Maigret in New York

Inspector Maigret #27

by Georges Simenon

Dutch translation of "Maigret a New York"

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, France, Noir, Audiobook, French Literature

Audio CD

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

Georges 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.

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maigret, onetime Detective Chief Inspector of the Police Judiciare, has been retired for a year now, but he’s still as curious and insistent on justice as he ever was. When a distraught American-born law student, Jean Maura, comes to Maigret worried about a change in his father in the past six months, Maigret impulsively agrees to accompany the young man home to New York City to find out what’s really going on.

Maigret in New York contains more twists than a corkscrew and an ending I never saw coming. I also love that Georges Simenon pokes gentle fun at the stereotype of the fault-finding Frenchman abroad, with Maigret chafing at the rudeness and vulgarity that is New York. Yet another fabulous Maigret novel.

[Jayakrishnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My second Simenon.

This was pretty good for the most part. A retired Maigret is persuaded by a young heir to go with him on a ship to New York to investigate a potential danger to his father who has been writing him strange letters. Upon the ship reaching New York, the young man disappears. Like in My Friend Maigret, the mystery gets solved rather abruptly towards the end.

Simenon is more concerned with Maigret's impressions of New York and the various culture shocks and clashes which he goes through. Maigret's American detective friend annoys Maigret with a lecture on how Americans value individuality and personal freedom and do not like to snoop into the individual's life. But Maigret is told by a movie hall usher to stop smoking his pipe while enjoying a Laurel and Hardy movie. Little things about America irritate Maigret. Tenacious waiters, jukeboxes and alcoholics. Maigret also drinks a lot (at the Donkey Bar) but stays sharp and solves the case in the end.

The air of superiority with which Maigret looked at Americans grated after a while. Simenon uses misdirection to confuse the reader about the case. Maigret makes his alcoholic American investigator (who was formerly a clown) sidekick and the local detective look like complete amateurs in the end.

I thought it was more about the atmosphere and commentary on human nature than solving the case. Nothing wrong with that except for the fact that the Maigret character is a pompous ass.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A change of pace. Maigret is now retired at 56 and enjoying his garden. However, Jean Maura a young student asks him to come to New York as he is worried about his father and the letters he receives from him. Reluctantly, Maigret accompanies him to New York. While disembarking Jean disappears.

Maigret compares New York with Paris and investigates why Jean’s father and secretary are behaving strangely. Ultimately it is a crime of passion from 20 years ago with the three J’s. The long distance transatlantic phonecall interrogation is a bit odd and Parsons behavior of going out of the hotel room suicidal.

The fact Little John murdered Jessie in a fit of passion overheard by his friend is convenient. The two sons and his preference for McGill is understandable. What I loved is Maigret realised Little John suffers enough and does not inform his American police colleagues of that murder.

An enjoyable read but I prefer the European based novels.

[John Frankham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A re-read of this unusual Maigret.

The beauty of this Maigret is his discomfiture at investigating a case in New York, where things are so different. No concierges in blocks of flats, too much whisky, too little cognac. No room service bell-pulls, and no-one speaks French. Still, he muddles through, in a bad temper. Most enjoyable!

[The Frahorus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stavolta il nostro commissario Maigret si concede una breve vacanza in America, esattamente nella metropoli che non dorme mai: la Grande Mela, New York! In realtà non si fa quel lungo viaggio in nave solo per fare una vacanza ma per accompagnare Jean Maura, figlio di un ricco uomo d'affari perché crede che suo padre sia in pericolo. Non appena sbarca a New York, il figlio sparisce nel nulla e così Maigret decide di andare a trovare suo padre. Durante la sua permanenza incontra un vecchio amico dell'FBI col quale, indagando sul passato di questo ricco signore, scopre che da giovane era povero e viveva nel Bronx assieme a un amico violinista ed erano innamorati di una ragazza, Jessie. Allora capisce che bisogna scavare nel passato del ricco Maura per scoprire la verità.

Continuano le indagini di Maigret ormai in pensione e lo ritroviamo sempre più spaesato ma senza perdere il suo fiuto investigativo. Ancora una volta scoprirà la verità e sbroglierà la complicata matassa del giallo mettendosi nei panni dei protagonisti delle vicende, come è suo solito fare.

E niente, anche questo Maigret non l'ho digerito bene, così come è stato con l'ultimo che avevo letto, La furia di Maigret.

Curiosità: Maigret va al cinema a New York a vedere un film comico di Stanlio e Ollio.

