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octavia_cade's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Stories about disaffected cops who turn their backs on their careers due to institutional corruption aren't uncommon. This one stands out, however - albeit not, perhaps, for character. There's a vast cast here for a relatively short book, and Fabio Montale, the detective protagonist, is distantly likable, even if he doesn't have much of a personality. Or if he does, it's sketched out: not absent, exactly, but the one great force of personality depicted in Total Chaos doesn't belong to a person. Rather, it's the city of Marseilles itself that looms over the narrative. I've never been there. I'm not familiar with the politics of the place, but the city that Izzo depicts is messy and lovely and violent, a city of historic and contemporary immigration, of poverty and distrust and racism, the burgeoning influence of the National Front. Picking his way through this is Montale, and his inability to deal with the reality of Marseilles as a cop, or as a friend, is at breaking point.
It's grim reading, but I find myself caring less about the solution to the various murders than I do the evolution of the city itself, and how the various communities there adapt to the constant change and economic uncertainty that change brings. Montale is basically a placeholder (and I use the word deliberately) for exploring the social setting of Marseilles, and I find myself perfectly fine with that, less interested in him than in where he lives.
It's grim reading, but I find myself caring less about the solution to the various murders than I do the evolution of the city itself, and how the various communities there adapt to the constant change and economic uncertainty that change brings. Montale is basically a placeholder (and I use the word deliberately) for exploring the social setting of Marseilles, and I find myself perfectly fine with that, less interested in him than in where he lives.
jeffkevlar's review against another edition
5.0
I had no idea that 'Mediterranean Noir existed. I kind of feel like someone walking into a room in 2022 and shouting, 'Hey! have your heard about this movie, The Shining?' I'm late to the party. I'm just glad that the drinks are still flowing and the music is still pumping.
I loved this book. I was swept along with Fabio, the main character, losing myself with him on the dirty, complicated streets of Marseilles, feeling every blow to his body, his psyche, his sense of place and morality.
Its a dark book, exploring the depths of human depravity, and relentlessly revealing the desperation and hopelessness of poverty and xenophobia in a melting pot city. But, and this is where the book's strength is, under it all, and in the characters, there is this deep love of life and love that drives them.
If you are like me and books where the setting is a character itself, propelling the story as much as any of the people who walk its paths, this book will speak to you.
I loved this book. I was swept along with Fabio, the main character, losing myself with him on the dirty, complicated streets of Marseilles, feeling every blow to his body, his psyche, his sense of place and morality.
Its a dark book, exploring the depths of human depravity, and relentlessly revealing the desperation and hopelessness of poverty and xenophobia in a melting pot city. But, and this is where the book's strength is, under it all, and in the characters, there is this deep love of life and love that drives them.
If you are like me and books where the setting is a character itself, propelling the story as much as any of the people who walk its paths, this book will speak to you.
kibadreams's review against another edition
2.0
Had to read it for class. Really not my thing, too sexist for no reason. The main character is so dumb.
sandra_aec's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
tonythep's review against another edition
4.0
Hard boiled crime fiction set in Marseilles equals Mediterranean Noir. This is pretty great stuff. Lots of atmosphere and grit. At times I did have to flip back through the book to figure out who one of the countless minor characters was. But Izzo has created a wholly immersive universe that I look forward to returning to.
paulataua's review against another edition
3.0
Nice to get back to some Mediterranean noir. The descriptions of Marseille were incredible and just captured the city as I remembered it in the mid 70s right down to the smells and the feel you got walking in certain areas of the city. I also loved having a hero who not only reflected on the city, but also on poetry, literature, and jazz. Having said that, those two points were the saving grace of a novel which was otherwise characterized by its fairly clichéd action and superficially drawn characters.
richardhannay's review against another edition
2.0
No es un buen libro aunque si un libro bien escrito. La narración tiene ritmo y mantiene la tensión en todo momento pero Fabio el detective llorón es completamente inconsistente, luchador incansable por la justicia o al menos por su propia visión de justicia que no alcanza a por ejemplo quienes no piensan como él. Se queja de racismo pero es absolutamente racista con entre otros Sanchez el taxista a quien ya antes de ver conoce hasta el último detalle de aspecto y personalidad. Valedor de los valores republicanos que no le importa ignorar para detener sin pruebas o acosar sin motivo. Su desprecio por los métodos policiales de algunos de sus compañeros no llega sin embargo a impedirle investigar en estado de embriaguez, pegar a detenidos, entrar en casa ajenas o esconder tranquilamente un cadaver falsificando pruebas.. Su obsesión con Manu y Ugo pasa del amable recuerdo juvenil a la grave obsesión. En lo que hace al desarrollo de la investigación abusa de la sorpresa, de los datos retenidos al lector y de su amiga la periodista Babette actuando de Deus ex Machina cuando hace falta un giro o una revelación. En suma una mala novela con un mal policía que se lee sin embargo con agardo gracias al oficio del escritor y a la presencia de una Marsella misteriosa y profunda que es lo mejor de la novela.
shawnfaust's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
erica_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0