Jean-Patrick Manchette
Jean Patrick Manchette (1942-1995) rescued the French crime novel from the grip of Maigret and methodical police procedurals – restoring the noir edge by virtue of his post-1968 leftism. Jazz saxophonist, political activist, and screenwriter, Manchette was influenced as much by Guy Debord as by Dashiell Hammett. He remains an inspiration to the new generation of French mystery writers who have come in his wake.
Books by Jean-Patrick Manchette
The Gunman
Jean-Patrick Manchette
Now a major motion-picture starring Sean Penn, Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone and Mark Rylance
Three to Kill
Jean-Patrick Manchette
Listen: Warn your children and the weak of heart. There is meat here. There is gristle. There is bone. In France, which long ago embraced American cri…