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.