[Antonio Ippolito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deliziosa ironia reciproca tra Simenon che descrive l’impatto di questa città popolata da “Tom, Bill, Tony senza cognomi e dai sorrisi a tutti denti, sicuri di sè e pronti a spintonarti senza chiedere scusa” su un Maigret strappato alla quiete della pensione (a 56 anni!), una città dove si può diventare importanti miliardari grazie a un monopolio continentale sui juke-box.. e viceversa del suo amico commissario O’ Brien, pacifico ma scrutatore. Ai tempi in cui la traversata si faceva ancora via transatlantico..
Siamo lontani dalla Manhattan romantica e chic dei film di Woody Allen: è ancora il tritacarne umano descritto pochi anni prima da Céline nel Viaggio al termine della notte e da Henry Miller in Nexus, dove imperversano i gangster e tutti si dedicano ad alcolizzarsi negli “American bar”; e figuriamoci il Bronx! L’unica nota gentile, più che dai negozi sbrilluccicanti della Quinta Strada (anche in francese: Cinquième Avenue!), è data dal Greenwich Village e dai suoi artistici, bislacchi abitanti. E il resto degli USA non è meglio: “durante un nostro spettacolo nel Sud, uccisero un negro”.
Il finale è uno spettacolare interrogatorio via telefonata intercontinentale, di cui naturalmente non anticiperò i dettagli; Simenon tramite Maigret lascia ancora una volta trasparire la sua simpatia per l’individuo magari feroce e assassino, ma dotato di un rigore e di una coerenza interna di cui spesso le persone “gentili” appaiono carenti (come si vedrà nel romanzo di due anni dopo, che ho letto subito prima di questo, Maigret et son mort).
Il romanzo è interessante anche per come il poliziotto francese si dilunghi nello spiegare ai colleghi d’oltre Oceano, in particolare il rigido (e astemio!) Lewis, i suoi metodi così diversi dai loro: mai dedurre, pensare il meno possibile, fiutare l’aria, lasciarsi portare dalla corrente..
L’amore per il nostro commissario è tale che spesso dimentichiamo come le trame siano abbastanza incongrue. Provo a ricapitolare i fatti di questo romanzo (non la trama!), sperando che qualche lettore più attento mi aiuti a capirli meglio.
SPOILER
Intorno al 1915 due giovani musicisti di Bayonne, Joachim e Jacques, emigrano negli USA, dove formano il duo musicale “J and J”. Durante una tournée nel Sud degli USA, conoscono una povera orfana, Jessie, e la mantengono con gli avanzi dei loro pasti (essi stessi i più poveri della troupe). Abbandonati dal capocomico, i tre tornano fortunosamente nella Grande Mela e vivono in appartamenti adiacenti; Jessie è la donna di Joachim. Presto questi deve tornare in Francia per ricevere l’eredità del padre; Jessie si fa prontamente “consolare” da Jacques; poco dopo è incinta, ma di Joachim. Quando questi, dopo un anno, torna, non crede che il figlio sia suo e la uccide; Jacques fugge vigliaccamente; Angelino, un vicino di casa, vede tutto. Joachim lascia il bambino, Jos, presso una donna di fiducia, la sig.ra McGill, e con gli anni lo perde di vista; intanto diventa miliardario con i juke-box, sposa una donna senza amarla (nel romanzo non ne sapremo nulla) e ha da lei il figlio Jean, che manda a studiare in Francia; Jacques invece torna in Europa, diventa direttore d’orchestra di successo nelle “città d’acqua” e forma una famiglia. Il giornalista alcolizzato Parson si reca per qualche motivo in Europa, casualmente conosce Jacques che chissà perchè gli racconta il fattaccio; Parson decide allora di tornare a New York e ricattare l’ormai miliardario “Little John” (così si fa chiamare Joachim) con l’aiuto di amici gangster; ma guarda guarda, tra questi gangster c’è proprio Jos McGill, nonostante avesse studiato a Montréal, in Canadà! Questi capisce di essere figlio di Little John, si dissocia dagli amici gangster (questa parte non è descritta) e compie una agnizione con il padre; contemporaneamente in Francia Jean, informato dal notaio di famiglia M. Hoquélus degli strani movimenti contabili del padre (necessarii a pagare i ricattatori) si rivolge a Maigret.
Qui comincia la trama vera e propria.
Maigret traversa l’Atlantico con Jean, che però sparisce all’arrivo (questa sparizione non è mai ben spiegata), ed è poi accolto freddamente dal di lui padre, che in pratica lo invita a tornarsene. Il nostro commissario fiuta puzza di bruciato. Il vecchio amico delll’FBI O’ Brien, che si diverte molto a imbeccare il collega francese perchè faccia quello che lui non potrebbe, gli dà senza spiegazioni un indirizzo nel Bronx; qui Maigret vede uccidere investito da un’auto il vecchio Angelino, cosa che lo indigna e probabilmente lo porta a intestardirsi nelle indagini, sebbene Little John e il suo “segretario” McGill facciano di tutto per rimandarlo in patria. Ma Maigret si intestardisce a indagare sul periodo bohemièn di « J and J« : un pezzetto alla volta scopre la tresca della povera Jessie, ma rivelerà il tutto ai suoi “datori di lavoro riluttanti” tramite uno spettacolare interrogatorio di Jacques via telefonata intercontinentale! (e nessun altro saprà mai del delitto di Joachim: tutto resterà tra loro)

