Reviews

The Dancer at the Gai-Moulin by Siân Reynolds, Georges Simenon

Only show reviews with written explanations

8797999's review against another edition

3.0

I enjoyed this one but it took a bit to warm up for me.

I think I will have a break from Maigret for a week or so, maybe continue in chains of 5 so I don't overdo it and get Maigret fatigue.

Looking forward to reading the rest of them.

siiopacilea's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious fast-paced

5.0

thomasgoddard's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

My first Simenon, recommended (the author generally, not this particular title) by Scott Bradfield (link on my blog) who I hold in high regard. I'm a big fan of YouTube book review channels

I've never read Simenon before, but after this one I'll be far less hesitant. I really enjoyed it.

I actually have 22 of his books in the old style green/orange Penguin Classics imprints. I found them in a charity shop last year for £5. I can never resist a deal like that. I think at least 70% of my shelves are preloved.

Anyway, it was long overdue that I read a bit of Simenon. I just picked one up at random, because I was in a bored mood. No real formula to the move.

I definitely need to read more of these books. I felt like my introduction to Jules Maigret was a little jarring and abrupt. I still like the idea of him, but I feel like this is a story where his character is actually largely absent and just drops in to quickly solve things.

It might be the case for all his books... I'd not know.

But I think maybe the earlier novels in the chronology would follow him a little more closely and describe him a bit more. Give me more of a sense of who he is.

Long review short... Great writing. Good plot. Great overall characterisation, slight blip with Maigret being a bit vague. Conclusion was rewarding.

I'll rate this one 3 until I've read some of the earlier works and then I'll bump this up to 4 if it makes a difference. My heart says it will.

theviolp's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

staticdisplay's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

NOT my favorite Maigret. I didn't find the main characters compelling (Maigret shows up over 50% through the story) and reading several chapters of teen wastrels freaking out in anticipation of the consequences of their bad behavior was not a particularly enjoyable use of my time. I think it was meant as a bit of a psychological profile, maybe social commentary, the spoiled rich boy vs. the foolish, easily misled but not inherently corrupt boy of lower socioeconomic status. yawn! boys will be basic, I guess. I also don't like the cover of this book - - the pink fabric has this cheap look, and then also of course it's just a woman's derriere. WOMEN ARE OBJECTS. there's some more social commentary for you. glad I can get this one off my list so I can stop scrolling past that picture.

frahorus's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

La cosa che mi ha spiazzato di questa indagine di Maigret è stato il fatto che il nostro caro commissario di polizia appare praticamente a metà libro, per poi fingere di venire arrestato per far uscire fuori i veri colpevoli. Anche se, durante la prima parte, egli già appare diverse volte in brevi camei e, per chi lo conosce, viene descritto solo fisicamente (ad esempio l'uomo dalle spalle larghe). Dopo diversi mesi riprendo così a leggere un altro giallo di Maigret di quel grande scrittore che è Simenon, e devo dire che le indagini fuori porta del nostro commissario iniziano a piacermi quasi più di quelle parigine. In questo caso ci troveremo dentro un presunto omicidio di un uomo ricco, furti, doppi giochi, agenti segreti, ballerine di night club e tante bugie.