Jean-Patrick Manchette Books

"No Room at the Morgue came out after Jean-Patrick Manchette had transformed French crime fiction with such brilliantly plotted, politically charged, unrelentingly violent tales as Nada and The Mad and the Bad. Here, inspired by his love of Dashiell Hammett, Manchette introduces Eugene Tarpon, private eye, a sometime cop who has set up shop after being kicked off the force for accidentally killing a political demonstrator. Months have passed, and Tarpon desultorily tries to keep in shape while drinking all the time. No one has shown up at the door of his office in the midst of the market district of Les Halles. Then the bell rings and a beautiful woman bursts in, her hands dripping blood. It's Memphis Charles, her roommate's throat has been cut, and Memphis can't go to the police because they'll only suspect her. Can Tarpon help? Well, somehow he can't help trying. Soon bodies mount, and the craziness only grows"-- Provided by publisher

Eugene Tarpon, a French private detective with a troubled past and a cynical view of life, navigates complex cases reminiscent of Raymond Chandler's style. Haunted by his role in a protester's death, Tarpon's character is marked by grief and weariness. The novels "Morgue pleine" and "Que d'os!" showcase his intricate investigations, blending noir elements with a deep exploration of personal and societal issues.

The narrative unfolds through the recordings of Henri Butron, a complex character marked by arrogance and sadism, as he confronts his impending death. His story intertwines with the dark events surrounding the kidnapping and murder of a political figure, reflecting the brutal realities of postcolonial conflict. The backdrop echoes the real-life N'Gustro Affair, paralleling the 1965 abduction of Mehdi Ben Barka. Manchette crafts a chilling first-person account, exploring themes of self-deception and moral ambiguity in a world rife with violence and political intrigue.

Deadly professional assassin Martin Terrier returns to Paris after his latest job determined to get out of the game. Ten years ago he made a promise to return to his childhood sweetheart in the south of France. But circumstances put Martin's attempted retirement on hold: a key target is flying in to Paris, and there is only one man fit for the task of eliminating him. As Martin flees southwards, desperate to return to the crushing mediocrity of life in a backwater town, he finds his former employers will stop at nothing to regain his services for one last job. Bursting with Gallic irony and visceral brutality, The Gunman (originally published in English as The Prone Gunman) is a shocking and sardonic masterpiece from the late, great master of the French crime novel, J-P Manchette.

Privatdetektiv Eugène Tarpon wird von einer alten Dame beauftragt, ihre verschwundene blinde Tochter zu finden. Was als Routineauftrag beginnt, entwickelt sich schnell zu einem gefährlichen Abenteuer mit Drogen, Gewalt und alten Nazis, während Tarpon ums Überleben kämpft.

Die anarchistische Gruppe "Nada", eine Frau und vier Männer, entführt den amerikanischen Botschafter in Frankreich aus einem Pariser Luxusbordell. Kommisar Goémond wird von höchster Stelle beauftragt, die Entführer aufzuspüren, was er mit größtem Eifer übernimmt.

Georges Gerfaut ist leitender Angestellter eines Konzerns in Paris. Dynamisch, erfolgreich, glücklich verheiratet, zwei kleine Töchter. Er macht mit seiner Familie Urlaub im Südwesten Frankreichs. Beim Baden im Meer versuchen plötzlich zwei unbekannte Männer, ihn umzubringen. Er weiß nicht warum. Als er am nächsten Tag von den gleichen Killern wieder angegriffen wird, flieht er, statt zur Polizei zu gehen, ins Zentralmassiv. Aber auch dort ist er nicht in Sicherheit. Nun schlägt der gejagte Gerfaut zurück: er muß sich die Killer vom Halse schaffen und deren Auftraggeber finden. Verfilmt von Jaques Deray, mit Alain Delon.

Czarny kryminał w wydaniu francuskojęzycznym. Dobra książka do nauki francuskiego dla miłośników języka, literatury i zagadek detektywistycznych. Martin Terrier był biedakiem, samotnikiem, głupcem i złoczyńcą - by to zmienić, wymyślił idealny plan na życie. Po dziesięciu latach wykonywania zawodu mordercy, zarabiania pieniędzy i uczenia się dobrych manier zamierzał powrócić w rodzinne strony, by odnaleźć narzeczoną i poświęcić się nicnierobieniu… lecz by móc drugi raz wykąpać się w tej samej rzece, pod mostami musi przepłynąć dużo krwi.