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Inspector Maigret #13
The Shadow Puppet
The Penguin relaunch of Georges Simenon’s incomparable books continues with four new Inspector Maigret novels
On a corner of the desk, the police gazette lay open, showing twenty or so photographs of wanted individuals. Most of them faces of thugs. Heads that bore the scars of degeneracy . . . And the warning, in red, Dangerous. Is still armed. A fellow who would not sell himself cheaply.
Well! Maigret would have preferred that to all this syrupy greyness, to these family sagas, to this still inexplicable murder he found mind-boggling.
Called to the famous Place de Vosges in the heart of Paris, Inspector Maigret finds the body of a man shot dead, slumped in front of a ransacked safe. Confronted with a number of suspects, including a vengeful ex-wife and a son deep in debt, Maigret gets down to the business of discovering who allowed their greed to get the best of them.
Written in the dark, grimly comic prose that Simenon has become renowned for, A Crime In Holland will delight lifelong fans and new readers alike.
On a corner of the desk, the police gazette lay open, showing twenty or so photographs of wanted individuals. Most of them faces of thugs. Heads that bore the scars of degeneracy . . . And the warning, in red, Dangerous. Is still armed. A fellow who would not sell himself cheaply.
Well! Maigret would have preferred that to all this syrupy greyness, to these family sagas, to this still inexplicable murder he found mind-boggling.
Called to the famous Place de Vosges in the heart of Paris, Inspector Maigret finds the body of a man shot dead, slumped in front of a ransacked safe. Confronted with a number of suspects, including a vengeful ex-wife and a son deep in debt, Maigret gets down to the business of discovering who allowed their greed to get the best of them.
Written in the dark, grimly comic prose that Simenon has become renowned for, A Crime In Holland will delight lifelong fans and new readers alike.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1932
114 people are currently reading
680 people want to read
About the author
Georges Simenon
2,679 books2,224 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 208 reviews
September 5, 2025
Lunchtime Listen August 2025
Well as per my review of the book below, the audio book was good, but… So I agree with my younger self below in that in the end it was all a little easy for Maigret. Very atmospheric novel, brilliantly evocative of Paris, and wonderfully read as ever, but , just not the best of Maigret stories.
Ad hoc series read 2019/20
A solid 4 stars ⭐️ with review to follow tomorrow
So here we are in early January and already I am a few books behind schedule, to the extent that I need to read 10 books in January just to catch up, and my average is about 7 maybe 8. Hmm, talk about putting yourself under pressure.
Right, The Shadow Puppet. A really enjoyable Maigret novel, given it had been almost 2 months since the last one, but, and yes there is a definite but . It was enjoyable, but it wasn't as good as most of the Maigrets I've read. The story was good ( a murder and a robbery ), it was atmospheric (the description of the French courtyard was so familiar to me), it drew you in ( I really wanted to know how it was going to end), but it was a little too easy for Maigret. He didn't have to exert his brain more than a little and there was no difficulties to be overcome that are normally present in a Maigret novel.
It was good, it was enjoyable, but ....
Well as per my review of the book below, the audio book was good, but… So I agree with my younger self below in that in the end it was all a little easy for Maigret. Very atmospheric novel, brilliantly evocative of Paris, and wonderfully read as ever, but , just not the best of Maigret stories.
Ad hoc series read 2019/20
A solid 4 stars ⭐️ with review to follow tomorrow
So here we are in early January and already I am a few books behind schedule, to the extent that I need to read 10 books in January just to catch up, and my average is about 7 maybe 8. Hmm, talk about putting yourself under pressure.
Right, The Shadow Puppet. A really enjoyable Maigret novel, given it had been almost 2 months since the last one, but, and yes there is a definite but . It was enjoyable, but it wasn't as good as most of the Maigrets I've read. The story was good ( a murder and a robbery ), it was atmospheric (the description of the French courtyard was so familiar to me), it drew you in ( I really wanted to know how it was going to end), but it was a little too easy for Maigret. He didn't have to exert his brain more than a little and there was no difficulties to be overcome that are normally present in a Maigret novel.
It was good, it was enjoyable, but ....
October 27, 2020
Un altro meraviglioso giallo del maestro dei gialli, in questo libro sono rimasto particolarmente sbalordito dal uso dei SUONI e dei RUMORI, Simenon è un vero maestro a farci sentire dentro della scena, gli oggetti, i colori e i rumori sono descritti in maniera sensitiva, ci colloca proprio fisicamente affianco al Commissario Maigret e ci fa sentire con tutti i sensi.
Leggete questi estratti del primo capitolo di questo libro, c'è Maigret assieme alla portinaia di un palazzo che lo chiama perché ha trovato un uomo morto, l'unico che non fa rumore:
Leggete questi estratti del primo capitolo di questo libro, c'è Maigret assieme alla portinaia di un palazzo che lo chiama perché ha trovato un uomo morto, l'unico che non fa rumore:
Aveva udito una voce soffocata, tanto che per tre o quattro volte aveva dovuto ripetere:
«Ma parli più forte!... Non riesco a sentirla!».
«Non posso... Chiamo dal bar... Dunque...».
Parlava a scatti.
(---)
Guardò le finestre del primo piano ed ebbe l'impressione che il momento cruciale fosse imminente, perché c'era un gran movimento. Si aprì una porta, e si udirono dei passi per le scale. Una sagoma alta e robusta si delineò nel cortile, e la portinaia, toccando il braccio del commissario, bisbigliò in tono riverente...
(---)
Ecco qua! Ci risiamo, con quel grammofono!...
E proprio sopra ai Saint-Mare!...».
E la portinaia accennò a una finestra più piccola, al secondo piano, con una luce più bassa. I vetri erano chiusi e si udiva a malapena, o meglio si intuiva, la musica di un grammofono.