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so I continue with my commitment to read all the Maigret stories (which, I'm embarrassed to admit, I just learned how to pronounce correctly!). As someone born and raised in New York City and living in the Bronx I particularly enjoyed this one, the setting of which is Manhattan and, to a lesser degree, the Bronx in the 1940s.

This one borrows from the hard-boiled detective novels of the 30s and 40s with its gangs and dark city streets. However, this is to some degree countered by our familiar Inspector Maigret, now retired, who has been persuaded to cross the Atlantic to help a young man afraid that his father is in danger. After disembarking from the boat, the boy disappears and Maigret is left alone to solve the mystery. He receives some help from the FBI but mostly learns by his usual method of wandering the streets, drinking the not-so-occasion wine (and other spirits), and learning about the people involved in the crime.

I love the emphasis in these stories on character over plot. If Maigret has a method (which he always denies), it is in his search to understand and enter into the experience of the people he is investigating. He is a creative artist as much as a policeman. Here he proceeds even when his services are no longer required: once the mystery has taken over his consciousness, he is compelled to follow it through to the end.

The book has the usual beauty of Simenon's lightly given images, a passing comment is enough to vividly create a scene so that the reader feels like they are within the story. Also as usual I was less interested in the solving of the mystery than in the people and Maigret, who has become my favorite detective (well, up there with Holmes and Poirot). I enjoy his travels but look forward to returning to Paris.

This is a lovely book and I can't wait to go on to the next.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

La particolarità di questo Maigret è che la trama gialla viene in secondo piano rispetto alla vera caratteristica di tutti i romanzi di Simenon che costituisce l’elemento distintivo della sua scrittura e la sua grandezza: l’indagine psicologica dei personaggi. Simenon utilizza una tecnica semplice ma infallibile, che si usa non solo nelle indagini poliziesche, ma nella vita di tutti i giorni: mettersi nei panni dell’altro. “Un individuo, in determinate circostanze, aveva reagito in un certo modo: si trattava di mettersi al suo posto e di far scaturire dal suo essere identiche reazioni”. E così il nostro commissario in pensione si mette nei panni di Little John Maura, un francese emigrato negli Stati Uniti, musicista, che appena sbarcato comincia a girare con il suo violino e con un amico che suona il clarinetto facendo spettacolini nei circhi, arrangiandosi a vivere alla giornata, finchè non incontrano una ragazza, fragile, esile, sola anch’ella… E con la sua tecnica il nostro amico Maigret, immerso nelle stradine del Bronx di New York, tra bar malfamati, piccoli negozi di emigrati italiani e cortili dove si rincorrono bambini dai colori mediterranei ma dall’accento americano, in una città in cui, in nome della libertà, si può scomparire tranquillamente agli occhi della legge e del mondo, indaga per scoprire cosa c’è dietro gli occhi freddi e impenetrabili di Little John. Come ho già detto la sua tecnica è infallibile, quindi è certo che porterà a termine l’indagine; completare l’indagine non vuol dire sempre risolvere i gialli, scoprire il colpevole affinchè venga punito dalla giustizia umana. Ci sono punizioni che solo la nostra coscienza sa infliggere, e magari sono più terribili di un carcere a vita.

[Tittirossa · Rating 3 out of 5]

L’intreccio giallo non è particolarmente interessante e il colpevole (anzi i colpevoli) altrettanto. La motivazione del tutto altrettanto risibile. Ma Maigret in pensione a 56 anni (!) e in trasferta a NY del tutto godibile. Scorazza a piedi e in taxi (ricordi del primo arrivo a NY di Sim), si barcamena con i flic locali e con l’inglese, sbroglia una matassa improponibile e con qualche buco di trama, fa un interrogatorio al telefono da manuale, e infatti l’assassino confessa subito (ecco da chi hanno imparato gli sceneggiatori di CSI!).

