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Inspector Maigret #56
Maigret and the Old People: Inspector Maigret
Maigret is called to the home of Armand de Saint-Hilaire, a highly respected official who has been found shot dead in his study by his housekeeper. After interviewing everyone concerned Maigret is at a loss to the identity of the perpetrator until he comes across a series of letters from the past fifty years between the victim and a recently widowed woman. As Maigret uncovers the details behind the two's relationship he gets closer to discovering the tragic truth behind the official's demise.
Penguin is publishing the entire series of Maigret novels in new translations. This novel has been published in a previous translation as Maigret in Society.
159 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1960
About the author
Georges Simenon
2,622 books2,399 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 142 reviews
June 15, 2024
A wealthy aristocrat is found murdered in his home, Inspector Maigret must navigate a high-stakes case in the moneyed world of Paris’s upper crust.
Like all great detectives, Maigret has a method. Remarkable only for its banality — he watches the lives of criminals and victims, without judging or rejecting them, without commenting on them, for those observations allow him to do his job.
Unlike many English and American detective series, the world into opposing sides, with evil criminals and righteous justice defending the rich on the other. It's all just people, living in a society. It's almost sociological. Where many older detectives enjoy genteel logic games in drawing rooms and restoring property to owners, Maigret shares their intellect, but conveys himself more like a Noir detective.
Also, unlike many fictional detectives, he's a cop. In the end, a bureaucrat, working within a complex institution whose values are professional rather than moral or merely class-based in. His character strengths mirror the demands of his job: his ability to talk to criminals — to empathize with and inhabit their reasoning — is indispensable to his work as a detective.
It's a very European view.
3/5
The detective who smokes a pipe and whose homey wife stays at home waiting for him with the dinner and his slippers. The pacing is slow, and it is not for everyone (me).
What was interesting is how the book is rooted in their time. The mentioning of the death penalty startled me at first and then I vaguely remembered that the Capital punishment and the guillotine existed in France until the 80s. If you feel nostalgic about the 60s in France, it's for you.
Otherwise?
Interesting as a piece of time, but not on its own.
Like all great detectives, Maigret has a method. Remarkable only for its banality — he watches the lives of criminals and victims, without judging or rejecting them, without commenting on them, for those observations allow him to do his job.
Unlike many English and American detective series, the world into opposing sides, with evil criminals and righteous justice defending the rich on the other. It's all just people, living in a society. It's almost sociological. Where many older detectives enjoy genteel logic games in drawing rooms and restoring property to owners, Maigret shares their intellect, but conveys himself more like a Noir detective.
Also, unlike many fictional detectives, he's a cop. In the end, a bureaucrat, working within a complex institution whose values are professional rather than moral or merely class-based in. His character strengths mirror the demands of his job: his ability to talk to criminals — to empathize with and inhabit their reasoning — is indispensable to his work as a detective.
It's a very European view.
3/5
The detective who smokes a pipe and whose homey wife stays at home waiting for him with the dinner and his slippers. The pacing is slow, and it is not for everyone (me).
What was interesting is how the book is rooted in their time. The mentioning of the death penalty startled me at first and then I vaguely remembered that the Capital punishment and the guillotine existed in France until the 80s. If you feel nostalgic about the 60s in France, it's for you.
Otherwise?
Interesting as a piece of time, but not on its own.
February 18, 2024
The proper word when you're dealing with Simenon and Maigret is Class.
The first one has all of Balzac's or Victor Hugo's descriptive finesse and the second is a quieter, more human and more introspective Sherlock Holmes...
The first one has all of Balzac's or Victor Hugo's descriptive finesse and the second is a quieter, more human and more introspective Sherlock Holmes...
July 13, 2018
Once again, the author seems fascinated in writing about Maigret's methods. the different worlds he must become familiar with; to understand the motives and reasoning of the potential suspects and witnesses in a case. Here it is the murder of a former ambassador and the society he moved in and was surrounded by during his life.
The ministry is involved and Maigret has never like political aspects to any investigation. The people are from a generation removed, from Maigret's own experience and his dealings with people with titles reminds him of his time when he was a child and his father was the estate manager.
So Maigret finds the reticence to answer questions, the casual dismissing of his presence and the whole investigation team. He finds that the curious facts of all the main players also living in one part of Paris also unusual which adds to his sense of being out of his comfort zone.
I found the murder very reminiscent of an earlier case where the truth was so hard to find. In this investigation everyone seems to be telling the truth so the motive remains elusive.
In the end the solution is quite simple and as this is the 56th story I have read in sequence I guessed it way before the great detective understood what had happened and why.
Perhaps it was the milieu that kept him in dark but happily he is not as old as the people he is frustrated by in this episode and the wisdom he gains in this case will stand him in good stead in his retirement. Interesting in the grand scheme of the canon of Simenon's novels about his French inspector but not my favourite story or in the top 50.
The ministry is involved and Maigret has never like political aspects to any investigation. The people are from a generation removed, from Maigret's own experience and his dealings with people with titles reminds him of his time when he was a child and his father was the estate manager.
So Maigret finds the reticence to answer questions, the casual dismissing of his presence and the whole investigation team. He finds that the curious facts of all the main players also living in one part of Paris also unusual which adds to his sense of being out of his comfort zone.
I found the murder very reminiscent of an earlier case where the truth was so hard to find. In this investigation everyone seems to be telling the truth so the motive remains elusive.
