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Inspector Maigret #34
ذات القبعة البيضاء
"One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories." --The Guardian
Inspector Maigret steps in when an anonymous note to the police reports that a body has been burned in a bookbinder's furnace
An anonymous note to the police reports that a body has been burned in the furnace of a bookbinder on the Rue de Turenne. Preliminary investigations turn up suspicious details--and two human teeth of a man who'd been alive not long before. Meanwhile, Madame Maigret has had a strange experience while waiting for her dentist appointment. A woman she had often met on the bench while waiting suddenly leaves her young child in Madame Maigret's care and disappears for over an hour, returning to take the child and vanishing without explanation. When Maigret's investigation is blown wide open, it seems the two incidents might be related in ways no one could have predicted.
Inspector Maigret steps in when an anonymous note to the police reports that a body has been burned in a bookbinder's furnace
An anonymous note to the police reports that a body has been burned in the furnace of a bookbinder on the Rue de Turenne. Preliminary investigations turn up suspicious details--and two human teeth of a man who'd been alive not long before. Meanwhile, Madame Maigret has had a strange experience while waiting for her dentist appointment. A woman she had often met on the bench while waiting suddenly leaves her young child in Madame Maigret's care and disappears for over an hour, returning to take the child and vanishing without explanation. When Maigret's investigation is blown wide open, it seems the two incidents might be related in ways no one could have predicted.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
93 people are currently reading
699 people want to read
About the author
Georges Simenon
2,738 books2,304 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 189 reviews
December 7, 2025
I always enjoy getting into these calm, almost slow intrigues, where Commissioner Maigret uses his finesse of mind to understand what's going on.
In this novel, by chance, Maigret's investigation and his wife's life intersect with this so-called friend, whom she ultimately knows very little. This woman abandons a child to Madame Maigret on a bench, only to return it two hours later!
What happiness to take advantage of these investigations full of finesse, where the conclusion is so simple, and where no shot had been fired!
In this novel, by chance, Maigret's investigation and his wife's life intersect with this so-called friend, whom she ultimately knows very little. This woman abandons a child to Madame Maigret on a bench, only to return it two hours later!
What happiness to take advantage of these investigations full of finesse, where the conclusion is so simple, and where no shot had been fired!
March 6, 2023
I read my first Maigret decades ago…..there are plenty of them because Simenon was one of the most prolific authors in France (or around the globe). The way Simenon wrote about police work was different from American authors. And, Maigret was a different type of “cop.” Through the course of the Maigret novels Simenon traces his career, but Inspector Maigret stays much the same man.
He is a synthesizer. He is an impressionist. He lets others gather the evidence. He gathers the people and gets to know them intimately. After that, he trusts “his gut” to lead him to the murderer and solve whatever other crimes are discovered along the way.
Madame Maigret represents his domestic life that supports his work and gives it meaning. She is never involved in a case…..except here, in this one. Is this one of the best of the series? Probably not. But after a long break from reading any, it was a delight to renew the acquaintance.
Simenon is a master at drawing characters and in creating dialogue that is both interesting and revealing. I will be coming back for more. 3.5*
He is a synthesizer. He is an impressionist. He lets others gather the evidence. He gathers the people and gets to know them intimately. After that, he trusts “his gut” to lead him to the murderer and solve whatever other crimes are discovered along the way.
Madame Maigret represents his domestic life that supports his work and gives it meaning. She is never involved in a case…..except here, in this one. Is this one of the best of the series? Probably not. But after a long break from reading any, it was a delight to renew the acquaintance.
Simenon is a master at drawing characters and in creating dialogue that is both interesting and revealing. I will be coming back for more. 3.5*
May 16, 2022
So this was a lunchtime listen over the past couple of weeks, and a jolly good one it was to. (oh how very English)
Maigret involved in a case of murder, is worried when he gets home for lunch one day and after finding the door locked, discovers that Madame Maigret has left dinner cooking , now burnt, and is nowhere to be seen. It transpires she was waiting for the dentist and was chatting to a woman she had met before in the park. This lady asks her to look wafer her young child briefly. Not sure how to get out of it, Madame Maigret agrees, but it is many hours later the woman reappears. By which time Madame Maigret has let dinner burn and missed her dentist appointment.
Monsieur Maigret barely suppressing a smirk when he finds out , does not realise that his wife will play a big part in this case.
A brilliant novel, excellently read by Gareth Armstrong. In fact so good that we have started another Maigret today, also read by the fantastic gareth Armstrong.
Maigret involved in a case of murder, is worried when he gets home for lunch one day and after finding the door locked, discovers that Madame Maigret has left dinner cooking , now burnt, and is nowhere to be seen. It transpires she was waiting for the dentist and was chatting to a woman she had met before in the park. This lady asks her to look wafer her young child briefly. Not sure how to get out of it, Madame Maigret agrees, but it is many hours later the woman reappears. By which time Madame Maigret has let dinner burn and missed her dentist appointment.
Monsieur Maigret barely suppressing a smirk when he finds out , does not realise that his wife will play a big part in this case.
A brilliant novel, excellently read by Gareth Armstrong. In fact so good that we have started another Maigret today, also read by the fantastic gareth Armstrong.
