Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our July/August 24 buddy read of Lock No. 1 aka The Lock at Charenton the eighteenth in the Inspector Maigret series, first published in 1933.

The classic Inspector Maigret mystery set in a claustraphobic provincial town

“Cars drove past along with the trucks and trams, but by now Maigret had realized that they were not important. Whatever roared by like this along the road was not part of the landscape. . . . What really counted was the lock, the hooting of the tugs, the stone crusher, the barges and the cranes, the two pilots’ bars and especially the tall house where he could make out Ducrau’s red chair framed by a window.”

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

This time the problem for Maigret is trying to find out exactly who is related to who, and why a wealthy owner of barges, quarries and other businesses along the river, is stabbed and left to drown.The answer has to found quickly, as Maigret is due to retire the following week and is moving away from the city, to spend his retirement in the countryside along the river. The wealthy man offers Maigret a job, but he is adamant about retiring. If I had been reading this when it was first published, I would have very upset if this was the last in the series, but I am consoled by the fact there are many more to read.

One of my favorite Maigret's, so far. Luckily, I know there are lots more or I, like Jill, would be upset by his retirement announcement. All the characters in this mystery are well-developed, interesting, and sympathetic (with the exception of the son-in-law!).

This is the first I remember hearing that he had a daughter who died.

I quite enjoyed this but struggled to follow it, to be honest - I found the plot a bit confusing.

It will be interesting to see if Maigret is retired in the next book and then comes back to work. I've actually just peeped at the blurb for the next book and answered my own question...

Judy wrote: "I quite enjoyed this but struggled to follow it, to be honest - I found the plot a bit confusing.

It will be interesting to see if Maigret is retired in the next book and then comes back to work...."

I had to peep as well.

Sandy wrote: "One of my favorite Maigret's, so far.”

Mine too Sandy. I like how Simenon can stick with familiar items - the canal, the hostile boatmen, the café, a dishevelled woman, dysfunctional family - yet every book feels fresh and different.