In the end the solution is quite simple and as this is the 56th story I have read in sequence I guessed it way before the great detective understood what had happened and why.
Perhaps it was the milieu that kept him in dark but happily he is not as old as the people he is frustrated by in this episode and the wisdom he gains in this case will stand him in good stead in his retirement. Interesting in the grand scheme of the canon of Simenon's novels about his French inspector but not my favourite story or in the top 50.
May 16, 2026
One of the better Maigrets. There’s the usual Simenon atmosphere that he creates so well. Until midway this seems a fairly ordinary case to solve, but there are a couple of good twists that follow.
I listened to the audiobook, excellently read by Gareth Armstrong.
I listened to the audiobook, excellently read by Gareth Armstrong.
December 1, 2021
Una tradición que yo mismo me he creado es comenzar el año con la lectura de una novela policíaca. Esta tradición se remonta a 2017, momento de mi entrada en Goodreads, y desde 2018 las novelas elegidas han sido algunas de esas tan deliciosas que Simenon dedicó al comisario Maigret.
Adoro las novelas de Maigret. Adoro al personaje, adoro su percepción de París, adoro la compleja construcción de caracteres. Uno de los mayores placeres que puedo imaginar es pasar el día de Año Nuevo sin resaca, con el célebre concierto de fondo, mi gato ronroneando en el regazo y una novela de Maigret abierta encima de la mesa. Sí, podría decir que el 2020 ha empezado con buen pie.
Esta novela en concreto no es la mejor de las que he leído del comisario, pero sigue siendo muy entretenida. Lo que más destaca del arte de Simenon es la indagación en las motivaciones de los personajes, más allá que la resolución del crimen de turno. Acompañar a Maigret durante unas horas nos hace pasear por el París de mediados del siglo XX, nos hace conocer a sus gentes, recomponer fielmente una época. El mérito no es pequeño.
Volveré a Maigret sin ninguna duda a lo largo de este año. ¡Qué suerte que me queden tantas historias suyas por disfrutar!
Adoro las novelas de Maigret. Adoro al personaje, adoro su percepción de París, adoro la compleja construcción de caracteres. Uno de los mayores placeres que puedo imaginar es pasar el día de Año Nuevo sin resaca, con el célebre concierto de fondo, mi gato ronroneando en el regazo y una novela de Maigret abierta encima de la mesa. Sí, podría decir que el 2020 ha empezado con buen pie.
Esta novela en concreto no es la mejor de las que he leído del comisario, pero sigue siendo muy entretenida. Lo que más destaca del arte de Simenon es la indagación en las motivaciones de los personajes, más allá que la resolución del crimen de turno. Acompañar a Maigret durante unas horas nos hace pasear por el París de mediados del siglo XX, nos hace conocer a sus gentes, recomponer fielmente una época. El mérito no es pequeño.
Volveré a Maigret sin ninguna duda a lo largo de este año. ¡Qué suerte que me queden tantas historias suyas por disfrutar!
August 5, 2019
In this case, Maigret finds himself seemingly cast into a kind of fairy tale, princesses and all, where everyone seems innocent--nevertheless, there is a dead body to account for and somebody did it.
Armand de Saint-Hilaire, an elderly aristocrat and and diplomat, has been found shot to death in his study. There are no other signs of violence, no theft, only a housekeeper who has been devoted to her employer for 50 years.
The diplomat seemingly had no enemies. His friends, all as old as he is, had no motives.
But someone did it.
Another entry in this addictive series. The plots are light and entertaining but I read it for the characters, particularly Maigret who charms me. I hope to read them all: luckily there are (I believe) 72 of them so I have a lot to look forward to!
Armand de Saint-Hilaire, an elderly aristocrat and and diplomat, has been found shot to death in his study. There are no other signs of violence, no theft, only a housekeeper who has been devoted to her employer for 50 years.
The diplomat seemingly had no enemies. His friends, all as old as he is, had no motives.
But someone did it.
Another entry in this addictive series. The plots are light and entertaining but I read it for the characters, particularly Maigret who charms me. I hope to read them all: luckily there are (I believe) 72 of them so I have a lot to look forward to!
November 28, 2024
Comte Armand de Saint-Hilaire, an elderly former ambassador, has been shot dead in his Paris residence, and Maigret is called in to investigate. The death was reported by Jacquette, the ambassador's faithful retainer, who has been in his service for almost fifty years; Saint-Hillaire was murdered around midnight, after the door had been locked, and few people could have gained entrance to commit the murder. As the good inspector pokes around, a bizarre web of relationships comes to light. Saint-Hilaire had since 1910 been hopelessly in love with Isabelle, the beautiful daughter of the duc de S... His feelings were returned, but Isabelle could not marry him because Saint-Hilaire was insufficiently rich. She had instead been forced by her family to marry the Prince de V..., though she made it clear to her future husband that the marriage was just one of convenience and that her feelings were elsewhere engaged. The Prince agreed, and accepted that his wife every day exchanged passionate letters with Armand; on her side, Isabelle solemnly promised never actually to meet him. She also accepted that Armand both had many liaisons with various women throughout his life and also slept with the devoted Jacquette, who acted as go-between, carrying the passionate letters between Armand and Isabelle, despite being Armand's de facto wife.
