Reading order · 75 books · 1931 to 1972 · Set in Paris
Inspector Maigret Books in Order
Commissaire Jules Maigret of the Paris Police Judiciaire solves crimes by understanding people rather than chasing clues. He soaks up the atmosphere of a place, waits, smokes his pipe and tries to see the world as the people involved see it. Simenon wrote seventy-five short Maigret novels, many of them among the finest crime fiction ever written.
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Series facts
- Books
- 75
- Published
- 1931 to 1972
- First book
- Pietr the Latvian
- Latest
- Maigret and Monsieur Charles (1972)
- Setting
- Set in Paris
The reading order
Every Inspector Maigret book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
75 books · Set in Paris
- 1Pietr the Latvian1931With Jules MaigretMaigret tracks a notorious international swindler to a grand Paris hotel, while a dead man identical to him is found on a train.Buy on Amazon
- 2The Late Monsieur Gallet1931With Jules MaigretA travelling salesman is found shot in a hotel in Sancerre, and Maigret discovers he was living under a false name.Buy on Amazon
- 3The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien1931With Jules MaigretMaigret secretly swaps the suitcase of a shabby stranger, and the man takes his own life.Buy on Amazon
- 4The Carter of La Providence1931With Jules MaigretA woman’s body is found in a stable beside a canal lock, and Maigret follows the life of the canal barges.Buy on Amazon
- 5The Yellow Dog1931With Jules MaigretIn the Breton fishing town of Concarneau, a wine merchant is shot, and a mysterious yellow dog keeps appearing.Buy on Amazon
- 6Night at the Crossroads1931With Jules MaigretA diamond merchant is found dead in a car at a lonely crossroads outside Paris, and the owner of the house nearby is the obvious suspect.Buy on Amazon
- 7A Crime in Holland1931With Jules MaigretMaigret goes to a small town in the Netherlands, where a visiting French professor is suspected of murder.Buy on Amazon
- 8The Grand Banks Café1931With Jules MaigretIn the port of Fécamp, the captain of a fishing trawler is murdered soon after his return from the Newfoundland banks.Buy on Amazon
- 9A Man's Head1931With Jules MaigretConvinced that a condemned man is innocent, Maigret helps him escape from prison in order to find the real killer.Buy on Amazon
- 10The Dancer at the Gai-Moulin1931With Jules MaigretTwo young men hiding in a nightclub in Liège after closing time stumble on a body.Buy on Amazon
- 11The Two-Penny Bar1932With Jules MaigretA condemned man tells Maigret about a riverside bar, and the story leads Maigret to a murder.Buy on Amazon
- 12The Shadow Puppet1932With Jules MaigretA man is found shot in his office in the Place des Vosges.Buy on Amazon
- 13The Saint-Fiacre Affair1932With Jules MaigretMaigret returns to the village where he was born, after a note warns that a crime will be committed at Mass.Buy on Amazon
- 14The Flemish House1932With Jules MaigretIn a town on the Belgian border, a young woman has disappeared, and suspicion falls on a Flemish family.Buy on Amazon
- 15The Madman of Bergerac1932With Jules MaigretMaigret is wounded after following a man off a night train, and recovers in a hotel in Bergerac while he investigates a series of killings.Buy on Amazon
- 16The Misty Harbour1932With Jules MaigretA ship’s captain is found in Paris with no memory and a shaved head, and Maigret takes him home to the harbour town of Ouistreham.Buy on Amazon
- 17Liberty Bar1932With Jules MaigretOn the French Riviera, an Australian named William Brown is found stabbed, and Maigret discovers his secret life in a shabby bar.Buy on Amazon
- 18Lock No. 11933With Jules MaigretA powerful old haulage boss is involved in a murder at a lock on the Seine.Buy on Amazon
- 19Maigret1934With Jules MaigretThe retired Maigret returns to Paris to help his nephew, a young detective who has landed himself in trouble.Buy on Amazon
- 20Cécile Is Dead1942With Jules MaigretA plain young woman who has been waiting at Maigret’s office every day is found dead.Buy on Amazon
- 21The Cellars of the Majestic1942With Jules MaigretA woman is found strangled in the basement of a grand Paris hotel.Buy on Amazon
- 22The Judge's House1942With Jules MaigretSent away to a small town near the Atlantic coast, Maigret finds a body in the house of a retired judge.Buy on Amazon
- 23Signed, Picpus1944With Jules MaigretA note predicting the murder of a fortune-teller sends Maigret racing to prevent it.Buy on Amazon
- 24Inspector Cadaver1944With Jules MaigretMaigret goes to a small town as a favour, and finds himself up against a former police inspector working for the other side.Buy on Amazon
- 25Félicie1944With Jules MaigretA retired sailor is found murdered, and his young housekeeper, Félicie, is not telling the truth.Buy on Amazon
- 26Maigret Gets Angry1947With Jules MaigretIn retirement, Maigret is asked by an old woman to look into the death of her granddaughter.Buy on Amazon
