I read this book before Christmas and loved it. It was a gentle read, perhaps more cosy than my usual reads but exactly what I needed when tucked up with a cold. It has made me want to read other Maigret books

A short and interesting story. It is not quite like the full length books but enjoyable just the same.

I was apprehensive in reading this book.  I had heard of Maigret through TV programmes but never read one of George Simenon's books.  I was pleasantly surprised with this short story.  Ok it wasn't a rollercoaster of high drama and intrigue however it was a well written story which unravelled at a nice pace.  I will certainly be reading more of the Maigret stories in the future.

This book was given to me to read in return for an honest review by Net Galley.

A good quick read in traditional Maigret style. Interesting setting in Maigrets neighbourhood at Christmastime. Would recommend this to both Maigret fans and detective fans alike.

This is an enjoyable little tale, though those looking for a murder mystery are likely to be disappointed. The story instead sheds lights on Commissaire Maigret’s home-life, and in particular the sad childlessness of his marriage.

Otherwise, the hallmarks of Simenon’s writing are present, including the evocative descriptions of Paris and the seasonal climate and the Commissaire’s relationships with his wife and subordinates. These are in any case the most interesting aspects of his work.

I did not have access to a copy of the source text for comparison, but the translation generally reads very well.

I received a sample copy of this through NetGalley.  The sample with which I was provided only contained one of the three stories – A Maigret Christmas – recently retranslated and published by Penguin as A Maigret Christmas and Other Stories.

Quite a short read: small but perfectly formed.  A typical detective story of the period in its style and form, but rather different in its apparently innocuous and possibly groundless introduction, leading to a far more serious background and crime.  I have not read Simenon for many years, and have been unimpressed by recent television interpretations of the marvellously unhurried and thoughtful detective, Maigret, so this was a lovely reminder of the carefully plotted and neatly written books in the series. I enjoyed reading its gently old-fashioned, intriguing detective work over the more hectic Christmas period of today.

A nice style of crime story, with lovely use of languague and good descriptive  passages.  Nice to read a more old fashioned type of crime story with hardly any violence, no bad languague etc. Perfect for a cozy night in by the fire, rather like a sort of French Agatha Christie

neatly written, though quite short. I hadn't read any Maigret before, but now I might give Simenon a go. Dated style as you would expect, but I like that, it brings up the period very well.

Maigret finds it difficult to spend time at home without anything to occupy his mind so when a potential mystery is brought to his door on Christmas day by a neighbor how can he resist? A young girl claims to have seen Father Christmas lifting floorboards in her bedroom during the night.
Not having their own children is a great sadness for Mme Maigret, especially at Christmas, so she reaches out to the young girl, expressing concern for her well-being as Maigret investigates.
I haven't read many Maigret stories but it seems to me that Mme Maigret is a sad figure. She is a great support to her husband, but the lack of children somehow paints her as an incomplete character. This gives a depressing air to the stories and puts me off reading them more often. However, I will probably try and get a French edition for our 6th form readers.

I love Maigret. Where other detectives use the little grey cells or chew at their cases like a terrier, Maigret just seems to empathise with everybody, victim, criminal or colleague, and feels (rather than thinks) his way to the answer. This is a suitably lightweight case, just right for the season.

I received a NetGalley proof of this book but it only contained the first story 'A Maigret Christmas' so my review is based solely on that.
A thoroughly enjoyable Christmas interlude in the world of Georges Simenon’s Inspector Maigret. As Maigret and his wife are spending a quiet, bittersweet Christmas alone in their flat, they are interrupted by the arrival of two female neighbours from the opposite block of flats. They report that a man dressed as Father Christmas broke into a little girl’s bedroom in the night looking for a hidden object. Unsure if it is the imaginings of a small child or a real break-in Maigret decides to investigate. What follows is a gentle investigation, conducted mainly from his living room but which leads to surprising discoveries.
This novella is a perfect length for a Christmas tale and has lots of Christmas spirit. It works as a brief respite from often hectic Christmas preparations.

I was unable to properly review this, as the ARC contained only one story, not three. Hence, impossible to properly assess the character of the collection as a whole. I wouldn't expect to write a review of a book if I had only been able to read the first third of it

Peculiar one here - I received a Netgalley proof of this and was saving it for Christmas.  It promised three festive tales featuring famous literary detective Maigret.  However, when I opened it, there was but one, the title tale.  Without having access to the full material, it is difficult to provide an entire review.  This was a shame because the bit that I was given was highly enjoyable.

