Maigret's Revolver

A young man visits Maigret at home at lunchtime. Unfortunately the Chief Inspector is late, having taken too long over an aperitif. His nervous visitor doesn't wait; he also steals Maigret's revolver, which happens to be lying around. Mrs. Maigret has taken an interest in this sensitive young man, and so Maigret does too. He'd like to keep the foolish fellow from getting into trouble with that gun. Meanwhile the boy's father is involved in a murder case, but nothing is quite what it seems. In the confused course of events, there's a brief encounter between Maigret and his old friend Mr. Pike, the Scotland Yard detective. This is especially enjoyable if you've read My Friend Maigret. The chief inspector makes fine distinctions in this book between truly despicable crimes and crimes that are better overlooked. That's the charm of it.

Georges Simenon was born in Liege, Belgium, in 1903. A hugely prolific writer, his best known creation is Inspector Maigret - a French policeman, based in Paris. "Maigret's Revolver" was first published in 1954. Maigret's trouble begins with a phone-call from his wife, who is curious to know if he'll be home for lunch. It's a little unusual for her to call, but there is apparently a young gentleman asking to speak to the Inspector. The matter is personal and the gentleman in question won't even give his name...nevertheless, Maigret informs his wife he'll be home around midday. Unfortunately, our hero is delayed by a couple of swift drinks at the Brasserie Dauphine and, by the time he arrives at home, his young visitor has departed. Maigret probably wouldn't have been too bothered...only for the fact that his visitor had also swiped a Smith and Wesson .45, a gift to Maigret from the FBI. Thankfully, it wasn't loaded - Maigret had never used it and appears to have viewed it more as a keepsake. Therefore, if the young man is keen to use it, he'll have to visit a gunsmith's to buy the ammunition and Maigret begins his search appropriately. He contacts Police Headquarters, who arrange for the gunsmiths in town to watch for anyone buying the relevant cartridges. Later than evening, Maigret and his wife are going to dinner with Doctor Pardon - a near neighbour who is very keen on cooking. Pardon had also invited an old classmate called Lagrange...well, more accurately, Lagrange had cadged the invitation in the hope of meeting the famous Inspector Maigret. After all the fuss, Pardon is puzzled that Lagrange fails to turn up and calls round the following day - to discover that, not only does Lagrange appear to have fallen ill, but also that his son has gone missing. Even though he knows it would be a huge coincidence if the missing son and the mysterious revolver-thief were the same person, he contacts Maigret and asks him to call visit the ailing father. A little old-fashioned, unsurprisingly - with Maigret running around the city (and beyond) chasing down leads and following up sightings. A short, though very enjoyable and easily read book - absolutely recommended.

Georges Simenon novels are always a pleasure to read, and this one is especially so. The story, which begins innocently enough, soon becomes complicated. However, the writing remains clear and simple. Only a few writers can tell so much with so few words. When Maigret's revolver, a gift from the FBI, is stolen the French detective gets involved in getting it back--not that he carries it or has ever shot it. Soon distracted by the discovery of a body in a trunk at the Paris railroad station, Maigret starts tracking a possible suspect to London. There is a lengthy section set in the Savoy Hotel with Maigret waiting and waiting, getting thirsty, getting hungry, and still waiting for his quarry. It is astonishingly real and results in his solving a murder and possibly preventing two more deaths. The best Simenon detective novel is always the last one I read. I can certainly recommend this one to crime fiction readers. There are no car chases, no gunfights, no gratuitous sex scenes, but there is perfect writing, which is more than enough.

A young man appears at Maigret's apartment and Madame Maigret telephones him. Maigret's revolver and the visitor are both gone when Maigret arrives home around noon. Maigret and his wife go to the Pardons for dinner. Dr. Pardon likes to cook. The young man is identified as Alain Lagrange. Alain is the son of one of the expected Pardon guests who, for some reason, did not attend the dinner party In a roundabout way it is determined that Alain has become a missing person. Maigret tells Alain's sister that he is wandering around Paris with a loaded gun in his pocket. One of the officers finds that a big trunk has been transported from the Lagrange household and smells. The dead man had been a politician. Gare du Nord seems to be a feature of the case. Maigret goes to England for the first time in twelve or thirteen years. He is following a woman named Jeanne Debul. He is beginning to lose confidence in himself as an investigator. He understands that Alain has always believed in his father, a big soft seemingly ineffectual man. Maigret locates Alain in London and they eat together in a hotel grill before catching a midnight flight back to Paris. The convoluted story pertaining to the Lagranges and Jeanne Debul and others concerned blackmail.

Madame Maigret telephones to alert her husband that a frightened young man has called at their home and will wait there to see Maigret at his midday meal. When Maigret returns home, he is an noyed to discover that his mysterious guest has left, and more disturbed that one of his prized revolvers has gone with him. Monsieur Maigret is dismayed - but hardly surprised - when a corpse turns up in a railway trunk, shot by his own gun. His search for the elusive and unidentified visitor sends Maigret across the channel to London to investigate one murder - and prevent another...