(---)
Maigret tese l'orecchio: la portinaia era sempre là fuori ad aspettarlo, mentre il signor de Saint-Mare continuava ad andare su e giù per il cortile a grandi passi. Ogni tanto nella piazza passava un autobus, e quel rumore rendeva più denso il silenzio che seguiva.
(---)
Nell'appartamento c'era un gran trambusto. Porte che sbattevano. Qualcuno che correva.
(---)
Ha sentito?».
«Che cosa?».
«Mi sembrava... come un vagito... Se quelle due, là in alto, la smettessero una buona volta con il loro benedetto grammofono!... E, badi bene, lo sanno benissimo che la signora de Saint-Mare sta partorendo...».
(---)
All'improvviso, dal secondo piano, si udì un grido.
Un grido acuto, come una richiesta disperata d'aiuto.
Ma la portinaia non si scompose affatto, ed entrando nella guardiola sospirò:
«Non ci mancava altro! Pure la matta...».
E si mise a gridare anche lei perché uno dei bambini aveva rotto un piatto. Alla luce della lampada Maigret vide il suo volto magro e stanco, il suo corpo senza età.
July 7, 2025
The 1930s Paris was a miserable place if you read a Maigret novel. The murderer, the suspects and others all read as miserable and unhappy. Martin married to the first wife of Coubert lives a miserable life with his wife nagging him endlessly. She is angry and frustrated that her first husband was a millionaire. Her son Roger is a wastrel and drug addict.
Couchet the victim appeared the happiest and he was already dying. This novel gives new meaning to hen pecked husband. An enjoyable read in how Maigret solves the case by keeping quiet!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Poor Martin robs the safe of 360,000 francs but forgets his glove. His wife watching from the window sees he has left the glove and goes to get it. Her first husband confronts her and she shoots him. Then later she finds Martin has panicked and thrown the money into the Seine. Maigret confronts the pair bringing back Martin on a train after he tries to get away. The pair confess and Maigret can see that Madame Martin has gone insane.
Read this one twice. Madame Martin is a nasty piece of work. Her husband is a sad sack.
Couchet the victim appeared the happiest and he was already dying. This novel gives new meaning to hen pecked husband. An enjoyable read in how Maigret solves the case by keeping quiet!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Poor Martin robs the safe of 360,000 francs but forgets his glove. His wife watching from the window sees he has left the glove and goes to get it. Her first husband confronts her and she shoots him. Then later she finds Martin has panicked and thrown the money into the Seine. Maigret confronts the pair bringing back Martin on a train after he tries to get away. The pair confess and Maigret can see that Madame Martin has gone insane.
Read this one twice. Madame Martin is a nasty piece of work. Her husband is a sad sack.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2018
Smetterò di leggere Simenon e i romanzi con Maigret quando ne incontrerò uno, non dico brutto (sarebbe una condizione impossibile), ma almeno un po' meno bello degli altri.
Purtroppo con "L'ombra cinese" non ci sono andato nemmeno vicino perché è uno dei migliori (vabbe' uno dei "un po' più belli") Maigret che abbia finora letto.
Un gioiellino perfetto con la solita umanità che, sotto lo sguardo sornione di Maigret, ruota intorno ad un delitto che, in questo caso, si consuma in un condominio: quasi un delitto della stanza chiusa.
Purtroppo con "L'ombra cinese" non ci sono andato nemmeno vicino perché è uno dei migliori (vabbe' uno dei "un po' più belli") Maigret che abbia finora letto.
Un gioiellino perfetto con la solita umanità che, sotto lo sguardo sornione di Maigret, ruota intorno ad un delitto che, in questo caso, si consuma in un condominio: quasi un delitto della stanza chiusa.
February 11, 2024
One of Simenon's early stories, not the best possible plot, but it's interesting to see the “thorough development” of Maigret as the years pass by.
This one is looks less refined but you can see his human kindness (if you ask me, his main quality) in the way he treats poor Nine.
This one is looks less refined but you can see his human kindness (if you ask me, his main quality) in the way he treats poor Nine.
May 6, 2015
Sometimes all you want is popcorn. I don't read Maigrets for the plots, I read them for the misery. The Shadow Puppet was first published in 1932 and is, as usual, comically bleak.
I came to Maigret after reading Simenon's "hard novels" – of which his detective stories seem to be a parody. In the right mood, at the end of a long day of corporate mendacity, these are the perfect tonic.
It was sad. So sad that it almost made you want to give up on being a man, on living on this earth, even though the sun shines over it for several hours a day and there are real birds flying freely!Most of the characters are pathetic, grotesque. They seethe with petty resentment.
The old woman before him had a malevolent expression of jubilation and menace. She was talking! She was going to talk some more! Out of hatred for the Martins, for the dead man, for all the residents of the building, out of hatred for the whole of humanity! And out of hatred for Maigret.No wonder they all murder each other.
I came to Maigret after reading Simenon's "hard novels" – of which his detective stories seem to be a parody. In the right mood, at the end of a long day of corporate mendacity, these are the perfect tonic.
June 9, 2019
Maigret deve indagare sull'assassinio di un imprenditore ucciso da un colpo di pistola al cuore e ben presto si renderà conto che attorno alla sua vita ruotano tre donne: la sua ex moglie, la sua attuale e la sua amante.
Anche stavolta ho azzeccato il colpevole e anche per questo ho scelto tre stelle invece di quattro, ma per il resto l'intreccio resta appassionante e pieno di colpi di scena (alcuni un po' telefonati). Si può uccidere per soldi o per odio, in questo caso per entrambe le cose.
Anche stavolta ho azzeccato il colpevole e anche per questo ho scelto tre stelle invece di quattro, ma per il resto l'intreccio resta appassionante e pieno di colpi di scena (alcuni un po' telefonati). Si può uccidere per soldi o per odio, in questo caso per entrambe le cose.
