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Inspector Maigret #39
Megrē un ziņotājs. Megrē, Loņons un gangsteri
Megrē un ziņotājs sāk sadarboties īsi pēc tam, kad uz ielas atrod kāda Morisa Marsiā, restorāna "Sardīne" īpašnieka, līķi. Vidutājs šajā sadarbībā ir inspektors Luī, kuram noslēpumainais ziņu piegādātājs laiku pa laikam piezvana, lai sniegtu vērtīgu informāciju. Savādais svešinieks par katru cenu grib palikt nezināms...
Megrē, Loņons un gangsteri mērojas spēkiem Parīzē, taču komisāram brīžiem šķiet, ka viņš veic izmeklēšanu Čikāgas ielās. Taču viss sākas pavisam ikdienišķi — Megrē piezvana mūžīgā neveiksminieka inspektora Loņona sieva, lai bailēs drebošā balsī pavēstītu, ka ne tikvien pazudis vīrs, bet dzīvoklī ielauzušies arī noslēpumaini svešinieki...
Izlasē iekļauto romānu oriģinālie nosaukumi: "Maigret et l'indicateur", "Maigret, Lognon et les gangsters".
Megrē, Loņons un gangsteri mērojas spēkiem Parīzē, taču komisāram brīžiem šķiet, ka viņš veic izmeklēšanu Čikāgas ielās. Taču viss sākas pavisam ikdienišķi — Megrē piezvana mūžīgā neveiksminieka inspektora Loņona sieva, lai bailēs drebošā balsī pavēstītu, ka ne tikvien pazudis vīrs, bet dzīvoklī ielauzušies arī noslēpumaini svešinieki...
Izlasē iekļauto romānu oriģinālie nosaukumi: "Maigret et l'indicateur", "Maigret, Lognon et les gangsters".
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1951
99 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Georges Simenon
2,736 books2,294 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 101 reviews
August 12, 2024
An American in Paris. However, this is no holiday or sight-seeing tour. The hoods of Italian crime families have travelled to France on the tail of the last witness to a crime. If he testifies a mafia boss could get sent away and that isn't going to happen. Kill the witness and the trial goes away.
This is how the Mob works, intimidation and threats backed up with the ultimate sanctions.
As all this mayhem and violence comes to the streets of Paris, it comes to Maigret's attention. Others tell him he should not go up against professional gangsters, they play to win and use different rules to the crooks Maigret routinely knows.
But these are his streets, they are threatening his men and despite the risks Maigret will not back down.
Something has to give. The case facing the chief inspector is the real world of intelligent criminals who treat Paris like any American city. But Maigret will not allow them to act with impunity. The Maigret novel just grew up, but at what cost to our favourite characters?
This is how the Mob works, intimidation and threats backed up with the ultimate sanctions.
As all this mayhem and violence comes to the streets of Paris, it comes to Maigret's attention. Others tell him he should not go up against professional gangsters, they play to win and use different rules to the crooks Maigret routinely knows.
But these are his streets, they are threatening his men and despite the risks Maigret will not back down.
Something has to give. The case facing the chief inspector is the real world of intelligent criminals who treat Paris like any American city. But Maigret will not allow them to act with impunity. The Maigret novel just grew up, but at what cost to our favourite characters?
April 1, 2024
Book 39 in Georges Simenon’s masterful Inspector Maigret series, Maigret, Lognon and the Gangsters is about midway in the series and the Inspector’s career. Quite different than others in the series IMO, but an excellent read.
In this one Maigret and his squad stumble on the arrival of American gangsters on the streets of Paris. The gangsters are in pursuit of a threat to their American way of life, aka crime syndicate. Their disdain for the French and Paris police has Maigret angry and upset, without his usual “sympathy” for the perp in the story, we see a different side of Maigret. His determination and stubbornness to deal with these intruders -with no quarter given. Maigret doggedly excises the vermin, and restores Parisian order and routine life to his streets. Yes, it’s very personal…the American way is unwelcome.
