Synopses & Reviews
“Boisterous black comedy . . . funny and goodhearted, with much incident and expert enthusiasm for sex, food and drink.”—The Literary Review
“Much to enjoy in the clash of cultures and superstitions, even a tasty recipe for poisoning your friends with pasta. Detail like this places European crime writing on a par with its American counterpart.”—Belfast Independent
Some favors simply cannot be refused. Tonio agrees to write a love letter for Dario, a low-rent Paris gigolo. When Dario is murdered, a single bullet to the head, Tonio finds he has been left a small vineyard near Naples. The wine is undrinkable, but an elaborate scam has been set up. The smell of easy money attracts the unwanted attentions of the Mafia and the Vatican and the unbridled hatred of the locals. Mafiosi aren’t choir boys, and monsignors can be very much like Mafiosi.
Winner of three mystery prizes in one year, including the Grand Prix de la Littérature Policière and the Prix Mystère de la Critique.
Tonino Benacquista, born in France of Italian immigrants, dropped out of film studies to finance his writing career. After being in turn a museum watchman, a train guard on the Paris-Rome line and a professional parasite on the Paris cocktail circuit, he is now a highly successful author of fiction and film scripts.
Review
“Savagely funny and surprisingly touching.” —
The Guardian (London)
“A queasily-comic, stylishly-executed romp.” —The Independent (London)
“Crime fiction that makes you chuckle is rare, and this is an exceptional example of the species.” —Judges citation, Crime Writers Association International Dagger Award (finalist)
“Hilarious . . . Snappy writing and brisk pacing add up to a comic crime novel Elmore Leonard fans would relish.” —Publishers Weekly
“A smart fish-out-of-water conceit . . . The story thrives on absurdities and coincidence, particularly in [one] virtuoso scene.” —Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
A story of wine, miracles, the Mafia and the Vatican. Carl Hiaasen in Italy.
Synopsis
A savagely funny Mafia farce—soon to be a major motion picture starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Tommy Lee Jones The Blakes are newcomers to a small town n Normandy. Fred is a historian researching the Allied landings, Maggie enjoys charity work, and their kids are looking forward to meeting other teenagers at the local lycée. Or so it seems.
In fact, Fred is really Giovanni Manzoni, an ex-goodfella turned stool pigeon who’s been relocated from New Jersey to France by the FBI’s witness protection program. He’s got a two-million-dollar bounty on his head, but he and his family can’t help attracting attention (imagine the Sopranos in Normandy). And when imprisoned mobster Don Mimino gets wind of their location, it’s Mafia mayhem à la Josh Bazell’s Beat the Reaper, or like The Godfather as if written by Carl Hiaasen. Because while you can take the man out of the Mafia, you can’t take the Mafia out of the man.
Synopsis
A savagely funny Mafia farcesoon to be a major motion picture starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Tommy Lee Jones
The Blakes are newcomers to a small town in Normandy. Fred is a historian researching the Allied landings, Maggie enjoys charity work, and their kids are looking forward to meeting other teenagers at the local lycée. Or so it seems.
In fact, Fred is really Giovanni Manzoni, an ex-goodfella turned stool pigeon whos been relocated from New Jersey to France by the FBIs witness protection program. Hes got a two-million-dollar bounty on his head, but he and his family cant help attracting attention (imagine the Sopranos in Normandy). And when imprisoned mobster Don Mimino gets wind of their location, its Mafia mayhem à la Josh Bazells Beat the Reaper, or like The Godfather as if written by Carl Hiaasen. Because while you can take the man out of the Mafia, you cant take the Mafia out of the man.
Synopsis
A thrillingly comic Mafia farcesoon to be a major motion picture starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Tommy Lee Jones, and produced by Martin Scorsese
The Blakes are newcomers to a small town in Normandy. Fred is a historian researching the Allied landings, Maggie enjoys charity work, and their kids are looking forward to meeting other teenagers at the local lycée. Or so it seems.
In fact, Fred is really Giovanni Manzoni, an ex-goodfella turned stool pigeon whos been relocated from New Jersey to France by the FBIs witness protection program. Hes got a two-million-dollar bounty on his head, but he and his family cant help attracting attention (imagine the Sopranos in Normandy). And when imprisoned mobster Don Mimino gets wind of their location, its Mafia mayhem à la Josh Bazells Beat the Reaper, or like The Godfather as if written by Carl Hiaasen. Because while you can take the man out of the Mafia, you cant take the Mafia out of the man.
Synopsis
Imagine The Sopranos transplanted to the French countryside
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This thrillingly comic, internationally bestselling Mafia farce is the inspiration for the major motion picture The Family starring Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Tommy Lee Jones, and produced by Martin Scorsese.
The Blakes are newcomers to a small town in Normandy. Fred is a historian researching the Allied landings, Maggie enjoys charity work, and their kids are looking forward to meeting other teenagers at the local lycée. Or so it seems.
In fact, Fred is really Giovanni Manzoni, an ex-goodfella turned stool pigeon whos been relocated from New Jersey to France by the FBIs witness protection program. Hes got a two-million-dollar bounty on his head, but he and his family cant help attracting attention (imagine the Sopranos in Normandy). And when imprisoned mobster Don Mimino gets wind of their location, its Mafia mayhem à la Josh Bazells Beat the Reaper, or like The Godfather as if written by Carl Hiaasen. Because while you can take the man out of the Mafia, you cant take the Mafia out of the man.
About the Author
Benacquista, born in France of Italian immigrants, dropped out of film studies to finance his writing career. After being a museum night watchman, a train guard and a parasite on the Paris gallery opening and cocktail circuit, he is now a successful author and screenwriter. Her work includes Catherine Millet's explicit autobiography, 'The sexual life of Catherine M' and Beigbeder's attack novel on advertising, '£9.99'.She also translated 'Death in the Dordogne' by Louis Sanders recently favourably reviewed by the NYT.