The Crime of Inspector Maigret

About “The Crime of Inspector Maigret”

Le Pendu de St Pholien is an early novel by Georges Simenon that follows Inspector Maigret as he unintentionally leads a man to suicide. Louis Jeunet, initially seen as a lazy man, is found carrying over 30,000 francs in Brussels. Maigret, curious, follows him after he sends the money under the label "Printed Matter." When Jeunet discovers his loss at the German border, he shoots himself. Maigret is left to deal with guilt, and his investigation leads to two attempts on his life. The story takes him to Liege, Simenon’s hometown, where he uncovers a dark tale linked to the poet Francois Villon.