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Inspector Maigret #25
Félicie est là
Peg Leg Lapie, a crusty old sailor, is found mysteriously murdered in a most incongruous setting: a picturesque cottage near Paris, where he lived attended only by his young housekeeper, Felicie. But Lapie was not alone Maigret, chief inspector of the Paris police, is sure of it. A man at work in his garden, wearing clogs and a straw hat, does not suddenly drop his tools to go indoors and fetch a bottle of brandy to drink alone in the summerhouse. There must have been another glass that someone removed. But Félicie, in her red hat trimmed with an iridescent feather, proves a champion adversary, as skilled in innuendo and evasion as Maigret is in deduction.
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First published January 1, 1944
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About the author
Georges Simenon
2,746 books2,308 followersGeorges Joseph Christian Simenon (1903 – 1989) was a Belgian writer. A prolific author who published nearly 500 novels and numerous short works, Simenon is best known as the creator of the fictional detective Jules Maigret.
Although he never resided in Belgium after 1922, he remained a Belgian citizen throughout his life.
Simenon was one of the most prolific writers of the twentieth century, capable of writing 60 to 80 pages per day. His oeuvre includes nearly 200 novels, over 150 novellas, several autobiographical works, numerous articles, and scores of pulp novels written under more than two dozen pseudonyms. Altogether, about 550 million copies of his works have been printed.
He is best known, however, for his 75 novels and 28 short stories featuring Commissaire Maigret. The first novel in the series, Pietr-le-Letton, appeared in 1931; the last one, Maigret et M. Charles, was published in 1972. The Maigret novels were translated into all major languages and several of them were turned into films and radio plays. Two television series (1960-63 and 1992-93) have been made in Great Britain.
During his "American" period, Simenon reached the height of his creative powers, and several novels of those years were inspired by the context in which they were written (Trois chambres à Manhattan (1946), Maigret à New York (1947), Maigret se fâche (1947)).
Simenon also wrote a large number of "psychological novels", such as La neige était sale (1948) or Le fils (1957), as well as several autobiographical works, in particular Je me souviens (1945), Pedigree (1948), Mémoires intimes (1981).
In 1966, Simenon was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
In 2005 he was nominated for the title of De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian). In the Flemish version he ended 77th place. In the Walloon version he ended 10th place.
Although he never resided in Belgium after 1922, he remained a Belgian citizen throughout his life.
Simenon was one of the most prolific writers of the twentieth century, capable of writing 60 to 80 pages per day. His oeuvre includes nearly 200 novels, over 150 novellas, several autobiographical works, numerous articles, and scores of pulp novels written under more than two dozen pseudonyms. Altogether, about 550 million copies of his works have been printed.
He is best known, however, for his 75 novels and 28 short stories featuring Commissaire Maigret. The first novel in the series, Pietr-le-Letton, appeared in 1931; the last one, Maigret et M. Charles, was published in 1972. The Maigret novels were translated into all major languages and several of them were turned into films and radio plays. Two television series (1960-63 and 1992-93) have been made in Great Britain.
During his "American" period, Simenon reached the height of his creative powers, and several novels of those years were inspired by the context in which they were written (Trois chambres à Manhattan (1946), Maigret à New York (1947), Maigret se fâche (1947)).
Simenon also wrote a large number of "psychological novels", such as La neige était sale (1948) or Le fils (1957), as well as several autobiographical works, in particular Je me souviens (1945), Pedigree (1948), Mémoires intimes (1981).
In 1966, Simenon was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
In 2005 he was nominated for the title of De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian). In the Flemish version he ended 77th place. In the Walloon version he ended 10th place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
January 24, 2026
What can we say about this umpteenth novel by Simenon? Maigret is present but will oppose Félicie, a young woman of strong character!
The confrontation will make sparks.
The confrontation will make sparks.
February 3, 2024
January 2024 Lunchtime Listen
With the weather being really miserable, this lunchtime listen turned into just two afternoons. A fun listen , almost 4.5 stars
This story focusses on the murder of an old man that had retired to a brand new village some miles outside Paris, and the surliness of his young housekeeper, who surpisingly inherits the house from her employer, much to the chagrin of his few remaining relatives.
Baulked and stymied by this surly housekeeper every time he asks her questions about the murder, Maigret starts to lose his temper, and wonders if he will ever get anywhere with this crime. However as we know , he can be as stubborn as the most stubborn thing, and so acting like he doesn't care if she answers or not, he grasps any clue, any slight morsel that Félicie accidentally reveals, until the mystery begins to unravel.
Flitting from Paris to the local village bar to the parlour of Félicie's house Maigret gradually uncovers a wider ranging plot that Félicie is completely unaware of despite her love of lurid cheap detective novels. Who is The Music Man, why was the the dead man's wardrobe attacked, why did his nephew take a sudden interest in call girls (especially named Adele) and where did the gun go that killed him ?
Once again aided by Inspectors Lucas and Janvier, Maigret pulls the strings and catches the perpetrators of more than just a small village murder.
As ever brilliantly read by Gareth Armstrong
With the weather being really miserable, this lunchtime listen turned into just two afternoons. A fun listen , almost 4.5 stars
This story focusses on the murder of an old man that had retired to a brand new village some miles outside Paris, and the surliness of his young housekeeper, who surpisingly inherits the house from her employer, much to the chagrin of his few remaining relatives.
