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"When Maigret's holiday plans go awry he and his wife spend their vacation in Paris, on the condition that he has nothing to do with work. However a case involving the death of a doctor's wife intrigues Maigret and he assiduously follows its development in the papers. He cannot resist playing a few tricks on his colleague Janvier who is running the case and along the way Maigret uncovers something that is crucial to the murderer's discovery..."--Publisher's description.Tags
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This was a quick, easy read and an excellent translation. Maigret is reluctantly taking a holiday, pretending to be away, but really hanging out at home with his wife, making her go on really long walks (and also going out for drinks by himself so she can do all the housework). He follows a murder case being investigated by his subordinate Janvier by reading the (extremely detailed) accounts in the newspapers, occasionally sending him anonymous notes if he thinks Janvier has overlooked something.
This was well-plotted, but the subtle (and not so subtle) misogyny and bizarre attitudes to sexual relations reminded me why I rarely read this series. I say bizarre - I'm not sure if it's dated or French or unique to Simenon or maybe I'm just show more very conventional. show less
This was well-plotted, but the subtle (and not so subtle) misogyny and bizarre attitudes to sexual relations reminded me why I rarely read this series. I say bizarre - I'm not sure if it's dated or French or unique to Simenon or maybe I'm just show more very conventional. show less
Previously released in English as Maigret’s Little Joke and None of Maigret’s Business, this 47th novel in the Chief Inspector Maigret series reminds me of a short story in Agatha Christie’s Poirot Investigates called “The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim.” In that tale, the conceited Hercule Poirot bets Detective Chief Inspector David Japp that Poirot can solve a crime without leaving his flat.
Similarly, Detective Chief Inspector Maigret goes on holiday for his health without leaving Paris; however, he promises both his wife and his doctor that he will not go to his office at Quai des Orfèvres — and he scrupulously does not. However, that does not keep Maigret from obsessively reading the newspapers, making a telephone call show more here and there, and writing anonymous tips for his subordinate, Inspector Janvier, who’s handling a high-profile murder inquiry. It’s a joy to see Maigret keeping pace with his colleagues at the police headquarters based on his experience and intelligence and without the usual access to evidence.
All of Paris is guessing whether the murder victim’s philandering doctor husband or a younger doctor are to blame for the lovely, wealthy Éveline Jave’s death. I couldn’t wait to find out if, against all odds, Maigret would figure it out before Janvier. But, readers, I promise I won’t spoil your own suspense by telling! show less
Similarly, Detective Chief Inspector Maigret goes on holiday for his health without leaving Paris; however, he promises both his wife and his doctor that he will not go to his office at Quai des Orfèvres — and he scrupulously does not. However, that does not keep Maigret from obsessively reading the newspapers, making a telephone call show more here and there, and writing anonymous tips for his subordinate, Inspector Janvier, who’s handling a high-profile murder inquiry. It’s a joy to see Maigret keeping pace with his colleagues at the police headquarters based on his experience and intelligence and without the usual access to evidence.
All of Paris is guessing whether the murder victim’s philandering doctor husband or a younger doctor are to blame for the lovely, wealthy Éveline Jave’s death. I couldn’t wait to find out if, against all odds, Maigret would figure it out before Janvier. But, readers, I promise I won’t spoil your own suspense by telling! show less
Wow, did I love this one. My favorite ones of the whole series. Imenon was so smart when he wrote these books. The way he changes viewpoints is very interesting. This one is completely from Maigret as an observer or bystander. He's on vacation and does not have access. So he's just going by what he sees in the paper. So good.
On the one hand I love that Penguin is translating and publishing all the Maigret books that have never before appeared in English. On the other hand, there is probably a reason why these volumes were never translated -- for the most part, they are not his best.
But even not being his best, they are still pretty good, and for me, they take me to where I like to be -- with Maigret, in Paris (or wherever) figuring out the psychology of what happened in order to figure out who did it. In order to figure out the who, Maigret usually looks for the why.
This story suffered from being a little concocted by virtue of the fact that Maigret was on vacation during the investigation and only took part in it as did all the others in Paris -- by show more reading the newspapers and imagining.... The so-called newspaper reports sounded a lot like Simenon's writing. I found it hard to believe that news reports had ever been written in that style in France. But that aside, Maigret was having fun on his vacation and I was having fun along with him. And the ending! It's the first time I've ever laughed out loud at the end of a Maigret mystery. show less
But even not being his best, they are still pretty good, and for me, they take me to where I like to be -- with Maigret, in Paris (or wherever) figuring out the psychology of what happened in order to figure out who did it. In order to figure out the who, Maigret usually looks for the why.