- 27Maigret in New York1947With Jules MaigretThe retired Maigret travels to New York to help a young man find his father.Buy on Amazon
- 28Maigret's Holiday1948With Jules MaigretOn holiday at the seaside, with his wife in hospital, Maigret is drawn into a case of murder.Buy on Amazon
- 29Maigret's Dead Man1948With Jules MaigretA frightened man telephones Maigret several times asking for help, and is then found dead.Buy on Amazon
- 30Maigret's First Case1949With Jules MaigretIn 1913, young Maigret, a secretary at a local police station, is drawn into his first case when a musician hears a cry for help.Buy on Amazon
- 31My Friend Maigret1949With Jules MaigretMaigret travels to a Mediterranean island, where a man who boasted of being his friend has been killed.Buy on Amazon
- 32Maigret at the Coroner's1949With Jules MaigretMaigret, on a study trip to the United States, watches a coroner’s inquest in Arizona.Buy on Amazon
- 33Maigret and the Old Lady1950With Jules MaigretIn the Normandy resort of Étretat, an old woman’s maid dies after drinking medicine meant for her mistress.Buy on Amazon
- 34Madame Maigret's Friend1950With Jules MaigretMadame Maigret’s curiosity about a woman in a public square leads Maigret to a murder.Buy on Amazon
- 35Maigret's Memoirs1951With Jules MaigretMaigret tells his own life story, and sets straight the record of a writer named Simenon.Buy on Amazon
- 36Maigret at Picratt's1951With Jules MaigretA striptease dancer from a Montmartre nightclub warns the police of a murder, and is found dead herself.Buy on Amazon
- 37Maigret Takes a Room1951With Jules MaigretA police inspector is shot, and Maigret takes a room in a boarding house to find the culprit.Buy on Amazon
- 38Maigret and the Tall Woman1951With Jules MaigretThe wife of a burglar Maigret once arrested comes to him with a strange story.Buy on Amazon
- 39Maigret, Lognon and the Gangsters1952With Jules MaigretThe unlucky Inspector Lognon sees a man being pushed into a car, and the case brings Maigret up against American gangsters.Buy on Amazon
- 40Maigret's Revolver1952With Jules MaigretMaigret’s own revolver is stolen from his home, and he follows the young thief to London.Buy on Amazon
- 41Maigret and the Man on the Bench1953With Jules MaigretA man is found stabbed in an alley wearing bright yellow shoes, and Maigret discovers that his wife knew nothing of his real life.Buy on Amazon
- 42Maigret Is Afraid1953With Jules MaigretVisiting an old friend in a small town in the Vendée, Maigret is drawn into a series of murders.Buy on Amazon
- 43Maigret's Mistake1953With Jules MaigretA young woman is found shot in her flat, and the trail leads to a celebrated surgeon.Buy on Amazon
- 44Maigret Goes to School1954With Jules MaigretA village schoolteacher is suspected of murdering an elderly woman, and the whole village seems to want him to be guilty.Buy on Amazon
- 45Maigret and the Dead Girl1954With Jules MaigretA young woman is found dead in a Paris street, and Maigret sets out to discover who she was.Buy on Amazon
- 46Maigret and the Minister1955With Jules MaigretA government minister asks Maigret for help after a sensitive report goes missing.Buy on Amazon
- 47Maigret and the Headless Corpse1955With Jules MaigretParts of a body are found in the Canal Saint-Martin, and Maigret is drawn to a quiet bistro nearby.Buy on Amazon
- 48Maigret Sets a Trap1955With Jules MaigretA killer is attacking women in Montmartre, and Maigret sets a trap to catch him.Buy on Amazon
- 49Maigret's Failure1956With Jules MaigretA rich meat trader whom Maigret knew as a boy asks for his protection, and Maigret fails to save him.Buy on Amazon
- 50Maigret Enjoys Himself1957With Jules MaigretOn holiday at home in Paris, Maigret follows a murder case through the newspapers.Buy on Amazon
- 51Maigret Travels1958With Jules MaigretA colonel is found dead in his hotel in Paris, and Maigret follows the case to the Riviera and Switzerland.Buy on Amazon
- 52Maigret's Doubts1958With Jules MaigretA man comes to Maigret convinced that his wife is planning to poison him.Buy on Amazon
- 53Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses1959With Jules MaigretThe head of an old biscuit-making family is found shot, and his family will tell Maigret nothing.Buy on Amazon
- 54Maigret's Secret1959With Jules MaigretOver dinner, Maigret tells his friend Dr Pardon about a case that still troubles him.Buy on Amazon
- 55Maigret in Court1960With Jules MaigretMaigret gives evidence at a trial, and doubts whether the accused man is really guilty.Buy on Amazon
- 56Maigret and the Old People1960With Jules MaigretA retired ambassador is found shot in his home, and Maigret discovers a love affair that lasted a lifetime.Buy on Amazon
- 57Maigret and the Lazy Burglar1961With Jules MaigretA safe-cracker Maigret once knew is found dead in the Bois de Boulogne.Buy on Amazon
