The city of Simenon's youth comes to life in this superb Inspector Maigret mystery set in Liège.
In the darkness, the main room is as vast as a cathedral. A great empty space. Some warmth is still seeps from the radiators. Delfosse strikes a match. They stop a moment to catch their breath, and work out how far they have still to go. And suddenly the match falls to the ground, as Delfosse gives a sharp cry and rushes back towards the washroom door. In the dark, he loses his way, returns and bumps into Chabot.”
Inspector Maigret observes from a distance as two boys are accused of killing a rich foreigner in Liège. Their loyalty, which binds them together through their adventures, is put to the test, and seemingly irrelevant social differences threaten their friendship and their freedom.
“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The Guardian
“Superb . . . The most addictive of writers . . . A unique teller of tales.” —The Observer (London)
“Maigret ranks with Holmes and Poirot in the pantheon of fictional detective immortals.” —People
“A supreme writer . . . Unforgettable vividness.” —The Independent (London)
Note: This is book 10 of the 74-book series, however, the books can be read in any order.
(Group read suggestion from Beth McCrea, book club co-founder.)