Tale Of TalesIf you love detective novels, but also stories of friendship, love and resistance, you cannot miss the Fabio Montale trilogy, written by Jean Claude Izzo, one of the masters of Mediterranean noir. In this article I tell you why you must read these three books, which will introduce you to a beautiful and tragic Marseille through the eyes of an unforgettable protagonist.
Who is Fabio Montale?
Fabio Montale is a former policeman who left his job after witnessing the death of two of his childhood friends, Ugo and Manu, who were killed by the underworld. Fabio had grown up with them in the working-class neighborhoods of Marseille’s port, amid petty crime and first loves, but then took a different path, becoming a strange cop, more street educator than investigator. Fabio is a man who loves life, women, music, pastis, wine, the sea, and the sky of Marseille, but who must confront the violence, corruption, racism, and despair that threaten his city. Fabio is a complex and fascinating character who lets us into his world of memories, passions, sorrows and hopes.
What are the three novels in the trilogy?
The three novels that make up the Fabio Montale trilogy are:
Total Casino: The first novel, published in 1995, begins with Ugo’s return to Marseilles after years of wandering the South Seas. Ugo wants to avenge Manu, his friend from his youth who was murdered by the underworld. But he too is killed, and it will fall to Fabio Montale, the third friend, to do justice. Fabio thus finds himself investigating an illicit trafficking network involving businessmen, politicians, and criminals, which has to do with the three friends’ pasts. Meanwhile, Fabio falls in love with Lole, a beautiful Algerian woman, who, however, hides a dangerous secret.
Chourmo: The second novel, published in 1996, takes up the story of Fabio Montale, who has left the police force and lives in a house by the sea, where he enjoys fishing and reading. But his retirement is interrupted by a new tragedy: his cousin Gélou, a boy of gypsy origin, is found dead in a garbage dump. Fabio decides to find out the truth and stumbles into a war between rival gangs, who are vying for control of Marseille’s northern neighborhoods. Fabio also finds himself having to protect a young girl, Leila, the daughter of an Algerian friend of his, who has run away from an abusive family and is being pursued by a group of Islamic extremists.
Solea: The third and final novel, published in 1998, concludes the saga of Fabio Montale, who finds himself in his darkest hour. His beloved Lole has disappeared, after receiving death threats for writing a book exposing arms trafficking between France and Algeria. Fabio desperately tries to find her, but he faces a no-holds-barred manhunt orchestrated by a powerful criminal organization that wants to eliminate both him and Lole. Fabio must also come to terms with his loneliness, his guilt and his will to live.
Fabio Montale trilogy is a must-read for those who love the noir genre
but also for those who want to discover a Marseille that is different from the tourist clichés. Marseille is the real protagonist of Izzo’s novels, a city that encapsulates all the contradictions of the Mediterranean, between beauty and violence, between diversity and integration, between tradition and modernity. Izzo acquaints us with Marseille through its places, its tastes, its sounds, its colors, its characters, its problems, its hopes. Izzo also makes us reflect on social and political issues affecting France and Europe, such as immigration, racism, fundamentalism, globalization, corruption, unemployment, and poverty. Finally, Izzo moves us with the stories of Fabio Montale and his loves, friendships, losses, and resistance. Fabio Montale’s trilogy is about life, death, and hope in an engaging, poetic, and passionate style.
The Fabio Montale Trilogy: Total Casino-Chourmo-Solea – Jean-Claude Izzo – Book – E/O – Mediterranean Noir | IBS
The Fabio Montale Trilogy: Casino totale-Chourmo-Solea : Izzo Jean Claude, Ferri, B.: Amazon.co.uk: Books
The Fabio Montale Trilogy. Total Casino – Chourmo – Solea – Jean Claude Izzo – E/O
The Fabio Montale Trilogy Series by Jean-Claude Izzo – Goodreads
Living and Dying in Marseille – The Literary Adviser
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