During World War I, the Prince de V...'s older brother was killed in action, making him the holder of the illustrious title. After consulting with her father confessor, Isabelle decided that it was in fact her duty to allow the Prince to sleep with her after all, at least for long enough that she produced an heir who could perpetuate the family name. Maigret discovers that the Prince de V... has died in an accident just days before Saint-Hilaire was shot. These events must be linked, but how? He interviews all the suspects, but Isabelle was at home when the murder occurred, her son was having sex with a prostitute, which he normally did when he visited Paris, and it is inconceivable that the ever-devoted Jacquette could have done it. So who killed Saint-Hilaire?
During World War I, the Prince de V...'s older brother was killed in action, making him the holder of the illustrious title. After consulting with her father confessor, Isabelle decided that it was in fact her duty to allow the Prince to sleep with her after all, at least for long enough that she produced an heir who could perpetuate the family name. Maigret discovers that the Prince de V... has died in an accident just days before Saint-Hilaire was shot. These events must be linked, but how? He interviews all the suspects, but Isabelle was at home when the murder occurred, her son was having sex with a prostitute, which he normally did when he visited Paris, and it is inconceivable that the ever-devoted Jacquette could have done it. So who killed Saint-Hilaire?
June 2, 2022
Chief Detective Inspector Jules Maigret seems to have met his match. When the Count of Saint-Hilaire is found shot to death in his office, Maigret confronts a type of person about which he knows little, namely the French aristocracy and this 18th century ways. The retired diplomat had no enemies; and there seems to be no low-class hoods involved in his death. Moreover, all the persons he questions appear to be telling him the truth, as far as he can tell. When the murderer is finally revealed, the motivation for the crime is so alien to Maigret (and to us) that we are totally surprised.
To my mind, Georges Simenon's Maigret and the Old People is one of the best of the 72 Maigret series, mainly because of the Inspector's sense of puzzlement:
To my mind, Georges Simenon's Maigret and the Old People is one of the best of the 72 Maigret series, mainly because of the Inspector's sense of puzzlement:
He had lost his confidence since the previous day, unprepared in the face of people whose existence he hadn't even suspected. All their attitudes, their ideas, their reactions were alien to him, and he tried in vain to classify them under any particular category.Not for nothing is Simenon a favorite of such writers as William Faulkner, John Banville, Julian Barnes, Muriel Spark, Anita Brookner, and Andre Gide. In his best stories, he easily crosses the line from genre fiction to mainstream literature.
February 27, 2022
The housekeeper of Armand Saint-Hellaire finds him dead one morning, having been shot the evening before. He had not gone to bed and was still dressed. Of course there is a back story. Saint-Hellaire had never married, having been in love for 50 years with a childhood sweetheart. Princess de V-had married another, though it was a marriage of convenience. She, too, was still in love with Saint-Hellaire.
Maigret encounters another group of possible suspects who seem to have no motive and little opportunity. As is usual, he struggles to get to know these people in order to solve the crime. I liked Maigret's frustration at not easily seeing the solution. The solution to this one was entirely unexpected by me.
There are some surprising things about Maigret and the French police in general in this series. The police seem not to have sufficient vehicles, so Maigret often takes a cab or a bus - even just walks! - to get to the scene of the crime or to interview suspects. Maigret drinks beer on the job, sometmes even at police headquarters.
The installments in the series are all short and this one is among the shortest. I was happy to slip it in before my group's winter challenge ends the end of the month. I don't know if this one is really worth the 4-stars I've given it, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Maigret encounters another group of possible suspects who seem to have no motive and little opportunity. As is usual, he struggles to get to know these people in order to solve the crime. I liked Maigret's frustration at not easily seeing the solution. The solution to this one was entirely unexpected by me.
There are some surprising things about Maigret and the French police in general in this series. The police seem not to have sufficient vehicles, so Maigret often takes a cab or a bus - even just walks! - to get to the scene of the crime or to interview suspects. Maigret drinks beer on the job, sometmes even at police headquarters.
The installments in the series are all short and this one is among the shortest. I was happy to slip it in before my group's winter challenge ends the end of the month. I don't know if this one is really worth the 4-stars I've given it, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
December 14, 2021
Un delitto commesso nell'ambiente aristocratico. Non e' esattamente il giro nel quale Maigret si sente a proprio agio. Troppi i ricordi che lo rimandano all'infanzia vissuta all'ombra di un castello, cosi' come e' troppo grande la distanza sociale con i protagonisti per poter sperare di adottare la consueta tecnica di immedesimazione con i sospettati, di mimetizzazione col teatro del delitto. Maigret si accorge pero' che la vera protagonista della scena e' la vecchiaia: della vittima, di quasi tutti i protagonisti e in fin dei conti di quel ceto sociale ormai superato dalla storia e dei suoi anacronistici stili di vita e di pensiero.
August 16, 2023
Nisan Yayınlarının Simenon Serisinin 6 numaralı kitabı Maigret ve İhtiyarlar.
Az da olsa Maigret’nin geçmişine de götüren, sürükleyici bir Maigret romanı.
Çok beğendim.
Az da olsa Maigret’nin geçmişine de götüren, sürükleyici bir Maigret romanı.
Çok beğendim.
