3.5*
I believe that this book is actually #2 in the series (not #3 as GR states) but "The Crime at Lock 14" was published the same year as this (1931) so perhaps I am wrong about that.

In any case, it was intriguing to see Maigret work the case completely by himself. The plot has a good twist to it as well. ( )

Crítica | O Finado Sr. Gallet, de Georges Simenon: https://www.planocritico.com/critica-o-finado-sr-gallet-de-georges-simenon/ ( )

Ce Maigret fait partie des huit premiers Maigret, tous publiés en 1931. La victime ressemble à un gros looser qui semble ne pas en être un mais finalement si. Mais bon… il est mort, non ?

Alors que dans les dernières enquêtes, Simenon s’attache à créer des portraits des différents protagonistes en développant mieux leurs psychologies avec une intrigue que je trouvais souvent plus faible, c’est bien ici la résolution de l’enquête qui est au centre du roman.

Le commissaire lourdeau qui pèse bien ses cent kilos, gêné par la chaleur et coiffé d’un melon prend ses marques ( )

I think that Maigret’s brooding, aloof manner really suits this storyline very well. The mystery was revealed carefully enough to complement Maigret’s personality.

Its nice and noir, so to speak, how Simenon gives us such bare bones stories with so much character in them. I do not feel like I missed out on anything, that the book was lacking in some obvious respect, or that the story needed to be expanded in any direction.

From the first experience at the Gallet home, Maigret is never able to shake a feeling of wrongness that pervades his whole investigation. There is also a particular prop that is collected here and remains with Maigret and the reader throughout the novel. I like the economy of the novel and the strength of the main characters. Overall, while it is not a cheerful read, it is a solid noir-type mystery. ( )

Not among my favorite Simenon's though I liked the 1st half well enough. The mysterious man who is married into a family of "legimists" (royal hopers) and who only pretends to work as a salesman for 20 years before he is mysteriously killed. The story spins out who this person was and his odd change of identity with another local fellow. at that point I lost interest a bit as pages and pages and pages are going on about this particular mix up and its ramifications. Simenon, I read you for the characters and the atmosphere, not for long detailed plot twists. ( )