December 8, 2025
История, в която Мегре има сериозни трудности при разкриването на убийство. Нищо не върви както трябва в разследването, докато случайността и г-жа Мегре не се намесват решаващо.
Моята оценка - 3,5*, хареса ми.
Моята оценка - 3,5*, хареса ми.
October 10, 2017
One large reason that I so enjoyed The Madman of Bergerac and Maigret's Holiday is that patient, insightful Louise Maigret plays a larger role than usual in those novels. That’s once again true in this novel, the 34th in this wonderful series. First released in English in 1959 with the more accurate title Madame Maigret’s Own Case, this 34th novel in the Maigret series is one of the best for Madame Maigret fans like myself.
The current title is a bit of a misnomer. You know how it is: You strike up an acquaintance with someone you see regularly in the park — you never even learn each other’s names, it’s so casual. So it is with Madame Maigret, who regularly meets a woman dressed in a tailored blue suit with a fine white hat. The woman speaks near-perfect French, but the pretty 2-year-old boy with her speaks something else. All of a sudden, the woman hands over her child to Madame Maigret and vanishes not for a few minutes, as promised, but for two hours. By that time, Madame Maigret is frantic! The mother returns in a taxi, takes the child and leaves without explanation. Madame Maigret never even learned either the woman’s or her child’s names.
Meanwhile, an anonymous call alleges that the best and most expensive bookbinder in Paris has been burning a body in his furnace. Police do find two teeth and a bloodied blue suit, but the bookbinder, Frans Steuvels, insists that he’s completely innocent. So Maigret, assisted by the very young Lapointe, sets out to find out. A very intricate mystery, and highly, highly recommended.
The current title is a bit of a misnomer. You know how it is: You strike up an acquaintance with someone you see regularly in the park — you never even learn each other’s names, it’s so casual. So it is with Madame Maigret, who regularly meets a woman dressed in a tailored blue suit with a fine white hat. The woman speaks near-perfect French, but the pretty 2-year-old boy with her speaks something else. All of a sudden, the woman hands over her child to Madame Maigret and vanishes not for a few minutes, as promised, but for two hours. By that time, Madame Maigret is frantic! The mother returns in a taxi, takes the child and leaves without explanation. Madame Maigret never even learned either the woman’s or her child’s names.
Meanwhile, an anonymous call alleges that the best and most expensive bookbinder in Paris has been burning a body in his furnace. Police do find two teeth and a bloodied blue suit, but the bookbinder, Frans Steuvels, insists that he’s completely innocent. So Maigret, assisted by the very young Lapointe, sets out to find out. A very intricate mystery, and highly, highly recommended.
January 29, 2025
In deze bundel staan vier verhalen van elk ongeveer 45 bladzijden over de beroemde commissaris. In het eerste verhaal, de stille aanbidder van mevrouw Maigret, speelt mevrouw Maigret een sleutelrol. Aan de Place de Vosges, waar ze woont observeert ze een man en een vrouw die elke middag op het plein zitten. Maigret neemt dit aanvankelijk laconiek op totdat de man op een dag stil op het bankje zit en blijkt te zijn doodgeschoten. Dan wordt het een zaak voor hem en komen we in een spionageverhaal terecht.
Het mooie van Simenon is dat hij toegankelijk schrijft en dat je als lezer het verhaal goed kan volgen. Ook in de andere verhalen krijg je een inkijkje in Maigret als privé-persoon, als net gepensioneerde die op vakantie is in Dieppe of die zich in laat huren als privedetective. Het bloed kruipt waar het niet gaan. De verhalen zijn vermakelijk en door de omvang lees je elk verhaal in een ruk uit.
Het mooie van Simenon is dat hij toegankelijk schrijft en dat je als lezer het verhaal goed kan volgen. Ook in de andere verhalen krijg je een inkijkje in Maigret als privé-persoon, als net gepensioneerde die op vakantie is in Dieppe of die zich in laat huren als privedetective. Het bloed kruipt waar het niet gaan. De verhalen zijn vermakelijk en door de omvang lees je elk verhaal in een ruk uit.
April 24, 2020
In an odd way sort of a quiet mystery book. Mixing happenstance and some methodological police procedure, things eventually come together.
Not my favorite read, was curious to see how things turned out but not much suspense or intrigue. One side note, if you are learning or working on your French these are good books to read; well-written and direct, the writing is not overly ornamented.
Not my favorite read, was curious to see how things turned out but not much suspense or intrigue. One side note, if you are learning or working on your French these are good books to read; well-written and direct, the writing is not overly ornamented.
April 21, 2023
Stavolta nel primo capitolo ad essere protagonista non è il nostro consueto commissario francese Maigret bensì sua moglie, la quale viene coinvolta in una vicenda che diventerà determinante a risolvere un caso che il commissario stesso seguirà. La signora Maigret ha l'abitudine di stare seduta su una panchina di un giardino in attesa della visita del dentista (le scoccia aspettare nello studio) e fa amicizia con una ragazza che indossa un particolare cappello bianco la quale a un certo punto le chiede di badare al suo bambino e scompare via per ore, tanto è vero che la signora perde pure l'appuntamento col medico. Poi torna e, senza dire quasi nulla, riprende il bambino e va via in taxi.