February 4, 2022
Maigret Mystified
Review of the Penguin Classics paperback (2014) a new translation* by Ros Schwartz of the French language original L'ombre chinoise** (1932)
The Shadow Puppet was more of a depressing tale in my otherwise enthusiastic survey of the early Maigret romans populaires and the non-Maigret romans durs of Georges Simenon. A successful marketer of popular medicine cures is murdered in his office and his safe is emptied of 360,000 Francs. Maigret suspects that the two crimes are actually separate events and his suspicions fall on the residents of the apartment complex where the office & lab were located. The motive turns out to be one of vicious greed which results in actual insanity.
The one lighter aspect was due to Maigret's sympathies for the murdered man's mistress and his attempts to help her out of her financial problems.
The cover of the first Penguin English language edition of "The Shadow Puppet" translated by Jean Stewart and published as "Maigret Mystified" in 1964. Image sourced from Maigret of the Month.
I've now read more than a dozen of the early Maigret novellas in the past four weeks and they continue to impress with how different they are not only from each other, but also from other "Golden Age of Crime" novels of that interwar era. What is even more impressive is that the first dozen were all published in 1931 as if he wrote one every month. Perhaps it is not that surprising from an author who wrote over 500 books in his lifetime, but it still an eyeopener.
In the continuing confusion for completists, this is Maigret #12 in the recent Penguin Classics series of new translations (2013-2019) of the Inspector Maigret novels and short stories, but it is Maigret #13 in the previous standard Maigret Series Listopia as listed on Goodreads.
Trivia and Links
* Some earlier English translations have given the title as Maigret Mystified or as The Shadow in the Courtyard.
** Shadow puppets were first known as Ombre Chinoise (Chinese Shadows) in France, as they were first introduced from China to France by French missionaries in 1767 (Source: Wikipedia).
A curiosity (I don't know if it is a case of any rare printings) is that this new translation appears to have been issued with two different cover images by Penguin Classics as
and
.
The Shadow Puppet has been adapted in 5 different television versions, in English (once), Italian (twice) and French (twice). Information and links about the various adaptations are available at French Wikipedia.
There is an article about the Penguin Classics re-translations of the Inspector Maigret novels at Maigret, the Enduring Appeal of the Parisian Sleuth by Paddy Kehoe, RTE, August 17, 2019.
Review of the Penguin Classics paperback (2014) a new translation* by Ros Schwartz of the French language original L'ombre chinoise** (1932)
The Shadow Puppet was more of a depressing tale in my otherwise enthusiastic survey of the early Maigret romans populaires and the non-Maigret romans durs of Georges Simenon. A successful marketer of popular medicine cures is murdered in his office and his safe is emptied of 360,000 Francs. Maigret suspects that the two crimes are actually separate events and his suspicions fall on the residents of the apartment complex where the office & lab were located. The motive turns out to be one of vicious greed which results in actual insanity.
The one lighter aspect was due to Maigret's sympathies for the murdered man's mistress and his attempts to help her out of her financial problems.
The cover of the first Penguin English language edition of "The Shadow Puppet" translated by Jean Stewart and published as "Maigret Mystified" in 1964. Image sourced from Maigret of the Month.
I've now read more than a dozen of the early Maigret novellas in the past four weeks and they continue to impress with how different they are not only from each other, but also from other "Golden Age of Crime" novels of that interwar era. What is even more impressive is that the first dozen were all published in 1931 as if he wrote one every month. Perhaps it is not that surprising from an author who wrote over 500 books in his lifetime, but it still an eyeopener.
In the continuing confusion for completists, this is Maigret #12 in the recent Penguin Classics series of new translations (2013-2019) of the Inspector Maigret novels and short stories, but it is Maigret #13 in the previous standard Maigret Series Listopia as listed on Goodreads.
Trivia and Links
* Some earlier English translations have given the title as Maigret Mystified or as The Shadow in the Courtyard.
** Shadow puppets were first known as Ombre Chinoise (Chinese Shadows) in France, as they were first introduced from China to France by French missionaries in 1767 (Source: Wikipedia).
A curiosity (I don't know if it is a case of any rare printings) is that this new translation appears to have been issued with two different cover images by Penguin Classics as
and
.The Shadow Puppet has been adapted in 5 different television versions, in English (once), Italian (twice) and French (twice). Information and links about the various adaptations are available at French Wikipedia.
There is an article about the Penguin Classics re-translations of the Inspector Maigret novels at Maigret, the Enduring Appeal of the Parisian Sleuth by Paddy Kehoe, RTE, August 17, 2019.
October 9, 2020
Another Maigret and, as usual, people, psychology, and atmosphere take precedence over the solution of the crime.
August 24, 2019
Un omicidio con un campo d’indagine molto ristretto, un caseggiato, e con un numero di sospettati irrisorio, praticamente i membri di una famiglia o poco più. Una vicenda in cui la brama di denaro e la meschinità umana la fanno da padrone. Il solito Maigret che, senza fretta, ma con acume e caparbietà, lavora ai fianchi l’avversario e lo mette al tappeto.
