More Maigret

As I mentioned some time ago, I was never a big fan of Georges Simenon's Inspector Maigret mysteries when I first read them, many years ago. Lately, I have rediscovered some of them. I don't know whether my taste has improved with maturity or merely become less selective, but I find I really enjoy them now.

I came across another one in my local library this week: "Maigret and the Fortuneteller." As with most of the Maigret novels, it is a cross between a police procedural and a psychological drama. It begins with the murder of a fortune teller, a murder predicted in a note to police from a mysterious character who signs it "Picpus." Maigret pieces together a handful of odd clues: the man who discovered the Picpus note attempts suicide; a strange old man is discovered locked in a room in the fortune teller's apartment; a mysterious financier goes fishing - but the fish he catches have no hook marks. Maigret pieces it all together, with his own keen insight into the personalities and psychological quirks of some very memorable characters. For a hardened detective, Maigret can be quite compassionate.

The book is currently out of print; as usual, Amazon.com has links to a variety of sources for new and used copies of the book. I think this one is really one of Simenon's better efforts.

Comments

[Xavier Lechard]

"As I mentioned some time ago, I was never a big fan of Georges Simenon's Inspector Maigret mysteries when I first read them, many years ago. Lately, I have rediscovered some of them. I don't know whether my taste has improved with maturity or merely become less selective, but I find I really enjoy them now."

My own experience exactly. I read my first Simenon when I was 'round 20 and while I didn't hate it, I was unimpressed. Also, the universal praise and acclaim was kind of a turnoff to me - unanimity in one sense or another gives me the creeps. My epiphany came one decade later when I read the Maigret novel "The Yellow Dog". I found that Simenon was a great writer, could plot if not always in an orthodox way and was refreshingly non-formulaic. Simenon and Maigret have always found a place in my year's best-lists ever since.

[Les Blatt]

Thanks, Xavier. I havent read The Yellow Dog; Ill have to keep an eye
out for a copy.

In a message dated 11/30/2009 6:15:03 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,