Baulked and stymied by this surly housekeeper every time he asks her questions about the murder, Maigret starts to lose his temper, and wonders if he will ever get anywhere with this crime. However as we know , he can be as stubborn as the most stubborn thing, and so acting like he doesn't care if she answers or not, he grasps any clue, any slight morsel that Félicie accidentally reveals, until the mystery begins to unravel.
Flitting from Paris to the local village bar to the parlour of Félicie's house Maigret gradually uncovers a wider ranging plot that Félicie is completely unaware of despite her love of lurid cheap detective novels. Who is The Music Man, why was the the dead man's wardrobe attacked, why did his nephew take a sudden interest in call girls (especially named Adele) and where did the gun go that killed him ?
Once again aided by Inspectors Lucas and Janvier, Maigret pulls the strings and catches the perpetrators of more than just a small village murder.
As ever brilliantly read by Gareth Armstrong
March 30, 2016
I wrote in my review of Simenon’s ‘The Blue Room’ that all whodunits have to stick to a tried and trusted formula. But that’s not quite true, as in ‘Félicie’ we have a whodunit that does everything it can to break that formula. It pushes at it, it shoves at it; eventually it punches so hard it nearly breaks it apart, so in the end we have a mystery where a murder is committed and a detective works to find out who committed the crime, but that is actually incidental to the true purpose of the book. As at its heart, ‘Félicie’ is a love story, or perhaps more accurately a hate story. It’s an odd couple tale, about the ups and downs in a relationship between two mis-matched souls thrown suddenly together.
As the title suggests, ‘Félicie’ is one of those souls. A headstrong young woman who works as a house keeper for an eccentric old man, who one sunny morning finds himself murdered. Swiftly she has the full attention of Inspector Maigret and the book is about the battle of wills which constitutes their relationship. Félicie herself is changeable, superior, impetuous and either too smart for her own good or not smart enough. And she infuriates Maigret like few people ever have before. It makes for an odd book, particularly with the murder – normally the raison d'être of any mystery novel – being dumped in the furthest corner of the back seat. So much so that Maigret has to remind himself repeatedly that a murder has taken place.
It's an odd read, but one I just about bought into. As really, how much you enjoy ‘Félicie’ is going to depend on how happy you are to go along with its conceit, and whether you want your whodunit to read like a whodunit, or if you’re happy to enjoy a sweet, literary sitcom.
As the title suggests, ‘Félicie’ is one of those souls. A headstrong young woman who works as a house keeper for an eccentric old man, who one sunny morning finds himself murdered. Swiftly she has the full attention of Inspector Maigret and the book is about the battle of wills which constitutes their relationship. Félicie herself is changeable, superior, impetuous and either too smart for her own good or not smart enough. And she infuriates Maigret like few people ever have before. It makes for an odd book, particularly with the murder – normally the raison d'être of any mystery novel – being dumped in the furthest corner of the back seat. So much so that Maigret has to remind himself repeatedly that a murder has taken place.
It's an odd read, but one I just about bought into. As really, how much you enjoy ‘Félicie’ is going to depend on how happy you are to go along with its conceit, and whether you want your whodunit to read like a whodunit, or if you’re happy to enjoy a sweet, literary sitcom.
July 7, 2016
Years later Chief Inspector Maigret remembers the infuriating housekeeper Félicie. Although 24, she acts more like a tween, an inveterate liar who stubbornly insists she’ll reveal nothing about the murder of her employer, the retired bookkeeper Jules “Peg Leg” Lapie. Maigret muses, “She’d given him more trouble than all the hardened criminals in his career.”
In Félicie (previously published as Maigret and the Toy Village), Maigret’s instincts prove excellent when he concentrates on the preening, childish housekeeper as the crux of the case. With the 24th novel in the series, first published in 1944, Georges Simenon has produced yet another gem. Maigret will never forget Félicie; neither will you.
In Félicie (previously published as Maigret and the Toy Village), Maigret’s instincts prove excellent when he concentrates on the preening, childish housekeeper as the crux of the case. With the 24th novel in the series, first published in 1944, Georges Simenon has produced yet another gem. Maigret will never forget Félicie; neither will you.
January 20, 2022
3.5 stars
November 5, 2021
Leggo da sempre, sempre di più. Non tanto quanto vorrei, ma parecchio, perché tra un libro e l’altro devo anche lavorare, fare vita sociale, dormire.
A volte i libri li divoro, altre devo farli sedimentare, quindi mi regalo più tempo in loro compagnia. Spesso li rileggo, ne trascrivo parti, li vivo. Li leggo a voce alta, più che posso, condividendo lunghi passaggi con il mio compagno, se non l’intero libro.
Ogni tanto però ho bisogno di mettermi in pausa e intervallare le letture con il mio amato Simenon.
Perché Simenon per me non è semplice lettura: è conforto, piacere e buona scrittura. Lo sento mio, sia i romanzi-romanzi, sia la serie di Maigret.
Mi sento a casa, con lui. Maigret è la mia copertina di Linus. La mia coccola, il mio piatto caldo di purè quando sto male.
Félicie è arrivato in un momento propizio: una coccola che mi ha fatto anche sorridere, con le schermaglie tra questa giovanissima e impertinente domestica e il mio amato Commissario, che fuma una pipa dietro l’altra e prende a calci sassi dall’irritazione.