Tornare a Maigret ogni tanto è sempre piacevole: è un personaggio molto ben caratterizzato e a cui ci si affeziona facilmente. Ho sempre sospettato che Simenon abbia fatto di lui l’uomo che avrebbe voluto essere :)
Tornare a Maigret ogni tanto è sempre piacevole: è un personaggio molto ben caratterizzato e a cui ci si affeziona facilmente. Ho sempre sospettato che Simenon abbia fatto di lui l’uomo che avrebbe voluto essere :)
January 5, 2019
قانونی در حوزه داستاننویسی وجود دارد که میگوید هر چیزی که به هر شکل و نحوی مورد اشاره قرار میگیرد (یا در جهان داستان خلق میشود) باید کارکردی داشته باشد؛ هر چند که تعریف این «کارکرد»، به مرور، جهانشمولتر و روادارتر شده است. معروفترین قول در بیان این قانون همان گفته معروف چخوف است که «اگر تفنگی روی دیوار یک داستان بود، تا پایان داستان باید آن تفنگ شلیک کند». هر چند که جهان هنر قانونبردار نیست و نمونههای بسیاری وجود دارد که از این قانون تخطی شده و باز هم نتیجه قابل قبول یا، دست کم، قابل تامل است، تطابق این قانون با «عقل سلیم» و ایجاد قیدی معقول و قابل درک برای نویسنده باعث شده تا نقطه شروع مناسبی برای بحث درباره بسیاری از داستانها باشد. با این مقدمه کوتاه، میتوان بحث کوچکی در مورد ادبیات معمایی کرد:
داستانهای معمایی (کارآگاهی، پلیسی، جنایی، جاسوسی و غیره) دچار تناقضی ذاتی و ناگزیر هستند. مساله اصلی در این ژانر کشف رازی پنهان است و ذهن و دیدگاه خواننده معمولا با کارآگاه داستان همراه میشود. کارآگاه واقعی، حین کشف راز یک معما، یکی از اصلیترین وظایفش تشخیص اطلاعات معنیدار و مرتبط از اطلاعات نامربوط و حشو است (چیزی که شاید مفهوم «شم کارآگاهی» بیشتر به آن اشاره داشته باشد). زندگی شخصی کارآگاه، قدم زدن در فضای گنگ و تاریک پرونده، پروندههای موازی دیگر و مشکلات اداری و اطلاعات زائد و بسیاری چیزهای دیگر وجود دارند که تصفیه کردن آنها و رسیدن به مجموعهای از دادههای مرتبط قدم مهمی است که حلکننده معما باید بردارد تا تازه برسد به مرحله کشف ارتباط میان این مجموعه داده و حل و توضیح مساله. اما، در دنیای داستانهای معمایی، پابندی به آن «قانون چخوفی» مورد بحث، باعث میشود که اطلاعات زائد جایی در متن داستان نداشته باشند. شما، طبق این قانون، نباید با چیزی مواجه شوید که هیچ نقشی در حل معما ندارد. هر چه هست یا در نهایت قطعهای از پازل داستان است و یا تلاشی عامدانه (اگر نه از طرف شخصیتهای داستان، دست کم از طرف نویسنده) برای گمراه کردن دستیار خنگ و مخاطب کودن داستان، که من و شما خواننده باشیم. «واقعیت» جهان کارآگاه جایی در داستان کارآگاهی ندارد، و همین تناقض بنیادین این نوع داستانهاست. شما هیچ وقت با نسخهای شبیهسازیشده از فرآیند کشف معما مواجه نیستید. همیشه دست پیش دارید و رانت خواننده بودن، چون میدانید صرف همین که در توصیف مرد سیاهپوش معقول و موقری که مورد بازجویی قرار میگیرد به لکههای گِل روی پاچه شلوارش اشاره میشود یعنی این که این موضوع مهم است و در نهایت بخشی از راه حل خواهد بود. یا اساسا وجود خاله مقتول در داستان حتما به این دلیل است که خاله مذکور جایی از ماجرا نقشی دارد (تفنگی است بر دیوار که تا آخر کار بالاخره شلیکی خواهد کرد، هر چند تیر هوایی باشد!)، در حالی در واقعیت من و شما به قتل میرسیم و خالههامان، بی این که نقشی در ماجرای قتلمان داشته باشد، همچنان وجود دارند!
ژرژ سیمنون، و کارآگاه دوستداشتنیاش، مگره، از دام این تناقض بیرون رفتهاند. راهکار سیمنون برای حل این تناقض آزارنده و پرتبعات بازی با تعریف «کارکرد» است (هر چیزی باید «کارکردی» داشته باشد، ولی «کارکرد» یعنی چه؟). وقتی تمام هدف داستان معمایی را صرفا خلق و حل یک معمای پیچیده، ایجاد هیجان و به رخ کشیدن هوش شگفتانگیز (و، اغلب، غیر قابل باور) کارآگاه قرار دهیم، هر چیزی غیر از اینها «کارکردی» در داستان ندارد و تناقض مورد بحث از هر سوراخ داستان بیرون میزند، ولی وقتی هدف را گستردهتر و زمین بازی را بزرگتر بگیرید، وقتی «حال» آدمها، شخصیت انسانی آنها، انگیزههاشان و بازنمود حضورشان اطراف فاجعه و واکنشهاشان نسبت به آثار آن فاجعه هم جزو هدفهایتان باشد، آن وقت میتوانید از این قصر سست و حصار نهتوی متناقض بیرون بزنید و کاری کنید که سیمنون میکند: از آدمها حرف بزنید، از واقعیت و از «چرا» این طور شد، نه فقط این که «چه طور» این طور شد.
در داستان «سایه بازی» مثال برای این مدعای من زیاد هست. داستان، از لحاظ تعداد شخصیت، بسیار شلوغ است و اطلاعات هم بسیار زیاد. با آپارتمانی طرف هستید که کلی آدم تویش زندگی میکنند و هر کدام هم به شکلی جذاب و ماجرادارند. اما در نهایت کل جریان قتل اصلی داستان حول دو نفر میچرخد و بقیه هم نه بخشی از یک توطئه هستند، نه تلاشی برای گمراه کردن شما. نه شما قرار است به «کنت دو سن مارک» و زنش شک کنید و نه مگره. سرایدار و بچههایش فقط کارشان را انجام میدادهاند و میدهند. کارمندان شرکت بخشی از طرح داستان نیستند؛ کارمندان شرکتند. آدمها برای این خلق نشدهاند که بخشی از جهان داستان و جنایت درونش باشند؛ جنایت موضوع داستان در جهان این آدمها اتفاق افتاده. آنها قبل از این رمان زندگیشان را میکردهاند و بعد از آن هم به زندگیشان ادامه میدهند.
