Maigret and the Apparition (aka, Maigret and the Ghost) was translated by Eileen Ellenbogen (more about her in a few weeks) and published in 1964. When one of Maigret’s detectives, Lognon, is shot and near death, Maigret and the entire police department drop everything to investigate the shooting. Lognon, before being carted off the to hospital, says, “Apparition.” Maigret follows the clues to a wealthy art collector and his young wife.
There’s a very touching scene between Maigret and his wife that shows the intimacy of their relationship. This is in sharp contrast to the greed and cruelty of various aspects of this case. Sometimes Maigret novels plod along, but Maigret and the Apparition moves quickly to a surprising conclusion. Are you a Maigret fan? GRADE: A
I tried one many, many years ago and didn’t like it! Crusty old soul that I am, I never read another!
Bob, many people are put off by Maigret’s slow but steady pace.
Yes—I love the Maigret books; they’re very much a comfort read for me. I’ve liked a number of Simenon’s non-Maigret books too. However, I read Simenon’s books with the full awareness that he was a rather odious person.
Deb, I like Maigret books in small doses. And, like you, I’ve enjoyed Simenon’s non-Maigret books, too.
I have read a handful of Maigrets and have enjoyed them. I have read more of his standalones and liked them even better.
Steve, I know what you mean. Sometimes, the Maigret books seem to blur together. The stand-alone novels are more distinctive.
I’ve never tried Simenon but have frequently thought about doing so. And the reason is the same thing that’s kept me from trying Wodehouse. There’s just so many books and I don’t know where to start. I’m much more likely to try a writer who’s produced a more manageable number of books. And yes, I know that’s a pretty silly excuse, but there it is.
Michael, if you’d like, I could mail you a batch of Maigret novels. Just let me know where you want me to send them. I’m at: kelleyg@ecc.edu
Yes, I’ve read all of them. Lognon appeared again, and I believe he had a book of his own somewhere along the way. He was kind of a sad sack character.
Jeff, you’re right about Lognon. A good cop cursed with Bad Luck. I’ve got about 20 more Maigret’s left to read. I’m trying to make them last for a few more years.
I like them and have read a dozen or so, not this one, but have many unread to go.
Rick, I only know a couple people who have read all the Maigrets. I know about a half dozen people who have read all the Agatha Christie mysteries. And I know a couple people–Art Scott and Steve Stilwell–who have read the Nero Wolfe series…over 50 times!
I also read a few books with Maigret when I was young, but found them too stereotypical somehow.
Tried them even in the original French – my first foreign language was French since I grew up in the French Occupied Zone.
But I soon concentrated on Science Fiction, before I was 18 years old …
Wolf, I just uncovered a box full of Science Fiction paperbacks from long ago. You’ll be seeing me blog about them in 2021. Right now, I’m busy reading them!