Il fatto che la signora Maigret finalmente svolgerà una parte determinante nella risoluzione di un caso fa solo piacere, e peccato che sia presente solo all'inizio, mi sarebbe piaciuto vederla accanto al marito durante le indagini.
Maigret in ottima forma.
Il fatto che la signora Maigret finalmente svolgerà una parte determinante nella risoluzione di un caso fa solo piacere, e peccato che sia presente solo all'inizio, mi sarebbe piaciuto vederla accanto al marito durante le indagini.
Maigret in ottima forma.
August 22, 2015
Georges Simenon rarely disappoints me, especially in the Jules Maigret mysteries he wrote over a forty-year span. By now, I have read probably twenty of them -- without so much as scratching the surface.
Madame Maigret's Own Case (L'amie de Mme Maigret] gives the French police inspector a seemingly impossible problem: A bookbinder is arrested for suspicion of murder when two human teeth are found in his furnace. Also, not a million miles away, Mme Maigret is waiting on a park bench chatting with an acquaintance with a child. She is about to go into the adjoining dentist's office when suddenly the other woman thrusts her child on Mme Maigret and disappears.
Eventually, we find that the two incidents are connected. Instead of a strange omnium-gatherum of a plot, we have a tight case in which several people are charged, after TWO murders have been committed.
There is something so French about how Maigret goes about solving a case: Yes, he is methodical, but he can receive sudden inspirations which suddenly tie the case together in a neat package with a pink bow.
Madame Maigret's Own Case (L'amie de Mme Maigret] gives the French police inspector a seemingly impossible problem: A bookbinder is arrested for suspicion of murder when two human teeth are found in his furnace. Also, not a million miles away, Mme Maigret is waiting on a park bench chatting with an acquaintance with a child. She is about to go into the adjoining dentist's office when suddenly the other woman thrusts her child on Mme Maigret and disappears.
Eventually, we find that the two incidents are connected. Instead of a strange omnium-gatherum of a plot, we have a tight case in which several people are charged, after TWO murders have been committed.
There is something so French about how Maigret goes about solving a case: Yes, he is methodical, but he can receive sudden inspirations which suddenly tie the case together in a neat package with a pink bow.
January 9, 2026
christmas gift from Sam :’) his favorite detective series; in this one, inspector maigret’s wife (the titular madame maigret) helps solve the case :’) :’) :’)
very quaint, scratches the same old itch that nancy drew novels used to!
very quaint, scratches the same old itch that nancy drew novels used to!
September 4, 2023
Romanzo veloce, la lettura scivola via che è una bellezza, ma la storia questa volta mi è sembrata un po’ artificiosa, troppe coincidenze.
La traccia segue due linee: la signora Maigret finisce in prima pagina per la scomparsa di una sua conoscente, mentre un biglietto anonimo annuncia che nella caldaia dell’abitazione di un fine rilegatore (che ha l’attività negli stessi locali) è stato bruciato un corpo.
La signora Maigret è finalmente protagonista, la vita familiare del commissario si intreccia a quella lavorativa, perché pian piano le due vicende si incrociano confluendo in un’unica indagine, che grazie alla pazienza e alla determinazione del commissario troverà la soluzione, anche se dal sapore un po’ amaro.
🌍 LdM - Sfida 2023: Francia 🇫🇷
✍️ GS/Maigret
La traccia segue due linee: la signora Maigret finisce in prima pagina per la scomparsa di una sua conoscente, mentre un biglietto anonimo annuncia che nella caldaia dell’abitazione di un fine rilegatore (che ha l’attività negli stessi locali) è stato bruciato un corpo.
La signora Maigret è finalmente protagonista, la vita familiare del commissario si intreccia a quella lavorativa, perché pian piano le due vicende si incrociano confluendo in un’unica indagine, che grazie alla pazienza e alla determinazione del commissario troverà la soluzione, anche se dal sapore un po’ amaro.
🌍 LdM - Sfida 2023: Francia 🇫🇷
✍️ GS/Maigret
October 5, 2021
An entertaining, engaging crime fiction novel where detective inspector Maigret investigates the allegations in an anonymous letter to the police department. The letter states that a body had been burned at a specialist book binders premises. By coincidence Madam Maigret happens to be sitting at a park bench speaking to a woman and boy. The woman disappears for over two hours, leaving Madam Maigret with the boy, not knowing the name of the woman and when she would be returning. It turns out that there is a connection between the woman and the book binder. A satisfying reading experience.
This book was first published in France in 1949. The 34th novel in the Maigret series.
This book was first published in France in 1949. The 34th novel in the Maigret series.
December 3, 2018
Quietly entertaining mystery in which Maigret's wife feels compelled to assist her husband with some sleuthing of her own. The story starts with her careful preparation of lunch, leaving the fire on low as she leaves the apartment for a dental appointment.
