Maigret in Holland

The book opens in a tidy little Dutch town full of serene people. Conrad Popinga, an instructor of cadets, has been unaccountably murdered. Because a Frenchman is being detained as a witness, or perhaps a suspect, Maigret is dispatched to the scene. Maigret slowly but surely sniffs out the passions that have been smoldering beneath the unbelievable calm of this picture-perfect community. Almost everyone has a motive - and there are too many clues! "You don't think...?" someone says to Maigret. "I don't think anything," Maigret replies. It's always reassuring when we encounter this signature phrase, because we know the Chief Superintendent is absorbing impressions, pondering personalities - anything but being rational! No one will thank Maigret for solving the case, but the reader has plenty to be thankful for - full-bodied characters, wry exchanges and amusing descriptions of the locale.

Today, in the small port of Delfzijl in north Holland stands a bronze statute of Inspector Maigret, commemorating this location as the literary birthplace of Georges Simenon's remarkable detective. According to local legend (which some question), Simenon wrote his first story involving Maigret, titled The Case of Peter the Lett, in 1929 while residing at Delfzijl aboard the Ostrogoth, a small barge. Regardless, this particular story, Maigret in Holland (published 1931, first published in English in 1940), does indeed take place in Delfzijl. A visiting, pedantic French sociology professor, Jean Duclos, finds himself accused of murder. Inspector Maigret is posted from Paris to oversee the situation. Maigret is in unfamiliar territory, one with sabots - wooden shoes, bargees - barge men, colliers - ships for transporting coal, and bollards - posts around which are fastened moorings. The community is small, close knit, and not especially welcoming to strangers, certainly not French inspectors. Unexpectedly, he almost immediately is commandeered to help with the birth of a purebred Frisian calf. Worse yet, many of the key individuals that Maigret wishes to question do not speak French! But this is classic Maigret; he bides his time, not jumping to conclusions. He builds a case through routine police methods and astute psychological observations. As with most Maigret mysteries, the story is more about characters and psychology than the puzzle itself. My copy of Maigret in Holland is a 1994 Harvest Book edition, translated by Geoffrey Sainsbury. It is larger than a standard paperback, about 8 inches by 5 inches.

A prominent French criminologist lecturing in Holland is accussed of murder. As a courtesy, the French Police send Jules Maigret in an unofficial capacity to assist in the investigation. With his usual brilliance, Maigret begins to unravel the mystery.Simenon's Inspector Maigret is a deeply Parisian character. He is at his best, exploring the nooks and crannies of Paris. In this novel, Simenon plucks Maigret out of Paris and places him in rural Holland. Whereas, Paris is rich in seedy atmosphere, tidy Holland is its exact opposite. Maigret fans will enjoy seeng him operate in a foreign context. I would not recommend this book as the first book for Maigret novice. It is better to be first exposed to him in his element.

As usually, this Simenon's novel is very close to painting !I love Holland, and this novel remind me some Vermeer's (of Delft) paintings.And the story is excellent with a lot of empathy and psychology.

I have always loved Georges Simenon's Inspector Maigret novels and stories. And as I was going to visit Holland, I decided to read MAIGRET IN HOLLAND for "atmosphere." Simenon doesn't disappoint. A murder takes place in a small Dutch seaport. Maigret is called in, and instantly everyone's hackles are aroused by this outsider Frenchman asking questions about why a popular resident was found dead. As usual, the more Maigret casts his eyes around, the more suspects and suspicious characters come to light. The darker side of human nature emerges from the outwardly benign residents, who are embroiled in a whole complex of deadly sins involving the victim. Was it the luscious and lubricious milkmaid? The shady character hanging around the docks? The victim's sister? widow? And what part did that hat play? Well, so sorry, I'm not going to spoil this one for you. You'll have to read it yourself, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.