Maigret and the Coroner

About “Maigret and the Coroner”

Chief Superintendent Margret, a French investigator, finds himself in Tucson, Arizona, attending an inquest at the request of an FBI colleague. This is his first experience with the American judicial system, which he finds strange and different from what he is used to. Bessie Mitchell was found dead on the railroad tracks between Tucson and Nogales. She had been in a car with a group of young men, four of whom were clearly intoxicated. Margret suspects they abandoned her and are covering for one another. He is determined to uncover the truth, but the American system presents a challenge. As the coroner questions witnesses, Margret reflects on cultural differences and the complexities of the case, adding a layer of humor and insight to the unfolding mystery. This is a 1949 novel by Georges Simenon.