From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Dancer at the Gai-Moulin (Maigret #10)

Georges Simenon,

Siân Reynolds (Translator)

Start date: March 15, 2023

Finish date: April 8, 2023

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: Next in our series of Maigret buddy reads.
[close] Next in our series of Maigret buddy reads.

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Buddy reads

* Starting/joining in with buddy reads
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What Members Thought

Nov 22, 2019 Adrian rated it it was amazing

Shelves: det-georges-simenon, zz-paper-books, a-2025-to-read, zz-audiobook

Lunchtime Listen July 2025

As a listen it is as much fun as reading the book, oneself, especially with the brilliant voice of Gareth Armstrong narrating. Who is the broad shouldered man, and what part did he play in the murder of the rich Greek customer. How did the dancer get the cigarette case, and does she know more than she’s saying.

A great story that really shows what a good writer Simenon was, and what a fun detective Maigret is.

Maigret series Read 2019

Wow, was that good or what ?? Ok i Lunchtime Listen July 2025

As a listen it is as much fun as reading the book, oneself, especially with the brilliant voice of Gareth Armstrong narrating. Who is the broad shouldered man, and what part did he play in the murder of the rich Greek customer. How did the dancer get the cigarette case, and does she know more than she’s saying.

A great story that really shows what a good writer Simenon was, and what a fun detective Maigret is.

Maigret series Read 2019

Wow, was that good or what ?? Ok it was good 😉

More tomorrow when I hope to write a few more words than just “good” 😬

So its now way past tomorrow (hmm, good name for a sci-fi novel me thinks ), so this wonderful book deserves its review.

Where do i start, ok, a quick recap on why I'm reading these Maigret books. Hmm yes why am I reading them ? Well I think it was a combination of seeing Rowan Atkinson in the excellently filmed Maigret series and then I think one of my GR friends (Martin was it you ?) started reading one of them and so I thought why not. Little did I realise quite what I would be letting myself in for, how many are there ???? So I decided to read them at the rate of 1 per month (I think that gives me over 7 years ish).

This book starts with two young boys (from basically good families) who've bluffed their way into a backstreet Liege bar. They stand in awe of the glamorous "dancer" employed by the bar owner and each try to outdo the other in an attempt to impress her. Short of money they decide to (view spoiler)
Initially nothing happens as the body disappears, to reappear later the next day in a local park stuffed into laundry basket. The police commence their investigation and are very interested in the mysterious "broad shouldered man", as well as the young men, the bar employees and owner and the glamorous dancer.
Maigret himself does not appear until half way through the book once a Parisien connection is established as the police delve deeper into the potential suspects and arrests ensue.

I think its fair to say that Maigret is as charismatic as any of my other favourite detectives; Poirot, Marple, Morse, Holmes, Foyle and Alleyn. I think it's also fair to say that these books are as well written as any of the others previously mentioned. Which demonstrates how much I have enjoyed, and am enjoying these books. ...more

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Aug 21, 2020 Nancy Oakes rated it it was amazing

Shelves: crime-fiction-france, translated-crime-fiction, 1930s, 2020, crime-fiction-belgium

Two fine Maigret novels back to back, this one after The Grand Banks Café. As much as I enjoyed The Grand Banks Cafe, the better book is this one. It completely threw me off pretty much from the start for more than one reason, and showed that sometimes going rogue is not a bad thing.

A post about this book and Grand Banks Cafe is here:
http://www.crimesegments.com/2020/08/...

*****

There's something about a crime novel set in the seedier parts of a city that appeals, and this one is no exception. H Two fine Maigret novels back to back, this one after The Grand Banks Café. As much as I enjoyed The Grand Banks Cafe, the better book is this one. It completely threw me off pretty much from the start for more than one reason, and showed that sometimes going rogue is not a bad thing.

A post about this book and Grand Banks Cafe is here:
http://www.crimesegments.com/2020/08/...

*****

There's something about a crime novel set in the seedier parts of a city that appeals, and this one is no exception. Here it's the seamier side of Liège, which in real life is Simenon's home town, where the action takes place. The plot centers around two teens whose planned robbery of the till at the Club Gai-Moulin after closing time goes completely awry with the discovery of a body in the darkness. From there, well... best not to say too much more about what happens here.

While Simenon's series novels tend to get middling ratings from many readers, he's one of my favorite crime writers ever. When I want to read something deeply noirish, I turn to his romans durs, but when I want something a bit on the lighter side it's definitely Maigret. With Dancer at the Gai-Moulin, he offers a plot that may be somewhat incredulous, but when it comes right down to it, I just didn't care that he wasn't exactly following the mechanics of the typical detective/police novel. In fact, using the term "typical" in describing Maigret just seems wrong. I was much more taken with the very clever twists in the story as well as the seedy, noir ambience Simenon paints here, down to the "crimson plush" upholstery of a banquette in the club and the "shabby peignoir" and mules worn by the titular dancer, Adèle, in her room. And that reminds me: don't kid yourself that she has only a small part to play here. She may not show up often, but she really does take center stage in a very different sort of way. You'll understand once you've read this novel.

Only 65 more Maigret novels to go! I'll get there and probably love every second of the journey. ...more

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Mar 06, 2023 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: georges-simenon

This book starts with it's own mystery. Why is it set in Belgium, and where is Maigret?
We start at a nightclub, in the company of two very young men, where there is a band that plays and women employed to dance with a partner as entertainment for the customers. The two men have befriended some of the staff and sit there drinking until the club shuts. As they are regular customers the club allows them credit, which is just as well for them, as neither of them has any money. One of the boy's comes ...more

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May 17, 2016 Tony Fitzpatrick rated it liked it · review of another edition

Maigret is in Belgium, providing "protection" for a Greek citizen who unfortunately gets murdered. Clearly he was not very good at it. Mixed up in this tale are two naive and rakish young men, a nightclub dancer, the nightclub owner and staff, and a bunch of walk on parts by various Belgium policemen, all of whom seem to be obsessed by pipe smoking. The story is unusual in that Maigret doesn't appear until half way through - the narrative focuses on the two boys who become the prime suspects for ...more

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Aug 27, 2016 John rated it really liked it

Shelves: georges-simenon, detective

So far this is my favourite Maigret novel. It was fast paced and had a great plot. Weirdly Maigret does not feature in the book until two thirds through. I loved the fact how he tampers with evidence, fires a pistol in a Police station and makes up the rules as he goes along. Once again the majority of characters were nasty and the rich boy the worse. A refreshing read and enjoyable.

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Apr 27, 2015 Nanosynergy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: france, 2015read, translated, fiction-1930s, mysteries-thrillers-espionage, reviewed, fiction, series

A rich Greek who wanders into a seedy nightclub in Liège and is found murdered the next day. In the bar are the nightclub dancer, Adele, the club manager, the waiter, and two teenage boys seeking to rob the club. Is one of them the killer or someone else?

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Dec 25, 2023 Marilyn Maya rated it really liked it

I read this in an hour and a half, and it was a delight! Even though Maigret comes in toward the end, he is magnificent. The story revolves around two teenagers, one a bad egg with a rich father and the other, his flunky, from a poorer but loving family. They embark on a crime spree, stealing money from various people. Hanging out at the Gai-Moulin, they meet a hostess who befriends them, or does she? The discovery of a dead body moves the plot along. But the beauty of this book is the boys, the ...more

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