Maigret and the Lazy Burglar cover art

Maigret and the Lazy Burglar

Inspector Maigret, Book 57

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Maigret and the Lazy Burglar

By: Georges Simenon
Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong
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About this listen

Set against a high-profile hunt for the latest criminal gang to hit Paris, Maigret is determined to track down the murderer of a quiet crook for whom he cannot help feeling affection and respect.

This novel has been published in a previous translation as Maigret and the Idle Burglar.

©2018 Georges Simenon (P)2019 Audible, Ltd Classics Crime Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Crime Fiction

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Most relevant
Gareth Armstrong is perfect for narrating the great man's novels. He's one of the very best readers on Audible, capturing every little nuance of Simenon's writing. That Simenon can say in short novels of 3 to 5 hours what other authors struggle to convey in double or triple the time is nothing less than remarkable. Every novel speeds along at a breakneck pace without missing a beat. A truly wonderful writer.

Never less than brilliant.

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In many ways this is the quintessential Maigret novel. A story not of fast-paced action, but one that unfolds through the characters that Simenon builds so expertly - never more so, and more humanely, than when writing about those on the edge of the law and the fringes of Parisian society. If you’re looking for a place to start with Maigret, this could be a good place to start. Gareth Armstrong remains the voice of Maigret and I could accept no substitutes.

Another Triumph for Simenon - and Gareth Armstrong

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I have listened to about a dozen Maigret’s and each one has been notable for a wonderful plot, brilliant descriptions, and truly excellent narration by Gareth Armstrong. However,what this story, along with others, suffers from is the very weak ending. It is almost as though Simenon realises he has only left himself a few minutes for the denouement and this spoils the book. In fact, with “The Lazy Burglar” the ending is sown up in twelve minutes and quite out of the blue and not very convincingly and not very clear. I think this may well be my last Maigret as I am fed up with this.

Wonderful story let down by weak and hurried ending.

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