Waiting in the park across from the dental office she is asked to watch a young toddler by a woman in a white hat. This turns out badly for Madame Maigret since she misses her appointment whilst nervously awaiting the return of the woman. Eventually the woman appears in a taxi, opening the door for the crying child. Of course the lunch is found burned to cinders.
This turn of events connects to a case Maigret is currently investigating. On her own initiative Madame Maigret walks the streets of Paris searching for the millinery shop that created the white hat, thus lending a big clue toward solving the case.
Waiting in the park across from the dental office she is asked to watch a young toddler by a woman in a white hat. This turns out badly for Madame Maigret since she misses her appointment whilst nervously awaiting the return of the woman. Eventually the woman appears in a taxi, opening the door for the crying child. Of course the lunch is found burned to cinders.
This turn of events connects to a case Maigret is currently investigating. On her own initiative Madame Maigret walks the streets of Paris searching for the millinery shop that created the white hat, thus lending a big clue toward solving the case.
December 5, 2016
An interesting departure from most of the Maigret novels. Indeed from the outset the focus appears to be on his wife who prior to her dental appointments was in the habit of sitting on a park bench until her time. Most of the reason was to meet her friend who came to the park each day with her Son.
Although nothing is said was it because of Madame Maigret's love of children, the Maigret's being childless? However on this particular morning Maigret's wife gets more as she bargains for as the mother suddenly rushes off in a taxi, living her son in Madame Maigret's care. The woman is gone so long that the dentist is missed and in a time before moble phone the inspector's wife just watches time go by unable to escape from the care of this boy. When the actual mother returns it is to beckon the lad to another cab and drive away without no expalnation or apology. In the process not only has the appointment been missed but Maigret's dinner has burned as he returned to their appartment to find his wife absent and neglectful in her duties.
The significance of this encounter comes to light when Maigret tracks down the taxi that took the woman away and sees a possible link and convergence with a case he has been unable to crack.
I found this new appraoch to a crime mystery refreshing and it perhaps highlights that bit if luck sometimes needed by the police to break open a difficult investigation.
it is also a refreshing story as Maigret states he wishes to start the investigation again which implies he isn't fully in control and much of the work has been undertaken by others. The case therefore shows thevarious qualities and work of his detectives and introduces a new young constable to the reader, Lapointe, who appears a little unsure of himself until Maigret takes him under his wing. Lapointe is crucial in that he saw a suitcase at the scene that was missing when Lucas arrived some 3 hours later.
Maigret then re-evaluates the evidence and timeline and it is really funny and telling when he produces a summary. Lucas says I wish you had spoken to me first as I have written the very same thing myself.
What marks out these novels is the human approach Maigret has to each investigation that although he is old school, almost bullying in long interegations with suspect he is fair and always connects with those he meets in any criminal case.
A great story showing that perhaps his methods only worked as part of a police team and a wider investigation,
Although nothing is said was it because of Madame Maigret's love of children, the Maigret's being childless? However on this particular morning Maigret's wife gets more as she bargains for as the mother suddenly rushes off in a taxi, living her son in Madame Maigret's care. The woman is gone so long that the dentist is missed and in a time before moble phone the inspector's wife just watches time go by unable to escape from the care of this boy. When the actual mother returns it is to beckon the lad to another cab and drive away without no expalnation or apology. In the process not only has the appointment been missed but Maigret's dinner has burned as he returned to their appartment to find his wife absent and neglectful in her duties.
The significance of this encounter comes to light when Maigret tracks down the taxi that took the woman away and sees a possible link and convergence with a case he has been unable to crack.
I found this new appraoch to a crime mystery refreshing and it perhaps highlights that bit if luck sometimes needed by the police to break open a difficult investigation.
it is also a refreshing story as Maigret states he wishes to start the investigation again which implies he isn't fully in control and much of the work has been undertaken by others. The case therefore shows thevarious qualities and work of his detectives and introduces a new young constable to the reader, Lapointe, who appears a little unsure of himself until Maigret takes him under his wing. Lapointe is crucial in that he saw a suitcase at the scene that was missing when Lucas arrived some 3 hours later.
Maigret then re-evaluates the evidence and timeline and it is really funny and telling when he produces a summary. Lucas says I wish you had spoken to me first as I have written the very same thing myself.
What marks out these novels is the human approach Maigret has to each investigation that although he is old school, almost bullying in long interegations with suspect he is fair and always connects with those he meets in any criminal case.
A great story showing that perhaps his methods only worked as part of a police team and a wider investigation,
August 19, 2019
В този случай освен Мегре и детективите му в разследването се включва и госпожа Мегре. Може ли да има връзка между недоказано убийство в ателието на уважаван книговезец, изчезнал кафяв куфар, млада жена с кокетна бяла шапчица и детето, за което тя се грижи в парка? Ще успее ли Мегре да сглоби частите от пъзела или този път ще бъде надигран от напористия адвокат Лиотар?
Атмосферата и описанието на Париж от 50те години е не просто фон, а плътно доизграждаща мистерията реалност. Бита на парижани, делничните им дела и празничните ритуали очароват и връщат в друго време. Време, в което е важно да се осигури прехраната на масата, а прането се прави винаги в понеделник на кораб пералня на Сена. Бутиците и модата в тях по централните търговски улици. Човек може мислено да се разходи по мокрите парижки павета или да приседне за вкусна вечеря и чаша вино в някое уютно бистро.
