The Goodreads description begins by saying Three vintage novels by Simenon, but this is one novel only. If I knew how, I suggest they correct this.

This is wonderful vintage Simenon. You're in an island off the south of France, you're feeling the hot sun and enjoying the cool white wine. And while you're at it, you're witnessing Maigret solve yet another murder mystery.

I have a comment about something that was written but that I thought was an error. I won't make it here because it would give away an important element of the solution to the mystery. If you think you know what I'm getting at or just want to ask, write me. ( )

Alors qu’il ne se passe rien à Paris, le commissaire se voit encombré d’un collègue de Scotland Yard en voyage d’étude et se retrouve embarqué pour une enquête dans le sud de la France où un petit truand vient d’être tué après avoir déclamé son amitié avec Maigret.

Une enquête aux doux parfums de lavande, citronnier et pastis sous le soleil de Porquerolles

Un Maigret tout penaud et complexé, comptant les points du match France-Angleterre face à son alter ego britannique dont il ne sait que penser ( )

Mister Pyke, un inspector de Scotland Yard sigue a todas partes como una sombra al célebre comisario Maigret. De pronto surge un caso que tal vez le haga olvidar esa insidiosa presencia: en la isla de Porquerolles han matado a Marcel Pazaud, un ex delincuente, al día siguiente de que pregonara en el bar más frecuentado que era amigo de Maigret.

Although My Friend Maigret by Georges Simenon is the 31st book in the Inspector Maigret series and originally published in 1949, it is the first book of the series that I have read. I chose it because it is listed in H.R.F. Keating’s 100 Best Crime & Mystery Books. I listened to an audio version as read by Gareth Armstrong and enjoyed it enough that I have decided to look for more books from this series.

Maigret is playing host to Inspector Pyke of Scotland Yard who has come to France to observe his methods. When Maigret receives word of a murder on the island of Porquerolles, he decides that a trip to the sunny Mediterranean is in order. The victim, Marcellin was boasting of his friendship with Maigret the evening before the murder. In actual fact Maigret remembers that he had more to do with Marcellin’s girlfriend, Ginette, a prostitute that he helped to place in a sanitarium due to her tuberculosis, years ago. Maigret and Pyke travel to the island where Maigret does some preliminary checking of witnesses and possible suspects. From a phone call that Marcellin made, he cleverly puts together what happened and why the murder occurred. Although the mystery is fairly straight forward, the inhabitants of the island are varied and interesting. Throughout the book Maigret was concerned that Pyke would get a bad impression of his “methods” and the interplay between the two men was a source of humor. Maigret appears to be somewhat grumpy and arrogant so I look forward to reading some of the earlier cases to see if he was always that way or if his fame has made him feel superior. ( )

Something I attempted to read in French, and mostly succeeded. M Simenon sets the lazy, sunny Mediterranean scene well. Of course Commissaire Maigret triumphs in the end, he always does. This time accompanied by an overseas observere from Scotland Yard, Detective Pike. M Simenon passes up the opportunity to contrast French and British policing methods and contents himseld with using Detective Pyke as a caricature Englishmand who always has bacon and eggs for breakfast. An enjoyable read, surprising racey in parts for a popular detective novel from 1949. ( )