Lei sprezzante e sfrontata, non si lascia intimorire, si dimostra una grossa gatta da pelare, fastidiosa e ostinata. Maigret si sente preso in giro, ma è consapevole dell’innocenza della ragazza. Un uomo serio, grande e grosso, che ha un moto di protezione nei confronti di questa giovane sognatrice e come un padre si intenerisce per i turbamenti del cuore di Félicie.
Bellissima la contrapposizione tra i due, la caratterizzazione dei personaggi, Félicie in primis, la descrizione dei luoghi, la resa delle atmosfere, qui meno fumose. È Maigret. Insolito, adorabile, sempre confortante.
Che meraviglia!
5 stelline dolci come cioccolatini.
A volte i libri li divoro, altre devo farli sedimentare, quindi mi regalo più tempo in loro compagnia. Spesso li rileggo, ne trascrivo parti, li vivo. Li leggo a voce alta, più che posso, condividendo lunghi passaggi con il mio compagno, se non l’intero libro.
Ogni tanto però ho bisogno di mettermi in pausa e intervallare le letture con il mio amato Simenon.
Perché Simenon per me non è semplice lettura: è conforto, piacere e buona scrittura. Lo sento mio, sia i romanzi-romanzi, sia la serie di Maigret.
Mi sento a casa, con lui. Maigret è la mia copertina di Linus. La mia coccola, il mio piatto caldo di purè quando sto male.
Félicie è arrivato in un momento propizio: una coccola che mi ha fatto anche sorridere, con le schermaglie tra questa giovanissima e impertinente domestica e il mio amato Commissario, che fuma una pipa dietro l’altra e prende a calci sassi dall’irritazione.
Lei sprezzante e sfrontata, non si lascia intimorire, si dimostra una grossa gatta da pelare, fastidiosa e ostinata. Maigret si sente preso in giro, ma è consapevole dell’innocenza della ragazza. Un uomo serio, grande e grosso, che ha un moto di protezione nei confronti di questa giovane sognatrice e come un padre si intenerisce per i turbamenti del cuore di Félicie.
Bellissima la contrapposizione tra i due, la caratterizzazione dei personaggi, Félicie in primis, la descrizione dei luoghi, la resa delle atmosfere, qui meno fumose. È Maigret. Insolito, adorabile, sempre confortante.
Che meraviglia!
5 stelline dolci come cioccolatini.
November 28, 2022
I forget now how I stumbled across this series. Although at first blush, the series are very dissimilar, I read this for much the same reason that I read Nero Wolfe. It is for the lead character. Nero Wolfe displays his arrogrance and brilliance (and Archie his lack of reverence for the same) while Maigret just sort of plods along. Or he seems to just plod along. But we can be pretty sure that his instinct about the crime and eventually zeroing in on the perpetrator is correct, even when he has doubts himself. He wonders if he might be wrong, if this is really the way he should be conducting the investigation, but he can’t bring himself to leave, something is holding him back, though he’d been hard put to say what exactly.
The thing that Wolfe and Maigret have in common is an understanding of human psychology. Simenon also has a body of work one would classify as psychological novels. In his Maigret series, Simenon employs his knowledge of human psychology via Maigret, who solves the crimes by understanding human behavior. I guess Poirot does that too, though I would not make a similar comparison.
Anyway, this was just as good as any in the series. Maigret tried to push some buttons in people who were resistant, but eventually the crime was solved. I'd like to give this 4-stars, but even as much as I enjoyed it, it's far too short. Let's place it in the top portion of my 3-star group and let that stand.
The thing that Wolfe and Maigret have in common is an understanding of human psychology. Simenon also has a body of work one would classify as psychological novels. In his Maigret series, Simenon employs his knowledge of human psychology via Maigret, who solves the crimes by understanding human behavior. I guess Poirot does that too, though I would not make a similar comparison.
Anyway, this was just as good as any in the series. Maigret tried to push some buttons in people who were resistant, but eventually the crime was solved. I'd like to give this 4-stars, but even as much as I enjoyed it, it's far too short. Let's place it in the top portion of my 3-star group and let that stand.
January 20, 2021
Pubblicato anche col titolo La ragazza di Maigret, Félicie è il 25esimo libro che Simenon scrive con protagonista il commissario Maigret. Capisco perché la casa editrice Adelphi ha deciso di cambiare il titolo: proprio perché la vera protagonista di questa indagine è lei, Félicie, bugiarda e capricciosa e che, scopriremo, nasconde un passato non felice come direbbe invece il suo nome.
In questa vicenda viene ucciso Jules Lepie detto Gambadilegno, un pensionato avaro e scorbutico, con un colpo di pistola nella sua casetta in campagna. L'unica persona che vive con lui è una ragazzina di 24 anni, Félicie, che da subito Maigret comprende essere bugiarda ma affezionata al suo padrone, visto che l'aveva salvata dalla miseria. E non sarà facile scoprire la verità, visto il carattere della ragazza che spesso contrasta le indagini, fino al punto che fuggirà.
Negli ultimi romanzi che sto leggendo di Maigret (come già detto sto leggendo in ordine cronologico tutte le sue indagini) abbiamo incontrato delle donne come protagoniste e la lettura di questa ultima indagine ci fa capire che Simenon aveva indubbiamente una capacità magistrale nel descriverci il complesso e variegato universo femminile. E non tarderà, il nostro commissario, a comprendere il malessere interiore che attraversa Félicie.
