MAIGRET IN COURT - Book review

Georges Simenon’s Maigret in Court was published in 1960 (translated 1965).

Chief Inspector Maigret, 55, is attending court to give evidence. A woman and her child were brutally murdered in their flat. The accused is the victim’s nephew, a quiet picture-framer, Gaston Meurant. He is fortunate to be appearing before Judge Xavier Bernerie, ‘the most scrupulous and the most passionate seeker of the truth. Thin and in poor health, his eyes feverish, with a dry cough, he resembled a saint in a stained-glass window’ (p2).

Meurant’s wife Ginette was in the witness box too: ‘underneath her make-up (she) had the paleness of women who live in a hothouse atmosphere’ (p44).

In philosophical mode, Maigret compared his appearance in court with that of his friend, Pardon, the local GP, who constantly bemoaned the limited time allocated to each patient. ‘Each patient is a separate case, and yet I have to work on the conveyor-belt system...’ (p49). While for Maigret in court there’s a need to be concise: ‘The number of the witnesses is reduced to the minimum, as are the questions that are put to them... The case is merely sketched in with a few strokes; the people concerned are no more than outlines, caricatures almost...’ (p50).

In the event, Maigret cannot reconcile the violent portrait the court paints with the man his investigation revealed.

We again meet Maigret’s long-suffering confederates Janvier and Lucas; and Maigret is looking forward to retiring in two years with his wife.

This, like many of his works, is a slim volume, yet it is steeped in the minutiae of police procedurals and court procedures in France and makes riveting reading.

Simenon was a literary phenomenon, writing over 400 novels; he wrote 75 Maigret novels and 28 short stories featuring the detective. Simenon died in 1989, aged 86.

Write about what you know - 'despicable you'

Ever been burgled or robbed?  It isn’t pleasant. It’s a gut-wrenching, traumatic experience. A sense of being defiled. Some victims can’t ‘move on’ without actually moving house.

Wikipedia commons

Reformed jewel thief Bill Mason admits, late in the day, that he never appreciated the ‘depressing and disturbing feeling of violation on the part of the victims’. See my review of his book Nine Lives here

Some years ago we were burgled, and some family heirloom jewellery stolen, among other precious things. Another time, our suitcases were stolen from the fourteenth floor of a hotel in Calgary - at the beginning of our holiday. And about six years ago our daughter and son-in-law were burgled by men who kicked in the door, knowing she was out at work. Fortunately, her neighbour spotted them and made a note of their getaway vehicle’s registration number. Today (the wheels of justice grind slowly!) I accompanied our daughter to the Spanish court where one of the culprits was arraigned before the judge. He wouldn’t maintain eye-contact. It was a distressing time, especially as it brought back terrible memories, for example he or his pals hurt the family dogs while breaking in.

There are words to describe these arrogant people who would rather steal than work for a living: despicable, scum and lowlife are three printable options. I know there are others.

Here’s an excerpt from Sudden Vengeance, a novel I wrote to vent some of the anger at these individuals:

Paul pulled his attention from the window and the seagulls, and watched Sue White, one of the civilian staff, as she inserted a blank Incident Log form – quadruple carbon-impregnated paper – into the electronic typewriter.

Three of his reports down, one to go, he mused ruefully.

The day had been typical: four burglaries, taking down statements, completing the Property Taken form (in duplicate), feeling anger at the sight of the wanton destruction left in the wake of the culprits. Prized possessions trampled underfoot, carpets fouled, drawers and cupboards damaged; the list was endless. And insurance was little compensation. At each crime scene, he kept getting flashes of Gran, of her flat...

Of the four reported break-ins he attended, only one seemed to be professional. They took the DVD player, two televisions, and a hallmarked silver cutlery set, but left everything else untouched.

While inwardly he boiled to think these people believed they had the right to steal, he found himself agreeing with the aggrieved pensioners that “at least they didn’t do any damage”!

What have we come to, he wondered, when we feel grateful for being robbed by tidy burglars?

- Sudden Vengeance by Nik Morton, published by Crooked Cat

Amazon UK here

Amazon COM here

The ‘despicable you’, the lowlife in court today pleaded guilty and was given a prison sentence of one year, suspended.