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koen_verbrugge's review against another edition
4.0
Maigret en de zaak Saint-Fiacre. Als commissaris Maigret geïnformeerd wordt over een nog te plegen moord in zijn geboortedorp Saint-Fiacre reist hij onmiddellijk af naar het Franse platteland.
Nostalgische terugkeer naar de levenswijze van oude heren in kleine dorpjes.
Nostalgische terugkeer naar de levenswijze van oude heren in kleine dorpjes.
glockers's review against another edition
4.0
Seemed to lack the usual rhythm of a Maigret book. Very disjointed dialogue almost "jerky". Is it the new translation??? Or is it deliberate to evince the lack of control that Maigret feels throughout.
Interesting glimpses of rural France and its social hierarchy.
Interesting glimpses of rural France and its social hierarchy.
shihangh's review against another edition
3.0
2.7 stars
Summary:
Maigret receives an anonymous note that warns him of a crime that will be committed during the first Mass on All Saint's Day. At the mass, the old Countess of Saint-Fiacre keels over mid-prayer, seemingly because of a heart attack. Further investigation reveals that the heart attack was prompted by a newspaper clipping with false information about her son.
The main suspects in the book are the Countess's son, Maurice de Saint-Fiacre, who runs failing projects in Paris and constantly asks his mother for money, and Jean Metayer, her secretary and 'lover', who also constantly loses the Countess's money in unwise investments.
The Saint-Fiacre estate is also Maigret's birthplace; her father had been the previous estate manager of the Saint-Fiacre estate, working for the victim's father. There are some scenes where he reconnects with some people he knew in his youth, such as the innkeeper.
Eventually, it is revealed that the son of the current estate manager who had also previously had an affair with the Countess was the culprit. The Count, Maurice, arranges for everyone to visit the scene and describes how he had learnt of this affair when coming to take jewels from his mother to pawn.
Comments:
For me, this was a weak entry in the Maigret canon, if only because I was frustrated by how little agency Maigret displayed in the book. He pokes around for inconsistencies, and observes, but in this novel, it is Maurice who reveals the truth of the matter.
The book was also atmospheric, in part because Maigret was reconnecting with his birthplace, but also because this was a French version of the parish murder where everyone is hiding some secrets. There is a tragic story at the heart of the Countess who is overwhelmed by the task of managing a large estate and the son who is aware of his failures but cannot overcome them. The priest is also strongly characterised as a man of faith who is convinced that the count is the killer and is willing to try to hide that fact to protect Saint-Fiacre from scandal.
Despite these virtues, I think they didn't come together to produce a larger effect. Maybe this is one where I will change my opinion on upon rereading.
Summary:
Maigret receives an anonymous note that warns him of a crime that will be committed during the first Mass on All Saint's Day. At the mass, the old Countess of Saint-Fiacre keels over mid-prayer, seemingly because of a heart attack. Further investigation reveals that the heart attack was prompted by a newspaper clipping with false information about her son.
The main suspects in the book are the Countess's son, Maurice de Saint-Fiacre, who runs failing projects in Paris and constantly asks his mother for money, and Jean Metayer, her secretary and 'lover', who also constantly loses the Countess's money in unwise investments.
The Saint-Fiacre estate is also Maigret's birthplace; her father had been the previous estate manager of the Saint-Fiacre estate, working for the victim's father. There are some scenes where he reconnects with some people he knew in his youth, such as the innkeeper.
Eventually, it is revealed that the son of the current estate manager who had also previously had an affair with the Countess was the culprit. The Count, Maurice, arranges for everyone to visit the scene and describes how he had learnt of this affair when coming to take jewels from his mother to pawn.
Comments:
For me, this was a weak entry in the Maigret canon, if only because I was frustrated by how little agency Maigret displayed in the book. He pokes around for inconsistencies, and observes, but in this novel, it is Maurice who reveals the truth of the matter.
The book was also atmospheric, in part because Maigret was reconnecting with his birthplace, but also because this was a French version of the parish murder where everyone is hiding some secrets. There is a tragic story at the heart of the Countess who is overwhelmed by the task of managing a large estate and the son who is aware of his failures but cannot overcome them. The priest is also strongly characterised as a man of faith who is convinced that the count is the killer and is willing to try to hide that fact to protect Saint-Fiacre from scandal.
Despite these virtues, I think they didn't come together to produce a larger effect. Maybe this is one where I will change my opinion on upon rereading.
franklekens's review against another edition
4.0
Aardige weemoedige Maigret, en bijna een antidetective, waarin uiteindelijk wel sprake is van een dader, maar niet echt van een moord, en waarin Maigret in ieder geval eigenlijk niets oplost.