Il desiderio di sfuggire da un'esistenza che non si sente più propria insieme al bisogno di sentirsi di nuovo liberi: ecco cosa unisce Gambadilegno e Félicie. Lui fugge dal suo passato (segnato soprattutto dalla perdita di una gamba), lei fugge dalla realtà rifugiandosi nella lettura di romanzetti popolari. Questo desiderio di libertà, di uscire dalla monotona vita di tutti i giorni, sempre ripetitiva, sempre facendo le stesse azioni e vedendo le stesse persone e dicendo sempre le stesse cose, lo abbiamo ognuno di noi: forse una cosa sola ci salverà dall'alienazione ambientale e sociologica, ed è l'immaginazione (ed è certamente anche questo il segreto del successo di numerosi romanzi o serie tv, ci permettono di fuggire via dalla nostra noiosa realtà e ci trasformano in eroi, quando ci immedesimiamo con le avventure dei protagonisti delle storie).
Ho ritrovato un Simenon in stato di grazia, e quando è così è sempre un piacere leggere quello che scrive, anzi, non vorresti finisse mai.
In questa vicenda viene ucciso Jules Lepie detto Gambadilegno, un pensionato avaro e scorbutico, con un colpo di pistola nella sua casetta in campagna. L'unica persona che vive con lui è una ragazzina di 24 anni, Félicie, che da subito Maigret comprende essere bugiarda ma affezionata al suo padrone, visto che l'aveva salvata dalla miseria. E non sarà facile scoprire la verità, visto il carattere della ragazza che spesso contrasta le indagini, fino al punto che fuggirà.
Negli ultimi romanzi che sto leggendo di Maigret (come già detto sto leggendo in ordine cronologico tutte le sue indagini) abbiamo incontrato delle donne come protagoniste e la lettura di questa ultima indagine ci fa capire che Simenon aveva indubbiamente una capacità magistrale nel descriverci il complesso e variegato universo femminile. E non tarderà, il nostro commissario, a comprendere il malessere interiore che attraversa Félicie.
Vede, questa storia d’amore io l’ho capita subito… Lei è una ragazzina con cui la vita non è stata molto generosa… E allora, per fuggire da una realtà spiacevole, se n’è costruita una immaginaria… Non era più la piccola Félicie, la cameriera del vecchio Lapie, ma uno dei personaggi prestigiosi dei romanzi che legge…
«Nei suoi sogni Gambadilegno non era più un semplice padrone tignoso e, come nei migliori romanzi popolari, lei era il frutto di un amore colpevole… Non deve arrossire… Aveva bisogno di belle storie, non fosse altro che per raccontarle alla sua amica Léontine o per scrivere qualcosa nel suo diario…
«Non appena in casa è entrato un uomo, lei ha immaginato di esserne l’amante e ha vissuto con lui un grande amore, mentre il povero ragazzo, ci giurerei, non ne sapeva proprio nulla…
Il desiderio di sfuggire da un'esistenza che non si sente più propria insieme al bisogno di sentirsi di nuovo liberi: ecco cosa unisce Gambadilegno e Félicie. Lui fugge dal suo passato (segnato soprattutto dalla perdita di una gamba), lei fugge dalla realtà rifugiandosi nella lettura di romanzetti popolari. Questo desiderio di libertà, di uscire dalla monotona vita di tutti i giorni, sempre ripetitiva, sempre facendo le stesse azioni e vedendo le stesse persone e dicendo sempre le stesse cose, lo abbiamo ognuno di noi: forse una cosa sola ci salverà dall'alienazione ambientale e sociologica, ed è l'immaginazione (ed è certamente anche questo il segreto del successo di numerosi romanzi o serie tv, ci permettono di fuggire via dalla nostra noiosa realtà e ci trasformano in eroi, quando ci immedesimiamo con le avventure dei protagonisti delle storie).
Ho ritrovato un Simenon in stato di grazia, e quando è così è sempre un piacere leggere quello che scrive, anzi, non vorresti finisse mai.
July 22, 2019
Another enjoyable Maigret. This time Maigret reminisces about Felicie a 24 year old housekeeper for a man called Pegleg who is murdered. She refuses to cooperate with Maigret who is frustrated by her stubbornness. What amuses me is his fixation on her and how after some investigation he finds the truth. She is elusive, angry, sharp witted, mysterious and has a vivid imagination. She is hiding a secret.
Felicie is a romantic daydreamer who is in love with a suspect. She goes as far as to try and get rid of evidence, lie and throw hissy fits at Maigret. He as always plods along methodically and solves the mystery of the wardrobe and murder.
The story is set in a new village development outside of Paris. With of course a few beers, brandy and wine to keep Maigret’s little grey cells lubricated!
Felicie is a romantic daydreamer who is in love with a suspect. She goes as far as to try and get rid of evidence, lie and throw hissy fits at Maigret. He as always plods along methodically and solves the mystery of the wardrobe and murder.
The story is set in a new village development outside of Paris. With of course a few beers, brandy and wine to keep Maigret’s little grey cells lubricated!
September 19, 2025
"Peg Leg" Lapie, a crusty sailor, is found shot dead in a pretty cottage on the Jeanneville Development, the toy village of the title, close to Paris. He's lived there for years with only a servant girl / housekeeper called Felicie for company, though recently his nephew, Petillon, had stayed for a few weeks.