This story suffered from being a little concocted by virtue of the fact that Maigret was on vacation during the investigation and only took part in it as did all the others in Paris -- by show more reading the newspapers and imagining.... The so-called newspaper reports sounded a lot like Simenon's writing. I found it hard to believe that news reports had ever been written in that style in France. But that aside, Maigret was having fun on his vacation and I was having fun along with him. And the ending! It's the first time I've ever laughed out loud at the end of a Maigret mystery. show less
Timely book for me personally. Maigret has had a health scare and is assigned to a real vacation. For various reasons, they (he with the Mrs.) decide upon a staycation in Paris. A spectacular murder occurs... the wife of a doctor stuffed naked into a cabinet. Could it be the new fill in doctor? He is having an affair with her, but his real love is elsewhere. Though the dead wife appears conservative and reserved, we learn she has a serious illness that could cause her to die at any time so has decided to live it up with (quiet, secret) affairs and wild living. Could it be the husband who has a better version of the wife hidden away as a mistress? Read to find out- but the charm of the book is that Maigret isn't on the case! No, he is an show more ordinary newspaperman sleuth. Following the clues, sniffing things out, but w/o police involvement (his secret vacation!). Poignant for one considering retirement.... show less
The mystery can be a bit tricky to follow: it involves a very complicated set of intimate relationships. But you read a Simenon book more for the air, and there's a lot of here, with lovely details of Paris. Mrs. Maigret has a large role in this book, and you get some insight into her personality, as well. An interesting read.
Maigret views this crime of a doctor - but which one - from an unusual perspective. He is on leave and decides to take his holiday in Paris with Mme Maigret. He views the crime as any one of us would - through newspaper reports and conversations. He ensures he visits the right cafes and bars so he can pick up news - and Mme Maigret is alert to this. He solves the crime but so does Janvier with the aid of a couple of anonymous tips.
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1,331+ Works 62,970 Members
The prolific Belgian-born writer Georges Simenon produced hundreds of fictional works under his own name and 17 pseudonyms, in addition to more than 70 books about Inspector Maigret, long "the favorite sleuth of highbrow detective-story readers" (SR). More than 50 "Simenons" have been made into films. In addition to his mystery stories, he wrote show more what he called "hard" books, the serious psychological novels numbering well over 100. The autobiographical Pedigree, set in his native town of Liege, is perhaps his finest work. The publication of Simenon's intimate memoirs also attracted considerable attention. Simenon himself once said that he would never write a "great novel." Yet Gide called him "a great novelist, perhaps the greatest and truest novelist we have in French literature today," and Thornton Wilder (see Vol. 1) found that Simenon's narrative gift extends "to the tips of his fingers." The following are some of Simenon's novels, exclusive of the Maigret detective stories, that are in print. (Bowker Author Biography) Georges Simenon was born on February 13, 1903 in Liege, Belgium. He wrote more than 200 fiction works under 16 different pseudonyms. His first book, The Case of Peter the Lent led to 80 more of the like including the main character, Inspector Maigret. He published over 400 books that were translated into 50 different languages and sold by the millions. He also wrote psychological novels, including The Man Who Watched the Train Go By. He died on September 4, 1989 in Lausanne. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Maigret's Little Joke
- Original title
- Maigret s'amuse
- Alternate titles
- Maigret Enjoys Himself
- Original publication date
- 1957
- People/Characters
- Jules Maigret; Louise Maigret; Albert Janvier
- Important places
- Paris, France; France
- Related movies
- Maigret's Little Joke (1963 | IMDb); Maigret s'amuse (1983 | IMDb)
- First words*
- Le petit vieux à barbichette sortait à nouveau de l'ombre de l'entrepôt, à reculons, regardait à gauche et à droite, avec un geste des deux mains comme pour attirer vers lui le lourd camion dont il dirigeait la manœuvr... (show all)e.
- Original language
- French
- Disambiguation notice*
- Originally published in French as Maigret s'amuse (1957). Published variously in English as:
(a) Maigret's Little Joke (1957) (tr. Richard Brain);
(b) None of Maigret's Business (195... (show all)8) (tr. Richard Brain);
(c) Maigret Enjoys Himself (2017) (tr. David Watson);
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- ISBNs
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- ASINs
- 18
