Reviews

Maigret und der Verrückte von Bergerac by Georges Simenon

8797999's review against another edition

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4.0

A different sort of Maigret book, the vurly inspector being injured in the line of curiosity but what an interesting and complicated case to unravel.

What I really enjoyed about this was the opportunity to get to know Madame Maigret better.

Enjoyable and a breeze to read, looking forward to the next book in the series.

tessyoung's review against another edition

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3.75

After my previous post on sock knitting it was strangely coincidental that after a long day travelling and with little sleep when I wanted something light to read before bed I reached for a Simenon in which a corpse is partly identified by the quality of his hand knit socks!
Rarely have I read something not knitting related which reflected a such knitterly understanding.
It's been a while since I read a Simenon and I had forgotten enjoyable they are. In this one Maigret is on his way for a few days holiday near Bergerac when an incident with the aforementioned sock wearer left him solving the mystery from a hospital and a hotel bed. It's wickedly observed and good fun.
Fun fact - Simenon, famous for his oh so Parisian detective was actually Belgian.

sandylc's review against another edition

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3.0

 Different from other Maigret's as he is (1) confined to a single room by injury, (2) has no authority in the case, (3) is dependent on a friend and his ever-suffering but always understanding wife for additional information. Interesting as he is able to piece together the mystery with so few facts. 

kirinmccrory's review against another edition

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2.0

If you like your mysteries full of convenient plot twists, misogyny, quiet anti-immigration sentiments, and a dissatisfying solution, then this book's for you!

dsha's review against another edition

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mysterious fast-paced

3.0

siiopacilea's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced

5.0

isabel_llo's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

staticdisplay's review against another edition

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3.0

claustrophobic and delirious. Maigret dreams he is a seal (or whale) while convalescing after being shot by someone who was crying in the bunk above him on the train. the entire mystery occurs from the hotel room where Maigret recovers. I enjoyed his wife's presence, just in the sense that it gave her a chance to become more of a person (barely).
I did not enjoy a lot of the language that was used to discuss Jewish people - it was disappointing for Maigret, who is usually so non-judgmental, to suddenly seem antisemitic and I just don't want to read it. maybe should rate this lower as a statement.

frahorus's review against another edition

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2.0

Dopo [b:Il cavallante della «Providence»|9678956|Il cavallante della «Providence»|Georges Simenon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1301242847s/9678956.jpg|43519] e [b:Un delitto in Olanda|9678959|Un delitto in Olanda|Georges Simenon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1413577117s/9678959.jpg|43516] ecco il terzo Maigret che, fino ad ora (ne ho letto ben sedici), non mi ha soddisfatto. Stavolta il nostro commissario si ritrova chiuso in una stanza d'ospedale dopo aver avuto un incidente in treno e da lì inizierà ad indagare sul pazzo di Bergerac, un uomo che ha la tendenza di uccidere giovani donne. Interessante trovare sua moglie fargli da consulente e quasi da vice.

Sarò sincero: mi ha annoiato questo Maigret. In questa indagine troveremo scambio di identità, incendi, figli nascosti, amori clandestini e suicidi. La stessa ricostruzione del commissario mi è parsa confusa e debole. Anche in questa storia, come nella maggior parte dei casi di Maigret, vi è al centro una donna o comunque una passione nascosta o una relazione clandestina per la quale i vari protagonisti o il solo amante farebbe di tutto per continuare a credere in essa (o nasconderla), anche se ciò potrebbe portare alla morte di persone anche care.

Questo genere di gialli viene definito The armchair detective, ovvero il tema del detective che risolve il caso in poltrona, senza uscire di casa, rinchiuso fra le mura (come non pensare a Nero Wolf?). A me ha fatto ricordare il film di Hitchcock La finestra sul cortile, dove il protagonista era costretto sulla sedia a rotelle e si metteva a spiare i suoi vicini di casa con un binocolo.

Viene ribadito, anche in questo romanzo, il limite di Maigret rispetto all'onniscenza di detective come Sherlock Holmes o i personaggi di Dupin: la sua umanità (difatti non riesce a prevedere cosa succederà all'assassino alla fine della storia). E Simenon ci vuole far capire che l'animo umano è inconoscibile ed imprevedibile.

lisalotte's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

4.75