Friday's "Forgotten" Books - Maigret Sets a Trap

Today, as part of Patti Abbott's weekly Forgotten Books feature, it's a special tribute to the Belgian-French author Georges Simenon (1903–1989). I must admit that every time I read of Simenon's prolific literary output, I am both amazed and envious. He published around 200 novels, 150 novellas, several nonfiction books and articles and an almost countless number of pulp novels written under more than two dozen pseudonyms. It's been said he churned out 60 to 80 pages a day (which in English would be equivalent to roughly 15,000 to 20,000 words).

Although his standalone psychological suspense novels are probably his best and most-highly reviewed works, it's his series featuring Inspector Jules Maigret, commissioner of the Paris Brigade Criminelle, for which Simenon is best remembered. Maigret is a heavy drinking, pipe smoking stocky man of average height whose laid-back sleuthing style relies more on pure intuition than traditional police leg work. The character has been the subject of several TV adaptations, such as the ITV series titled simply, Maigret. Simenon's 1955 novel Maigret Sets a Trap (Maigret tend un piège) was turned into an episode of the ITV show in 1992 starring Michael Gambon, following an earlier film version (1958) with Jean Gabin in the title role, which won the Edgar Award and was nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards.

It's the middle of a hot and steamy summer in Paris, and the Parisians are terrified. A Jack the Ripper-style serial killer has evaded police for five months, stabbing and murdering a woman each month, all with similar physical descriptions and all killed in the same Montmarte neighborhood. Dubbed "The Montmartre Maniac" by the newspapers, the psychopathic villain seems to be smugly taunting the police, who have no clues. Under pressure from the public, Maigret takes the advice of a famous psychologist and uses the journalists' obsession with the case to devise an elaborate trap to play on the killer's ego and trick him into making a mistake.

Maigret dangles policewomen with the same physical characteristics as the previous victims as bait in the Montmarte target zone, including young rookie Marthe Jusserand, a newly-minted member of Maigret's team. The plan seems to have failed at first, but during the villain's escape, Jusserand manages to get the suspect's description and grab one of his buttons and a piece of cloth from his jacket. The man is tracked and arrested, case seemingly closed—until another victim is killed while the suspect is still in jail. Maigret has a slight crisis of conscience, wondering if they've nabbed an innocent man, but then he sets a second trap and reveals the killer in a dramatic twist.

A bit of interesting trivia: Inspector Maigret was allegedly based on a real-life French policeman named Charles Chevenier. For a bit of added fun, the Simenon tribute site Trussel.com has photos and a Google map of the murder locations mentioned in Maigret Sets a Trap.

Comments

[Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)]

Really enjoyed the review as this is one of my favourite Maigret novels, thanks. Incidentally, glad you mentioned the really good movie with Jean Gabin as it is well worth seeking out.

[BV Lawson]

Actually, Sergio, I have plans to do just that! I'll try Netflix first, but hopefully it will be available somewhere.

[George Kelley]

I'm with Sergio: MAIGRET SETS A TRAP is one of the best in the series. Excellent choice!

[Yvette]

Haven't read this one, but it sure sounds good.

Ha. I just realized I have the book right here in front of me. (And I actually mentioned it in my Simenon non-post.) Where are my wits?

Gone on holiday. Obviously.

I think I'll reread it tonight.

No excuses for my confusion. Just sheer exhaustion on my part.

[Yvette]

P.S. Enjoyed reading your take on the novel. I know I read it. But can't remember a thing.

[BV Lawson]

Yvette, you made me laugh! I've been having a lot of "senior" moments lately, myself, and when I tried to make up a list of books I've read through the years to hopefully avoid duplication, I realized I'd forgotten many titles, too. Fortunately, this Maigret book is one that you can feel good about re-reading. :-)