و «نینه»، دختری زیبا و بیپناه که میشود بهش صد فرانکی قرض داد و توی کافه کنارش نشست. که قبل از این هم با مردی متاهل در رابطه بوده و شایستهترین کس از سه زن این مرد به عشق است. نینه کوچک و دوستداشتنی، که میشود تا مقصد رساندش و باید مراقبش بود. نینه، که ظاهرا بخشی از اطراف ماجرای قتل محوری داستان است، اما در نهایت چارهای ندارید جز این که فقط از چشم مگره به او نگاه کنید: یک جای کار این جهان بدجور میلنگد.
داستانهای معمایی (کارآگاهی، پلیسی، جنایی، جاسوسی و غیره) دچار تناقضی ذاتی و ناگزیر هستند. مساله اصلی در این ژانر کشف رازی پنهان است و ذهن و دیدگاه خواننده معمولا با کارآگاه داستان همراه میشود. کارآگاه واقعی، حین کشف راز یک معما، یکی از اصلیترین وظایفش تشخیص اطلاعات معنیدار و مرتبط از اطلاعات نامربوط و حشو است (چیزی که شاید مفهوم «شم کارآگاهی» بیشتر به آن اشاره داشته باشد). زندگی شخصی کارآگاه، قدم زدن در فضای گنگ و تاریک پرونده، پروندههای موازی دیگر و مشکلات اداری و اطلاعات زائد و بسیاری چیزهای دیگر وجود دارند که تصفیه کردن آنها و رسیدن به مجموعهای از دادههای مرتبط قدم مهمی است که حلکننده معما باید بردارد تا تازه برسد به مرحله کشف ارتباط میان این مجموعه داده و حل و توضیح مساله. اما، در دنیای داستانهای معمایی، پابندی به آن «قانون چخوفی» مورد بحث، باعث میشود که اطلاعات زائد جایی در متن داستان نداشته باشند. شما، طبق این قانون، نباید با چیزی مواجه شوید که هیچ نقشی در حل معما ندارد. هر چه هست یا در نهایت قطعهای از پازل داستان است و یا تلاشی عامدانه (اگر نه از طرف شخصیتهای داستان، دست کم از طرف نویسنده) برای گمراه کردن دستیار خنگ و مخاطب کودن داستان، که من و شما خواننده باشیم. «واقعیت» جهان کارآگاه جایی در داستان کارآگاهی ندارد، و همین تناقض بنیادین این نوع داستانهاست. شما هیچ وقت با نسخهای شبیهسازیشده از فرآیند کشف معما مواجه نیستید. همیشه دست پیش دارید و رانت خواننده بودن، چون میدانید صرف همین که در توصیف مرد سیاهپوش معقول و موقری که مورد بازجویی قرار میگیرد به لکههای گِل روی پاچه شلوارش اشاره میشود یعنی این که این موضوع مهم است و در نهایت بخشی از راه حل خواهد بود. یا اساسا وجود خاله مقتول در داستان حتما به این دلیل است که خاله مذکور جایی از ماجرا نقشی دارد (تفنگی است بر دیوار که تا آخر کار بالاخره شلیکی خواهد کرد، هر چند تیر هوایی باشد!)، در حالی در واقعیت من و شما به قتل میرسیم و خالههامان، بی این که نقشی در ماجرای قتلمان داشته باشد، همچنان وجود دارند!
ژرژ سیمنون، و کارآگاه دوستداشتنیاش، مگره، از دام این تناقض بیرون رفتهاند. راهکار سیمنون برای حل این تناقض آزارنده و پرتبعات بازی با تعریف «کارکرد» است (هر چیزی باید «کارکردی» داشته باشد، ولی «کارکرد» یعنی چه؟). وقتی تمام هدف داستان معمایی را صرفا خلق و حل یک معمای پیچیده، ایجاد هیجان و به رخ کشیدن هوش شگفتانگیز (و، اغلب، غیر قابل باور) کارآگاه قرار دهیم، هر چیزی غیر از اینها «کارکردی» در داستان ندارد و تناقض مورد بحث از هر سوراخ داستان بیرون میزند، ولی وقتی هدف را گستردهتر و زمین بازی را بزرگتر بگیرید، وقتی «حال» آدمها، شخصیت انسانی آنها، انگیزههاشان و بازنمود حضورشان اطراف فاجعه و واکنشهاشان نسبت به آثار آن فاجعه هم جزو هدفهایتان باشد، آن وقت میتوانید از این قصر سست و حصار نهتوی متناقض بیرون بزنید و کاری کنید که سیمنون میکند: از آدمها حرف بزنید، از واقعیت و از «چرا» این طور شد، نه فقط این که «چه طور» این طور شد.
در داستان «سایه بازی» مثال برای این مدعای من زیاد هست. داستان، از لحاظ تعداد شخصیت، بسیار شلوغ است و اطلاعات هم بسیار زیاد. با آپارتمانی طرف هستید که کلی آدم تویش زندگی میکنند و هر کدام هم به شکلی جذاب و ماجرادارند. اما در نهایت کل جریان قتل اصلی داستان حول دو نفر میچرخد و بقیه هم نه بخشی از یک توطئه هستند، نه تلاشی برای گمراه کردن شما. نه شما قرار است به «کنت دو سن مارک» و زنش شک کنید و نه مگره. سرایدار و بچههایش فقط کارشان را انجام میدادهاند و میدهند. کارمندان شرکت بخشی از طرح داستان نیستند؛ کارمندان شرکتند. آدمها برای این خلق نشدهاند که بخشی از جهان داستان و جنایت درونش باشند؛ جنایت موضوع داستان در جهان این آدمها اتفاق افتاده. آنها قبل از این رمان زندگیشان را میکردهاند و بعد از آن هم به زندگیشان ادامه میدهند.
