A Maigret Christmas came from the publisher via Net-Galley.  I was excited to see, when I registered it on Goodreads, that it said ‘A Maigret Christmas and other stories‘. Indeed I saw the paperback of this title in Waterstones bookstores this winter.  I expect the other stories are wonderful, but I only had the Maigret Christmas on my sampler.  Like other net-galley members I was disappointed with this, but it was nice to get the free Maigret story anyway.

A Maigret Christmas

Maigret Christmasby Georges Simenon

Three seasonal stories set in Paris at Christmas, from the celebrated creator of Inspector Maigret.

It is Christmas in Paris, but beneath the sparkling lights and glittering decorations lie sinister deeds and dark secrets…

This collection brings together three of Simenon’s most enjoyable Christmas tales, newly translated, featuring Inspector Maigret and other characters from the Maigret novels. In ‘A Maigret Christmas’, the Inspector receives two unexpected visitors on Christmas Day, who lead him on the trail of a mysterious intruder dressed in red and white. In ‘Seven Small Crosses in a Notebook’, the sound of alarms over Paris send the police on a cat and mouse chase across the city. And ‘The Little Restaurant in Les Ternes (A Christmas Story for Grown-Ups)’ tells of a cynical woman who is moved to an unexpected act of festive charity in a nightclub – one that surprises even her…

My Review

The story was an excellent introduction to the great French detective, at least I hope it is representative of the rest. I got the Paris atmosphere beautifully, and the fog was even better. Although I don’t know this part of Paris, it does bring to mind backstreets that I do know. I can easily imagine the women keeping watch over the celebrated detective’s house, and his local fan-club just hoping to be ‘recognised’ by him!

The Simenon style is easy to slip into, and the puzzle suitably puzzling.

Funnily enough, I read several books this winter with a mysterious stranger posing as a santa-type figure in a person’s bedroom, mostly for nefarious purposes not related to the person in the bed, thankfully.  All have had very different reasons, which was fun.

My brother is a huge Maigret fan, and I can see why.  I’m looking forward to reading more—possibly with my Paris street-map open beside me!

I’m also interested in reading the rest of these short stories.  Maybe I’ll search the library shelves, either for more general Simenon short stories, or for more Maigret – there are very many of them.

Merry Christmas

I was hoping to get you a new Solstice story to tide you over the holiday season. It doesn’t look like that will happen now.  I wish you a very happy Christmas, or seasonal celebration of your choice. Looking forward to seeing you again before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, because of a mix-up, my Midwinter’s Eve Giveaway Hop is woefully short of entries. So please hop over to that, enter my giveaway, and hop over to other participants afterwards.

Book Review | A Maigret Christmas #maigret
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9 thoughts on “Book Review | A Maigret Christmas #maigret

  • 22 December, 2018 at 11:29 pm
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    Merry Christmas! and thanks to the intro to this Parisian detective. I seem to be mired in London!

    • 2 January, 2019 at 6:29 pm
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      Belated Happy Christmas, Rae, and a happy new year too!

  • 26 December, 2018 at 6:27 am
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    Merry Christmas (I guess Happy Boxing Day by now).

    • 2 January, 2019 at 6:30 pm
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      Well, I know you’re on your travels now, while I’m still catching up, so have a wonderful time.

  • 14 January, 2019 at 11:23 pm
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    I’m late but hope your Christmas we a good one. I heard the first story you mentioned on the BBC during the season. It was my first encounter with Inspector Maigret and I enjoyed it.

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