- 58Maigret and the Good People of Montparnasse1962With Jules MaigretA respectable, well-liked man is shot dead in his home, and no one can imagine why.Buy on Amazon
- 59Maigret and the Saturday Caller1962With Jules MaigretA man visits Maigret’s home and tells him that he intends to kill his wife.Buy on Amazon
- 60Maigret and the Tramp1963With Jules MaigretA tramp is pulled from the Seine, and Maigret wants to know who tried to drown him.Buy on Amazon
- 61Maigret's Anger1963With Jules MaigretA nightclub owner is found strangled, and the case makes Maigret angry.Buy on Amazon
- 62Maigret and the Ghost1964With Jules MaigretInspector Lognon is shot, and Maigret takes over his case.Buy on Amazon
- 63Maigret Defends Himself1964With Jules MaigretMaigret is accused of misconduct by a young woman, and must clear his own name.Buy on Amazon
- 64Maigret's Patience1965With Jules MaigretA retired gangster Maigret has watched for years is found shot.Buy on Amazon
- 65Maigret and the Nahour Case1966With Jules MaigretA professional gambler is found shot in his home.Buy on Amazon
- 66Maigret's Pickpocket1967With Jules MaigretMaigret’s wallet is stolen on a bus, and the young thief returns it, asking for his help.Buy on Amazon
- 67Maigret Hesitates1968With Jules MaigretAnonymous letters predict a murder in the household of a wealthy lawyer, and Maigret must decide whether to act.Buy on Amazon
- 68Maigret in Vichy1968With Jules MaigretMaigret and his wife take a cure at the spa town of Vichy, where a woman is strangled.Buy on Amazon
- 69Maigret's Childhood Friend1968With Jules MaigretAn old school friend of Maigret’s is suspected of murdering his mistress.Buy on Amazon
- 70Maigret and the Killer1969With Jules MaigretA young man is stabbed in the street, and Maigret hunts a killer who strikes at random.Buy on Amazon
- 71Maigret and the Wine Merchant1970With Jules MaigretA wealthy wine merchant is shot in the street, and many people had reason to hate him.Buy on Amazon
- 72Maigret and the Madwoman1970With Jules MaigretAn elderly woman tells Maigret that someone is moving things around in her flat, and then she is found dead.Buy on Amazon
- 73Maigret and the Loner1971With Jules MaigretA tramp is found shot in a condemned building, and Maigret discovers the life he left behind.Buy on Amazon
- 74Maigret and the Informer1971With Jules MaigretAn anonymous phone call tells Maigret the name of a restaurant owner’s killer.Buy on Amazon
- 75Maigret and Monsieur Charles1972With Jules MaigretA woman asks Maigret to find her husband, a notary, who has disappeared.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Each book stands alone, so start anywhere. Pietr the Latvian is the first; The Yellow Dog, The Saint-Fiacre Affair and Maigret and the Man on the Bench are good places to begin.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Jules Maigret | Madame Maigret | Lucas | Janvier | Lapointe | Torrence | Dr Pardon | Judge Coméliau |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Pietr the Latvian | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ||||
| 2 The Late Monsieur Gallet | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 3 The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 4 The Carter of La Providence | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 5 The Yellow Dog | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 6 Night at the Crossroads | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 7 A Crime in Holland | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 8 The Grand Banks Café | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 9 A Man's Head | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 10 The Dancer at the Gai-Moulin | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 11 The Two-Penny Bar | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 12 The Shadow Puppet | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 13 The Saint-Fiacre Affair | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 14 The Flemish House | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 15 The Madman of Bergerac | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 16 The Misty Harbour | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 17 Liberty Bar | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 18 Lock No. 1 | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 19 Maigret | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 20 Cécile Is Dead | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 21 The Cellars of the Majestic | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 22 The Judge's House | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 23 Signed, Picpus | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | |||