و «نینه»، دختری زیبا و بیپناه که میشود بهش صد فرانکی قرض داد و توی کافه کنارش نشست. که قبل از این هم با مردی متاهل در رابطه بوده و شایستهترین کس از سه زن این مرد به عشق است. نینه کوچک و دوستداشتنی، که میشود تا مقصد رساندش و باید مراقبش بود. نینه، که ظاهرا بخشی از اطراف ماجرای قتل محوری داستان است، اما در نهایت چارهای ندارید جز این که فقط از چشم مگره به او نگاه کنید: یک جای کار این جهان بدجور میلنگد.
December 25, 2015
The building’s officious concierge realizes that Monsieur Couchet is dead when she notices him behind his lighted frosted window not having moved for a long time. The image of Courbet as a shadow puppet lingers with Chief Inspector Jules Maigret for the length of the novel, and he begins to think of the investigation as shadow puppets in a drama, and readers will, too.
Couchet has built a pharmaceutical empire, Doctor Rivière's Serums, and leaves a fortune. So who would want the affable, generous Couchet dead? His discontented, carping ex-wife, who left him just before he built his fortune? Her new husband, a dapper civil servant from the registry? The well-born second Madame Couchet? Couchet’s considerate mistress? Or Couchet’s drug-addled son from his first marriage? And are the 360,000 missing francs from the safe the motive for the crime? Or an additional and unrelated one?
Readers will find The Shadow Puppet another wonderful novel in this excellent series. And, as ever, the best way to enjoy Chief Inspector Maigret is with the Audible version, narrated by Gareth Armstrong.
Couchet has built a pharmaceutical empire, Doctor Rivière's Serums, and leaves a fortune. So who would want the affable, generous Couchet dead? His discontented, carping ex-wife, who left him just before he built his fortune? Her new husband, a dapper civil servant from the registry? The well-born second Madame Couchet? Couchet’s considerate mistress? Or Couchet’s drug-addled son from his first marriage? And are the 360,000 missing francs from the safe the motive for the crime? Or an additional and unrelated one?
Readers will find The Shadow Puppet another wonderful novel in this excellent series. And, as ever, the best way to enjoy Chief Inspector Maigret is with the Audible version, narrated by Gareth Armstrong.
March 31, 2018
Really good!
These books are small and quick reads but they
really are very entertaining and Simenon really
does makes you think sometimes with his insights into human nature.
These books are small and quick reads but they
really are very entertaining and Simenon really
does makes you think sometimes with his insights into human nature.
October 29, 2024
3.5
Ho tolto mezza stellina perché sono arrivata ad individuare il colpevole verso la metà del libro e per un libro giallo è un difetto. Nulla da dire sulla trama e la caratterizzazione "umana" che, come al solito, Simenon fa egregiamente.
Ho tolto mezza stellina perché sono arrivata ad individuare il colpevole verso la metà del libro e per un libro giallo è un difetto. Nulla da dire sulla trama e la caratterizzazione "umana" che, come al solito, Simenon fa egregiamente.
October 16, 2019
سایه بازی یه کتاب جناییه اما اون چیزی که بیشتر برای من قابل تامل بود جنبه اجتماعی داستان بود.
با خوندن کارهای آگاتا کریستی خیلی کم امکان داره کارهای جنایی دیگه به چشم بیان (حداقل برای من) و شاید به همین دلیل پیگیری ماجرای قتل برام جذابیتی نداشت و حتی میشد از اوایل داستان قاتل رو حدس زد.
اما دنیایی که این قتل درونش اتفاق میافته و شخصیتهای داستان حقیقتهای تلخی دارن که برای جامعه ما غریبه نیست و برای من کششی داشت که تا پایان داستان رفتم و ازش لذت بردم.
با خوندن کارهای آگاتا کریستی خیلی کم امکان داره کارهای جنایی دیگه به چشم بیان (حداقل برای من) و شاید به همین دلیل پیگیری ماجرای قتل برام جذابیتی نداشت و حتی میشد از اوایل داستان قاتل رو حدس زد.
اما دنیایی که این قتل درونش اتفاق میافته و شخصیتهای داستان حقیقتهای تلخی دارن که برای جامعه ما غریبه نیست و برای من کششی داشت که تا پایان داستان رفتم و ازش لذت بردم.
November 13, 2020
Another interesting murder/robbery for Maigret to solve in his own neighborhood with interesting mix of Parisians living somewhat desperate lives. Maigret uses his perspective standing in courtyard observing the shadows and entries and exits of the residents.
This may be it for a while as we have been issued stay at home order due to COVID and I have to make a quick train trip to the library while it is still open. I fear it will close up again due to this new order. Thank you, Georges Simenon for brief escape.
This one from 1932
Library Loan
This may be it for a while as we have been issued stay at home order due to COVID and I have to make a quick train trip to the library while it is still open. I fear it will close up again due to this new order. Thank you, Georges Simenon for brief escape.
This one from 1932
Library Loan
August 7, 2023
Everest Yayınlarının “Ustaların Türkçesiyle Georges Simenon Serisi”nin 7 numaralı kitabı Oynayan Gölgeler.
Müfettiş Maigret serisinin bir bölümü daha. Çok akıcı, esrar dozu yerinde, keyifli bir okumaya olanak sağlayan bir hikaye. Çok beğendim.
Müfettiş Maigret serisinin bir bölümü daha. Çok akıcı, esrar dozu yerinde, keyifli bir okumaya olanak sağlayan bir hikaye. Çok beğendim.
