Judy’s Comments (group member since Oct 01, 2015)

Judy’s comments from the Reading the Detectives group.

Susan in NC wrote: "this one was really evocative of the grey, slushy London winter, contrasting with the sparkling sunshine, white snow and freezing, fresh air of the Austrian ski resort...."

I loved this contrast and enjoyed the moving to and fro between the two scenes, although, as I remember, I did find it a bit hard to keep track of the sheer number of people on the skiing trip!

I'm about 2/3 of the way through this book and enjoying it, although it does feel a little slow and dry at times after the dramatic opening.

The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thanks for opening this up, Susan. I read this book at Christmas 2021 and really enjoyed it - great to hear that others are enjoying it too.

The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I've only been to Rome once, many years ago, though I'd love to go back. Definitely agree that it is great to get the atmosphere of it in this book and I'm also looking forward to more in the series.

Seems there is a lot of autobiographical material in this novel. I looked at the Wikipedia bio of Simenon, and saw that his father was an accountant at an insurance company, similar job to the father of the young lad in the story, Jean Chabot, and also his family took in lodgers, as the Chabots do.

There is a lot more info in this piece on the Trussel website, which is a big site with loads of information about Simenon and Maigret.
https://www.trussel.com/maig/momgai.htm
According to this piece, the Gai-Moulin was a real nightclub which Simenon used to go to in the 20s, the Chabot family live at the same house where Simenon's family lived, the two lodgers are real people who lodged with his family, etc! His father even wrote him almost the exact note that Jean's father writes him about the supper.

Sandy wrote: "I wonder if setting it outside France freed Maigret from certain police constraints..."

I've finished listening this one now and enjoyed it a lot with its noir atmosphere. I agree with you, Sandy, plus it also gives Maigret the chance to go undercover - on his home turf, where he is so well-known, I don't think he could pretend to be a suspect and get himself locked up!

The blurb for the audible book also says: "the city of Simenon's youth comes to life in this new translation of this disturbing tale set in Liège." So I think that's another reason - he wanted to set a Maigret novel in the city where he was born and grew up.

I'm reading our next challenge book, Surfeit of Suspects by George Bellairs - just over halfway through and enjoying it so far.

I've finished this now and also found the plot confusing but really liked the main characters. I was slightly surprised that Jonathan hadn't solved it - then he did with that clever final twist!

I'm slightly reminded of Lovejoy in the books by Jonathan Gash with his scatty lifestyle and passion for antiques.

I've read 75% now and am really enjoying it although I am getting confused about who painted what and when, as others have said! Looking forward to finishing and popping over to the spoiler thread.

Rosina wrote: "I am about halfway in, no named Maigret yet (though I have my suspicions). .."

I'm not quite as far in yet, but have my suspicions too... hoping Maigret will appear properly soon!

I'm nearly a third of the way through now and enjoying the noirish atmosphere - it feels quite different from the previous book. Simenon gets a lot of variety into this stories.

Oh good, Sandy and Rosina, it will be nice to discuss the book. It is the same as The Dancer at the Gai-Moulin. I'm finding it compelling to listen to, hope you both enjoy it too

Who else is reading this one? I've started listening to this book on Audible and am enjoying it so far - interesting to have another Maigret book set outside France. This one is set in Belgium after a previous book was set in the Netherlands.

The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I've also read a couple of chapters so far, Frances, and am finding it enjoyable so far - written with a light touch and interesting characters. I don't think I would have guessed that it is by the same author as Fingerpost!

Very true!

I saw this is £2.99 on Kindle so have just downloaded it and am now starting :)

If anybody is wondering about the origin of the original title of this book, That Yew Tree's Shade, I've just looked it up and it comes from the poem Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard by Thomas Grey:
"Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade,
Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap,
Each in his narrow cell for ever laid,
The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."

I expect this quote may well be at the start of editions with the "Yew Tree" title, but I read it in one with the "Death Walks the Woods" title. I'm not sure which title I prefer.

I've just finished this and must say I thought it was very clever indeed - the different plot strands come together so well and there are some great characters.

Something I really enjoyed was the way that local gossip was continually ahead of the police, infuriating Trimble, who is a good inspector but outrun by chat in the pub or shop!

Thanks Rosina, Fingerpost was the one I gave up on. Good to hear that this one is easier to follow.

I tried an Ian Pears book in the past and was a bit daunted - is this one difficult to follow?