Having recently read W.R. Burnett’s 1929 classic, Little Caesar -which really started the whole American gangster story craze and tradition- this Maigret was quite timely. It gave me new and expanded appreciation for Simenon’s writing, and his ability to with great accuracy depict the characters and likely actions of the American species. He has a great eye and an ability to distinguish difference in cultures, and he adapts the story and Maigret himself to make these distinctions. As they would say Vivre le difference!
I took few highlight this time …caught up in the action? But they are visible. This one I’ll share directly as in it perfectly depicts Simenon’s ability to set the scene for his story…
“He was thinking about the rain, that particular rain before winter really sets in which has a way of getting down your neck and into your shoes, of sluicing off your hat in big drops, a rain for head colds, grimy and dreary, that makes people want to stay at home, where they linger at their windows like ghosts.”
Warning to the reader, Simenon’s Maigret series is habit forming… quite addictive.
In this one Maigret and his squad stumble on the arrival of American gangsters on the streets of Paris. The gangsters are in pursuit of a threat to their American way of life, aka crime syndicate. Their disdain for the French and Paris police has Maigret angry and upset, without his usual “sympathy” for the perp in the story, we see a different side of Maigret. His determination and stubbornness to deal with these intruders -with no quarter given. Maigret doggedly excises the vermin, and restores Parisian order and routine life to his streets. Yes, it’s very personal…the American way is unwelcome.
Having recently read W.R. Burnett’s 1929 classic, Little Caesar -which really started the whole American gangster story craze and tradition- this Maigret was quite timely. It gave me new and expanded appreciation for Simenon’s writing, and his ability to with great accuracy depict the characters and likely actions of the American species. He has a great eye and an ability to distinguish difference in cultures, and he adapts the story and Maigret himself to make these distinctions. As they would say Vivre le difference!
I took few highlight this time …caught up in the action? But they are visible. This one I’ll share directly as in it perfectly depicts Simenon’s ability to set the scene for his story…
“He was thinking about the rain, that particular rain before winter really sets in which has a way of getting down your neck and into your shoes, of sluicing off your hat in big drops, a rain for head colds, grimy and dreary, that makes people want to stay at home, where they linger at their windows like ghosts.”
Warning to the reader, Simenon’s Maigret series is habit forming… quite addictive.
July 14, 2019
Maigret is confronted with some strange behavior that he is going to get to the bottom of. It all starts out with a plea from a housebound wife of sad sack detective Lognon who is missing in action and thugs have invaded Madame Lognon's home more than once. It's quite a tale Maigret must listen to and quite a job for him to locate the missing man to get his story along with catching his cold as he takes him along to investigate these invaders. "The sight of Lognon's red nose and watery eyes was making Maigret's eyelids sting."
Making the rounds after hearing Lognon's tale of gangster behavior and a body thrown out of a car there is a predominant message, advising Maigret to leave it alone as these American gangsters play for keeps. It's a fairly comical routine of drinking at every opportunity, always packing two pipes and a few people ending up in hospital not surprisingly at all...a Parisian Police Circus of a story.
Making the rounds after hearing Lognon's tale of gangster behavior and a body thrown out of a car there is a predominant message, advising Maigret to leave it alone as these American gangsters play for keeps. It's a fairly comical routine of drinking at every opportunity, always packing two pipes and a few people ending up in hospital not surprisingly at all...a Parisian Police Circus of a story.
January 27, 2018
The 39th novel in the series that features the redoubtable — and tenacious — Chief Inspector Maigret begins with the near-murder of the insufferably unlucky and resentful Inspector Lognon. Almost immediately it’s revealed that Lognon was collateral damage in an American organized crime contract hit. (No wonder the 1954 edition is titled Inspector Maigret and the Killers!)
An FBI high honcho, two Italian restauranteurs and several others condescendingly tell Maigret to just forget it, implying that he’s way out of his league in dealing with hardened Mafiosi, but, if you know Maigret at all, you know he’ll stubbornly persevere to the end. Highly recommended.
