Razzmatazz

A Novel

By: Christopher Moore

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times Bestseller

“Smart and funny and all sorts of raunchy in the best way.” — San Francisco Chronicle

Repeat New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore returns to the mean streets of San Francisco in this outrageous follow-up to his madcap novel Noir.

San Francisco, 1947. Bartender Sammy “Two Toes” Tiffin and the rest of the Cookie’s Coffee Irregulars—a ragtag bunch of working mugs last seen in Noir—are on the hustle: they’re trying to open a driving school; shanghai an abusive Swedish stevedore; get Mable, the local madam, and her girls to a Christmas party at the State Hospital without alerting the overzealous head of the S.F.P.D. vice squad; all while Sammy’s girlfriend, Stilton (a.k.a. the Cheese), and her “Wendy the Welder” gal pals are using their wartime shipbuilding skills on a secret project that might be attracting the attention of some government Men in Black. And, oh yeah, someone is murdering the city’s drag kings and club owner Jimmy Vasco is sure she’s next on the list and wants Sammy to find the killer.

Meanwhile, Eddie “Moo Shoes” Shu has been summoned by his Uncle Ho to help save his opium den from Squid Kid Tang, a vicious gangster who is determined to retrieve a priceless relic: an ancient statue of the powerful Rain Dragon that Ho stole from one of the fighting tongs forty years earlier. And if Eddie blows it, he just might call down the wrath of that powerful magical creature on all of Fog City.

Strap yourselves in for a bit of the old razzmatazz, ladies and gentlemen. It’s Christopher Moore time.

©2022 Christopher Moore (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

PHENOMENAL

Absolutely perfect book in terms of both story & performance. Funny & original .

Another great listen

I have been a fan of Christopher Moore for a while now, and when Noir came out I was blown away it quickly became my favorite book of his - in this continuation using the same set of characters and narrator - I am just as pleased with the story and narration. Highly recommended.

Another great one by Christopher Moore!

Johnny Heller was the perfect narrator for this book. This story is similar to Noir which I also loved. I often laughed out loud, especially with Johnny Heller's delivery! If you like Christopher Moore, you will love Razzmatazz!

Narrator

This guy did Noir as well and he’s truly fantastic!!! Highly recommend. Listen to both. And that’s coming from someone who never does audiobooks cause they don’t hold my attention. This guy’s got it!

Thick, fast, entertaining

It takes a chapter or two adjusting to a fast paced 1940’s vernacular. Character development is fast and at times a bit zany. It’s best to read the 1st book “Noir” before the barrage of Razzmatazz. The storyline is an eclectic puzzle that is brilliant.

A great follow up to Noir

Listened to Noir by chance on an Audible suggestion. Became one of my all time favorites.

Razzmatazz brings back all the main Noir characters, Stilton "the Cheese", Sammy "Sammy Two Toes" and the moon-man.

I liked that lesser Noir characters returned and some such as Uncle Ho and Lone Jones had bigger roles. Even the Sammy's neighbor, the " horrible kid" make his way into Razzmatazz.

The historical and background information of the epilog was very interesting and appreciated.

Really hoping for another installment!

Noir 2.0

This Razzmatazz is brought to you by the incomparable Christopher Moore. Which means Sammy Two Toes and his girl Stilton aka The Cheese are back, joined by Eddie Moo Shoes and his Uncle Ho, Lone Jones, Milo the driving-phobic cab driver, and the rest of the Noir gang, with some new characters in tow, roaming the late night scene in post-WWII San Francisco.

They are tasked with solving the murders of two "drag kings", finding the Rain Dragon who caused the great earthquake of 1909, and building a ship to help Scooter the Moon Man get home, in addition to a few other hi-jinks like teaching old Chinese men how to drive, fending off a vice cop nicknamed Mother Superior, holding organized gangs at bay, shanghai-ing abusive boyfriends, and throwing a big cross-dressing Christmas party at a psychiatric hospital.

And if it's Christopher Moore mixing this potent drink, you know there's going to be a chuckleworthy mix of film noir lingo with present day slang, plus occasional bits of Shakespearian tomfoolery, and at least a few bon mots in effing French. The trick is for it all to come together in a satisfying way, and I'm pleased to report that that is indeed the case in Razzmatazz.

My favorite parts are Uncle Ho's backstory back in 1909 when he first immigrated from China -- to be honest, I would not have minded an entire book about that, it's that good. And having based much of that on his research into Chinese immigration and the history of San Francisco's Chinatown, it's not just fun and games Moore is after, there is a weighty side to the tale.

You don't need to have read Noir to fully enjoy this book, but of course it's always better to already be familiar with familiar characters, and you don't have to take the presence of a Moon Man on faith already knowing where he came from.

I felt like I was there!

Hilarious story read by a truly amazing narrator. I could use more 1940's San Francisco please!

You Mooks Gotta Buy Dis

Christopher does it again. The plot of this sequel to Noir is not important, weighty, or even believable--none of his stuff ever is. But the dialogue and descriptions are just plain fun and often laugh out loud funny. The pacing and accent are excellent, and while I might balk at Johnny Heller doing a different style of novel, or Shakespeare, he is perfect for this material. If you liked Noir, you will like this one too. Same characters, new situations, and more hilarity ensuing. Highly recommend.

Fun story

Another fun period comedic novel from Christopher Moore. Great characters with excellent narrative performance.
Very enjoyable.