A Maigret Christmas by Georges Simenon

JetBlackDragonfly
Dec 17, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Apr 7

A Maigret Christmas and Other Stories is a trio of seasonal tales first published in 1951. It is Christmas in Paris, but beneath the sparkling lights and glittering decorations lie sinister deeds and dark secrets. Each of these three stories is unique, and sharp in character.

"A Maigret Christmas" finds Madame Maigret excited to serve her husband breakfast in bed, despite what he wants. Across the courtyard lives Madame Martin, who has come to ask Maigret for help. Last night on Christmas Eve, a man dressed as Santa came through the window of her little Collette, leaving her a fancy doll before looking with his torch under the floorboards. Collette tells Maigret the story, and that another man has been by several times, whispering with Madame Martin. This, which is not really a case, reveals a nest of secrets coming together like a well orchestrated score, as Madame Maigret watches from the side and knits.

In "Seven Small Crosses In A Notebook", Lecoeur works through the night on the police switchboard, a large map of the twenty arrondissements of Paris on the wall. Three 'owls of the night shift' record the stabbings and drunken fights as they are called in. Of concern is the killer who over the past nine weeks has killed eight people leaving no trace. Tonight, someone begins breaking the glass of random police boxes, lighting a trail across the large city map. Lecoeur is concerned when the death of a woman turns out to be his Aunt, and his brother says his ten year-old nephew is nowhere to be found. They follow the trails, until all the cases merge into a satisfying finale.

"The Little Restaurant Near Place Des Ternes - A Christmas Story For Grown-ups"

has a small local restaurant closing up Christmas Eve, the landlord giving the three remaining customers a drink on the house. A Russian man, a country girl, and "Long Tall" Jeanne (as she is known in the neighbourhood), a woman of the streets.

Jeanne follows the girl, weaving through crowds of merrymakers to a small lonely bar. When two slick men make the moves on the girl, Jeanne steps in before the girl is dazzled by their diamond rings and gold cigarette cases. Jeanne plays a most unusual Father Christmas, and her gift may be appreciated, one day.

Each of the stories involves incidental crimes, and are a treat for mystery lovers. Simenon invokes the snow lightly falling on the dark streets of Paris, and the heartfelt emotion of the characters. As always, I recommend Maigret, and these are a treat for mystery lovers.

The first story was filmed in 1961 as A Crime For Christmas, for the TV series Maigret starring Michael Gambon. A Maigret Christmas is widely available in print, eBook and audio.

1951 / Tradeback / 224 pages