Вече споменах, че това е класика в криминалния жанр, но ако търсите безкрайна динамика и множество обрати, спиращи дъха преследвани, то определено в тази книга няма да ги намерите. И тук има обрати и преследвания, хитроумни капани и уловки, но темпото на събитията е друго, усещането е за прикрито напрежение зад привидното спокойстви на ежедневието. Срази ме прозорливостта и дълбоката психология, с която са изградени героите.
https://prezprozoreca.wordpress.com/2...
Атмосферата и описанието на Париж от 50те години е не просто фон, а плътно доизграждаща мистерията реалност. Бита на парижани, делничните им дела и празничните ритуали очароват и връщат в друго време. Време, в което е важно да се осигури прехраната на масата, а прането се прави винаги в понеделник на кораб пералня на Сена. Бутиците и модата в тях по централните търговски улици. Човек може мислено да се разходи по мокрите парижки павета или да приседне за вкусна вечеря и чаша вино в някое уютно бистро.
Вече споменах, че това е класика в криминалния жанр, но ако търсите безкрайна динамика и множество обрати, спиращи дъха преследвани, то определено в тази книга няма да ги намерите. И тук има обрати и преследвания, хитроумни капани и уловки, но темпото на събитията е друго, усещането е за прикрито напрежение зад привидното спокойстви на ежедневието. Срази ме прозорливостта и дълбоката психология, с която са изградени героите.
https://prezprozoreca.wordpress.com/2...
July 31, 2017
Following an anonymous tip-off, human teeth are found in the incinerator of a bookbinder in Paris. It’s puzzling given that the bookbinder and his wife spend all of their time together and that the victim remains unidentified.
To complicate matters further, and to add sprinkles to the icing on the cake, Madame Maigret becomes directly involved. While waiting for a dental appointment, a woman she has befriended on the square disappears to leave Maigret’s wife in charge of a child. Following on from this event, Mme Maigret plays detective for a while and her close observational skills are crucial in finally cracking the case.
A further layer of complication is added by an ambitious young defence lawyer who is publicly taunting Maigret about his investigation and another still in the way Jules handles a wet-behind-the-ears detective with almost paternal kid gloves.
Put all of this together and you have a recipe that’s entirely successful.
The Friend Of Madame Maigret (US) is a very stylish episode that shines a bright light on Maigret’s personal life. The piece is finished with a cherry of a twist in the form of the final sentence of the book.
To complicate matters further, and to add sprinkles to the icing on the cake, Madame Maigret becomes directly involved. While waiting for a dental appointment, a woman she has befriended on the square disappears to leave Maigret’s wife in charge of a child. Following on from this event, Mme Maigret plays detective for a while and her close observational skills are crucial in finally cracking the case.
A further layer of complication is added by an ambitious young defence lawyer who is publicly taunting Maigret about his investigation and another still in the way Jules handles a wet-behind-the-ears detective with almost paternal kid gloves.
Put all of this together and you have a recipe that’s entirely successful.
The Friend Of Madame Maigret (US) is a very stylish episode that shines a bright light on Maigret’s personal life. The piece is finished with a cherry of a twist in the form of the final sentence of the book.
November 25, 2017
Никога не съм бил особен фен на криминалния жанр, още по-малко на модерните му представители, но класиките в него радват с простия си, ясен език и непретенциозното действие. Книгите на Сименон пък имат и добавения бонус да показват франция от началото и средата на миналия век.
"Мегре и детегледачката" е българското заглавие на книгата, което издание ме мързи да добавя тук.
"Мегре и детегледачката" е българското заглавие на книгата, което издание ме мързи да добавя тук.
July 13, 2020
A bit too complicated for its own good, yet hinging on one of Simenon's key insights into the effects of poverty, and a coincidence that doesn't seem too far fetched. The interplay between Maigret and his wife and Maigret's mentoring of Lapointe make this satisfying for a long term Maigret fan (like me), but if you're new to the books start with earlier volumes.
December 29, 2024
The installments of this Maigret series are always short - I don't think any of them are longer than 200 pages. Simenon sets them up nicely and we watch Maigret go about thoughtfully solving whatever crime has occurred. If not immediately, then eventually, the crime is murder. In this we are alerted that a crime has been committed. The police have gotten an anonymous letter that a bookbinder is burning bodies in his stove.
Maigret's operatives are observant fellows. They notice not only what is there, but what has gone missing. In this case it was a suitcase that was at the bookbinders early in the day, but by early evening it was gone.
In the meantime, Madame Maigret has a course of treatments at the dentist. Arriving early her first couple of visits, she decides to wait in the park instead of the waiting room. There, she sees and visits with a young woman who has a 2-year old child. Can we assume this scene will be connected to the bookbinder?
This was a case of the solution being obvious to the reader. Of course, it wasn't obvious at all, although I wasn't 100% wrong - only about 75%. The solution is satisfying and works perfectly once all the information gets connected. I think this is a series that is 5-stars, but the individual installments mostly 3- and 4-stars. This is one of the better ones. I'm happy there are more than 70 novels in the series and I'll happily continue reading.
