A dog sniffs at a drunken man who is found laying in a gutter. A custom guard looks the man over and finds a hole in the drunk's overcoat that is oozing blood. The wounded man turns out to be Monsieur Mostaguen, a wine dealer in Concarneau. Then, there is the matter of the liquor possibly being poisoned. How are the two incidents connected? Maigret to the rescue.

I have always wanted to read a Maigret novel, and I get my chance with this mystery. Georges Simenon, a Belgium author who lived 1903-1989, is the author. With a translation, supplied by Linda Asher, I am able to enjoy this book. I like the concise way this story is told. I am reminded of the writing of Agatha Christie. The only place I wish had been a little more filled out is the ending, which I find a bit abrupt. Thank you, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of THE YELLOW DOG.

*3-3.5 stars

This is a short but clever mystery, a reprint of a 1931 Georges Simenon classic featuring Inspector Maigret and translated from the French by Linda Asher.

Maigret is called to the small coastal town of Concarneau when a resident is shot on his way home after night out with friends. It soon becomes apparent that his group of friends, all local bigwigs, are in danger and Maigret is under pressure from the mayor to arrest someone, ANYONE, for the crimes.

Young Inspector Leroy is assisting Maigret. This is his first case, being fresh out of college, and he admits he is struggling to understand Maigret's methods, to which Maigret remarks, 'My method has actually been not to have one...I'll give you some good advice: if you're interested in getting ahead, don't take me for a model, or invent any theories from what you see me doing.'

An entertaining read--it would be fun to revisit more of these old chestnuts. Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this new edition via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Golden Age Crime in Translation. I think the best thing about this is the new minimalist cover from Picador. I don’t know if my issue is with the translation or the story itself, but I found the text choppy and the “solve” convenient. The ending epilogue was unexpected and a little weird for a mystery novel. Also, I am still pissed about the dog, I found the detail unnecessary and unforgivable and I’ve been mad for more than half the book. This is my first Maigret and will likely be my only.

What is the pattern to the crimes?

In order for Inspector Maigret to determine who is behind the unsettling events in the town of Concarneau he must first discover why they are happening at all. It began with a wine merchant leaving the Admiral Hotel on a windy November night after having drinks with his friends; a bit tipsy, he stopped in the doorway of a nearby empty house to light his cigar. He is shot through the letter slot of the door and falls to the ground gravely wounded. A large yellow dog, unrecognized by any of the townspeople, is wandering nearby. Monsieur Mostaguen is not known to have any enemies, so a motive for the shooting is hard to ascertain. as Maigret will discover when he arrives with Inspector Leroy, an eager young man who immediately sets to searching for fingerprints, footprints, and other up-to-the-minute evidence. Mostaguen is sent to the hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery, but others amongst the group of friends with whom he was drinking will not be so lucky: M. Le Pommeret, a man of independent means from a prominent family known to be a womanizer; Dr. Michoux, who studied but doesn't practice medicine, instead selling plots of land in the area to make money (though he regularly has trouble paying his bills); and Jean Servières aka Jean Goyard, a semi-retired journalist who worked for many years in Paris before his arrival in Concarneau. As the local mayor tries to bring pressure to bear against Maigret to arrest someone and the townspeople become increasingly panicked at what must surely be a madman on the loose in their town, Maigret settles in to observe those involved in order to understand the pattern of what is afoot...while doing his best to prevent further mayhem.
Originally published in 1931 during the Golden Age of Mysteries, The Yellow Dog is a classic Maigret tale. The Inspector does not look about for forensic evidence...though he allows his assistant on this case to spin his wheels trying to make plaster casts of footprints and sending bottles out for fingerprints...he searches instead for what is going on in the minds and hearts of the people involved, making his mysteries more whydunnits than whodunnits. As such, the characters and the settings in which they are found are the primary focus in each novel. Maigret himself is gruff but also empathetic, and the resolution to his cases often takes into account the circumstances surrounding the events. Author Georges Simenon creates a vivid sense of place in each little gem of a novel, resulting in a quick but satisfying read. Fans of Golden Age mysteries in general should be sure to include this series in their repertoire, as should fans of more contemporary authors like Louise Penny, Donna Leon and Andrea Camilleri. My thanks to NetGalley and Farrar Strauss and Giroux/Picador for allowing me access to this latest edition within the classic series in exchange for my honest review.