An FBI high honcho, two Italian restauranteurs and several others condescendingly tell Maigret to just forget it, implying that he’s way out of his league in dealing with hardened Mafiosi, but, if you know Maigret at all, you know he’ll stubbornly persevere to the end. Highly recommended.
September 21, 2024
Anche questo romanzo di Maigret fu scritto da Simenon alla tenuta Shadow Rock Farm di Lakeville, in Connecticut ed è il trentanovesimo dedicato al nostro commissario francese. A esso è ispirato il film francese del 1963 Maigret e i gangsters di Gilles Grangier. Il commissario è interpretato da Jean Gabin.
La signora Lognon, moglie dell'ispettore chiamato lo Scorbutico, chiede di parlare con il commissario Maigret: si scopre che suo marito è scomparso da alcuni giorni e lei è preoccupata perché a casa sua si sono intrufolati dei gangster. Si verrà a scoprire che Lognon è stato testimone di un omicidio, ovvero ha visto che questi misteriosi gangster hanno gettato un cadavere in corsa dalla loro auto. Col procedere delle indagini Maigret capirà ben presto che queste persone, questi gangster sono tipi pericolosi che possono arrivare ad uccidere anche lui, così giunge in un ristorante frequentato da costoro e tutta l'attenzione la rivolgerà verso Joe Mascarelli detto "Sloppy".
Ritroviamo un Maigret più sagace e duro del solito, che riesce a combattere e a far saltare i piani a dei veri e propri gangster americani.
La signora Lognon, moglie dell'ispettore chiamato lo Scorbutico, chiede di parlare con il commissario Maigret: si scopre che suo marito è scomparso da alcuni giorni e lei è preoccupata perché a casa sua si sono intrufolati dei gangster. Si verrà a scoprire che Lognon è stato testimone di un omicidio, ovvero ha visto che questi misteriosi gangster hanno gettato un cadavere in corsa dalla loro auto. Col procedere delle indagini Maigret capirà ben presto che queste persone, questi gangster sono tipi pericolosi che possono arrivare ad uccidere anche lui, così giunge in un ristorante frequentato da costoro e tutta l'attenzione la rivolgerà verso Joe Mascarelli detto "Sloppy".
Ritroviamo un Maigret più sagace e duro del solito, che riesce a combattere e a far saltare i piani a dei veri e propri gangster americani.
June 24, 2019
One of the best 'Maigret' novels I have read so far, possibly even the best. It has become clear to me that those I enjoy most are the ones with shoot outs. In this novel, Maigret is pitted against three of the cleverest and most dangerous criminals he has faced, and they come close to killing him. Poor Lognon gets a savage beating too. Furthermore, it can't be said that Maigret is entirely successful in this case at the end. The plot is excellent and the writing as crisp and atmospheric as can be expected from the hugely talented Simenon.
October 26, 2019
This one is my least favorite so far in the Maigret series. Still, I was, as always, happy to be back with Maigret--Jules as the overly casual Americans call him--and in Paris. So I vacillated between 3 and 4 stars. 3.5 would have been best but since it's an interesting and different kind of read than the others I went with a 4.
This time around, Maigret receives a call from policeman Lognon's wife. Lognon is perhaps the unhappiest man on the Paris police force, constantly playing the parts of martyr and victim. He feels unappreciated and put upon and takes the most difficult tasks on himself to continually prove his martyrdom. He is a comic character but not one I'm fond of so that may be part of my less-than-usual enthusiasm a Mariget novel.
I also missed the usual character development I've come to love in Maigret stories. In this book, American gangsters have invaded Paris, chasing an escaped "colleague" who may implicate them in many crimes. The American law enforcement contacts of Maigret assure him he is out of his depth in dealing with these criminals who are too professional and hardcore for a Parisian cop to handle. Maigret is, naturally, extremely offended by this attitude and determined to prove them wrong.
So the novel is a change of pace from the rest of the series I've read so far. It was kind of fun but I'm not a big fan of gangster stories to begin with and I resented their intrusion into the more complex crimes and interesting personalities of the other books I have read. This story is less a mystery than a catch the cons kind of adventure.