September 24, 2015
Dramatisation with Denholm ElliottWL The Man Who Watched Trains Go By
CR Maigret in Society
3* The Blue Room
WL My Friend Maigret (Maigret #31)
3* The Saint-Fiacre Affair
3* Maigret in Montmartre
3* Maigret Has Scruples
3* Maigret Bides His Time
3* Striptease
November 5, 2023
I suspect this is a really bad place to start the Maigret novels. An odd story. But Maigret is charming and the story is nicely balanced.
January 28, 2026
Dans le panthéon des détectives les plus connus, la Belgique occupe une belle place. Aux côtés de son enfant chéri, Hercule Poirot, se tient fièrement Jules Maigret, force tranquille en imperméable, la pipe à la main. Bien que français jusqu’au bord du chapeau, il a, en effet, été créé par le prolifique Georges Simenon, écrivain belge né sur les hauteurs de Liège.
Déjà commissaire dans cet opus, il se trouve confronté à un milieu qui le met particulièrement mal à l’aise. Le comte Armand de Saint-Hilaire, vieillard inoffensif et homme d’honneur, a été assassiné chez lui par quelqu’un en qui il avait toute confiance. Maigret évolue au cours de l’enquête parmi une aristocratie vieillissante, renfermée sur elle-même et figée dans le passé.
Le roman m’a séduite par son humour subtil et par son personnage central, que je m’imaginais, à tort, comme un être bourru et avare de sourires. La fin pourrait, par contre, déstabiliser les lecteurs habitués aux récapitulatifs théâtraux, car on assiste à une résolution plus sèche, fidèle à l’économie et au réalisme de Simenon.
Une chouette lecture qui m’a permis de (re)découvrir un auteur de chez moi. Rendez-vous le mois prochain pour la suite de mes aventures au Club Simenon!
Déjà commissaire dans cet opus, il se trouve confronté à un milieu qui le met particulièrement mal à l’aise. Le comte Armand de Saint-Hilaire, vieillard inoffensif et homme d’honneur, a été assassiné chez lui par quelqu’un en qui il avait toute confiance. Maigret évolue au cours de l’enquête parmi une aristocratie vieillissante, renfermée sur elle-même et figée dans le passé.
Le roman m’a séduite par son humour subtil et par son personnage central, que je m’imaginais, à tort, comme un être bourru et avare de sourires. La fin pourrait, par contre, déstabiliser les lecteurs habitués aux récapitulatifs théâtraux, car on assiste à une résolution plus sèche, fidèle à l’économie et au réalisme de Simenon.
Une chouette lecture qui m’a permis de (re)découvrir un auteur de chez moi. Rendez-vous le mois prochain pour la suite de mes aventures au Club Simenon!
August 6, 2021
The one with the ambassador and the princess.
November 20, 2021
The original French title was “Maigret et les Vieillards,” and usually translated into English as “Maigret and the Old People.” Another title used is “Maigret in Society.” Whatever called, both English titles would fit.
On a pleasant May morning Maigret is summoned to the home of Armand le Comte de Saint Hilaire who lies on the floor of his study riddled with bullets. He lives with his housekeeper of 40 years who lives with him. He was never married but loved Isabelle, or Isi, a beautiful woman who was forced to marry a prince. Armand and Isi maintained a daily correspondence through the many years but never consummated their love. Several days before le comte’s death Isi’s husband died after an equine accident opening the way for le comte and the Princess Isabelle to marry, but now le comte is also dead. Is there a connection between the two deaths? The prince died in an accident, but given the bullet pattern, le comte’s death is undoubtedly murder.
In this story Maigret enters a world unknown to him in two ways. It is the world of the old and the world of a society so high that Maigret knows nothing of it and is difficult for him to imagine, all throwing confusion into his investigation. This is a well-plotted story with unexpected twists. Having knowledge of Roman Catholic practices is a plus for the reader. On the whole, a very interesting Maigret adventure.
On a pleasant May morning Maigret is summoned to the home of Armand le Comte de Saint Hilaire who lies on the floor of his study riddled with bullets. He lives with his housekeeper of 40 years who lives with him. He was never married but loved Isabelle, or Isi, a beautiful woman who was forced to marry a prince. Armand and Isi maintained a daily correspondence through the many years but never consummated their love. Several days before le comte’s death Isi’s husband died after an equine accident opening the way for le comte and the Princess Isabelle to marry, but now le comte is also dead. Is there a connection between the two deaths? The prince died in an accident, but given the bullet pattern, le comte’s death is undoubtedly murder.
In this story Maigret enters a world unknown to him in two ways. It is the world of the old and the world of a society so high that Maigret knows nothing of it and is difficult for him to imagine, all throwing confusion into his investigation. This is a well-plotted story with unexpected twists. Having knowledge of Roman Catholic practices is a plus for the reader. On the whole, a very interesting Maigret adventure.
November 6, 2022
Kivételesen úgy érzem nem illeti meg az 5 csillag, bár ez is nagyon hangulatos, Maigret kötet, valami kis hiányérzetem maradt utána. Egy picit fojtogatott a légköre, pont mint Maigret-t a sok idős szereplő jelenléte a drámában, a rejtélyben. A megoldás szerintem túl egyszerű volt, és nagyon hirtelen lezárást eredményezett. Valami kis csavar még kellett volna talán, vagy valami ami összezavarja az olvasót egy lehetséges gyanúsított irányába.