The Yellow Dog by Georges Simenon is a delightfully quirky police procedural. Set in the coastal town of Concarneau, the novel introduces readers to the methodical and unflappable Inspector Maigret, whose unique approach to solving crimes is both intriguing and refreshing.

Simenon's storytelling is atmospheric, capturing the dreary seaside ambiance and the tense undercurrents among the townsfolk. The narrative is paced deliberately, allowing readers to savor the subtle clues and character interactions that drive the mystery forward. The translation by Linda Asher maintains the novel's original charm and succinct prose, making it accessible and engaging for English-speaking audiences.

What stands out in The Yellow Dog is its eccentric cast and the almost surreal presence of the titular yellow dog, which adds an unusual twist to the investigation. While the plot is straightforward, the novel’s charm lies in its character-driven intrigue and the nuanced depiction of small-town dynamics.

Another early Maigret book, “The Yellow Dog” from 1931 has Maigret in the coastal town of Concarneau investigating the shooting of a local wine merchant while the town is being haunted by a mysterious yellow dog who seems to portend trouble.

Four friends meet at the Admiral Hotel nightly in Concarneau for some drinking and game playing. As one of them leaves one evening, and stops in a random doorway to light a cigar, he is shot in the stomach. In comes Maigret to help the local inspector with the investigation.

Is this just a case of someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time? It seems that way, but when poison is found in the bar drinks, and another of the four is attacked while another disappears, it seems as if someone is out to get all four friends. Of the four only the doctor remains at the hotel, hiding and fearing for his life. And while these incidents are terrifying the town, a mysterious yellow dog has appeared, always present when something new is discovered. Maigret patiently wades his way through the suspicion and mistrust as he tries to solve the mystery and find the culprit. Why was the wine merchant shot? Who owns the yellow dog? Why is the doctor fearing for his life? What is the role of the silent hotel waitress? And how can Maigret stop the injustice before there’s another death?

Another example of the laid-back style of Maigret, of how he pursues answers to questions based on how he reads situations and people. If there is one world to describe him, it would have to be patient, as he waits for events to unfold and watches quietly from the side to see what will happen. Even when the mayor presses him for an arrest, Maigret instead throws the doctor into jail for his own protection. A fascinating study into fear, the insular nature of small towns, and what the poor must do to find happiness. All in all, a typical Maigret outing.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Farrar, Straus and Giroux - Picador via NetGalley. Thank you!

This was a surprise to me. When I got this, I didn’t realize it was 5 of 75 books lol. Or that it was written so many years ago. But I quite enjoyed it! It put me back in time and was an enjoyable short read with mystery a plenty. I look forward to reading more in this series

Having never previously read a book by Georges Simenon, I went into this with no expectations. It was a short detective story that I easily read in one day (which seems to be the intention). With simple language and a well-built setting, I enjoyed my time reading.

I found the character of Maigret to be unique. He is a sharp man who would prefer to sit in the background as events unfold rather than doing extensive investigations. From my perspective, however, this meant that Maigret's final deduction was given without many hints being given beforehand. Nevertheless, I found this to be an accessible place to start the works of Georges Simenon.

I have always enjoyed Maigret, mainly from television adaptations over the years, but also from reading some of the books. I am so glad that they are being rereleased.
The setting is Concarneau in Brittany, Maigret is called upon by the Mayor after a shooting, when he arrives he is involved in a near miss, when poison is suspected in the Pernod. Maigret works his way through the clues and misdirection.
A classic by Georges Simenon and my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

The Yellow Dog by Georges Simenon

People are: shot, poisoned, missing, and arrested. A yellow dog is always present until he gets shot too! All these are mysteries Chief Inspector Maigret is asked to solve.

This little story will delight the reader up until the end. It’s clever and fun. Somehow, Maigret manages to get all the mysteries solved so the people of Concarneau, France can go back into the streets to live their lives without fear.

A solid four stars from me and looking forward to more stories about Maigret and his sidekick Leroy!