Maigret's operatives are observant fellows. They notice not only what is there, but what has gone missing. In this case it was a suitcase that was at the bookbinders early in the day, but by early evening it was gone.
In the meantime, Madame Maigret has a course of treatments at the dentist. Arriving early her first couple of visits, she decides to wait in the park instead of the waiting room. There, she sees and visits with a young woman who has a 2-year old child. Can we assume this scene will be connected to the bookbinder?
This was a case of the solution being obvious to the reader. Of course, it wasn't obvious at all, although I wasn't 100% wrong - only about 75%. The solution is satisfying and works perfectly once all the information gets connected. I think this is a series that is 5-stars, but the individual installments mostly 3- and 4-stars. This is one of the better ones. I'm happy there are more than 70 novels in the series and I'll happily continue reading.
July 9, 2020
Nagyon régóta kíváncsi voltam erre a sztorira a többitől eltérő cím, és Madame Maigret szerepe miatt, és nem csalódtam. Ugyan Maigret-féle nyomozás ez is, de azért Madame Maigret is aktívabb picit, igaz, részben a véletlen műve, hogy belekeveredik az ügybe. A szálak ugyanis Madame Maigret fogorvosától egész a könyvkötő műhelyéig érnek, ahol valószínűleg embert égettek, zakók cseréltek gazdát, és lába kélt egy bőröndnek is...
A kis Lapointe még nagyon zöldfülű ebben a részben, és tetszik, ahogy Maigret kicsit maga mellé veszi. :)
A bűntény, és a körülötte zajló titkolózás és kavarodás cseles és csavaros, de nagyon tetszett. Egy grófnő, egy kotnyeles, nagyratörő ügyvéd ficsúr, és egy csokoládébarna Chrysler is feltűnik, és persze Maigret ledönt jónéhány sört, mire összeáll a kép. ;)
Bővebben: https://pupillaolvas.blogspot.com/202...
A kis Lapointe még nagyon zöldfülű ebben a részben, és tetszik, ahogy Maigret kicsit maga mellé veszi. :)
A bűntény, és a körülötte zajló titkolózás és kavarodás cseles és csavaros, de nagyon tetszett. Egy grófnő, egy kotnyeles, nagyratörő ügyvéd ficsúr, és egy csokoládébarna Chrysler is feltűnik, és persze Maigret ledönt jónéhány sört, mire összeáll a kép. ;)
Bővebben: https://pupillaolvas.blogspot.com/202...
August 25, 2017
Oh, I enjoyed this!
After a summer full of disappointments in reading, this was just my drop. Hats off to Helen Sebba, who translated the edition I read.
Madame M. strikes up a passing acquaintance with a pretty young woman who always has a toddler in tow. Juste, "bonjour/bonsoir" as they say in the films. One morning the young lady asks her if she would keep her eye on the little boy for a moment...and she disappears for a couple of hours, leaving Madame more than worried, and her lunch burning on the stove! Unbeknownst to anyone, Madame now holds the key to a mystery that is giving a young, ambitious lawyer the opportunity to ridicule Maigret in the press and newsreels alike. I was reminded of the first-ever episode of "CSI", to the point that I wondered if the screenwriter had read Simenon!
Just in passing...think of having only one suit, plus your work clothes, one hat and one coat as your entire wardrobe! And this is a man with his own business. In the old days it was often so: one shirt on, one in the wash and one for best, and that's if you had one to be in the wash.
I've often wondered as I read Maigret's adventures what Madame did all day; this volume gives a lot of light on that, as well as on what it's like to live with Maigret. I love knowing that Maigret fakes his gruff-and-grumble when he's actually quite pleased with his case, because he knows les enfants (and sometimes Madame) expect it of him. I love knowing that he doodles amusing little drawings on his case notes, and feels quite proud of them when they're done. That he likes Alsatian-style sauerkraut and sings in the bath on a sunny Sunday morning. The translator did a masterful job of infusing the language with a quiet, gentle humour that I'm sure was intended by the author. It made the twist at the end of the tale that much more surprising--it actually took my breath away.
An excellent read.
After a summer full of disappointments in reading, this was just my drop. Hats off to Helen Sebba, who translated the edition I read.
Madame M. strikes up a passing acquaintance with a pretty young woman who always has a toddler in tow. Juste, "bonjour/bonsoir" as they say in the films. One morning the young lady asks her if she would keep her eye on the little boy for a moment...and she disappears for a couple of hours, leaving Madame more than worried, and her lunch burning on the stove! Unbeknownst to anyone, Madame now holds the key to a mystery that is giving a young, ambitious lawyer the opportunity to ridicule Maigret in the press and newsreels alike. I was reminded of the first-ever episode of "CSI", to the point that I wondered if the screenwriter had read Simenon!
Just in passing...think of having only one suit, plus your work clothes, one hat and one coat as your entire wardrobe! And this is a man with his own business. In the old days it was often so: one shirt on, one in the wash and one for best, and that's if you had one to be in the wash.