However, as I said, it is always a pleasure to join Maigret in Paris and I'd rather read any of these novels than almost anything else (it's my guilty pleasure!). And people who enjoy gangsters may find this even more entertaining than the others. Chacun a son gout!
This time around, Maigret receives a call from policeman Lognon's wife. Lognon is perhaps the unhappiest man on the Paris police force, constantly playing the parts of martyr and victim. He feels unappreciated and put upon and takes the most difficult tasks on himself to continually prove his martyrdom. He is a comic character but not one I'm fond of so that may be part of my less-than-usual enthusiasm a Mariget novel.
I also missed the usual character development I've come to love in Maigret stories. In this book, American gangsters have invaded Paris, chasing an escaped "colleague" who may implicate them in many crimes. The American law enforcement contacts of Maigret assure him he is out of his depth in dealing with these criminals who are too professional and hardcore for a Parisian cop to handle. Maigret is, naturally, extremely offended by this attitude and determined to prove them wrong.
So the novel is a change of pace from the rest of the series I've read so far. It was kind of fun but I'm not a big fan of gangster stories to begin with and I resented their intrusion into the more complex crimes and interesting personalities of the other books I have read. This story is less a mystery than a catch the cons kind of adventure.
However, as I said, it is always a pleasure to join Maigret in Paris and I'd rather read any of these novels than almost anything else (it's my guilty pleasure!). And people who enjoy gangsters may find this even more entertaining than the others. Chacun a son gout!
April 21, 2021
Jól van, Maigret! Szép munka, mint mindig! Bírom azt a csökönyös, makacs formádat.
December 29, 2012
Maigret and the Gangsters was first published in 1952 as Maigret, Lognon et les Gangsters, and was translated into English by Louise Varèse. The gangsters of the title are the American Mafia variety, in Paris to eliminate a witness against them. They have an influential American politician to protect them, and act with callous disregard for the conventions known to French criminals. So many people tell Maigret that these men are dangerous, killers, out of his league, that he should leave the matter of stopping them to the ADA from St Louis on their trail, that he becomes infuriated. Besides, they have attacked a member of the Murder Squad, and Maigret himself has been threatened. The lugubrious Lognon, and even worse, Madame Lognon, are also involved. Lognon, a self pitying officer with a chip on his shoulder about not being promoted, discovers the crime, and then gets in everyone’s way. The story is a thriller reminiscent of Maigret stories of the 30s, with car chases, gun fights, beatings, kidnapping, tough guys, floozies and lots of booze. It may be Chandleresque, but the setting is solidly Parisian. Simenon seems as interested in the humour of contrasting Maigret with Lognon on the one hand and the American thugs on the other as he is in unravelling the plot. One of the more entertaining Maigret stories.
October 8, 2013
Ho imparato ad apprezzare Simenon, prima come fine psicologo (vedi "Pioggia nera", "Tre camere a Manhattan" e "L'uomo che guardava passare i treni"), ora anche con le inchieste che hanno come filo conduttore il commissario Maigret.
Oltre alle indagini che sono condotte con sagacia da Maigret, quello che colpisce e calamita l'attenzione del lettore è l'eleganza, la classe, la raffinatezza con cui Simenon delinea i personaggi che fanno da spalla a Maigret.
Oltre a Maigret, impariamo a conoscere anche gli altri personaggi, come Lognon , pronto sempre a lagnarsi e a lamentarsi, e consorte, Madame Lognon, presa da mille acciacchi e confinata da anni anella sua stanza, Pozzo, duro, determinato e infine i gangster americani che si muovono per le vie parigine.
Un'indagine poliziesca ricca di suspence, di bellezza in cui il genio di Simenon è più vivido e pulsante che mai.
Oltre alle indagini che sono condotte con sagacia da Maigret, quello che colpisce e calamita l'attenzione del lettore è l'eleganza, la classe, la raffinatezza con cui Simenon delinea i personaggi che fanno da spalla a Maigret.
