The first book in Izzo's Marseilles trilogy is almost perfect. The protagonist, with his love of music and his fishing boat, is a great creation. And the author's love for much-maligned Marseilles makes it a place of dreams--and incredible food. The French seem to understand noir better than anybody, and this book is proof. Put it next to today's bestsellers, and it will put them all to shame. After finishing this trilogy, don't forget to read Jean-Patrick Manchette and Pascal Garnier. ( )

One Helluva Mess (also published as Total Chaos) features Izzo's Marseilles-based detective, Fabio Montale. Montale is a product of Marseilles' mean streets, and the mess referred to in the title is kicked off when one of his childhood companions returns from abroad with revenge on his mind.

Montale has been politically sidelined into a dead-end police liaison role, but his personal involvement in this case drives him to get involved as much as he can, and also allows him to pursue avenues of inquiry that are not open to the official investigators. As the book progresses, Montale's personal reasons for finding the villains mount up, and he finds himself out on a very long limb.

As with Ian Rankin's Rebus novels, Izzo really makes you live and breathe Marseilles as a place; the geography, history, sights and smells are all conveyed subtly, without distracting the reader with excessive detail. Montale is a splendid central character, with the personal flaws that fictional detectives need to be rounded characters; his background as a criminal himself is an unusual twist.

I really enjoyed this book. It brought back memories of Marseilles and made me want to visit it again, and the writing was elegant and prosaic. Yet the plot was also satisfyingly complicated and suspenseful. Montale's problematic and unhappy life makes him a very sympathetic character, similar to Martin Beck and Kurt Wallender. Izzo's books are hard to find, but I will be seeking them out. ( )

Wonderful book - think French Chandler, with jazz and pastis instead of big bands and hooch. Set in Marseilles in the 90s (I think), a racial melting pot filled with resentment, racism and rancour. Izzo writes beautifully, and his main guy, Fabio Montale, is a fabulous creation, a man who loves women and honour and booze and food and is doomed to destroy himself with love. Very much reminded me of James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux books, and can think of no higher praise than that. ( )

Fabio Montale is a cop in Marseilles languishing in the Neighborhood Surveillance Squad, “just a neighborhood cop who didn’t get any important cases,” and “less of a cop and more of a youth counselor or social worker.” He grew up as a bit of a delinquent in Marseilles and escaped to the police and Paris before eventually returning.

Two of his childhood friends, Manu and Ugo, have been killed and Montale feels compelled by loyalty to find out why. He has to contend with various criminal factions and even elements within his own department. His own life is also in danger.

Jean-Claude Izzo, a native of Marseilles himself, paints the port city as Montale the cop sees it; full of racial, cultural, and moral complexity, good food, and inherent racism, with Arabs bearing the brunt. The city is as much of a character here as are the people. ( )

Crime fiction is not usually a genre I am drawn to, but Izzo's portrayal of Marseille made the book for me. Under all its grittiness, and crime and corruption Marseille seemed almost regal and polished when considering the harbors, the coastal beauty, and the food. Everyone seems to be able to pack away a lot of many varieties of alcohol also. The main characters were real to me as well. Recommended for readers interested in contemporary Mediterranean locales, and of course , crime. ( )