December 8, 2020
Modesto come i suoi personaggi
Indagine di routine per Simenon e Maigret, in un'ambientazione (stereo)tipica dei gialli del prolifico autore. Una coppia di famiglie disfunzionali intrecciate fra loro, un omicidio, un'eredità, il tutto nei dintorni della celebre Place des Vosges. Questo romanzo\racconto risente dell'età (è del 1932) e di qualche nota non particolarmente gradevole nel tratteggio di alcuni personaggi, cui sembra essere riservato un trattamento piuttosto aspro, mentre altri godono evidentemente della simpatia dello scrittore.
Nulla di molto originale, poco che resti impresso, anche se non mancano alcuni tocchi da maestro che non sorprendono, visto che si tratta pur sempre di Simenon.
I Maigret sono così, almeno per quanto mi riguarda, la media è sufficiente, alcuni molto belli, altri trascurabili, più o meno in misura eguale fra loro.
Indagine di routine per Simenon e Maigret, in un'ambientazione (stereo)tipica dei gialli del prolifico autore. Una coppia di famiglie disfunzionali intrecciate fra loro, un omicidio, un'eredità, il tutto nei dintorni della celebre Place des Vosges. Questo romanzo\racconto risente dell'età (è del 1932) e di qualche nota non particolarmente gradevole nel tratteggio di alcuni personaggi, cui sembra essere riservato un trattamento piuttosto aspro, mentre altri godono evidentemente della simpatia dello scrittore.
Nulla di molto originale, poco che resti impresso, anche se non mancano alcuni tocchi da maestro che non sorprendono, visto che si tratta pur sempre di Simenon.
I Maigret sono così, almeno per quanto mi riguarda, la media è sufficiente, alcuni molto belli, altri trascurabili, più o meno in misura eguale fra loro.
May 9, 2022
A man is shot dead in his office in the Place des Vosges in Paris. Maigret uncovers a tragedy, more than a murder mystery, in that it involves desperate lives, addiction and greed.
As ever, Simenon’s detective stories involving Maigret are concise and tightly structured yet manage to convey such convincing characters.
Here in particular he addresses class distinction, hatred and paranoia. At the root of the crime is frustrated ambition and the complete inability to make allowance for the failings of others.
This, his 13th Maigret book, was written in December 1931 in Antibes on the French Riviera.
As ever, Simenon’s detective stories involving Maigret are concise and tightly structured yet manage to convey such convincing characters.
Here in particular he addresses class distinction, hatred and paranoia. At the root of the crime is frustrated ambition and the complete inability to make allowance for the failings of others.
This, his 13th Maigret book, was written in December 1931 in Antibes on the French Riviera.
July 26, 2020
Notte. Un palazzo in Place des Vosges, un cortile quasi buio sul quale si affacciano alcune finestre illuminate dietro le quali si muovono delle ombre che ricordano quelle cinesi. Ma una di esse è immobile, ha la fissità della morte.
Maigret si muove in un ambiente ristretto, popolato per lo più da persone più o meno legate tra di loro da vincoli di parentela, tra le quali di certo non scorre buon sangue; un ambientino niente male, dove l’insoddisfazione rancorosa è una presa di posizione che va a braccetto con la mediocrità, l’arrivismo e la sottomissione; dove il dio denaro è quello che tiene e muove i fili del mondo. O almeno del mondo contenuto in quel palazzo al n. 61 di Place des Vosges, Parigi.
In fondo è una storia amara, intrisa di solitudine, con un finale che lascia dietro di sé una scia di tristezza.
Ci sarebbero volute parole, frasi e un po’ di rumore per riempire tutto il vuoto che percepiva intorno a ognuno dei personaggi in scena.
Simenon ha ancora una volta fatto centro scavando nelle pieghe dell’anima dei suoi personaggi attraverso la cordiale scontrosità di Maigret.
Consigliato.
⛓ RC 2020 - Catena luglio (4)
✍️ G.S./Maigret
Maigret si muove in un ambiente ristretto, popolato per lo più da persone più o meno legate tra di loro da vincoli di parentela, tra le quali di certo non scorre buon sangue; un ambientino niente male, dove l’insoddisfazione rancorosa è una presa di posizione che va a braccetto con la mediocrità, l’arrivismo e la sottomissione; dove il dio denaro è quello che tiene e muove i fili del mondo. O almeno del mondo contenuto in quel palazzo al n. 61 di Place des Vosges, Parigi.
In fondo è una storia amara, intrisa di solitudine, con un finale che lascia dietro di sé una scia di tristezza.
Ci sarebbero volute parole, frasi e un po’ di rumore per riempire tutto il vuoto che percepiva intorno a ognuno dei personaggi in scena.
Simenon ha ancora una volta fatto centro scavando nelle pieghe dell’anima dei suoi personaggi attraverso la cordiale scontrosità di Maigret.
Consigliato.
⛓ RC 2020 - Catena luglio (4)
✍️ G.S./Maigret
December 25, 2014
Non il migliore ma quasi, fra i Maigret letti fino ad ora. In questo episodio, l'attenzione è riposta nelle dinamiche che possono insorgere fra parenti, ex mogli e figli in relazione ad importanti eredità dopo una morte violenta. Per di più ad aumentare maggiormente la tensione di questi personaggi tristi e meschini il tutto viene inserito nel contesto di un condominio in cui emergono ulteriori elementi per dipingere e criticare la società. In questo caso poi l'unico personaggio per cui simpatizza Maigret è il morto, quando solitamente è il colpevole...
September 6, 2018
Another great Maigret.
A scientist is at his table pouring serums into vials. Someone shoots him and his body is found slumped over at the table. His laboratory is an a large apartment complex with a quadrant in the middle. The man's body is easily seen through the windows of the surrounding apartments.
Did anyone see anything? Why was this man killed? It turns out his ex-wife and current husband live in one of the apartments. What do they know?
Maigret puts together all the pieces.
A scientist is at his table pouring serums into vials. Someone shoots him and his body is found slumped over at the table. His laboratory is an a large apartment complex with a quadrant in the middle. The man's body is easily seen through the windows of the surrounding apartments.