Oltre a Maigret, impariamo a conoscere anche gli altri personaggi, come Lognon , pronto sempre a lagnarsi e a lamentarsi, e consorte, Madame Lognon, presa da mille acciacchi e confinata da anni anella sua stanza, Pozzo, duro, determinato e infine i gangster americani che si muovono per le vie parigine.
Un'indagine poliziesca ricca di suspence, di bellezza in cui il genio di Simenon è più vivido e pulsante che mai.
September 23, 2013
Egy remek Maigret, amiben Lognon is végre fontos szerephez jut. Mi köze Maigret-nek a gengszterekhez, bérgyilkosokhoz? Hogy kerülnek Párizsba, és mit látott Lognon, kit dobtak ki csak úgy az utcára egy autóból? Mozgalmas és mégis franciásan hangulatos kötet, amiben Maigret megmutathatja, hogy nem csak a pitiáner francia bűnözőkkel képes elbánni, de az igazi amerikai nagyágyúkkal is. Megpihenhetünk a bárpultokat támasztani néhány calvadosra, kökénylikőrre, és ezúttal a gengszter urakra való tekintettel: whiskey-re is! :)
Bővebben: http://pupillaolvas.blogspot.hu/2013/...
Bővebben: http://pupillaolvas.blogspot.hu/2013/...
May 21, 2022
An eventful, engaging short novel where detective Maigret finds that his always down in the mouth colleague, Inspector Lognon, is being menaced by American gangsters. Late at night Lognon had witnessed a body being thrown from a car on to the pavement, with the car speeding off. Lognon went to a bar close by where there was a telephone. Lognon glanced up to see a second car leaving the street and when he went back to where he had seen the body, found that the body wasn’t there.
This book in the Maigret series is a little different. Maigret carries a gun and shoots with it!
This book was first published in France in 1952 and is the 39th novel in the Maigret series.
This book in the Maigret series is a little different. Maigret carries a gun and shoots with it!
This book was first published in France in 1952 and is the 39th novel in the Maigret series.
January 28, 2024
Non mi ha pienamente convinta questo racconto, nonostante la tenacia del commissario si avverta tutta.
Confrontarsi con criminali americani in terra parigina fa inalberare il quieto Maigret, che - nonostante i più o meno velati avvertimenti - ce la metterà tutta per sbaragliarli, riuscendo ad incastrare alcuni di loro e a proteggere, bene o male, sia vittime che colleghi.
Probabilmente alla fine si ritiene soddisfatto,... io un po’ meno.
🌍 LdM - Sfida 2024: Francia 🇫🇷
✍️ GS/Maigret
Confrontarsi con criminali americani in terra parigina fa inalberare il quieto Maigret, che - nonostante i più o meno velati avvertimenti - ce la metterà tutta per sbaragliarli, riuscendo ad incastrare alcuni di loro e a proteggere, bene o male, sia vittime che colleghi.
Probabilmente alla fine si ritiene soddisfatto,... io un po’ meno.
🌍 LdM - Sfida 2024: Francia 🇫🇷
✍️ GS/Maigret
February 19, 2018
A most enjoyable re-read, 2 years after the last read! Still great!
Maigret in his familiar Paris milieu trying to solve the mystery of the body of an injured man disappearing after being thrown from a car. Maigret has to deal with three USA crooks in Paris and their different and decisive way of dealing with the police. Masterly as usual.
Maigret in his familiar Paris milieu trying to solve the mystery of the body of an injured man disappearing after being thrown from a car. Maigret has to deal with three USA crooks in Paris and their different and decisive way of dealing with the police. Masterly as usual.
April 13, 2014
Maigret meets the Mafia. An amusing little book. Damn those americans!
October 12, 2017
The difference in the US homicide rates and those in Europe, well illustrated.
October 30, 2018
Oh, Jules Maigret, how I missed you. Tongue in cheek at times, with American mobsters touted as being more criminally efficient than French ones. This was a tad bit different than others I have read.