Felicie gives Maigret more trouble than all the hardened criminal brought to justice by the Chief Superintendent in his long career. Secretly, she does admire him, but she never stops telling him how much she hates him.
As Jeanneville is close to Paris, Maigret can coordinate his detectives easily enough via telephone at the local Post Office and also visit Paris when needed, especially Place Pigalle where he tracks down Petillon playing jazz nervously in a club. The police had been following Petillon for hours.
As Maigret and Petillon leave, the nephew is shot and seriously injured by an unknown attacker. When Maigret works out who Petillon has been searching for, a nationwide search is undertaken to find the girlfriend of a thief.
This is quite an ingenious story as the murderer is never introduced as a character, but is only referred to by the police. Even when the killer's apprehended, it's done downstairs, out of sight of Felicie.
Felicie gives Maigret more trouble than all the hardened criminal brought to justice by the Chief Superintendent in his long career. Secretly, she does admire him, but she never stops telling him how much she hates him.
As Jeanneville is close to Paris, Maigret can coordinate his detectives easily enough via telephone at the local Post Office and also visit Paris when needed, especially Place Pigalle where he tracks down Petillon playing jazz nervously in a club. The police had been following Petillon for hours.
As Maigret and Petillon leave, the nephew is shot and seriously injured by an unknown attacker. When Maigret works out who Petillon has been searching for, a nationwide search is undertaken to find the girlfriend of a thief.
This is quite an ingenious story as the murderer is never introduced as a character, but is only referred to by the police. Even when the killer's apprehended, it's done downstairs, out of sight of Felicie.
April 6, 2024
This is probably the oddest Maigret novel I've read. A man is murdered in an idyllic, but somewhat artificial, retirement village, and the chief witness is Félicie, his young housekeeper. Félicie is stubborn and haughty, and she obstructs the investigation in every conceivable way with her transparent lies. Maigret takes an instant dislike to her, which turns into a kind of obsession, which then turns into a kind of perverse affection. The murder is such an afterthought to this relationship that I had trouble keeping track of what was actually happening with it, but ultimately it was not that important anyway.
July 25, 2021
non avrei mai pensato di poter definire “delizioso” un libro di Simenon (menzione d’onore per la notte dell’aragosta!)
January 24, 2026
A man is found shot dead in his home. When Maigret turns up to investigate, he meets the man’s young housekeeper, Félicie, and develops a creepy, sadistic obsession with her. He bullies and harasses her, moves in to the dead man’s house, leaves the investigation up to his junior colleagues while he torments and mentally tortures Félicie just for the fun of it, and ignores his wife while he stalks his subject in an increasingly sexualised manner.
It was bound to happen eventually that one of these Maigrets would end up as a one-star. The most variable character in crime fiction, in this one he reaches his nadir – at least I hope so. His sexual harassment of this young woman, portrayed as if it’s not only acceptable but fun, revolted me. Félicie does not think it’s fun – she’s not a willing participant in his sleazy game. Frequently she is scared of him, and is obviously creeped out by him moving in without asking her consent. She asks him several times why he’s being so mean to her, to which he normally replies by laughing. Simenon should have gone the whole way, rechristened him Sir Jasper and given him a moustache to twirl.
It is said that Simenon often knocked off these books in a couple of weeks, and sometimes it shows. The plot in this one is so weak it couldn’t stand upright, and is entirely secondary to Simenon’s enjoyment of his misogynistic sexual fantasy. Unless you’re a completist, this is one to avoid.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
It was bound to happen eventually that one of these Maigrets would end up as a one-star. The most variable character in crime fiction, in this one he reaches his nadir – at least I hope so. His sexual harassment of this young woman, portrayed as if it’s not only acceptable but fun, revolted me. Félicie does not think it’s fun – she’s not a willing participant in his sleazy game. Frequently she is scared of him, and is obviously creeped out by him moving in without asking her consent. She asks him several times why he’s being so mean to her, to which he normally replies by laughing. Simenon should have gone the whole way, rechristened him Sir Jasper and given him a moustache to twirl.
It is said that Simenon often knocked off these books in a couple of weeks, and sometimes it shows. The plot in this one is so weak it couldn’t stand upright, and is entirely secondary to Simenon’s enjoyment of his misogynistic sexual fantasy. Unless you’re a completist, this is one to avoid.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
November 11, 2019
An interesting story taking Maigret out of Paris to a new housing development 19 miles to the west of the capital. The crime that brings Maigret here is the brutal murder of a Jules Lapie in his own home by an unknown assailant. The killing happened while Félicie, the victim's housekeeper was out shopping implying the perpretrator was aware of her routine and had knowledge of the property.
Maigret believes that the answers are caught up in Félicie's relationship with her employer and the novel shares his focus on this rural community, like a toy village, hence earlier titles, and a quiet retirement settlement; a place that seems at odds with such a violent shooting. However, it isn't the place that seems to hold his attention but rather this young woman Félicie who seems to be able to defy him where more hardened criminals would crumble before the chief inspector.
It is this relationship that carries the book, full of wit and conflict, verbal jousting and frustration, resentment to a growing respect.
I liked the book 'cos it shows the detective in a new light. His wider investigation that includes a large number of police officers is shown and a real mystery is at the heart of the book which the reader solves in step with the police investigation.
Full of typical Maigret moments, ignoring his wife for the case; leaving his detectives to their tasks and the leg work. Observing them with pride when they seem a chip off the old block and establishing his authority where food is concerned.
