Chourmo - (Marseilles Trilogy) by Jean-Claude Izzo (Paperback)

About the Book

In this second installment of Izzo's legendary Marseilles Trilogy, Fabio Montale has left a police force riddled with corruption, racism, and greed to follow the ancient rhythms of his native town, but his cousin's son has gone missing, and Montale is dragged back onto the mean streets of a violent, crime-infested Marseilles.

Book Synopsis

Book Two in the Marseilles Trilogy

This second novel in Izzo's acclaimed Marseilles trilogy is a touching tribute to the author's beloved city, in all its color and complexity. Fabio Montale is an unwitting hero in this city of melancholy beauty.

Fabio Montale has left a police force marred by corruption, xenophobia and greed. But getting out is not going to be so easy. When his cousin's son goes missing, Montale is dragged back onto the mean streets of a violent, crime-infested Marseilles. To discover the truth about the boy's disappearance, he infiltrates a dangerous underworld of mobsters, religious fanatics, crooked cops and ordinary people driven to extremes by desperation.

Review Quotes

Praise for Izzo's Marseilles Trilogy

"One of the masterpieces of modern noir."
--Michael Dirda, Washington Post

"Izzo's ability to describe Marseilles and to make his readers feel the multiracial reality of that city so directly and authentically is fascinating."
--Andrea Camilleri, author of the bestselling Inspector Montalbano series

"When the urge for escapist reading simply cannot be denied, there are always foreign authors like Jean-Claude Izzo."--The New York Times

"A sensationally readable mystery...Full of fascinating characters."
--The Chicago Tribune

"Noir at it's finest."
--Times Literary Supplement

"Distinctive and fascinating."
--Kirkus (Starred Review)

About the Author

Jean-Claude Izzo was born in Marseilles, France, in 1945. He achieved astounding success with his Marseilles Trilogy (Total Chaos, Chourmo, Solea). In addition to the books in this trilogy, his two novels (The Lost Saliors, and A Sun for the Dying) and one collection of short stories (Vivre fatigue) also enjoy great success with both critics and the public. Izzo died in 2000 at the age of fifty-five.