Mystery Review: No Room at the Morgue is a wonderful title for this example of French noir looking back at its roots in Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade (who gets name-checked). It's a roller coaster ride with a side of blue movies, Sixties politics, and booze. Our hero, ex-cop Eugène Tarpon is tough when he needs to be, though he doesn't enjoy it, but not quite tough enough for some of his unpleasant encounters. He has a steady sense of humor that only begins to fray as the body count becomes overwhelming. There's a femme fatale, a naive client, lots of guns, and a tough but not unsympathetic cop. Excellent characterization throughout. Jean-Patrick Manchette manages to balance fun, noir, and sensitivity in No Room at the Morgue. The tough guy patter can be sharp: "It fit him like a glove fits a foot," or he "seemed about as nervous as a quart of milk." Other times it tries too hard (or the translation got off track): "I felt like I had egg on my face spying on him," or "Cut it out! Look at the results of your screwups!" No Room at the Morgue is as deeply set in Paris and environs as Raymond Chandler's novels were set in L.A. For those (like me) unfamiliar with France: the "milice" was a Vichy paramilitary group that fought against the French resistance during WWII; "pastis" is an anise flavored spirit, usually cut with water or ice (more often called Pernod in the States); and "cassoulet" is a stew. A "tarpon" is a large ocean fish. Although not quite up to his magnificent The Mad and the Bad or his powerful Nada, Manchette knows how to write a thrill ride; it's a quick read and always entertaining with all the requisite stereotypes for a down-at-the-heels private eye. He wrote one more novel with private detective Tarpon, which apparently hasn't yet been translated into English. Waiting. [3½★]
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