Customer Reviews

Maigret in Vichy (Harvest Book)

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Maigret has been ordered to take the healing mineral waters at a famous city, giving him the opportunity to observe the investigation of a local crime and, naturally, solve it. Simenon's strong points are characterization and a vivid sense of locale, rather than a bang-up, surprise ending, but he gives us a neat little mystery here that unfolds at the end almost like a Christie. We also get to see much more of the pleasant, gentle Madame Maigret, and the sweet relationship of the Maigrets. My favorite of the series, even without Lucas, "fat" Torrence, and the whole gang back at Quai des Orfevres.

Maigret is fifty-three years old and overworked, with no sensational cases to alleviate the oppression of paperwork. He shows symptoms of mild malaise, so his doctor prescribes a holiday at Vichy, where he will do as others do and take the cure.

The Chief Superintendent submits meekly to three weeks of a strict diet, lots of walking, no wine or beer - and glass after glass of mineral water. Nor does he vary his healthy regime and touching companionship with Madame Maigret when a murder occurs.

Nonetheless, Maigret does consent to consult a bit with the local police. The victim is a woman he and Madame Maigret have seen several times on their strolls: a woman who was always alone, always dressed in lilac, and who never spoke to, or looked, at anyone.

The extreme isolation of Hélène Lange intrigues Maigret. She had no visitors or friends, and there are no photos in her parlor, except of herself!

She does, however, have a sister, although they appear not to be in touch. When Francine Lange shows up for the funeral, she turns out to be a flashy type. But Maigret notes the same cold eyes that he saw in the victim.

It's wonderful to see Maigret keeping in the background, yet nonetheless nudging the investigation in the right direction. And the solution of the mystery is quite poignant.

Simenon was amazing. How does he paint a complete portrait of a person in three paragraphs? How does he write a mystery like this one, where you know halfway through whodunit, but the mystery becomes why and how. Long after you've solved the murder, the plot continues to twist and turn.

As with every Simenon, an enjoyable read. One or two sittings is all it takes. I've read about 40 of his mysteries and enjoyed every one.

How did he crank out so many mysteries to such a consistently high level of quality?

Feeling more than a little mortal, the famous Inspector Maigret has been instructed by his physician to take the cure at Vichy. He and Mme. Maigret speedily develop a daily routine at the spa, and an interest in the characters they see around them. The most enigmatic of these personalities is one they name "the lady in lilac." Will Maigret be able to resist becoming involved when this lady becomes the center of a murder investigation?

I was in my twenties when I first read this beautifully observed and gently humorous novel, and I fell in love with it. Now older than Maigret is at the period of the book, I have just re-read it and found it even more poignant (and amusing) than before. Though it is not the typical Maigret, it is my favorite.