I've often wondered as I read Maigret's adventures what Madame did all day; this volume gives a lot of light on that, as well as on what it's like to live with Maigret. I love knowing that Maigret fakes his gruff-and-grumble when he's actually quite pleased with his case, because he knows les enfants (and sometimes Madame) expect it of him. I love knowing that he doodles amusing little drawings on his case notes, and feels quite proud of them when they're done. That he likes Alsatian-style sauerkraut and sings in the bath on a sunny Sunday morning. The translator did a masterful job of infusing the language with a quiet, gentle humour that I'm sure was intended by the author. It made the twist at the end of the tale that much more surprising--it actually took my breath away.
An excellent read.
May 3, 2025
Mittelmäßiger Maigret, der mit seinem Titel in die Irre leitet. - Madame Maigret wird im Park ein fremdes Kind auf's Auge gedrückt. Von einer Freundin keinerlei Rede. Aber immerhin wird ihr ödes Alltagsleben für wenige Stunden unterbrochen und sie spürt mal wieder etwas innere Erregung.
July 22, 2014
Una donna come la signora Maigret non può finire in prima pagina. Cosa le sarà successo?
Noi lettori non possiamo che esserne felici, poiché quella che, per tanti romanzi, è stata soltanto una figura secondaria, di sfondo, sfruttata come componente tranquillizzante di una normalità domestica, diventa finalmente reale.
Il commissario Maigret non può permettere che accada qualcosa alla sua famiglia. Deve portare alla luce la verità. Ma non è il solo, poiché anche la signora Maigret non si lascia zittire. Finalmente appare come una vera donna, una moglie a tutti gli effetti, un personaggio a tutto tondo. Lei stessa deve capire che fine ha fatto la sua amica, quella che prima l‘ha coinvolta e poi è scomparsa nel nulla.
Georges Simenon trova il modo di proporre qualcosa di nuovo nel raccontare una nuova storia investigativa che intreccia la vita domestica di Maigret alle vicende lavorative che includono il caso Steuvels.
Coinvolgente e con quel tocco abituale di malinconico.
August 12, 2017
One of the few Maigrets with a major role for Madame Maigret, in meeting two of the protagonists early on, then taking independent action behind Maigret's back in order to identify a character when the (male) police have not the nous! Great fun, as well as a wonderful picture of the small and vulnerable characters of Paris.
The GR blurb is:
"In The Friend of Madame Maigret, Simenon's economic prose brilliantly portrays the Marais quarter of Paris and those who haunt its narrow streets as Inspector Maigret attempts to prove that a murder has actually been committed without a corpse anywhere to be found. As the investigation becomes increasingly complex, seemingly unconnected characters are drawn into the case, and Maigret begins to wonder if his wife's earlier strange encounter with a woman and her baby may be the missing link."
The GR blurb is:
"In The Friend of Madame Maigret, Simenon's economic prose brilliantly portrays the Marais quarter of Paris and those who haunt its narrow streets as Inspector Maigret attempts to prove that a murder has actually been committed without a corpse anywhere to be found. As the investigation becomes increasingly complex, seemingly unconnected characters are drawn into the case, and Maigret begins to wonder if his wife's earlier strange encounter with a woman and her baby may be the missing link."
March 10, 2013
Typically good Maigret - although Madame Maigret gets relatively short shrift in this novel, in spite of the title. That's perhaps a weakness of the Maigret series - women are, for the most part, left out unless they're criminals. And the ending is weak - almost as if Simenon wanted to finish the novel and tie up all of the loose ends quickly. So - perhaps not one of my favorite Maigret's, but still a good read (no pun intended).
June 24, 2019
The eighth 'Maigret' novel I have read and one of the best so far. The solving of the crime relies on a coincidence that is utterly plausible. It was nice to learn more about Maigret's wife and to observe a little of the great detective's domestic life.
September 8, 2017
Un Maigret in ottima forma quello di questo giallo.
June 19, 2021
Gripping stuff.
July 11, 2022
An anonymous message informs the Paris police that a certain Flemish bookbinder has been burning a corpse in his stove, and the accused man’s lawyer seems to have a vendetta against Inspector Maigret.
Meanwhile, the dinner Mme Maigret has prepared for her husband is burning to a crisp when a woman literally leaves her holding the baby – or rather toddler – in a park. Who is this friend of Mme Maigret, and what possible connection, if there is one, has this strange unexplained incident with Maigret’s case?
As ever the inspector’s investigations, with his team based at the Palais de Justice on the Quai des Orfèvres, take him all over Paris north of the Seine. For a while Maigret appears to be in a bind, but his steady piecing together of hints and clues from interviews and observations may yet yield solutions.
There’s a grim irony in Detective Chief Inspector Maigret investigating an apparent murder in a basement flat, where only a few teeth are left after a dismembered corpse is burnt, coupled with Mme Maigret doing her own investigating after unavoidably burning her husband’s meal. We’re invited to consider how a missing brown suitcase, a fashionable woman’s white hat, a suit which is variously described as brown or blue, and a chocolate brown Chrysler motorcar all relate to the case. And where have all the suspects and their associates disappeared to?
