No Room at the Morgue

By Jean-Patrick Manchette | Publisher: New York Review Books

About the book

Inspired by the works of Dashiell Hammett, No Room at the Morgue is Jean-Patrick Manchette's unparalleled take on the private eye novel — fierce, politically inflected, and finely rendered by the haunting, pitch-black prose for which the author is famed.

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.

Editions of No Room at the Morgue

Paperback
ISBN 9781681374185
EBook
ISBN 9781681374192

Read an Excerpt

Inspired by the works of Dashiell Hammett, No Room at the Morgue is Jean-Patrick Manchette's unparalleled take on the private eye novel — fierce, politically inflected, and finely rendered by the haunting, pitch-black prose for which the author is famed.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is No Room at the Morgue about?

Inspired by the works of Dashiell Hammett, No Room at the Morgue is Jean-Patrick Manchette's unparalleled take on the private eye novel — fierce, politically inflected, and finely rendered by the haunting, pitch-black prose for which the author is famed.

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.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in No Room at the Morgue?

Fiction > Crime and / or mystery fiction

Where can I read a sample of No Room at the Morgue?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781681374185

Who is/are the Author/s of the book No Room at the Morgue?

Jean-Patrick Manchette

Who is the Publisher of the book No Room at the Morgue?

New York Review Books

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

No Room at the Morgue is available as paperback(ISBN 9781681374185) and ebook(ISBN 9781681374192)

Where can I buy No Room at the Morgue online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy No Room at the Morgue from below

Where can I buy No Room at the Morgue?