Maigret at the Gai-Moulin

First published in 1931 in France and brought out in the U.S. nine years later, this early story by prolific Simenon (1903-1989) takes place in Liege, the author's birthplace. Two Belgian teenage boys hide out in the Gai-Moulin, a nightclub, after closing time in order to steal from the till. Sneaking up to the bar, however, they see the body of a man on the floor and flee in panic. The next day, the body is found in a wicker basket on the lawn of the zoo. The dead man, a rich Greek, had hired Maigret to follow and protect him, but then eluded the inspector. The police arrest one of the boys while the other hides. Puzzled about why the victim had been in Belgium, Maigret helps the Liege Surete unravel a deeper plot and shows how a boyish prank evolves into serious trouble. Simenon's genius shines in this simple but exciting story. (Sept.)