Simenon is really good at establishing no-nonsense situations and atmospheres. As spring in Paris progresses through mild days and weeks with leaden skies, we follow Maigret through the capital’s streets or into the countryside, from the Palais de Justice to hotels and bars; we even follow Madame M to shops and boutiques in her search for the identity and location of the missing woman and the toddler. And we’re grateful that two-thirds of the way in Simenon has included Maigret’s reconstructed timeline of events which summarise the disparate details already gleaned from the text.
This is one of the more enjoyable Maigret novels I’ve read, where the expected intellectual puzzles are balanced by our insights into the humans involved. I loved observing Mme Maigret’s relationship with her husband (and vice versa) portrayed in tandem with the evident respect and loyalty of Maigret’s team of inspectors – Lucas, Janvier and new boy Lapointe – his dealings with specialist colleagues as well as members of the public, and his delicate probings into the motivations of assorted individuals.
And do we ever find out who sent that anonymous note which triggered this case? I shall leave that for future readers to discover.
Meanwhile, the dinner Mme Maigret has prepared for her husband is burning to a crisp when a woman literally leaves her holding the baby – or rather toddler – in a park. Who is this friend of Mme Maigret, and what possible connection, if there is one, has this strange unexplained incident with Maigret’s case?
As ever the inspector’s investigations, with his team based at the Palais de Justice on the Quai des Orfèvres, take him all over Paris north of the Seine. For a while Maigret appears to be in a bind, but his steady piecing together of hints and clues from interviews and observations may yet yield solutions.
There’s a grim irony in Detective Chief Inspector Maigret investigating an apparent murder in a basement flat, where only a few teeth are left after a dismembered corpse is burnt, coupled with Mme Maigret doing her own investigating after unavoidably burning her husband’s meal. We’re invited to consider how a missing brown suitcase, a fashionable woman’s white hat, a suit which is variously described as brown or blue, and a chocolate brown Chrysler motorcar all relate to the case. And where have all the suspects and their associates disappeared to?
Simenon is really good at establishing no-nonsense situations and atmospheres. As spring in Paris progresses through mild days and weeks with leaden skies, we follow Maigret through the capital’s streets or into the countryside, from the Palais de Justice to hotels and bars; we even follow Madame M to shops and boutiques in her search for the identity and location of the missing woman and the toddler. And we’re grateful that two-thirds of the way in Simenon has included Maigret’s reconstructed timeline of events which summarise the disparate details already gleaned from the text.
This is one of the more enjoyable Maigret novels I’ve read, where the expected intellectual puzzles are balanced by our insights into the humans involved. I loved observing Mme Maigret’s relationship with her husband (and vice versa) portrayed in tandem with the evident respect and loyalty of Maigret’s team of inspectors – Lucas, Janvier and new boy Lapointe – his dealings with specialist colleagues as well as members of the public, and his delicate probings into the motivations of assorted individuals.
And do we ever find out who sent that anonymous note which triggered this case? I shall leave that for future readers to discover.
January 1, 2019
This is probably a favorite Maigret. It starts out differently, with Madame Maigret. She has been seeing a dentist once a week to get her teeth worked on. As she waits outside on a park bench for her appointment, she strikes up an acquaintance with another woman who has a little boy with her.
Then, one morning, the lady jumps up and runs off, leaving the boy with Madame Maigret. Miss Maigret does not know what to do and after an hour decides to call the police, but finally the lady returns to retrieve her boy. Sort of. A taxi swings by, the door opens, the lady is inside, grabs her son and leaves.
Madame Maigret does not know what to think.
In the meantime, Inspector Maigret is investigating a possible murder. Teeth have been found in the furnace of a bookbinder's basement. The man, Steuvels, denies knowing why the teeth are in his furnace or that he murdered anyone. He is, nevertheless, being held for questioning.
Do these two seemingly unrelated incidents have a connection? Was murder committed in the basement of the bookbinder? If so, why? And who?
What I especially appreciated about this mystery was the Simenon, expertly doles out clues, like crumbs on a trail, which allows the reader to add everything together and arrive at the solution at the same time as Inspector Maigret. This is a unique way to present a mystery; most stories wait until the end to pack a punch with their who did it. I found this method more satisfying.
Then, one morning, the lady jumps up and runs off, leaving the boy with Madame Maigret. Miss Maigret does not know what to do and after an hour decides to call the police, but finally the lady returns to retrieve her boy. Sort of. A taxi swings by, the door opens, the lady is inside, grabs her son and leaves.
Madame Maigret does not know what to think.
In the meantime, Inspector Maigret is investigating a possible murder. Teeth have been found in the furnace of a bookbinder's basement. The man, Steuvels, denies knowing why the teeth are in his furnace or that he murdered anyone. He is, nevertheless, being held for questioning.
Do these two seemingly unrelated incidents have a connection? Was murder committed in the basement of the bookbinder? If so, why? And who?
What I especially appreciated about this mystery was the Simenon, expertly doles out clues, like crumbs on a trail, which allows the reader to add everything together and arrive at the solution at the same time as Inspector Maigret. This is a unique way to present a mystery; most stories wait until the end to pack a punch with their who did it. I found this method more satisfying.
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