March 30, 2019
I stumbled across this 1955 thriller in an ongoing series about the Paris homicide detective Inspector Maigret in the mistaken belief this was set in St. Louis. There are gangsters from St. Louis, but all the action is in Paris, and it's a perfectly complex trip through the seedier side of that town. Almost a French noir novel, it's got mystery, kidnappings, gun battles, double crosses, and lots of drinking. It goes by fast, and is an entertaining read. I would grab other books in the series if I see them.
September 15, 2024
I've enjoyed Simenon's Inspector Maigret books since I started reading them in around 1990. It doesn't bother me to read one a second time because I tend to forget who did it anyway. Although I don't think I've read this one before, I'm pretty sure I've seen a TV production of this story. If I understood the plot then, it didn't help me with my reading now. Was there a plot? If so, I couldn't find it.
September 29, 2023
Second Maigret, I've read and I found this one thoroughly disappointing. Transplanted US gangsters running amok in Paris. Weak, negligible characterisation, far too many characters and some truly cheesy gunfights and an underwhelming final "twist", do not result in a solid detective story.
October 10, 2017
Simenon's tight, simple prose is wonderfully descriptive and is a joy to read, even if this is not one of his best.
January 17, 2022
Un Maigret in forma che, quando gli italo-americani mettono in dubbio le sue capacità contro i criminali, si stizzisce, come ogni buon francese, e gliela fa vedere lui!
September 27, 2023
39 books in and Maigret finally fires his revolver in anger.
August 20, 2018
A French detective fights organised American criminals.
I really enjoyed this book - it was short and punchy with good characters, plenty of plot and decent action scenes.
I really enjoyed this book - it was short and punchy with good characters, plenty of plot and decent action scenes.
January 28, 2020
Lognon is a sad sack cop who can never seem to catch a break but also shares his regular professional disappointments with all around him. Everyone looks at him with coming with - o no, Lognon. His wife is not too cheerful either. She has gangsters come and question here (w/0 Lognon there) and she finally calls Maigret. Turns out there are some American gangsters on the loose in France! Maigret makes a few calls to old American friends and learns a bit about what is going on. Mostly though he investigates and keeps running into people telling him to let it go as this involves bigtime American gangsters and outside of his abilities (condescending). It all finally works out - after big American style shoot outs (!!) - but there's a twist! I won't say what the twist is, but it was very interesting.
July 2, 2023
While the idea of Maigret clashing with American gangsters sounds appealing, the final product just isn't very interesting. Why? Because gangsters don't really have interesting motives, and in the absence of a psychologically complex criminal, Maigret is relegated to a chase. In a typical Maigret novel, we get to spend time with the characters who are the likely suspects, learn about the context, and arrive at the solution guided by Simenon's layered personalities. Here, the spine is all procedure, and that's not what shows the author at his best.
January 16, 2010
Fun read, not so much a mystery as the two sides trying to out smart each other, as Maigret has to deal with some american gangsters who are trying to set up shop in Paris.
Always kind of amusing when Maigret deals with anyone from the USA, as you get the feeling Simenon didn't have the highest opinion of us, but rather than be snotty he just pokes fun at the americans.
Always kind of amusing when Maigret deals with anyone from the USA, as you get the feeling Simenon didn't have the highest opinion of us, but rather than be snotty he just pokes fun at the americans.
July 24, 2020
Rather an unusual Maigret story with gangsters from America openly operating in Paris and displaying a level of brazen criminality beyond the experience of the French police. Simenon ratchets up the tension really well as it goes on and there is a surprising twist at the end. As usual Maigret gets a lot of his information sitting in a bar with a drink in his hand. Great stuff!
August 28, 2013
I intrested in this collection because i liked the movies where Jean Gabin playing Maigret's character. But unfortunately the novel turned to be an ordinary thriller, hasn't any of the movies' qualities. I know that maybe the one i read wasn't a good example of the whole series, but the basics are clear, modest language, shallow characters, naive plot, akas ordinary thriller.
January 27, 2025
Simenon watched some gangster movies and wrote this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews