One of the very finest novels among the phenomenon that is Maigret. As usual, Inspector Maigret solves a murder through empathy, by understanding the lives of the people involved in the case, but this time, the linchpin is an enigmatic Englishman, a man Maigret both likes and loathes, and, next to the great detective, one of the most fascinating inventions of Simenon. A superb and satisfying book for the fan or the first time Maigret reader.