEATH RATTLE brings home the dread of being murdered palpably close and numbingly real.

[M]

My interest in this book was instantaneous when I came across the cover and blurb on my Twitter feed weeks before it was released. It was the mixture of genre fiction and promised social commentary that drew me to it, admittedly in addition to my very ambiguous feelings towards hipster-dom these days. And in that regard this book didn’t disappoint at all.

The suspense worked so well for me here because Narvaez managed to create two seemingly unrelated crime solving plots, one past and one present, that were yet intrinsically linked by the circumstances and societal complexities surrounding both. The disappearance of an old woman unwilling to give up her home was as much connected to the gentrification of a whole neighborhood as the random slashings of hipsters in the same area months later.

Which is where not only the suspense was created beautifully, but also the biting commentary on the socio-economic development itself. By giving us several, very different perspectives on the phenomenon, Narvaez manages to cut down the flowery words into the real life consequences, structures and processes that are inherent to gentrifying a neighborhood. Sky-rocketing market prices, rents and living costs, followed by the slow but steady displacement of the locals, the sheer loss of *everything* that comes after that. With the moving in of the white and privileged masses, businesses and money, come the continuing losses for the non-white, not so privileged and not as wealthy people who have made the original neighborhood what it was. It is stunning and such a rare narrative to see in fiction, written so sharply and naturally, seen through the eyes of various protagonists who have their very own ideas about what is lost and gained, in which way, by whom, and if or how it is supposed to be fought. Or profited off.

I have to say for such a clever and deep look into socio-economic processes and the hidden structures behind it, including social media pain and poverty tourism, I was disappointed that Narvaez seemingly didn’t stop to examine his very own unreflected and structural biases enough at one point? It felt jarring to realize that the one important, Jewish character in the book would end up being the worst stereotype of what Christian society has deemed as “typically Jewish”. It would have been so worth it to examine the archetypes of villainy we have - knowingly or unknowingly - linked to the Jewish community, from the big nose to the greedy personality, to shifty eyes and ulterior motives. I longed for a different outcome that never came to be, the Jewish man remained a villainous, caricaturesque side character, motivated by greed for power and money, generally dishonest and unfaithful, fat and sweaty and gross.

That did dim my enjoyment of the novel, which was otherwise refreshingly honest, frank and stark in its descriptions. The suspense plot was well thought out and satisfyingly concluded, the main character a three-dimensional flawed man in an equally flawed world. If it wasn’t for the depiction of the fat, Jewish character I would have added this to my list of favorites of the year, but I just could not get over this part of the story.

[Joe Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you decide not to get all pulpy and angst written in a noir-tinged crime novel, then you better go all sarcastic. That is the direction Richie Narvaez takes for his debut novel Hipster Death Rattle and the read is more fun than a $15 latte from a trendy café on Metropolitan Ave.

Hipster Death Rattle is a fun, filthy crime novel that honors diversity, smacks around the hipster gentrification ethos, and, above all, celebrates all there is to love about New York. Even in Brooklyn.

Murder in the Big City is nothing new. However, a series of killings are on the rise in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Hipsters - those beard-heavy, sock-abhorrent, name-branded prophets - who usually kill to get a condo with floor-to-ceiling windows, are instead dying on the streets. All chopped down by a psycho with a machete and usually while otherwise preoccupied by something flashing on a phone screen. While Detectives Petrosino and Hadid go all Sipowicz and Clark with their leads, slacker reporter Tony Moran accidentally begins making connections following the murder of a fellow reporter - and hipster. Truth be told, Petrosino and Hadid would rather be busting ex-cons and Moran out playing petanque out in the park, but the police actually want justice and Moran hopes to make a good impression on his ex-girlfriend, Magaly, who works with the Latino community.

Narvaez brilliantly assembles a number of plot threads, tying them together with sardonic wit. His approach is welcoming and memorable - as are his characters. From Latin-speaking Hasidic Jews to giant Italian women to ganja-toking artisans, Narvaez’s Brooklyn is both as real as Radio Raheem’s Stuyvesant and other-worldly as Clark Kent’s Metropolis beat.

Narvaez, most importantly, builds a proper mystery with clues, false-leads, and a number of suspects - most of whom are guilty of at least something. Hipster Death Rattle keeps you guessing all while remaining incredibly entertaining. The only true crime here is that Narvaez’s writing style is one helluva guilty pleasure.


For even more guilty pleasure, click on over to Joe's for more book reviews! Do it! And bring some coffee.

[Juan · Rating 3 out of 5]

New York is so much more than the Manhattan. Most tourist rarely go across the Brooklyn bridge to say, as Rachel did in "Friends"

So this is Brooklyn

Since I need to go hunting for street art wherever I go, I (along with the rest of the family) signed up for a tour in the street art mecca of the 5 boroughs, Williamsburg.

Known as Billyburg, B-burg and known by its gentrification, this neighborhood is filled up with nice cafeterias, a very nice library, and all kinds of bookstores. And also "La esquina", a tacos place that shows its Latino heritage.