The premise is that Inspector Maigret is trying to enjoy Christmas with his good lady wife but finds it difficult to enter into the spirit of the occasion.  The apartment is quiet, Madame Maigret is distracted, something is missing.  Then two visitors arrive, neighbours from across the street and they have a mystery that needs to be solved.  Little girl Colette has been visited by a man dressed as Father Christmas and he has given her a doll.  Who is this man?  How did he get in?  And why did he pick up the floorboards in the child's bedroom?

There are many classic elements of Christmas stories at work in this story.  The trope of the Christmas visitor was even made use of in this year's Paddington Bear focussed Marks and Spencer's advert.  The concept of the lost child finding a home is also well-trodden territory for Christmas specials.  Still, the mystery is well-woven among these ideas and the story was a compelling one, neither over-doing the festive backdrop nor appearing to crow-bar anything in.

This was my first encounter with Inspector Maigret although further research has indicated him to have quite the following and I understand Rowan Atkinson has been playing him in a recent Christmas special.  I will be seeking out further installments from the library if possible but it is difficult to give much information for a review based on what Penguin sent over on this occasion.

An enjoyable escape and an ideal way of grabbing some quiet time over the festive period. I felt the gentile pace was perhaps gee’d up a touch to much at the end but none the less a good read.

From the outset, I need to state that I have never read or watched a Maigret before. 
How, I’m not sure, as I really do love a mystery. 

This book stood out to me as I was looking for something Christmassy to read during the week on the run up to Christmas.

I really enjoyed the short story and felt that the glimpse into a French Christmas in the early 50’s was so evocative.  The descriptions were perfect and so detailed.  I could picture everything in my minds eye, something that rarely happens when one is reading a short story.

I shall certainly endeavour to read more Maigret’s in the future.

Another impeccable Maigret story.  This one occurs in the apartment opposite Maigret's on Christmas Day and is succinct and well written.  There is a sense of cosiness in Maigret's  apartment contrasted nicely with the coldness and later fog of Paris at Christmas.  The story revolves around a women in the apartment who is looking after her young niece but there isn't a lot of love between the two.  Maigret, as usual, takes what is apparently a simple tale of someone breaking into the apartment and manages to see the full sinister seriousness of the situation whilst smoking his pipe and even managing to enjoy his Christmas dinner with Madame Maigret.

Edited to add that I only received the first story in this book.

I only received the first Maigret story in this book as part of a netgalley free review copy, but that was what I really wanted to read anyway. 

I hadn't previously read any of Simenon's Maigret books, but I enjoy the ITV tv series and mysteries/crime novels in general, so I was eager to give this a try. I really enjoyed the Christmas short story: it was well-written, fully brought Maigret and the usual characters to life, and offered a glimpse into more of Maigret's back story and family life. The central plot, whilst reasonably simple, was also enjoyable as a quick read, and as an interesting take on why a little girl saw Santa Claus!

https://www.librarything.com/work/20585163/summary/149477995

I was sent an eARC but it only contained the first of the three stories which I understand make up this book.

‘A Maigret Christmas’

I enjoyed the fact that this story, indeed the Maigret books, are set in a time when there is still much merit given to the art of detection. Here the story is laid out before you – a child wakes to find Santa Claus in her room ‘making a hole in the floor to travel downstairs…’, he signals her to stay quiet, gives her a doll and exits through the door. Maigret is told this and requested by a neighbour and, more reluctantly, the aunt of the child to look into it. It is Christmas Day – a little bored and now with his interest piqued he decides to do a little, unofficial, sleuthing. Mrs Maigret features as do several colleagues.

This is a well written gem of a story. I have not read any Maigret books so this was a good introduction and one that made me want to read more. I enjoyed the recent Maigret series on TV and do recall the original TV version (my parents liked to watch it). Having now read this short story I am sure I would enjoy the books.

It also gave a fascinating insight into Christmas Day in France, well Paris, at that time with shops opening for such items as croissants, taxis available and the train station open.

Rating: 4* (based on the one story)

I only got one story out of the three in this book, not sure where the other two went! The book went up to 100% but it was only the first story that was there.  I enjoyed the story that I read but I have not been able to put a review on Goodreads because of this.