Mooie vertaling.
Mooie vertaling.
aaronreadabook's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
booksarah8's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
8797999's review against another edition
4.0
I found this one a very enjoyable read, much more improved than the last few I have read. A very interesting case and a fair amount of nostalgia for Maigret visiting his childhood village and home.
A very interesting and mixed bag of characters from bankers to innkeepers and doctors and priests. A little less humour in this one but a very fun read.
Another one down and onwards and upwards, about 63 to go...
I wouldn't mind a Maigret novel two or three times the length, although short they are equally enjoyable.
A very interesting and mixed bag of characters from bankers to innkeepers and doctors and priests. A little less humour in this one but a very fun read.
Another one down and onwards and upwards, about 63 to go...
I wouldn't mind a Maigret novel two or three times the length, although short they are equally enjoyable.
kingarooski's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
frahorus's review against another edition
3.0
Il commissario Maigret riceve un biglietto anonimo il quale annuncia un delitto che avverrà nella chiesa del suo paese natale, Saint-Fiacre. Maigret allora, incuriosito, decide di assistere alla Messa ed effettivamente una persona a lui cara muore: si tratta della contessa di Saint-Fiacre, per la quale suo padre ha lavorato in passato come intendente del castello. Sembra un delitto perfetto, chi sarà stato il colpevole?
Insolito giallo con Maigret protagonista dove stavolta non è lui ad indagare ma sembra quasi stare nascosto e si trasforma in uno spettatore e dove il vero detective invece sembra essere il figlio della contessa, Maurice, giovane senza lavoro e sperperatore delle fortune dei suoi genitori. Maigret è molto malinconico e solitario in questo romanzo, viene completamente immerso nei ricordi della sua infanzia. Per la prima volta non sarà lui a svelare l'insospettabile assassino.
È interessante notare come Simenon si sia ispirato, verso il finale del romanzo, alla tradizione del delitto impossibile del giallo classico, con una cerchia ristretta di persone all'interno di uno spazio chiuso (come non pensare, ad esempio, a [b:Dieci piccoli indiani|3400019|Dieci piccoli indiani|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1345294260s/3400019.jpg|3038872]) e in tale riunione vi ritroviamo tutti i sospetti del crimine per identificare appunto fra di loro il vero colpevole dell'omicidio.
Bellissimo il nono capitolo intitolato All'insegna di Walter Scott, dove addirittura sfociamo nel romanzo gotico.
Questo insolito Maigret colpisce perché è fuori dall'ordinario rispetto agli altri casi del celebre commissario francese, diventa un noir più psicologico e contano quasi di più le atmosfere e i dialoghi piuttosto che lo svelamento della trama e la scoperta dell'assassino. Purtroppo mi ha lasciato insoddisfatto, perché oltre queste atmosfere non ha nulla altro da offrire, come giallo risulta abbastanza fiacco, vuoto.
Insolito giallo con Maigret protagonista dove stavolta non è lui ad indagare ma sembra quasi stare nascosto e si trasforma in uno spettatore e dove il vero detective invece sembra essere il figlio della contessa, Maurice, giovane senza lavoro e sperperatore delle fortune dei suoi genitori. Maigret è molto malinconico e solitario in questo romanzo, viene completamente immerso nei ricordi della sua infanzia. Per la prima volta non sarà lui a svelare l'insospettabile assassino.
È interessante notare come Simenon si sia ispirato, verso il finale del romanzo, alla tradizione del delitto impossibile del giallo classico, con una cerchia ristretta di persone all'interno di uno spazio chiuso (come non pensare, ad esempio, a [b:Dieci piccoli indiani|3400019|Dieci piccoli indiani|Agatha Christie|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1345294260s/3400019.jpg|3038872]) e in tale riunione vi ritroviamo tutti i sospetti del crimine per identificare appunto fra di loro il vero colpevole dell'omicidio.
Bellissimo il nono capitolo intitolato All'insegna di Walter Scott, dove addirittura sfociamo nel romanzo gotico.
Questo insolito Maigret colpisce perché è fuori dall'ordinario rispetto agli altri casi del celebre commissario francese, diventa un noir più psicologico e contano quasi di più le atmosfere e i dialoghi piuttosto che lo svelamento della trama e la scoperta dell'assassino. Purtroppo mi ha lasciato insoddisfatto, perché oltre queste atmosfere non ha nulla altro da offrire, come giallo risulta abbastanza fiacco, vuoto.