“A writer as comfortable with reality as with fiction, with passion as with reason.” —John Le Carré
Convinced that he needs a vacation, Maigret resolves to take two weeks off—but when a scandalous murder makes headlines, he can’t help but get involved
Maigret is given two weeks off work and decides to spend them in Paris with Madame Maigret, enjoying himself and avoiding police headquarters entirely. But when an interesting case arises in his absence with Inspector Janvier taking the lead, Maigret can’t resist his investigative urges. Through anonymous notes to Janvier, calls to newspaper reporters, and some creative independent sleuthing,
Maigret Enjoys Himself finds our hero wrapped up in yet another murder—this time, off the clock.
'His artistry is supreme' John Banville
Standing here at the window in the middle of the morning, vaguely observing the comings and goings in the street, he had a feeling that reminded of certain days in his childhood, when his mother was still alive and he was off school because he had the 'flu or it was the end of term. It was the feeling of finding out 'what went on when he wasn't there'.
Inspector Maigret is meant to be taking a holiday, but he can't resist following the development of his colleague Janvier's case in the papers - and playing a few tricks on the way.
This novel has been published in a previous translation as Maigret's Little Joke.
'One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequalled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories' Guardian'
Praise for Georges Simenon:“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 “These Maigret books are as timeless as Paris itself.” —
The Washington Post “Maigret ranks with Holmes and Poirot in the pantheon of fictional detective immortals.” —
People “I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.” —William Faulkner
“The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature.” —André Gide
“A supreme writer . . . Unforgettable vividness.” —
The Independent (London)
“Superb . . . The most addictive of writers . . . A unique teller of tales.” —
The Observer (London)
“Compelling, remorseless, brilliant.” —John Gray
“A truly wonderful writer . . . Marvelously readable—lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the world he creates.” —Muriel Spark
“A novelist who entered his fictional world as if he were a part of it.”lle —Peter Ackroyd
“Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century.” —John Banville
