
Total Chaos by Jean-Claude Izzo is the first installment in the Marseilles trilogy, following Detective Fabio Montale as he returns to his hometown to investigate the deaths of his childhood friends, Manu and Ugo. The book is set in Marseilles, where Montale navigates through criminal factions, corruption within his department, and personal danger while exploring themes of loyalty, racial tensions, and cultural complexities. Izzo's writing style paints a vivid picture of Marseilles, portraying the city as a character in itself with its mix of beauty, crime, and inherent contradictions.
The novel delves into the gritty and dark side of Marseilles, showcasing the complexities of the city through the eyes of Montale as he unravels the truth behind the murders of his friends. The plot is fast-paced and intriguing, with detailed descriptions of the city, its inhabitants, and the challenges faced by Montale, creating a compelling narrative that blends elements of noir crime fiction with social commentary and character exploration.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include violence, murder, and themes related to corruption and crime.
Has Romance?
There are romantic elements present, though they are secondary to the primary narrative of crime and investigation.
From The Publisher:
Book one in the Marseilles Trilogy
"Izzo's Marseilles is ravishing. Every street, cafe and house has its own character."
-Globe and Mail
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 trilogy, 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.
"Like the best noir writers-and make no mistake, he is among the best-Izzo [...] digs deep into what makes men weep."
-Time Out, New York
"Just as Raymond Chandler and James Ellroy made Los Angeles their very own, so Mr. Izzo has made Marseilles so much more than just another geographical setting."
-The Economist
"The Marseilles trilogy may be the most lyrical hard-boiled writing yet."
-The Nation
"Reading Izzo's novels, you're bound to cry sooner or later."
-Le Monde
"Rich, ambitious, and passionate."
-Washington Post
What can you read after
Total Chaos?
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