Having watched the successful Michael Gambon TV series this episode, Maigret and the Maid was brought to mind as it is true to the book. What the TV script couldn't do was show the workings of Maigret's mind and the depth of the wider investigation. For fans of Maigret this a great book to enjoy his ways and investigative methods especially as initially the young women stonewalls him. Classic.
Maigret believes that the answers are caught up in Félicie's relationship with her employer and the novel shares his focus on this rural community, like a toy village, hence earlier titles, and a quiet retirement settlement; a place that seems at odds with such a violent shooting. However, it isn't the place that seems to hold his attention but rather this young woman Félicie who seems to be able to defy him where more hardened criminals would crumble before the chief inspector.
It is this relationship that carries the book, full of wit and conflict, verbal jousting and frustration, resentment to a growing respect.
I liked the book 'cos it shows the detective in a new light. His wider investigation that includes a large number of police officers is shown and a real mystery is at the heart of the book which the reader solves in step with the police investigation.
Full of typical Maigret moments, ignoring his wife for the case; leaving his detectives to their tasks and the leg work. Observing them with pride when they seem a chip off the old block and establishing his authority where food is concerned.
Having watched the successful Michael Gambon TV series this episode, Maigret and the Maid was brought to mind as it is true to the book. What the TV script couldn't do was show the workings of Maigret's mind and the depth of the wider investigation. For fans of Maigret this a great book to enjoy his ways and investigative methods especially as initially the young women stonewalls him. Classic.
August 12, 2022
hhhmmm.... there is not a lot that one can say about this, it's just pulp fiction really, and not very good at that.
I have read a couple of very good Inspector Maigret books, but this is NOT one of them.
Maigret spends his time drinking in every pub in town, while practically moving into the female suspects home, then bringing her Lobsters to cook, then taking her breakfast in bed, while he has the murderer down in the kitchen, and throughout the book about 50 times she's always crying out to him "why are you so mean to me?". The killer is eventually found through some loose associations that are hardly believable, or very well thought out.
I'm laughing a little as I'm writing this, simply because the book is bad, it's so bad.
I read where at one stage Simenon used to write these Maigret books in 2 weeks, but I think this one took him about 3 days, so he could then get back to his drinking and whoring. He once boasted that he had slept with 5,000 women, many of them prostitutes and maids and housekeepers and cleaners and other staff. I read one of his biographies, and it's quite enlightening on these issues.
These Maigret books paid the rent, but it is his serious "Roman Durs (hard psychological)" novels that showed glimpses of genius at times, and which are (mostly) extremely good, especially "Dirty Snow", "The Strangers in the House", "Red Lights", "Monsieur Monde Vanishes", "The Widow", and "The Man Who Watched Trains Go By", and a couple of others.
I've read enough Inspector Maigret books now, and I won't be going on to read any others, but there are still a couple of his serious novels I intend to read, recently re-translated and re-published by Penguin.
I have read a couple of very good Inspector Maigret books, but this is NOT one of them.
Maigret spends his time drinking in every pub in town, while practically moving into the female suspects home, then bringing her Lobsters to cook, then taking her breakfast in bed, while he has the murderer down in the kitchen, and throughout the book about 50 times she's always crying out to him "why are you so mean to me?". The killer is eventually found through some loose associations that are hardly believable, or very well thought out.
I'm laughing a little as I'm writing this, simply because the book is bad, it's so bad.
I read where at one stage Simenon used to write these Maigret books in 2 weeks, but I think this one took him about 3 days, so he could then get back to his drinking and whoring. He once boasted that he had slept with 5,000 women, many of them prostitutes and maids and housekeepers and cleaners and other staff. I read one of his biographies, and it's quite enlightening on these issues.
These Maigret books paid the rent, but it is his serious "Roman Durs (hard psychological)" novels that showed glimpses of genius at times, and which are (mostly) extremely good, especially "Dirty Snow", "The Strangers in the House", "Red Lights", "Monsieur Monde Vanishes", "The Widow", and "The Man Who Watched Trains Go By", and a couple of others.
I've read enough Inspector Maigret books now, and I won't be going on to read any others, but there are still a couple of his serious novels I intend to read, recently re-translated and re-published by Penguin.
August 26, 2020
Maigret and the Toy Village (1944) by Simenon. A retired accountant has been murdered in the bedroom of his small, cookie-cutter home just outside Paris. The young woman who is a live-in housekeeper has to be the prime suspect, but Maigret has a father-like fondness for her. This happens despite her persistent obstruction of the investigation. Years later just the mention of her name, Felicie, will send cold shivers up him.
There is almost nothing to go on, the woman insists on not helping beyond her initial statements, and the case looks hopeless. Thankfully Maigret has nothing more pressing than to hang around the newish housing development, drink with the locals, send messages back and forth to headquarters in Paris where it appears the entire detective squad has nothing better to do that follow up mystic clues from their chief.
And somehow the case gets solved.
A Simenon story is about place and time, setting is half the story while patience is the other. This appears to be an uncomplicated murder, but the reveal is very surprising.
A nice little tour book for the days when Paris was much more sleepy and civilized.
There is almost nothing to go on, the woman insists on not helping beyond her initial statements, and the case looks hopeless. Thankfully Maigret has nothing more pressing than to hang around the newish housing development, drink with the locals, send messages back and forth to headquarters in Paris where it appears the entire detective squad has nothing better to do that follow up mystic clues from their chief.
