Biscuit family murder
Maigret is called to investigate the murder of Léonard Lachaume, the reigning CEO of Lachaume’s Biscuits, a popular brand of packaged cookies that Maigret remembers from his childhood. In recent times, however, the biscuit industry has not been booming. Maigret surmises that the family business has fallen on hard times, judging by the decrepit and depressing look of the Lachaume mansion, where the victim lived with his elderly parents, a younger brother and his wife, and a particularly crotchety old servant woman.
The most shocking aspect of the Lachaume home, however, is the fact that no one in the house seems particularly surprised or saddened by Léonard’s death. Each member of the household meets Maigret’s questions with a marked reluctance to share any statements about what they saw or heard on the night of the murder. Maigret finds the attitude of stoic resignation that permeates the mansion to be truly baffling. In the course of his investigation, he uncovers family secrets—including financial details revealing how Lachaume’s Biscuits has managed to stay afloat—that could indicate a motive for the killing.
This is really one of the better Maigret novels that I’ve read, and I’ve read about two dozen of them. Maigret is always a compelling character to follow, but much like any good TV series, the success of a particular episode often hinges on its guest stars. In this case, the Lachaume family makes for a fascinating supporting cast. The plot in this novel strikes a fine balance between the procedural details of Maigret’s detective work and the psychological examination of the suspects. Some Maigret novels err too much toward one or the other of those elements, but Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses succeeds at both. This is a good, perplexing murder mystery, but, like any Simenon novel, it also digs deeper into the psychological drama and motivations of the characters than most typical entries in the genre.
For non-French readers, the Maigret novels also provide outsiders with revealing insights into modern French society and private life. For that reason, some interest in French life is probably required to fully appreciate the Maigret series, much like some interest in Victorian England is likely a requirement to enjoy a Sherlock Holmes story. For anyone who likes a good classic mystery novel, however, Maigret rarely disappoints, and Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses is an exemplary entry in this fine series.
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