Inspector Maigret deals with a strange murder in The Late Monsieur Gallet by Georges Simenon, translated from the French by Anthea Bell. Getting sent to the countryside to deal with a murder, Maigret has a hard time picturing the victim, as the body looks nothing like the old photograph. But then, Madame Gallet explains her husband had been dieting. People say he was right-handed, but evidence suggests the victim is left-handed. And the victim uses different names. Further, he hasn’t worked for the company he supposedly has been employed by for 18 years, yet he has a sizable life insurance policy.
No one heard the shot because a fun fair was taking place right outside the victim’s hotel. But curiously, someone shot him from at least six feet away while he was in a room five feet wide and long. But then he was stabbed soon after that. Maigret is determined that something fishy is going on in this case, especially since ther victim’s family doesn’t seem to mourn him much.
The Late Monsieur Gallet has a really curious and creative plot. The Maigret books run half the length of most golden era mysteries, with this one’s lasting 4 hours and 3 minutes actually longer than the other Maigret books I possess. One would imagine that such a short book would be incapable of providing any complexity, but this book has a unique ending with plenty of creativity.
Gareth Armstrong performs the audio edition of this book and sounds much as I might imagine Maigret sounds. He steps back from his personal identity in order to play the role of the famous French detective, giving good expression without over emotion.
The Maigret books have a different feel to them than our typical mystery novels, being both French and first published in 1929. But they show distinct genius, as many critics have identified. The Late Monsieur Gallet has much creativity, deserving its five stars.
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