Whenever Karen and I run a club year, there is a Georges Simenon – and every time I comment that I must read something by him. And as I was glancing around my shelves, I spotted that Maigret’s Revolver (1952, translated by Nigel Ryan) is really short – and why not? So I have now read my first Simenon, and finally met Inspector Maigret.
He is straight-forward man, more compassionate than he needs to be but also unlikely to fly into any sort of passion. He drinks an extraordinary amount, and finds the fact that he can’t get whisky in an English hotel before 11.30am absurd. He is determined to solve a mystery, but seem content to achieve that aim with measured and thoughtful steps.
The mystery, in this case, starts with the revolver of the title – a young man is waiting in Maigret’s study, but has gone before Maigret gets home. He discovers that his revolver is missing. The revolver itself was a gift that he has never used, but it is still fully functioning. He quickly learns that a young man matching the description of this mysterious figure (for Maigret’s wife met him, and could describe him a little) has been buying gun cartridges.
Along the way, after some fortunate policework, Maigret is led to the discovery of a body…
I really enjoyed reading this. It has a dry humour that I didn’t know would be there, and Maigret is a more interesting and likeable character than I’d realised. He is not hard-boiled or maverick – he is human and sensible, and engages with fellow professionals. Something I particularly liked in the writing was the treatment of women, who are frequently intelligent and not thrown by the strange circumstances they find themselves in. A lovely contrast to the common figure of detective novels from this era, where women fall apart in hysterics when questioned or when faced with difficult circumstances.
Here, for instance, is part of a questioning with one female character. I think it shows what I liked of Maigret’s dogged patience, and the quick-witted assuredness that Simenon gives women. In this novella, at least. I don’t know how much of an anomaly that is.
“You know your father’s ill?”
“He always has been.”
There was no pity, no emotion in her voice.
“He’s in bed.”
“Very likely.”
“Your brother’s disappeared.”
He saw that she was startled, that this piece of news took her aback more than she was willing to admit.
“That doesn’t surprise you?”
“Nothing surprises me.”
“Because I’ve seen too much. What exactly do you want from me?”
It was difficult to reply point blank to such a straight question, and she calmly took a cigarette from a case and asked:
“Have you a light?”
He lit a match for her.
“I’m waiting.”
“How old are you?”
“I presume it wasn’t just to find out my age that you took all this trouble. According to your badge, you aren’t a plain sergeant, but a Chief-Inspector. In other words, someone important.”
As for the plot itself – it’s a little flimsy as a mystery, but works well as a story. If Maigret’s Revolver is anything to go by, Simenon is more interesting as a novelist of characters than of puzzles. I’m glad I’ve finally read some Simenon, and it certainly won’t be my last. And do let me know if my conclusions based on this single book are wide of the mark or not!
So glad you finally met Maigret!
I’ve been reading them in French, with one of my French students. We are reading them in order and are starting #17 this week!
Not sure how long we’ll persevere, there are 75 books in the Maigret series.
And Simenon wrote so so many other things! I think we tend to forget how much this guy managed to write!
The ambiance in most of these books is really excellent. Sometimes, the plot is a bit complicated.
Oh fun! Yes, you could keep reading nothing by Simenon for an awfully long time, couldnt you
I think you’re not far off the mark with your assessment of Maigret, although he does change a bit throughout the series (less action-oriented as he gets older). But he always remains very humane and insightful about people’s weaknesses. The women thing: there are some vicious femmes fatales too, typical of noir literature, but also plenty of likeable, intelligent ones.
Good to know Marina, thank you! And don’t we all get less action-oriented as we get older :D
I read my first Maigret this month too :-) I also really liked him and want to read more. It sounds like we had a similar experience – the plot was very straightforward, but I enjoyed that Maigret just got on with solving the crime and that was that!
Yes, refreshingly simple while still also very good
Hurrah! So glad you enjoyed this! Maigret is a wonderfully humane character and Simenon’s writing is very efficient but I do find it evocative, and he does capture the complexities of human emotions and relationships! His books are all short so you’ll always be able to fit one in for the club years too! ;D
Yes, the others I have aren’t as short but they are still definitely short :)
Lovely review, Simon. You’ve really brought out all the aspects of Margret’s character that I enjoy, such as his humanity and compassion, especially for those on the fringes of society.
Thanks Jacqui, and glad to hear those qualities recur!
Welcome to quality “detective fiction”. I think your analysis is accurate and that you will enjoy reading more Maigret novels. I suggest “The Friend of Madame Maigret”, ” The Patience of Maigret” and his first one “Pietr the Latvian”.
Thanks for the recommendations! Sadly don’t include the 3 others I have, but I’ll keep an eye out.
I’ve read one Maigret, the first one and enjoyed his character most of all. But mostly I want to say, what a beautiful edition you have!
Can’t go wrong with a classic Penguin, can you?
I’ve read a lot of Maigret in my early twenties, in French because I’m Belgian and my father had the all collection. I remember that I did like them for the solving of crimes, but I didn’t like them enough to read them a second time … till I lost my mother in 2020. I was then 60 years old and this time I read them and I loved them (nearly) all very much because of Maigret’’s humanity and compassion, his simplicity and the fact that I had the impression that he was real. I needed him then. Thank you for all your interesting reviews. Thanks to you I read a lot of authors that I didn’t knew and I’m never disappointed.
How wonderful to rediscover him all that time later. And so sorry for your loss, Danielle. I hope you have many wonderful memories to look back on.