| 24 Inspector Cadaver | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 25 Félicie | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 26 Maigret Gets Angry | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 27 Maigret in New York | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 28 Maigret's Holiday | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 29 Maigret's Dead Man | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 30 Maigret's First Case | LLead | ·Minor | ||||||
| 31 My Friend Maigret | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 32 Maigret at the Coroner's | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 33 Maigret and the Old Lady | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 34 Madame Maigret's Friend | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 35 Maigret's Memoirs | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 36 Maigret at Picratt's | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 37 Maigret Takes a Room | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 38 Maigret and the Tall Woman | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 39 Maigret, Lognon and the Gangsters | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 40 Maigret's Revolver | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 41 Maigret and the Man on the Bench | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 42 Maigret Is Afraid | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 43 Maigret's Mistake | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 44 Maigret Goes to School | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 45 Maigret and the Dead Girl | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 46 Maigret and the Minister | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 47 Maigret and the Headless Corpse | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 48 Maigret Sets a Trap | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 49 Maigret's Failure | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 50 Maigret Enjoys Himself | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 51 Maigret Travels | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 52 Maigret's Doubts | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 53 Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 54 Maigret's Secret | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 55 Maigret in Court | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 56 Maigret and the Old People | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 57 Maigret and the Lazy Burglar | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 58 Maigret and the Good People of Montparnasse | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 59 Maigret and the Saturday Caller | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 60 Maigret and the Tramp | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 61 Maigret's Anger | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 62 Maigret and the Ghost | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 63 Maigret Defends Himself | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 64 Maigret's Patience | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||
| 65 Maigret and the Nahour Case | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 66 Maigret's Pickpocket | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 67 Maigret Hesitates | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 68 Maigret in Vichy | LLead | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ||||
| 69 Maigret's Childhood Friend | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 70 Maigret and the Killer | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 71 Maigret and the Wine Merchant | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 72 Maigret and the Madwoman | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||
| 73 Maigret and the Loner | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 74 Maigret and the Informer | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 75 Maigret and Monsieur Charles | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | ·Minor |
Characters in the Inspector Maigret books
9 characters from Georges Simenon’s chart, with the number of Inspector Maigret books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Jules MaigretCommissaire of the Paris Police Judiciaire | 75 | Pietr the Latvian 1931 |
| Madame MaigretMaigret's wife | 74 | Pietr the Latvian 1931 |
| LucasSergeant, later inspector, Maigret's longest-serving assistant | 73 | Pietr the Latvian 1931 |
| JanvierInspector on Maigret's team | 70 | Night at the Crossroads 1931 |
| LapointeYoung inspector, a favourite of Maigret's | 43 | Maigret and the Old Lady 1950 |
| TorrenceInspector in the early cases | 19 | Pietr the Latvian 1931 |
| Dr PardonMaigret's doctor and friend | 9 | Maigret and the Dead Girl 1954 |
| Judge ComéliauExamining magistrate who clashes with Maigret | 6 | Cécile Is Dead 1942 |
| Inspector LognonGloomy, unlucky local inspector | 5 | Madame Maigret's Friend 1950 |