And somehow the case gets solved.
A Simenon story is about place and time, setting is half the story while patience is the other. This appears to be an uncomplicated murder, but the reveal is very surprising.
A nice little tour book for the days when Paris was much more sleepy and civilized.
October 16, 2022
«Maigret? Che posso dirle? Entra in un’inchiesta come infilerebbe i piedi nelle pantofole...».
E così anche questa volta il nostro Commissario si ritrova con una bella gatta da pelare.
Il villaggio - di nuova costruzione - è nell’interland di Parigi, la casa si chiama Capo Horn, il proprietario era un marinaio che aveva perso una gamba, per questo era conosciuto come Gambadilegno, era avaro, solitario, scontroso... ed è morto, nella sua camera, ucciso con un colpo di pistola.
E c’è Félicie, venticinque anni, cameriera del defunto, devota al suo datore di lavoro, come fosse una figlia o un’amante. Con alle spalle una storia di miseria, risulta ad oggi una figura eccentrica, vistosa, ma è anche una sognatrice, ed è evidentemente innamorata; ma ha un bel caratterino, è determinata, reticente, scorbutica, sfrontata... e mente spudoratamente.
Che faccia da schiaffi! In certi momenti Maigret sente forte la tentazione di mollargliene uno, oppure di afferrarla per le spalle e scuoterla.
Beh... siamo in due! A volte è veramente insopportabile, altre fa tenerezza e vorresti abbracciarla.
Ed è lei la vera protagonista di questa storia, indubbiamente!
Bella la caratterizzazione dei personaggi, buona la trama, ottima l’ambientazione, indiscutibilmente perfetta la scrittura.
Mi sorprendo sempre di più del piacere che provo a leggere questi romanzi che, pur essendo brevi, hanno il potere di racchiudere fra le pagine e tra le parole innumerevoli sfaccettature.
Così, come Maigret, anche io, con un libro di Simenon fra le mani, infilo i piedi nelle mie confortevoli pantofole...
📖 Tema del mese (ott/22): nome/cognome nel titolo
✍️ GS Maigret
E così anche questa volta il nostro Commissario si ritrova con una bella gatta da pelare.
Il villaggio - di nuova costruzione - è nell’interland di Parigi, la casa si chiama Capo Horn, il proprietario era un marinaio che aveva perso una gamba, per questo era conosciuto come Gambadilegno, era avaro, solitario, scontroso... ed è morto, nella sua camera, ucciso con un colpo di pistola.
E c’è Félicie, venticinque anni, cameriera del defunto, devota al suo datore di lavoro, come fosse una figlia o un’amante. Con alle spalle una storia di miseria, risulta ad oggi una figura eccentrica, vistosa, ma è anche una sognatrice, ed è evidentemente innamorata; ma ha un bel caratterino, è determinata, reticente, scorbutica, sfrontata... e mente spudoratamente.
Che faccia da schiaffi! In certi momenti Maigret sente forte la tentazione di mollargliene uno, oppure di afferrarla per le spalle e scuoterla.
Beh... siamo in due! A volte è veramente insopportabile, altre fa tenerezza e vorresti abbracciarla.
Ed è lei la vera protagonista di questa storia, indubbiamente!
Bella la caratterizzazione dei personaggi, buona la trama, ottima l’ambientazione, indiscutibilmente perfetta la scrittura.
Mi sorprendo sempre di più del piacere che provo a leggere questi romanzi che, pur essendo brevi, hanno il potere di racchiudere fra le pagine e tra le parole innumerevoli sfaccettature.
Così, come Maigret, anche io, con un libro di Simenon fra le mani, infilo i piedi nelle mie confortevoli pantofole...
📖 Tema del mese (ott/22): nome/cognome nel titolo
✍️ GS Maigret
September 30, 2023
After a period of several years I have recently gotten four of the Maigret's books and while I always enjoy his writing, this particular story was odd in that its a murder written almost as a comedy with a secondary character -- initially the suspect -- very one-dimensionally.
This character is a young woman who lived as the housekeeper in the murder victim's house and from the very beginning is antagonistic with the police, refusing to answer questions and behaving strangely all around.
Unlike Maigret, I didn't find her humorous or interesting -- just a spoiled brat that obviously knew more than she was saying. So the way the inspector behaves around her is also false, and disappointing.
So while the mystery itself was interesting, the way it was told was not.
This character is a young woman who lived as the housekeeper in the murder victim's house and from the very beginning is antagonistic with the police, refusing to answer questions and behaving strangely all around.
Unlike Maigret, I didn't find her humorous or interesting -- just a spoiled brat that obviously knew more than she was saying. So the way the inspector behaves around her is also false, and disappointing.
So while the mystery itself was interesting, the way it was told was not.
July 25, 2016
Clever character study of this impertinent 24 year old housekeeper during the investigation into her employer's murder.
Stylish and succinct to nuance writing that circles Felicie's motives and operations more than the crime reveal outcome. Our detective is entranced.
This is quite erudite in language and accepts a rather dire tone of logic and of human nature. But this is more than the average novella mystery genre fare of the present. Far less on procedure and outcomes, far more on core personality and reaction.
Stylish and succinct to nuance writing that circles Felicie's motives and operations more than the crime reveal outcome. Our detective is entranced.
