Of your five, I've only read Dirty Snow. Are any (or all) of your other picks less dreary?

Hi David, if you found Dirty Snow dreary I'm afraid Simenon may not be your cup of tea. Nihilism and existential angst are the bread and butter of Simenon. Every story is a variation on one theme - when bad things happen to bad people.

Best,
Eric

Thank you, Eric. I've got quite a few of the 'romans durs' under my belt, but given the amount of books Simenon wrote, I was hoping there might be something lighter out there. Perhaps the Maigrets I've read gave me false hope.
Happy New Year,
David

Hi David, yes the Simenon NYRB titles are all kind of dark. However, a while back I did read "The President", published by Neversink, which is more along the lines of political intrigue. It isn't my favorite of his but it is still an enjoyable read. That may be more along what you are looking for if you come to Simenon from the Maigret series (although I cannot be sure, I have not yet read any of those).

Best,
Eric