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

George Simenon's Maigret novels (at least the ones I've read so far) are always gentle paced. This 1947 story, though set in the bustling city of New York, is no exception.
Simenon provides a believable picture of the city & I enjoyed the cultural differences between France & the USA as observed by the great French detective. The plot is not very gripping, but the atmosphere Simenon creates makes this novel well worth reading.

[Martina Sartor · Rating 4 out of 5]

È un Maigret diverso dal solito, quello che sbarca a New York poco dopo la fine della seconda guerra mondiale. Innanzitutto il commissario è ormai in pensione, ritirato nella sua amata campagna. Recatosi a New York dopo l'insistenza del giovane Jean Maura, vediamo un Maigret spaesato, fuori dal suo solito ambiente. Spaesamento che trasmette al lettore stesso, che si ritrova a vagare fra il Bronx e Broadway assieme all'ex commissario, nel tentativo di dipanare il mistero che si nasconde dietro le vite di alcuni francesi emigrati negli States.
Solo quando finalmente Maigret troverà il bandolo della matassa per dipanare il mistero, anche il lettore ritroverà le atmosfere classiche che avvolgono il nostro, nei suoi interminabili e stringenti interrogatori, fra birra, fumo e sandwich al prosciutto. Memorabile l'interrogatorio "al telefono"!

"E fu tutto quello che gli rimase, a parte qualche cent, del suo viaggio a New York."

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the thing I like best about these Maigret novels is that they should be fairly simple affairs (and they usually turn out to be) but Simenon nestles his mysteries under layers of ordinary chaos. It is up to Maigret to feel his way through cases instead of twisting arms and prowling about. I am not saying I don't derive any enjoyment from hardboiled narratives, take a look at the garbage I profess to like, but Maigret makes me feel classy, almost. Almost.

[Anthony McGill · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Το ευχαριστήθηκα! Εξαιρετικός χαρακτήρας ο Μαιγκρέ!

[Aeroyou · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5/5

Pas un mauvais Maigret mais un peu lent et redondant.

[Rhys · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one turned out to be better than I was expecting. Because Maigret at the Coroner's, also set in the USA, turned out to be one of the more disappointing 'Maigret' novels, I made the casual assumption that any story in which the great detective was in America would be inferior. But this one is excellent, rather dark and intense, and full of interesting characters (as nearly all the 'Maigret' novels are, in fact). Just another great 'Maigret' novel really... What more can one say? It is always the atmosphere that matters in these books. The story is of less importance. But there's quite a good story in this one too.

I have only 8 more 'Maigret' novels to read and then I will have read all 75.

[Richard Hannay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mi peor Maigret, hasta ahora. La historia es confusa, las motivaciones inexistentes, la resolución parece ocurrírsele al Comisario sobre la marcha, sin prueba alguna o apenas indicios. Deja marchar a un hombre a una muerte segura y Simenon parece justificarlo porque en un par de años hubiera desarrollado cirrosis como si cada nuevo día no fuera precioso. El asesinato que lo inició todo queda impune. Lo peor: tras su primera visita a Nueva York no trae ni un pequeño regalo a su sufrida esposa.

[Jean-François Lisée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaque fois que je lis un Maigret, je suis émerveillé par la capacité qu'a Simenon à saisir la société française, la décrire, en soulever les jupes, en montrer les verrues. Dans une économie de moyens qui rend chaque phrase, chaque situation plus percutante.

[Gabril · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiolibro.
A Battiston la quinta stella ⭐️

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unremarkable, somewhat disappointing entry in the “Maigret” series. The plot was more confusing and wandered more than typically is the case. Not a great read. 3 stars, or less.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired by the recent PBS series starring Rowan Atkinson, I decided to go back to Maigret--I hadn't read one of these in many years. This one was even more oblique than I remembered--with the newly retired Maigret lured to NYC in 1947 at the behest of a wealthy young man who is worried that his father is in mortal danger. Things get mysteriouser and mysteriouser as Maigret stumbles around in a milieu which is definitely not his own, characters accumulate, as do clues which seem unrelated to each other. Maigret finally figures out what is going on, and confirms it by a transatlantic call to France; but we're only given his side of the conversation and must construct for ourselves what he is being told. I would have great difficulty explaining exactly what the story was. The main pleasure here is watching Maigret try to make headway surrounded entirely by New Yorkers, a surprising number of whom seem to speak French.