Valóban létezik, hogy senki sem hazudik egy bűnténynél? - nyilván nem, de ezt meg lehetett volna még tekerni, kisajtolni belőle egy fondorlatosabb véget.
A házvezetőnő roppantul feszélyezett, nagyon kellemetlen személy volt szerintem. A gróf és a hercegnő szerelme-levelezése kicsit meseszerű, túl naiv, ártatlan dolog volt, ilyesmi aligha létezik igazából... A motiváció ... gyenge lábakon állt.
Akkor miért mégis a négy csillag? Szegény Maigret-nek, Lapointe-nek, Janvier-nak, akik próbáltak eligazodni ebben a számukra idegen miliőben, a sok öreg közt, Jacquette karvaly-pillantásától kísérve, és kibogozni az öreg szerelmesek titkait. Maigret-nek ebben még rémálma is van, és csak néha-néha tud legurítani egy jól megérdemelt sört. :)
Valóban létezik, hogy senki sem hazudik egy bűnténynél? - nyilván nem, de ezt meg lehetett volna még tekerni, kisajtolni belőle egy fondorlatosabb véget.
A házvezetőnő roppantul feszélyezett, nagyon kellemetlen személy volt szerintem. A gróf és a hercegnő szerelme-levelezése kicsit meseszerű, túl naiv, ártatlan dolog volt, ilyesmi aligha létezik igazából... A motiváció ... gyenge lábakon állt.
Akkor miért mégis a négy csillag? Szegény Maigret-nek, Lapointe-nek, Janvier-nak, akik próbáltak eligazodni ebben a számukra idegen miliőben, a sok öreg közt, Jacquette karvaly-pillantásától kísérve, és kibogozni az öreg szerelmesek titkait. Maigret-nek ebben még rémálma is van, és csak néha-néha tud legurítani egy jól megérdemelt sört. :)
April 4, 2021
An interesting, engaging crime fiction novella where Detective Inspector Maigret investigates the violent death of a distinguished former ambassador. Maigret learns about the ambassador’s quiet, fairly solitary life, where he has written every day for over fifty years to the love of his life. Maigret finds it unusual that all the people he interviews seem to be telling the truth and there doesn’t seem to be any possible motives for the killing of the former ambassador.
I particularly enjoyed this Maigret novel, first published in France in 1960. The fifty sixth book in the Maigret series.
I particularly enjoyed this Maigret novel, first published in France in 1960. The fifty sixth book in the Maigret series.
June 16, 2022
diavolo di un Georges....
scrive un Maigret minore, uno di quelli non memorabili, e quando si arriva alla fine lo chiude su un tono così dolcemente malinconico che anche questa volta si rimane incantati
scrive un Maigret minore, uno di quelli non memorabili, e quando si arriva alla fine lo chiude su un tono così dolcemente malinconico che anche questa volta si rimane incantati
November 24, 2018
Crime calls Maigret to the old-fashioned French society filled with Counts and countesses! The mystery in itself isn't something which would tax our grey cells but what's fun here are Maigret's obvious discomfort about high society and his unique observations on human nature which remain same wherever one goes.
My Rating - 3/5
My Rating - 3/5
January 7, 2020
From TIA:
The Comte de Saint-Hilaire, member of one of the most prominent families in France and a former diplomat, has been found dead. In one of his drawers the police finds hundreds of letters from the Count to the Princesse de Varay. Maigret is asked to investigate the case, but is urged to use “upper discretion”. Is there a link between the death of the count, and the death of the Prince de Varaye the week before?
Adapted for radio by Edward Bruce
Produced and directed by Glyn Dearman
Maurice Denham - Chief Inspector Jules Maigret
Michael Gough - Georges Simenon
John Rye - Inspector Albert Lapointe
Sean Barrett - Inspector Janvier
Joyce Carey - The Princess de Veret
Marjorie Westbury - Jaquette Larrieu
Michael Tudor Barnes - Prince Philippe de Veret
Steve Hodson - Julien de Veret
Leslie Heritage - Marcelle Mazeron
Patrick Barr - Moers
Paul Meier - Cromières
James Thomason - Maître Aubonnet
Ralph Truman - The Abbe
https://archive.org/details/MaigretIn...
