Total Chaos

La trilogie Fabio Montale #1

by Jean-Claude Izzo, Howard Curtis (Translator)

Ugo, Manu, and Fabio grew up together on the mean streets of Marseilles, where friendship means everything. They promised to stay true to one another and swore that nothing would break their bond. But people and circumstances change. Ugo and Manu have been drawn into the criminal underworld of Europe's toughest, most violent and vibrant city. When Manu is murdered and Ugo returns from abroad to avenge his friend's death, only to be killed himself, it is left to the third in this trio, Detective Fabio Montale, to ensure justice is done. Despite warnings from both his colleagues in law enforcement and his acquaintances in the underworld, Montale cannot forget the promise he once made Manu and Ugo. He's going to find their killer even if it means going too far.

In Izzo's novels, Marseilles is explosive, tragic, breathtakingly beautiful and deadly. Asked to explain the astounding success of his now legendary Marseilles triology, Izzo credits his beloved native city: "Essentially, I think I have been rewarded for having depicted the real beauty of Marseilles, its gusto, its passion for life, and the ability of its inhabitants to drink life down to the last drop." Fabio Montale is the perfect protagonist in this city of melancholy beauty. A disenchanted cop with an inimitable talent for living who turns his back on a police force marred by corruption and racism and, in the name of friendship, takes the fight against the mafia into his own hands.

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Noir, Mystery, France, Thriller, Novels

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Jean-Claude Izzo was a French poet, playwright, screenwriter, and novelist who achieved sudden fame in the mid-1990s with the publication of his three noir novels, Total Chaos (Total Khéops), Chourmo, and Solea: widely known as the Marseilles Trilogy. They feature, as protagonist, ex-cop Fabio Montale, and are set in the author's native city of Marseille. All have been translated into English by Howard Curtis.
Jean-Claude Izzo's father was an Italian immigrant and his maternal grandfather was a Spanish immigrant. He excelled in school and spent much of his time at his desk writing stories and poems. But because of his “immigrant” status, he was forced into a technical school where he was taught how to operate a lathe.
In 1963, he began work in a bookstore. He also actively campaigned on behalf of Pax Christi, a Catholic peace movement. Then, in 1964, he was called up for military duty in Toulon and Djibouti. He then worked for the military newspaper as a photograph and journalist.

Reviews

[Adam]

existenciální detektivka. napínavý příběh odehrávající se v Marseille je v prostředí drog, násilí a scházející perspektivy vylíčen tak temně, že je po par stránkách jasné, že žádný konec příběhu nemůže být dobrý. přesto je vidět, že autor Marseille miluje, že by ho nevymeěnil za žádné jiné a když se rozepíše o francouzské kuchyni, vybírá si k jídlu to správné víno a pustí k tomu muziku, skoro máte chuť tam vyrazit.

hint pro uživatele spotify: na spotify existuje několik playlistů poskládaných z písní a kapel, které si Fabio Montale v knize pouští nebo na které vzpomíná

[jaroiva]

Skvěle vykreslená atmosféra marseillského podsvětí, dějově mě to ale prostě nijak zvlášť nebavilo. Další díl asi číst už nebudu. Ještě zkusím kouknout na první díl seriálu a pak se rozhodnu.