Simenon's Maigret is another detective that I like. The Maigret novels have a sense of atmosphere--lots of times they feature fog, rain, or other inclement weather. I think it would be fun sometime to find some of the places that are repeatedly mentioned as part of Maigret's haunts--the Boulevard Richard-Lenoir and the Quai des Orfevres. L'Ombre chinoise was published in 1957.
At 10 o'clock at night Maigret is summoned to 61 Place des Vosges which consists of a square of apartment buildings overlooking a central courtyard. There are two boutiques and a laboratory. M. Couchet, owner of the laboratories, is found shot in his office and a large sum of money has been stolen from the office safe.
Suspicion falls on:
- M. Couchet's son Roger who is a penniless, ne'er-do-well, and ether user. Roger frequently asked his father for money.
- M. Couchet's first wife Mme Martin: Mme Martin has remarried and she and M. Martin live in an apartment at 61 Place des Vosges. Mme Martin spends much of her time watching people from behind their living room curtain; this is where the book's title comes from. Maigret first notices her shadow behind the curtain.
- Nine: M. Couchet's latest mistress. Nine is a good-hearted dancer at the Moulin Bleu.
- Mme Couchet: M. Couchet's second wife. She is from a wealthier background that he was.
Valuable information is obtained from the resident busybody Mathilde who spends much of her time spying on people in the hallways. I consider Mathilde a second "ombre chinoise" or shadow puppet.
No comments:
Post a Comment