2* Betty
4* Pietr the Latvian (Maigret, #1)
3* The Carter of 'La Providence' (Maigret, #2)
3* The Late Monsieur Gallet (Maigret, #3)
4* The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien (Maigret, #4)
3* A Man's Head (Maigret #5)
4* The Yellow Dog (Maigret #6)
4* The Night at the Crossroads (Maigret #7)
2* A Crime in Holland (Maigret #8)
3* The Grand Banks Café (Maigret, #9)
3* The Dancer at the Gai-Moulin (Maigret #10)
3* The Two-Penny Bar (Maigret, #11)
4* The Misty Harbour (Maigret, #15)
4* Lock No. 1 (Maigret, #18)
4* The Cellars of the Majestic (Maigret, #20)
3* Inspector Cadaver (Maigret, #25)
3* Maigret Se Fache (Maigret, #26)
4* Maigret's Holiday (Maigret, #28)
4* La première enquête de Maigret (Maigret, #30)
4* My Friend Maigret (Maigret #31)
4* Maigret at the Coroner's (Maigret #32)
3* The Friend of Madame Maigret (Maigret #34)
3* Maigret and the Burglar's Wife (Maigret, #38)
3* Maigret's Mistake (Maigret, #43)
3* Maigret and the Calame Report (Maigret, #46)
3* Maigret si diverte (Maigret, #50)
3* Maigret in Court (Maigret, #55)
3* Maigret and the Old People (Maigret, #56)
3* Maigret and the Idle Burglar (Maigret, #57)
3* Maigret and the Bum (Maigret, #60)
4* Maigret Loses His Temper (Maigret, #61)
3* Maigret on the Defensive (Maigret, #63)
3* Maigret Bides His Time (Maigret #64)
3* Maigret Hesitates (Maigret, #68)
3* Maigret's Boyhood Friend (Maigret, #69)
3* Maigret and the Madwoman (Maigret, #72)
4* Maigret and the Loner (Maigret, #73)
TR The Shadow Puppet (Inspector Maigret #12)
TR The Saint-Fiacre Affair (Inspector Maigret #13)
TR The Flemish House (Maigret, #14)
TR The Madman of Bergerac (Inspector Maigret #16)
TR Liberty Bar (Maigret, #17)
TR Maigret (Maigret, #19)
TR The Judge's House (Maigret, #21)
TR Cécile is Dead (Maigret, #22)
TR Signed, Picpus (Maigret, #23)
TR Félicie (Maigret, #24)
TR Maigret à New York (Maigret, #27)
TR Il morto di Maigret (Maigret, #29)
TR Maigret et la Vieille Dame (Maigret, #33)
TR Le memorie di Maigret (Maigret #35)
TR Maigret in Montmartre (Maigret #36)
TR Maigret Rents a Room (Maigret #37)
TR Maigret and the Gangsters (Maigret #39)
TR Maigret's Revolver (Maigret #40)
TR Maigret and the Man on the Bench (Maigret #41)
TR Maigret Afraid (Maigret #42)
TR Maigret Goes to School (Maigret #44)
TR Maigret et la jeune morte (Maigret #45)
TR Maigret and the Headless Corpse (Maigret #47)
TR Maigret Sets a Trap (Maigret, #48)
TR Maigret's Failure (Maigret #49)
The Comte de Saint-Hilaire, member of one of the most prominent families in France and a former diplomat, has been found dead. In one of his drawers the police finds hundreds of letters from the Count to the Princesse de Varay. Maigret is asked to investigate the case, but is urged to use “upper discretion”. Is there a link between the death of the count, and the death of the Prince de Varaye the week before?
Adapted for radio by Edward Bruce
Produced and directed by Glyn Dearman
Maurice Denham - Chief Inspector Jules Maigret
Michael Gough - Georges Simenon
John Rye - Inspector Albert Lapointe
Sean Barrett - Inspector Janvier
Joyce Carey - The Princess de Veret
Marjorie Westbury - Jaquette Larrieu
Michael Tudor Barnes - Prince Philippe de Veret
Steve Hodson - Julien de Veret
Leslie Heritage - Marcelle Mazeron
Patrick Barr - Moers
Paul Meier - Cromières
James Thomason - Maître Aubonnet
Ralph Truman - The Abbe
https://archive.org/details/MaigretIn...
2* Betty
4* Pietr the Latvian (Maigret, #1)
3* The Carter of 'La Providence' (Maigret, #2)
3* The Late Monsieur Gallet (Maigret, #3)
4* The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien (Maigret, #4)
3* A Man's Head (Maigret #5)
4* The Yellow Dog (Maigret #6)
4* The Night at the Crossroads (Maigret #7)
2* A Crime in Holland (Maigret #8)
3* The Grand Banks Café (Maigret, #9)
3* The Dancer at the Gai-Moulin (Maigret #10)
3* The Two-Penny Bar (Maigret, #11)
4* The Misty Harbour (Maigret, #15)
4* Lock No. 1 (Maigret, #18)
4* The Cellars of the Majestic (Maigret, #20)
3* Inspector Cadaver (Maigret, #25)
3* Maigret Se Fache (Maigret, #26)
4* Maigret's Holiday (Maigret, #28)
4* La première enquête de Maigret (Maigret, #30)
4* My Friend Maigret (Maigret #31)
4* Maigret at the Coroner's (Maigret #32)
3* The Friend of Madame Maigret (Maigret #34)
3* Maigret and the Burglar's Wife (Maigret, #38)
3* Maigret's Mistake (Maigret, #43)
3* Maigret and the Calame Report (Maigret, #46)
3* Maigret si diverte (Maigret, #50)
3* Maigret in Court (Maigret, #55)
3* Maigret and the Old People (Maigret, #56)
3* Maigret and the Idle Burglar (Maigret, #57)
3* Maigret and the Bum (Maigret, #60)
4* Maigret Loses His Temper (Maigret, #61)
3* Maigret on the Defensive (Maigret, #63)
3* Maigret Bides His Time (Maigret #64)
3* Maigret Hesitates (Maigret, #68)
3* Maigret's Boyhood Friend (Maigret, #69)
3* Maigret and the Madwoman (Maigret, #72)
4* Maigret and the Loner (Maigret, #73)
TR The Shadow Puppet (Inspector Maigret #12)
TR The Saint-Fiacre Affair (Inspector Maigret #13)
TR The Flemish House (Maigret, #14)
TR The Madman of Bergerac (Inspector Maigret #16)
TR Liberty Bar (Maigret, #17)
TR Maigret (Maigret, #19)
TR The Judge's House (Maigret, #21)
TR Cécile is Dead (Maigret, #22)
TR Signed, Picpus (Maigret, #23)
TR Félicie (Maigret, #24)
TR Maigret à New York (Maigret, #27)
TR Il morto di Maigret (Maigret, #29)
TR Maigret et la Vieille Dame (Maigret, #33)
TR Le memorie di Maigret (Maigret #35)
TR Maigret in Montmartre (Maigret #36)
TR Maigret Rents a Room (Maigret #37)
TR Maigret and the Gangsters (Maigret #39)
TR Maigret's Revolver (Maigret #40)
TR Maigret and the Man on the Bench (Maigret #41)
TR Maigret Afraid (Maigret #42)
TR Maigret Goes to School (Maigret #44)
TR Maigret et la jeune morte (Maigret #45)
TR Maigret and the Headless Corpse (Maigret #47)
TR Maigret Sets a Trap (Maigret, #48)
TR Maigret's Failure (Maigret #49)
November 8, 2017
Maigret è in difficoltà questa volta: l’ambiente in cui si svolge la storia è quantomai distante da quelli in cui è solito trovarsi.
