My Friend Maigret (Inspector Maigret)

by Georges Simenon

Paperback, 2016

Status

Available

Call number

843.912

Publication

Penguin Books (2016), 192 pages

Description

Introducing Little Clothbound Classics- irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-SmithGeorges Simenon's brilliant pipe-smoking detective, Jules Maigret, is one of the most beloved literary creations of the twentieth century.

User reviews

LibraryThing member kates

I am a recent convert to Georges Simenon. Penguin recently put out a series of his Maigret mysteries that have lovely art deco covers and a slim, squarish paperback profile that I am a sucker for. They fit perfectly in my purse and have lovely black and white photos of French urban scenes from the

first half of the 20th century. I am the target market, obviously, becuase I am obsessed.

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LibraryThing member Twitcher

I agree with BooksPlease that the number of characters in this book made the story confusing- but I also enjoyed the setting and the observations on the behaviour of Mr. Pyke, the Scotland Yard detective.

LibraryThing member thorold

Slightly pedestrian Maigret from 1949, but the Mediterranean setting makes a nice change. Maigret and the Scotland Yard officer who is studying his methods are summoned to solve a murder on the island of Porquerolles. The victim claimed to be an old friend of the Commissaire's.

LibraryThing member BooksForDinner

I liked the interplay between Maigret and Pyke in this one. Lots of comparisons between the French and English.

LibraryThing member Steve38

Something I attempted to read in French, and mostly succeeded. M Simenon sets the lazy, sunny Mediterranean scene well. Of course Commissaire Maigret triumphs in the end, he always does. This time accompanied by an overseas observere from Scotland Yard, Detective Pike. M Simenon passes up the

opportunity to contrast French and British policing methods and contents himseld with using Detective Pyke as a caricature Englishmand who always has bacon and eggs for breakfast. An enjoyable read, surprising racey in parts for a popular detective novel from 1949.

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LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50

Although My Friend Maigret by Georges Simenon is the 31st book in the Inspector Maigret series and originally published in 1949, it is the first book of the series that I have read. I chose it because it is listed in H.R.F. Keating’s 100 Best Crime & Mystery Books. I listened to an audio version

as read by Gareth Armstrong and enjoyed it enough that I have decided to look for more books from this series.

Maigret is playing host to Inspector Pyke of Scotland Yard who has come to France to observe his methods. When Maigret receives word of a murder on the island of Porquerolles, he decides that a trip to the sunny Mediterranean is in order. The victim, Marcellin was boasting of his friendship with Maigret the evening before the murder. In actual fact Maigret remembers that he had more to do with Marcellin’s girlfriend, Ginette, a prostitute that he helped to place in a sanitarium due to her tuberculosis, years ago. Maigret and Pyke travel to the island where Maigret does some preliminary checking of witnesses and possible suspects. From a phone call that Marcellin made, he cleverly puts together what happened and why the murder occurred. Although the mystery is fairly straight forward, the inhabitants of the island are varied and interesting. Throughout the book Maigret was concerned that Pyke would get a bad impression of his “methods” and the interplay between the two men was a source of humor. Maigret appears to be somewhat grumpy and arrogant so I look forward to reading some of the earlier cases to see if he was always that way or if his fame has made him feel superior.

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