This book was part of a StoryBundle with Latino noir and fantasy fiction. This is more in the noir style: a biker kills hipsters with a machete in and around Williamsburg. Since a lot of Latino fiction is about gentrification, this one of course has a thread where a tenant, Rosa Irizarry, disappears. She also lives in a controlled-rent apartment, and the owners want her out to refurbish and rent for a much higher price. Also, the biker/slasher, hey, we should portmanteau this to bik/er (because / is a slash, get it?), seems to kill only people that are the actors of that gentrification.

The initial character, Patrick Stoller, is immersed in the investigation of that two things at the same time. I'll try not to spoil anything, but the point of view changes several times and sometimes we are a bit lost about what the author wants to tell. Halfway through the novel, it eventually finds its focus, and that gives it the third star.

There are, as should be expected, colorful characters, and traditions popping up and down the story. All in all, not a bad read. Not excellent, either, but with a good sense of place and well rounded characters. Maybe it would deserve a star more, but I was about to abandon it several times, so it does not.

[Jay Phillippi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hipster Death Rattle (2019) by Richie Narvaez – A series of attacks terrorize a trendy neighborhood in New York City. Is it gangs or someone trying to “save” the neighborhood from changes brought on by the growing population of hipsters.

There’s an old saying that springs to mind about this book- ”A half-inch deep and two miles wide.” It covers a lot of ground but it lacks depth. The result left me wishing there had been more.

Narvaez leaves us with shallow characters moving through situations that feel like sketches not fully colored. The thought kept recurring that there was a great story about to unfold. But it never arrived. This makes it hard to invest emotionally in what happens. The shallowness only works on the hipster characters. It left me without an emotional connection to any of the characters. At best, they were annoying. As a result, little of the story has stuck with me. For folks with familiar with the city of New York and its legendary neighborhoods, the book may evoke some deeper emotions. For the rest of the world, there will be an enormous void in the story.

The writing isn’t bad, and the storytelling has moments. Once again, I wish for more. Better storytelling and more interesting writing. Characters with some depth.

Is it a terrible book? Certainly not. Richie Narvaez shows skill in the book. The problem is that there are too many places where not enough of that skill is applied. In a world with so many books to read, I’m not sure I can recommend you spend your reading time with this one.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of two halves. The first part of the book was creative and different - using the premise of a slasher attaching hipsters in Brooklyn, the author created an atmosphere of curiosity and tension. The unique approach made me think about the impact of "invasive species" not just in Brooklyn, but in my current city and all over the world. A great way to provoke consideration of the effect we have on others and how others influence us.

The second half of the book, unfortunately, devolved into a run-of-the-mill whodunnit/thriller with few surprises and a plot that I've seen innumerable times. Perhaps I am being a bit harsh - I enjoyed the book, but was very disappointed that the second half wasn't as interesting as the first half.

Character development was above average, but still fell short of being completely engaging. I mostly didn't care about the main characters, although the dialogue and cultural descriptions were educational.

I also found the ending disappointing for a book that was described as humorous yet poignant. Once again disappointing, the author chose a common path to wrap things up.

There is a lot to like here . . . if only the greatness of the first half had carried through the entire novel.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've become more familiar with north Brooklyn the last couple of months and boy, does Richie Narvaez know ever corner and haunt. A delightful skewering of hipster culture set right in the middle of Williamsburg, Gentrification's Ground Zero, the book is as much a satire as it is a mystery. Some of the moments were really funny and while I wasn't quite sure what Narvaez was doing with all the pieces, he made them fit by the end in a satisfying way. Its characters are a little thin, even for satire and it doesn't need as many red herrings as it has. But it's a good effort and I hope Narvaez writes more full-length novels. 

[Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I thought it was a fairly good book, violent for sure, which I don't mind, but it's definitely not for squeamish people! Overall I liked it because the suspense got me, whenever we switched POV's you never really knew if this person was going to die, or be a witness to the murders! I liked Tony's character quite a bit, he definitely felt like a real person, feeling guilty about these things he dealt with, and getting annoyed at the little things, which is completely understandable. The heat wave made everything more unbearable for everyone in the book, which is super realistic, because everyone hates them!

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not normally a genre I read but I genuinely enjoyed this book. The characters were fascinating, and the story grabbed me from the beginning. I like how Narváez paints the neighborhood. It felt like vignettes of the neighborhood that were tied together. Like that scene in Fantasia 2000 where Bernstein is playing Rhapsody in Blue, and we get a look into the various stories of New Yorkers. I like how the threads were woven together.

I’d like to read a spin-off of Magaly, and maybe another of Tony’s adventures making his way as an adult in the city.

Overall I recommend it.

[Elliott Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A most enjoyable detective tale where a slasher-killer terrifies Williamsburg and seems to target white hipsters. However, a few unexpected turns!

I loved the look at gentrification from a Boricua perspective and the humor is great, despite some bloody killings here and there. The only not as strong part was the cop tandem - a bit too "buddy film" and didn't really add much.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book feels more like an ode to Williamsburg rather than a real mystery book. There is definitely a crime and a mystery around it, but I feel like you won't get nearly as much out of this book unless you understand New York City. Living in the city, it made it more enjoyable for me, but I don't think this book is for everyone.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know what to expect, but from the start, this is a page turner overflowing with characters, relatable settings, and a thick plot that twists until the end. Some surprisingly bloody parts, but the unraveling thread to get to know the different personalities and find out “whodunit” was worth it all the way!