This is not a Maigret is an original novel of what this great writer Simenon. He describes there the last part of the life of a "sacred monster" of cinema and theater. Simenon warns us at the outset in a warning that we should not see the story of a Raimu or Fernandel. It is indeed a fictional character. In this novel, Maugin, the hero, is "seized" by the unfinished side of his life, burned by alcohol. But all life is unfinished, rough, seems to say Simenon. The last pages are terrifying. I also discovered (but that's only my second Simenon, Maigret and the first out!) Completely uninhibited way the author has to talk about sexuality, and this at a time when it was not common (The novel was published in 1950). Another characteristic of Simenon found in this novel: the static side of the story, the lack of movement, things are said from the beginning and go as in a tragedy. This does not affect the quality of this novel, on the contrary. 17/20
