Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses

by Georges Simenon, William Hobson (Translator)

Overview

“A writer as comfortable with reality as with fiction, with passion as with reason.” —John Le Carré

When the head of a powerful Parisian family business is murdered in his bed, Maigret must pick apart the family's darkest secrets to reveal the truth

"The curious thing was that there seemed to be no grief here, only a strange dejection, a kind of uneasy stupor..."

Maigret is called to the home of the high-profile Lachaume family where the eldest brother has been found shot dead. But on his arrival, the family closes ranks and claims to have heard and seen nothing at the time of the murder. Maigret must pick his way through the family's web of lies, secrets, and deceit, as well as handle Angelot, a troublesome new breed of magistrate who has waded into the case. And it's the estranged black sheep of the family, Veronique, who may hold the key to it all with her knowledge of the depths to which the family will sink to protect their reputation.

Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses is an engrossing mystery that examines the intricate tangle of artifice that can entrap even the most influential families.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780241303856
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/06/2018
Series:	Maigret Series , #53
Edition description:	UK ed.
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	367,110
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Georges Simenon (1903-1989) was born in Liège, Belgium. He is best known in the English-speaking world as the author of the Inspector Maigret books. His prolific output of more than four hundred novels and short stories has made him a household name in continental Europe.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Georges Simenon:

“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The Guardian

“These Maigret books are as timeless as Paris itself.” —The Washington Post

“The matchless French crime novelist.” —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker

“Maigret ranks with Holmes and Poirot in the pantheon of fictional detective immortals.” —People

“I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.” —William Faulkner

“An astute observer of human nature, writing in a spare and vivid style.” —Amor Towles

“I never read contemporary fiction–with one exception: the works of Simenon.” —T.S. Eliot

“A writer as comfortable with reality as with fiction, with passion as with reason.” —John Le Carré

“One of the most important writers of our century.” —Gabriel García Márquez

“A favorite writer of mine.” —Sigrid Nunez

“A great writer of detail, of atmosphere.” —Leïla Slimani

“Feels incredibly modern…A great writer.” —Ian Rankin

“The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature.” —André Gide

“A supreme writer . . . Unforgettable vividness.” —The Independent (London)

“Superb . . . The most addictive of writers . . . A unique teller of tales.” —The Observer (London)

“Compelling, remorseless, brilliant.” —John Gray

“A truly wonderful writer . . . Marvelously readable—lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the world he creates.” —Muriel Spark

“A novelist who entered his fictional world as if he were a part of it.” —Peter Ackroyd

“Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century.” —John Banville

"Gem-hard soul-probes . . . not just the world's bestselling detective series, but an imperishable literary legend . . . he exposes secrets and crimes not by forensic wizardry, but by the melded powers of therapist, philosopher and confessor" ―Times (London)

"Strangely comforting . . . so many lovely bistros from the Paris of mid-20th C. The corpses are incidental, it's the food that counts." ―Margaret Atwood

"One of the greatest writers of the 20th century . . . no other writer can set up a scene as sharply and with such economy as Simenon does . . . the conjuring of a world, a place, a time, a set of characters - above all, an atmosphere." ―Financial Times

"Gripping . . . richly rewarding . . . You'll quickly find yourself obsessing about his life as you tackle each mystery in turn." ―Stig Abell, The Sunday Times (London)

From the Publisher

In all three of these stories adapted by Frederick Spoerly, Maigret is involved in the domestic problems of the wealthy. The title story involves a man murdered in his home; his family is reluctant to discuss the matter. When Chief Inspector Maigret is called in to investigate the homicide, family members are interviewed, and the motive is discovered. Although one-dimensional in characterization, the story holds the reader's interest. In "Maigret Hesitates," the Inspector receives a letter that a murder is about to take place. He traces the stationery and investigates a wealthy household where the homicide will occur; however, he cannot prevent it from happening. "Maigret in Society" has the inspector investigating the death of an elderly comte found shot to death in his study. This is the best developed of the trilogy and offers an effective surprise ending. Spoerly understands the feel of French language and thought. The actors do an excellent job with pronunciation and vocal inflection. Recommended for public library collections, especially where Simenon (Maigret and the Killer, LJ 4/15/98) is popular.Jacqueline Seewald, Red Bank Regional H.S., Little Silver, NJ

Library Journal