[Bruna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un po’ troppi stereotipi sugli americani. Inoltre comincio a stancarmi della comprensione verso gli autori di femminicidio, pur dovendo tenersi conto che sono passati più di settant’anni da quando questo romanzo é stato scritto. A maggior ragione se pensiamo che l’autore non poteva certo dirsi uno strenuo difensore dei valori tradizionali.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An engaging Maigret crime fiction novel. Maigret is 56 years old and has been retired for one year. He is persuaded to sail to New York by a fearful young law student, afraid for his father’s life.

Maigret finds himself drawn into the New York city’s underworld and being questioned by American police detectives. Whilst a good read, readers new to Maigret should begin with ‘Maigret and the Man on the bench’ or ‘The Yellow Dog’.

This book was first published in France in 1947 and the 27th novel in the Maigret series.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

For once, Maigret is not in Belgium or France!
The book felt complicated and long to getting going. There were also lots of characters.
So plot wise, definitely not the best, BUT I enjoyed how Maigret/(Simenon himself?) viewed the New York of the time (the book was published in 1946).
He was not impressed, to say the least. There are lots of hilarious passages where Maigret complains, compared to for instance how hotels are managed in France.
Maigret seems particularly annoyed and rough in this one.

[Ángel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Menos interesante y lograda que otras novelas del Comisario Maigret, personaje con encanto y siempre interesante, la novela crece y mejora en el tramo final

[Nicole Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man in a London bookshop told me to read this book…I’m glad I listened to him :)

[Adam Behlman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Maigret book. It took awhile to catch on to the pace of it but it was quite fun. Gruff and with an odd sense of humor, the deduction was quite insightful. In to the second I was given.

[Dvora Treisman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have a category for Simenon or Maigret since I've read so many of them. This was not one of the best. The plot was cocamamie, the characters were not believeable or particularly interesting (except the medium, I liked the medium), and New York is great, but it isn't Paris, is it.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Georges Simenon had previously set his Maigret novels in places he knew from visiting or living in them. So I wasn't surprised to learn that the author had gone to North America and written Maigret in New York as a result.
This is quite a modern tool used by writers to freshen up stories/series. So It was interesting to learn of Simenon's approach. He is initially a little out of his depth not least because his English is like a schoolboys still; however, there are many references to see New Year like Paris, and he slowly finds his feet. He is not helped by the baffling case he came out of retirement to advise in, but in typical Chief Inspector Maigret fashion he finds the solution to this mystery.
I enjoyed the story, it was good to see the detective's discomfort but ability to turn it to his favour. I must admit I don't like him as retired and it is pleasing to note that many stories to come in this wonderful series take us back to his time at Quai des Orfèvres in Paris. We also learn that Maigret love Laurel & Hardy and watching a film he laughs out loud.
Much of the novel is a dark thriller that has a many twists and turns and doesn't pan out like you might expect. It is worth reading for this alone as Simenon is such a clever writer.

[Niko-Janne Vantala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simenonin romaanissa Maigret New Yorkissa, 1954 (Maigret à New York, 1946) komisario on jo jättäytynyt eläkkeelle Quai des Orfèvres'n rikospoliisin tehtävistä ja muuttanut pois Pariisista Boulevard Richard-Lenoirilta Meung-sur-Loire'n maalaisidylliin kasvattamaan vesimeloneita. Erään nuoren miehen pyynnöstä Maigret päättää kuitenkin lähteä New Yorkiin selvittämään outoa tapausta.

Maigret-romaanit tampaisevat aina mukaansa, ja 1940-luvun puolivälin New York on herkullinen miljöö. Maigret, joka perinteisesti on ahdistunut jo joutuessaan poistumaan rakkaasta Pariisistaankin, on luonnollisesti hämillään ja ärtynyt Yhdysvaltojen suurkaupungin sykkeessä. Tarina on ihan mielenkiintoinen, vaikka loppu jättää jälleen kerran hieman hämilleen. Maigretin mielenkiinto kohdistuu jälleen enemmänkin rikoksen selvittämiseen kuin syyllisten kiinni saamiseen. Se jääköön muiden tehtäväksi; vesimelonien kylvö odottaa Meung-sur-Loiren keväisessä puutarhassa.

Arvioni 3,3 tähteä viidestä.