This is quite erudite in language and accepts a rather dire tone of logic and of human nature. But this is more than the average novella mystery genre fare of the present. Far less on procedure and outcomes, far more on core personality and reaction.
July 25, 2025
An eccentric old man is murdered, and one of the chief suspects is his young housekeeper, Felicie, a girl with a fertile imagination whose stories fascinate and exasperate the Inspector. As Maigret tries to get to the bottom of what has happened, he finds Felicie complicates matters at every turn. A very clever mystery, Felicie is a maddening and delightful character for Maigret to contend with.
January 25, 2022
An engaging crime fiction novel that features detective Maigret and Felicie, a 24 year old housekeeper whose 60 year old boss has been murdered. Felicie is quite a character. She is slim, wide eyed, sharp witted, enigmatic, elusive, wears striking clothes..crimson bonnet with large bronze green feather, often described by others as looking like a parakeet.
This book was first published in France in 1944 and is the 25th book in the Maigret series.
This book was first published in France in 1944 and is the 25th book in the Maigret series.
July 31, 2022
As much as I like Simenon/Maigret and as much as I like Penguin Editions, this series translations seem awkward and I can nor enjoy it. Is it me? Is it that no better translations could be done?
December 13, 2021
I have now read three mysteries written by Georges Simenon during the Nazi Occupation and marvel that there is no sign of the occupation in these books, including Félicie. In this 1944 mystery, Inspector Maigret is flummoxed by a murder in a strange toylike seaport near the mouth of the Seine. The victim's housekeeper, the young Félicie, lies shamelessly to Maigret, who spends most of the novel trying to break her opposition to his presence.
In the end, he must solve the crime from Paris, where numerous baddies from the 8th and 12th arrondissements are somehow involved.
In the end, he must solve the crime from Paris, where numerous baddies from the 8th and 12th arrondissements are somehow involved.
January 29, 2025
Maigret is in de boeken van Simenon een tijdloze figuur, hij is een oudere ervaren politieman die pijp rookt en aardig wat alcohol inneemt. Felicie moet meer weten van de dood van meneer Lapie, bijgenaamd Houtenbeen. Ze is zijn jonge huishoudster en ze blijkt ook zijn enige erfgenaam. Hij blijkt te zijn vermoord. Felicie is een lastige en stugge getuige, maar ze is ook bang. Maigret probeert te ontdekken wat er is gebeurd. Het is een tamelijk ingewikkelde plot, waarbij het verwisselen van twee kasten in het huis van Felicie de sleutel biedt. Het is het raadsel van waar ligt de schat en van de dief die naast de buit grijpt. Het verhaal speelt grotendeels buiten Parijs in een landelijke omgeving, maar het wordt nergens idyllisch. Toch slaagt Simenon er steeds in om in zware misdaadverhalen lichtheid aan te brengen, waardoor je als lezer valt voor de sfeertekening, ook al is de plot wat ingewikkeld.
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July 12, 2018Traducción y edición atroces, que destrozan la novela y hacen que la lectura sea un tormento. La historia en sí es simpática, con un Maigret muy humano y una protagonista irritante, cabezota, fantasiosa, lianta y, pese a todo, memorable.
October 23, 2024
Io adoro Maigret, il suo modo di fare burbero, ma mai offensivo. Devo dire che quando ho iniziato a leggere le avventure del commissario è stato amore a prima vista. I racconti con protagonista Maigret sono storie semplice, di un’umanità semplice e secondo me è proprio in questa semplicità che ne fa la grandezza. Questo libro non è tra i più belli, ma mi accompagnato per qualche ora facendomi rivivere la campagna francese.
March 9, 2020
J’ai adoré ce livre, cet étrange rapport qui se développe entre Félicie at Maigret, alors qu’elle est tout de même suspect dans l’affaire du meutre. Au debut cela m’a déconcerté, Simenon qui varie toujours sa maniére de mettre en marche ses histoires. Cette étrange relation s’est persisté jusqu’à la dernière ligne du livre, pour une histoire qui était, somme tout, plutot ordinaire. C’est la qualité de la relation entre Maigret et cette jeune femme qui a donné à cette histoire son intéret.
I loved this book. The strange relationship which developed between Maigret and the young woman, Félicie, gave to this story a mood, a colour, that continuee to fascinate throughout the book,right up to the last sentence. The mystery of the murder itself turned out to be somehow of less import than the interaction between Maigret and his young suspect. This Maigret gives us a hint of the other kind of book Simenon wrote, more and more as he developed as a writer, characterstudies without always involving a detective.
I loved this book. The strange relationship which developed between Maigret and the young woman, Félicie, gave to this story a mood, a colour, that continuee to fascinate throughout the book,right up to the last sentence. The mystery of the murder itself turned out to be somehow of less import than the interaction between Maigret and his young suspect. This Maigret gives us a hint of the other kind of book Simenon wrote, more and more as he developed as a writer, characterstudies without always involving a detective.
January 4, 2026
Roman policier, lecture assez fluide.
March 6, 2024
The pacing is a little off in this one, but Felicie is a dynamic character who brings out a different side of Maigret which is fun to see.
March 11, 2018
A detective investigating a murder tangles with an odd woman.
I really enjoyed this old style detective story – it had plenty of plot twists and turns and was a good quick read.
I really enjoyed this old style detective story – it had plenty of plot twists and turns and was a good quick read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews