The Cellars Of The Majestic (2015) - Plot & Excerpts
In Georges Simenon's 1942 novel, Hotel Majestic, Chief Inspector Jules Maigret must solve the murder of an American tycoon's wife whose strangled body is found unceremoniously stuffed into an employee's locker in the basement of a Paris hotel. The tycoon, however, has an alibi (he's been dallying with the governess instead of his French-born wife), and if the tycoon's six year old son, with fiery red hair, happens to bear a striking resemblance to the accused murderer, a hotel employee named Prosper Donge, then it can only be because Simenon is up to his old tricks plotting a delightful yarn which needs serious unravelling.If the year of the tale is a bit fuzzy -- there is no hint of a war in Europe -- there is no lack of clarity in Maigret's vision: the Inspector acts as if he's pieced the puzzle together long before the rest of us. Donge lives with a plump mid-30s woman, more roommates than lovers though they share a bed, and they both have some history with the murdered woman -- and another set of minor characters in Cannes which Maigret visits by train. But Donge has been unlucky in love, it seems, and his somewhat simple mental capabilities lead multiple characters to impose upon and take advantage of him. Ah, but he did have motive for the murder, as facts begin to come to light, and opportunity ... until a second strangled body turns up, in the same locker ....Simenon's gently eccentric characters, including Maigret who does some rather shocking things by current police standards, are delightful to spend time with. It's hard to dislike the bad guys, and the flaws of the good guys make them that much more charming. The wonderful thing about these stories is not the puzzle (although it can be torturous), nor the psychology (which is thoughtful and always humane), nor the language (which is evocative but never self-consciously clever) ... it is truly that the stories are comfortable and can be read over and over and still produce delight.
A second reading of this Maigret novel does nothing to make me want to change my star rating.Despite previously having retired and moved out of Paris we have a story of the Chief Inspector being in charge of a murder in one of the capital’s better hotels, The Majestic.This book therefore in many ways is a re-birth of this wonderful series; now set in the 1940’s police techniques have improved but every reason you liked Maigret before is here to enjoy. Torrance is re-incarnated after having previously been stabbed to death in an earlier novel ironically when staking out a hotel room.The beauty and simplicity of the writer’s style is here in abundance and the lone policeman is supplemented by mention of his extended team; the faithful Lucas is here and a mention to for Janvier. Indeed Simenon takes time out in the story to show the other detectives meticulous enquiries researching the culprits and suspects in this case.Maigret of course does his own thing; cycling home with a principle player and jumping onto a train to the South of France to get a feel for the investigation.The plotting is cleverly unwound and the story as usual is wonderfully spun for the total enjoyment of the reader. Maigret never takes himself seriously but always and passionately pursues justice, often waiting for something to happen to complete the jigsaw he always sees coming together.There is a great line when Maigrets travels reveal potentially the same suspect the magistrate has already arrested which allows him to crow over his achievements having not himself had to leave Paris.There is also the denouement towards the end of the book that allows the cast of characters to come together and the crime explained.
What do You think about The Cellars Of The Majestic (2015)?
This is the second Georges Simenon Maigret novel I've read. Nor will it be the last. In so few words, Simenon creates a rich, multi-textured world with a colorful assortment of characters which is dazzling. There is a murder in a Parisian hotel of a woman who had been staying there with her American husband (and child, governess, and maid), who apparently is estranged from her, enraptured as he is with the governess and apparently set on going off to Rome with her. But everything isn't as it seems. It's far from an open and shut case. Immerse yourself and be dazzled as Maigret goes to work to find the real culprit.
—KOMET
A fast, fun read.Inspector Maigret is the protagonist of Simenon's series. I enjoyed meeting him in this book. He is a stereotypical plodding detective. He may not look at a scene and immediately know what occurred, but he takes each step, making sure that the true murderer is revealed. There is a sort of, well, mania is maybe too strong of a word, but Maigret really wants to make sure that he jails the right person (not just the convenient suspect), even if that person is the wealthy American husband he's been warned not to harrass.The mystery starts off with the omniscient narrator following the man who discovers the body on his way to work. While at the Hotel Majestic, he notices that an unused locker is somewhat open, so he goes over to investigate and finds a body. It is that of a beautiful Frenchwoman married to the American businessman I mentioned above. Why was she murdered? And what is her connection to the man who found her?
—Jessi
Inspector Maigret investigates the murder of a rich American's wife while the family is staying in Paris at the Hotel Majestic. The body is found in a locker where the help stores their street clothes. He observes the way the hotel is run from breakfast until the dancing ends late at night. It's the 1930's and the hotel is very swank. And of course, there doesn't seem to be any motive for this beautiful woman's death. But there is. And Maigret has to tease out all the relationships to figure out who would have a motive and what that would be.
—Colleen
