Maigret's Dead Man (Inspector Maigret)

"Maigret's Dead Man," a 1948 police procedural is among the most unusual of the 75 novels written by Georges Simenon regarding the cases of Commissaire Jules Maigret of the Paris Criminal Police. It is also among the most tedious, involving detailed descriptions of lengthy chases through the streets of Paris, and it is studded with secondary characters whose importance to the plot is difficult to define. When this book was published, just three years after the end of World War II, Paris was a far darker, poorer, and altogether less romantic place that was notable for its unemployed, dislocated, homeless, illegal, and criminal populations, many of whose members resided in sketchy hotels. In "Maigret's Dead Man," the plot focus is on a gang that has plotted a series of horrific murders from their base in one of these marginal rooming houses.With a focus on this gang of initially-unidentified members, the novel offers little opportunity for the rich character development typical of most other Maigret stories. In part, this negative aspect is offset by several charming points. The first is the description of forensic laboratory methods as Maigret attempts to identify a victim of the gang, and the second is the amount of attention devoted to Maigret as he operates in his home apartment in the company of his wife.

I read this (my first Maigret book) because I'd seen the TV episode - thereby giving me a background to start with. I'm likely to read more.

among the best mystery writers of all time

I always remember the Maigret shows on PBS and I imagine Michael Gambon when I'm reading the books. Very entertaining.

Such a remarkable "detective" story, that the automatic choices in description of the plot insufficient. Would suggest reading it for your own reactions. Well worth the Kindle price. Will read all Simenon, based on this book.

Georges Simenon never disappoints. If you have never read him before, this is a good example of his great writing style. Be prepared to get totally lost in 1940's France!

A very good Simenon!

Better than the new series on PBS with more added details

Excellent evocation of Paris and society's underworld, as our detective sleuths the killer of a stranger who has involved him in his death.Full of twists, turns and inter-departmental police politics and games, I enjoyed this story immensely, with its harsh characters and brilliant descriptions of Paris nightlife, the suburbs and society.Simenon and Maigret both on good form.

Contrasts well with the recent television exposition of the book, with Rowan Atkinson as an excellent Margaret. Here, the masterful story telling yields both an added richness and shocking suspense. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but not when those words are Simmons.

Flawless plot,beautifully written as usual,a classic of genre and so cinematic as are all Simeon's novels,being the dramatic writer he was

Absolutely superb. I love detective novels like Agatha Christie and this is my first Simenon book; he is just superb. Couldn't put this down

dark at times insightful into human nature with flashes of humor some weakness in the plot not one for a logician