Max is a kind of modern Zadig embarked upon an existential and sentimental quest. Jewish and Russian all rolled into one, he quickly feels cramped in his native Ukraine. One day, he leaves his parents, family and enemies for the city of his dreams: Paris. He discovers the capital and the occasionally ferocious and complex ways of its natives.

Costa, a projectionist in a porno cinema, plunges into a dark story of abduction, following a phone call that was not intended for him. Is Mome Pralier dead? Has the ransom been paid? Who killed Baumgartner? What's the doc up to in his clinic? AND SURTOUT - who is Irena? - and how far will she take Costa?

It was during one of his missions in Norway that Antoine learned of his wife's death. He leaves his experimental submarine and returns to Paris. Helene was found in the Seine and had taken barbiturates. Even though he had not been with Hélène for six years, he knew her well enough to believe that she was incapable of committing suicide. So who and why?