Il misterioso omicidio di un ambasciatore in pensione lo introduce in un mondo… antico e aristocratico, fatto di amori platonici, principesse, onore e tanti altri nobili pensieri e parole; eppure il morto è la’, a macchiare con il suo sangue lo studio del diplomatico, testimoniando che qualcuno deve aver rotto quel romantico incanto con feroce violenza.
Simenon gioca un po’ con il lettore, introducendo personaggi sempre più anziani e incartapecoriti che sembrano appartenere ad un secolo precedente, guarda caso tutti abitanti nello stesso quartiere in cui Maigret non è abituato a muoversi.
Certo qualche puntata nel mondo della prostituzione e delle passioni proibite non può mancare e, nonostante tutto sembri convergere verso una soluzione scontata (non esiste il delitto perfetto, dice il Commissario), il finale riesce a sorprendere.
Ho apprezzato ancora una volta la grande umanità di Maigret.
Non aveva una grande opinione degli uomini e delle loro possibilità, eppure continuava a credere nell'uomo.
Ne cercava i punti deboli. E quando finalmente vi metteva su il dito, non gridava vittoria, ma, al contrario, avvertiva una certa delusione.
Il misterioso omicidio di un ambasciatore in pensione lo introduce in un mondo… antico e aristocratico, fatto di amori platonici, principesse, onore e tanti altri nobili pensieri e parole; eppure il morto è la’, a macchiare con il suo sangue lo studio del diplomatico, testimoniando che qualcuno deve aver rotto quel romantico incanto con feroce violenza.
Simenon gioca un po’ con il lettore, introducendo personaggi sempre più anziani e incartapecoriti che sembrano appartenere ad un secolo precedente, guarda caso tutti abitanti nello stesso quartiere in cui Maigret non è abituato a muoversi.
Certo qualche puntata nel mondo della prostituzione e delle passioni proibite non può mancare e, nonostante tutto sembri convergere verso una soluzione scontata (non esiste il delitto perfetto, dice il Commissario), il finale riesce a sorprendere.
Ho apprezzato ancora una volta la grande umanità di Maigret.
Non aveva una grande opinione degli uomini e delle loro possibilità, eppure continuava a credere nell'uomo.
Ne cercava i punti deboli. E quando finalmente vi metteva su il dito, non gridava vittoria, ma, al contrario, avvertiva una certa delusione.
May 8, 2026
This is Maigret #56, published in 1960, and my second or third Maigret, though I read the others several years ago. A retired ambassador is found shot dead in his apartment in a posh part of Paris, and Maigret is summoned by the important personages of the Foreign Ministry to investigate. It transpires that the ambassador had been holding a candle for decades for the Princess of V____ (Simenon has that annoying habit of pretending he's cleverly obscuring the identities of real people with initials and dashes) whose ancient husband has coincidentally just died following a riding accident. Very French, lots of mistresses, cavorting with prostitutes, complaisant spouses and so on. The style takes a bit of getting used to - I'm not sure if it's the translation or what but the dialogue reads a bit stiffly in places. In this one at least, Maigret doesn't so much solve the case as have the solution handed to him for him to ponder, but it's still strangely satisfying.
May 30, 2022
Potrei sembrare di parte ma io non ho ancora trovato un libro di Georges Simenon che non meriti cinque stelline, sia che riguardi il ciclo Maigret, come questo, sia che riguardi altro.
Simenon ha il potere di scrivere in poche pagine quello che altri non riuscirebbero a scrivere nemmeno in libri molto più lunghi.
Il commissario Maigret, con la sua pipa e il suo carattere burbero, scandaglia ogni personaggio coinvolto in modo esemplare, anche se il mondo aristocratico, protagonista di questa vicenda, non gli è proprio consono.
Particolare e protagonista indiscusso, oltre ai principali indiziati, è la vecchiaia.
Quasi tutte le persone sono oltre la mezza età, con principi saldi e legate all'onore e alla "bella figura".
Bello e naturalmente consigliato, Simenon è sempre una garanzia assoluta e indiscutibile.
Simenon ha il potere di scrivere in poche pagine quello che altri non riuscirebbero a scrivere nemmeno in libri molto più lunghi.
