Man of the Hour

by Peter Blauner

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Intruder comes a provocative thriller about a schoolteacher who becomes a celebrated hero -- and then has it all taken suddenly away.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

475 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Peter Blauner (b. 1959) is the Edgar-winning, New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including SLOW MOTION RIOT and THE INTRUDER. A native of New York City, he apprenticed under famed newspaper columnist Pete Hamill and first broke into print as a journalist for New York magazine. His books are detailed, character-driven crime novels that have attracted a devoted cult following. His newest novel, PICTURE IN THE SAND, due out in January 2023, is his first work of historical fiction.

Reviews

[Michael Martz · Rating 2 out of 5]

'Man of the Hour' is a decent thriller but entirely too predictable. Peter Blauner's writing is mediocre, though the different threads of the story propel it along quickly enough. The characters just aren't very believable and the plot is awfully transparent.

The novel begins with a schoolteacher's heroic effort to save a student trapped on a school bus that had been bombed by a terrorist. He becomes enamored of the celebrity that comes his way, says and does a few intemperate things, and finds himself a suspect in the bombing. Subplots abound: the actual bomber, your basic Palestinian terrorist who hates America, was once his student, the bomber's sister, a 'good' Palestinian (ie. Americanized) is a current student, he's in the process of divorcing his beautiful wife who has mental problems, etc. etc. I found the coincidences unrealistic, the 'planning' by the terrorists for subsequent attacks almost laughable, and other aspects of the story very unconvincing. You can guess what will happen, at least in general terms, at the conclusion and chances are you'd be correct!

Anyway, it's a pretty quick read, nothing special.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great book. I have really enjoyed every book I have read by Peter Blauner. He is very talented. I wish he would write more.

[Mike Fracasso · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not finish this book. I found uninteresting and boring.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this book would never have ended. I just love this author. He is the master at weaving a perfect story, his similes are original and hilarious, and characters are fleshed out and true. This story was about a New York high school teacher who unwittingly becomes a hero. I am constantly amazed at the perfection of this author’s writing, how he pulls the reader in, the humanity of each character, and how he describes a character's behavior to explain what they might be thinking. I was enthralled and captivated by the plight of the teacher and his students. One caveat however…..I did feel there was one gaping plot hole at the end where the FBI should have quickly apprehended Nassar once his sister had identified him as a terrorist. I doubt in real life he would have even been able to enter the school. But this was probably some license the author took to construct a better story. It annoyed me just a little nonetheless though. Having said that, I still think this is one of my favorite Blauner books and I’ve read them all. He’s one of my top five favorite authors, hands down.

[AnonymousReaderPerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise is pretty cheesy, but the author pulls it off pretty well. After I read the first few chapters, I felt like I was wasting my time because I could see everything else that would follow. Well...not quite.

There are a lot of typecast characters here, especially the police and media personalities. Fortunately, they are only secondary characters, so they only become minor nuisances.

I had to remind myself this was published in 1999...Parts of it read like something from the post-9/11 world.

Just some random observations, I guess. Despite the cheesy premise and a few telegraphed plot turns, I enjoyed this one.

[Ricky Gao · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fine book. I was initially scared because it didn't seem to have the best reviews and I picked it off a cheap books shelf for a quarter, but I was pleasantly surprised. My favorite parts were definitely the scenes with David. The author did a great job at making me feel his thoughts and perspective as he went a long the ups and downs of the whole book. The bad parts were definitely the terrorist sections. A bit way too on the nose for me. The so-so parts were the journalism parts with Judy. The book did successfully get me to develop a mild distaste and distrust of media so I guess it was successful at getting that out of me. Overall a decent good and a nice surprise!

[Brett Wallach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perceptive book published shortly before 9/11 about terrorism in New York City, as well as an elegy on what it means to be a hero-or villain-in modern American society. A bit overwritten in part, and some of the dialogue is a little cringe-worthy, but overall, an entertaining, thought-provoking novel.

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thriller concerning hero-turned-villain David Fitzgerald, a high school teacher with a broken marriage and perhaps a complex, who must deal with an angry, just-prior-to 9/11 world in late 1990s Brooklyn. Book is a little slow to start, but eventually becomes a couldn’t-put-it-down story that has way too much in common with the world since then than the world before it.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually well done, so probably deserves at least 3.5 stars. However, it's about Muslim terrorism, published in 1999 -- ie before 9/11, before ISIS and everything else -- so a lot of what would have been fresh in 1999 is now almost a novelistic cliche.

[Rainelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterfully written. The book is beautiful for who ever wants to read it.

[Janel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man of the Hour by Peter Blauner is a thriller good read.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1999. A terrorist attack casts one man as a hero in this remarkable thriller. This might be my first Blauner book but I read him for many years.

[Jilles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great thriller delving in the very topical subject of the violence. of the jihad

[Anthony Bosco · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enthralling thriller written in a very different time prior to 9/11. I put this alongside Michael Bay's film "The Rock" as texts that really give one a sense of just how safe, prosperous and idyllic the mid to late 1990s, that the notion of domestic and international terrorism was explored openly (and often with either an air of humour or exoticism) before becoming completely taboo and off-limits after 2001.

[Gerry Durisin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!! A HS English teacher becomes a hero when he rescues a student from a bus under which a terrorist has planted a bomb. But his fame soon turns to notoriety and suspicion when questions arise about who really planted the bomb, and investigations and media reports begin to destroy his life and family.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An awesome read by Peter Blauner. Gets you right into the mind of a jihad terrorist and the man who is originally blamed for the bomb exploding in the school bus. Keeps you on the edge of your seat for the entire book.

[Per · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hero one second and then what?

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Intruder comes a provocative thriller about a schoolteacher who becomes a celebrated hero -- and then has it all taken suddenly away

[Tomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book -it made me mad at so many groups! Police, lawyers, the Feds, jihadists, people in general...all those who don't care about anything but their own agendas! The story was all too plausible in today's society.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about how our media manipulates every story to fit an agenda and how they sensationalize and the rush to judgement that has become normal. Very topical, you could substitute this story for many national news stories going on right now.

[Eric Castiglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a different twist on terrorism. Very original and again well written.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a real good read. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

[Rod Zemke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Blaine Engeland · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not too shabby so far..the writing isn't as good as The Intruder..I really liked the narrative in that

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. It gives you a different take on terrorism, and the fantatics that can explain these horrible acts by using religion.

[Klee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not usually into these kind of thriller/drama books but enjoyed the ethical dilemmas raised. The characters are well created. I could see all of them. The end left me wanting more.

[Patricia Eichenlaub · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting in terms of current events.

[Stephanie Hemmerly · Rating 4 out of 5]

its a good read lol

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read for this author and I will be looking for the rest of his books. Really enjoyed it.

[Tom Wruble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book before probably 1999.