Did anyone see anything? Why was this man killed? It turns out his ex-wife and current husband live in one of the apartments. What do they know?
Maigret puts together all the pieces.
March 12, 2017
ToutSimenon:
Raymond Couchet a été assassiné dans le bureau directorial, près du laboratoire de sa firme, au fond de la cour d'un immeuble situé place des Vosges. Une importante somme d'argent a été volée.
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)
3* The Shadow Puppet (Inspector Maigret #12)
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 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 Saint-Fiacre Affair (Inspector Maigret #13)
TR The Flemish House (Maigret, #14)
TR The Misty Harbour (Maigret, #15)
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)
Raymond Couchet a été assassiné dans le bureau directorial, près du laboratoire de sa firme, au fond de la cour d'un immeuble situé place des Vosges. Une importante somme d'argent a été volée.
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)
3* The Shadow Puppet (Inspector Maigret #12)
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 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 Saint-Fiacre Affair (Inspector Maigret #13)
TR The Flemish House (Maigret, #14)
TR The Misty Harbour (Maigret, #15)
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 10, 2020
As always Simenon delivers, in The Shadow Puppet he comes face to face with madness caused by obsessive greed. A millionaire who owns a serum business is found shot in his office, 360.000 francs are missing from his safe.
Just fantastic
Just fantastic
May 4, 2025
Good like a film you've watched dozens of times is good.
July 30, 2012
Georges Simenon's early Maigret mysteries are almost uniformly splendid. Maigret Mystified, originally L'ombre chinois, was published in 1932, side by side with a number of other great titles.
The original French title means "Shadow play," and it was particularly appropriate considering the circumstances of the story. A murder takes place in a courtyard which contains apartments and a medical laboratory. Inspector Maigret concentrates his investigation on the residents of the courtyard, plus two or three others who knew the murdered M. Couchet intimately. It is a shadow play that doesn't take form until an event occurs that shakes the inspector from his lethargy, as he sees sudden marked changes in some of the suspects. From this point on, the plot unwinds as if it were on rails speeding downhill.
The characterizations in this novel are brilliant, especially of Mme. Martin, the ex-wife of the victim, who has remarried a petty official just before Couchet became a millionaire.
Simenon's Maigret novels is almost always worth reading. His are not tales of ratiocination. No, on the contrary, they are Gallic with a vengeance, as Maigret sees his role not so much as a detective who marshals his facts as a witness to a shadow play that suddenly becomes very real. Then he is there to pick up the pieces and, at times, execute justice on his own.
The original French title means "Shadow play," and it was particularly appropriate considering the circumstances of the story. A murder takes place in a courtyard which contains apartments and a medical laboratory. Inspector Maigret concentrates his investigation on the residents of the courtyard, plus two or three others who knew the murdered M. Couchet intimately. It is a shadow play that doesn't take form until an event occurs that shakes the inspector from his lethargy, as he sees sudden marked changes in some of the suspects. From this point on, the plot unwinds as if it were on rails speeding downhill.
The characterizations in this novel are brilliant, especially of Mme. Martin, the ex-wife of the victim, who has remarried a petty official just before Couchet became a millionaire.
Simenon's Maigret novels is almost always worth reading. His are not tales of ratiocination. No, on the contrary, they are Gallic with a vengeance, as Maigret sees his role not so much as a detective who marshals his facts as a witness to a shadow play that suddenly becomes very real. Then he is there to pick up the pieces and, at times, execute justice on his own.
June 3, 2015
Maigret solves another squalid murder. The intertwined characters would be pitiable if only so many of them were not also morally corrupt, greedy, and spineless. There are two likable people. One is the victim and the other loses what little chance she had in life.
It was sad. So sad it almost made you want to give up on being a man, on living on this earth even though the sun shines over it for several hours a day and there are real birds flying freely!
October 30, 2016
لدي اهتمام متزايد بقراءة القصص البوليسية مؤخراً. خيال الظل، هذه القصة جيدة لكنها لم تعجبني كثيراً، أحداثها ليست مشوقة بالقدر الذي يثيرك حتى النهاية لمعرفة القاتل.
December 31, 2019
Bello e piacevole come tutti i libri di Simenon con protagonista Maigret! :-)
May 26, 2025
Not all mysteries start with a dead body, but this one did. As late as 8pm, the man appeared to be at his desk working, but when the concierge looked again several minutes later, he wasn't there though the light was still on. She went to see if there was something wrong and sure enough, he was on the floor in front of the safe and blood all over.
Chief Inspector Maigret, of course, is front and center. The concierge had called for him rather than the policeman on the corner because one of the tenants was in labor and she didn't want the woman disturbed. And so, in Simenon's usual style, we are immediately within the setting. I thought the characterization of Maigret was less well done in this, but some of the supporting characters were well done, perhaps more so than in other installments.
Even with a digital edition, I start with the cover and turn the pages. Sometimes I skip over the praise, but for some reason this time I didn't. I highlighted a few because the comments were by such well known authors.
Chief Inspector Maigret, of course, is front and center. The concierge had called for him rather than the policeman on the corner because one of the tenants was in labor and she didn't want the woman disturbed. And so, in Simenon's usual style, we are immediately within the setting. I thought the characterization of Maigret was less well done in this, but some of the supporting characters were well done, perhaps more so than in other installments.
Even with a digital edition, I start with the cover and turn the pages. Sometimes I skip over the praise, but for some reason this time I didn't. I highlighted a few because the comments were by such well known authors.
‘I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov’ – William FaulknerI've shared these because this is why I'll continue to read Maigret. And though Simenon deserves this praise, this might not be his best work. 3-stars, but toward the top of that group.
‘A novelist who entered his fictional world as if he were part of it’ – Peter Ackroyd
‘Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century’ – John Banville
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