Il commissario Maigret, con la sua pipa e il suo carattere burbero, scandaglia ogni personaggio coinvolto in modo esemplare, anche se il mondo aristocratico, protagonista di questa vicenda, non gli è proprio consono.
Particolare e protagonista indiscusso, oltre ai principali indiziati, è la vecchiaia.
Quasi tutte le persone sono oltre la mezza età, con principi saldi e legate all'onore e alla "bella figura".
Bello e naturalmente consigliato, Simenon è sempre una garanzia assoluta e indiscutibile.
March 22, 2026
Une histoire étonnante racontée avec beaucoup de tendresse et de compassion.
Plusieurs choses frappent: d'abord tout se passe dans un milieu social tellement inconnu -- pour la plupart des lecteurs également sans doute -- que Maigret s'y sent perdu. Son désarroi est maintes fois souligné, d'autant que le comportement de la plupart des protagonistes, au moment de l'affaire comme dans leur passé, est tout sauf ce que l'on pourrait attendre, comme l'est l'explication de cette mort alors qu'on est dans un genre littéraire où l'on attend une enquête qui progresse, un coupable, une inculpation etc. La manière aussi dont se comportent, vivent, réagissent les personnages est parfois invraisemblable -- à replacer dans un milieu "hors-sol"...
Ce qui me frappe est l'emploi systématique de l'imparfait alors que le contexte exigerait le passé simple. Cela donne certes une couleur incongrue à l'histoire. Je n'en vois pas vraiment l'explication: coquetterie d'écrivain? tic d'écriture? ou volonté de dérouler les faits comme dans un parfum de réminiscence???
J'ai beaucoup apprécié le regard tendre que Simenon pose sur ses personnages, et la manière dont les dernières pages traitent d'un sujet peu abordé.
Plusieurs choses frappent: d'abord tout se passe dans un milieu social tellement inconnu -- pour la plupart des lecteurs également sans doute -- que Maigret s'y sent perdu. Son désarroi est maintes fois souligné, d'autant que le comportement de la plupart des protagonistes, au moment de l'affaire comme dans leur passé, est tout sauf ce que l'on pourrait attendre, comme l'est l'explication de cette mort alors qu'on est dans un genre littéraire où l'on attend une enquête qui progresse, un coupable, une inculpation etc. La manière aussi dont se comportent, vivent, réagissent les personnages est parfois invraisemblable -- à replacer dans un milieu "hors-sol"...
Ce qui me frappe est l'emploi systématique de l'imparfait alors que le contexte exigerait le passé simple. Cela donne certes une couleur incongrue à l'histoire. Je n'en vois pas vraiment l'explication: coquetterie d'écrivain? tic d'écriture? ou volonté de dérouler les faits comme dans un parfum de réminiscence???
J'ai beaucoup apprécié le regard tendre que Simenon pose sur ses personnages, et la manière dont les dernières pages traitent d'un sujet peu abordé.
September 30, 2021
It's been a while since I been with Maigret and I really missed this. You know what you're getting with a Miagret book, a comfortable, pleasant and enjoyable read with a superb cast of characters.
This is no different featuring the Death of an aristocrat and Maigret entering an uncomfortable world. An entertaining plot but I guessed part of the ending.
One step closer to completing the series. These really are special books.
This is no different featuring the Death of an aristocrat and Maigret entering an uncomfortable world. An entertaining plot but I guessed part of the ending.
One step closer to completing the series. These really are special books.
September 28, 2024
Hát nem lett kedvenc, épp olyan szájhúzgálva olvastam, mint amilyen szájlebiggyesztve Maigret nyomozott :/
Tartok tőle, h eme regény közben Simenon előtt csak a megkapható gàzsi lebegett, mert igen kevés izgalom, fordulat, vagy franciás tűz van benne. Inkább olyan, mint egy modern szappanopera - és ez nem dicséret óhsjtott lenni.
Tartok tőle, h eme regény közben Simenon előtt csak a megkapható gàzsi lebegett, mert igen kevés izgalom, fordulat, vagy franciás tűz van benne. Inkább olyan, mint egy modern szappanopera - és ez nem dicséret óhsjtott lenni.
April 29, 2026
I think this book is impossible to review properly without giving the game away. It is, however, brilliant. Maigret's discomfiture in the presence of the aristocratic protagonists is so well written and demonstrates Simenon's superb knowledge of human nature even when translated.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
September 8, 2018
Niciodata nu mi-au placut in mod deosebit romanele cu Maigret.
Imi place ca au twist foarte bun la final, dar altfel, nu imi place deloc stilul lui Simenon.
Romanul asta mi-a placut ca stil, l-am citit usor, dar nu a avut twist.
Orice s-ar intampla, se pare ca romanele cu Maigret nu sunt pentru mine...
Imi place ca au twist foarte bun la final, dar altfel, nu imi place deloc stilul lui Simenon.
Romanul asta mi-a placut ca stil, l-am citit usor, dar nu a avut twist.
Orice s-ar intampla, se pare ca romanele cu Maigret nu sunt pentru mine...
July 9, 2025
Aardig verhaal. Oude diplomaat wordt doodgeschoten gevonden. Hij had een platonische relatie van 50 jaar met een dame van adel die hij niet kon trouwen toen ze jong waren. Wel schreven ze elkaar iedere dag brieven.
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