Georges Simenon is the creator of Maigret, the great French Detective of the Paris Brigade in the celebrated series of 75 novels. Belgian born Simenon published nearly 400 novels and short works in his career, including The Blue Room in 1964.
Antonio Falcone sells farm equipment in a small rural town with his wife and daughter. Like all men, he has seen other women on the side, and we meet Tony one hot afternoon in his brother's hotel. Over the last eleven months they have been very secretive, only letting his brother and the chambermaid know of his passionate affair with Andrée, the grocer's wife. He loves his simple wife Gisele, and lazily responds to Andrée's questions.
"Could you really spend your whole life with me?" "Can you imagine what our days would be like?" In the aftermath of passion, what man takes this seriously?
The story unfolds over the next few months through interviews with a straight forward and respectful team - a sergeant, a lieutenant of the gendarmerie, and then the inspector of the Police Judiciarie, along with a psychiatrist, magistrate, and lawyer he refuses - as Tony recalls recent events surrounding a heinous crime that paparazzi continue to splash across newspapers. This is a character study that holds its cards close the chest, slowly revealing information to the reader with maximum effect, the rumours the whole town witnessed from the beginning. The case makes progress, with Tony cooperative and forthcoming - until he begins to lie.
Simenon is a master at character and psychology, and this is a solid read, with a slow burn as it plays out. So intoxicating is the affair that Tony is blinded to the damage they created, and he is reluctant to view it in the glare of the interrogation room. Adultery, murder, deception - this is a gripping mystery lacking the violence often featured in modern thrillers, and so well plotted, it's a pleasure to read. Stylish and scandalous, this features a dark triumph at the end, a gleaming note to close on.
Very enjoyable.
A French erotic thriller of this novel was made in 2014 as La Chambre Bleue
My other George Simenon reviews:
Pietr the Latvian (Maigret #1)
1964 / Tradeback / 156 pages
Comments