I am a fan of Georges Simenon through a few Masterpiece Theater productions. What always enthralled me in those, I am realizing after reading The Yellow Dog, was the evocative settings. This mystery is set outside of Paris in the rugged coastline of Brittany in Northwestern France. The story features all the hallmarks of a novel by Simenon, with a cast of characters whose motivations are complicated and also ripe for social commentary. The question of who is terrorizing this rural community, still so backward the roads are reduced to impassable mud during extended rain, and even more enigmatically, who does this yellow dog belong to, are almost secondary to the character analysis and social dynamics. The pace is steady and the plotting satisfying. But be forewarned, this is not a pulse pounding thriller with multiple twists. It is a methodical investigation with a satisfying reveal characteristic of the golden age of mystery.

Like the other Maigret books I've read, I found this fascinating and the premise SO much fun. It's a quick read, not too heavy, but nevertheless Simenon touches on complexities under the surface that gives the book a unique texture.

A wine dealer is shot in a seemingly quiet seaside town, prompting Detective Maigret to investigate a series of strange events: poisoned drinks, a missing man, and a mysterious dog. Despite the townspeople’s silence, Maigret unravels the truth behind the escalating mystery.

My reaction to this book is similar to the one for “The Carter of ‘La Providence’”: emotionless police procedural, focuses on setting, flat characters, not a whodunnit but a vehicle to portray an almost insolvable crime. This book, at least, has a somewhat engaging plot. I won’t be reading more from this author.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Golden Age mysteries are amongst my favourite fiction stories to indulge in Though not my best-loved author, Georges Simenon knew his way around whodunits with whispers of noir. The fifth in the Maigret series, The Yellow Dog is set in coastal France, short and sweet and riddled with poison, large footprints, and red herrings. The plot is clever and even the chilly weather helps set the scene. The conclusion is satisfying and unexpected.

Realistically flawed Inspector Maigret takes on a case in which a man is shot. A large neglected dog looms in the picture, too, and as a dog lover, tore my heart into pieces. There are stronger books by Simenon but I would still recommend this as a first foray into the genre. I enjoyed it as it encapsulates that something special about Golden Age mysteries which is difficult to fully capture in the modern day. The writing is sparse and impactful, nothing superfluous here. The vivid descriptions of atmospheric 1930s France took me there in a heartbeat. Murder is just part of the mystery. All in all, well worth your time immersing yourself in.

While I have read many of the Golden Age writers, Simenon was not one of them so when the opportunity presented itself, I accepted it. I'm sorry to say, I'm not a fan. As so often happens in the Golden Age, the writer doesn't exactly play fair with the reader. They learn things that are not shared with the reader, or just arrive at a "deduction" with little or nothing to back it up. In this story, a group of friends in a small town in France appears to be the target of an assassin, and the only clue is a tellow dog who appears at each crime scene.

Inspector Maigret is called to Concarneau, France, after a prominent local wine merchant is shot in the street. The crime sets off a series of suspicious events: a yellow dog is seen lurking mysteriously around town, a local reporter disappears, and a rash of poisonings follows. As the townspeople grow increasingly paranoid, Maigret remains calm and observant, refusing to be swept up in hysteria.

This is almost the french version of Columbo, slow and steady he is, looking at every angle and conducting multiple interviews, the Inspector slowly draws his conclusions. Rather than focusing on action-packed detective work, Maigret employs his signature method—immersing himself in the town’s rhythms, listening more than interrogating, watching rather than reacting. He slowly uncovers a story of greed, secrets, and simmering resentment that leads to a subtle but satisfying resolution for all.

This is a slow burn so sit back and prepare to immerse yourself as well into the small town politics and petty jealousies that inhabit small town living.

The author does a good job of painting a gloomy seaside town where tension hangs in the damp air. The yellow dog becomes a symbol of unease, its unexplained presence adding an eerie layer to the mystery. Wherever he goes, mayhem follows. Maigret, as always, is quietly compelling, methodical, unflappable, and deeply human.

The novel also serves as a social critique, peeling back the respectability of the town’s bourgeois class to reveal the petty rivalries and moral decay beneath. Simenon excels at exploring the human condition through the lens of crime, and The Yellow Dog is a fine example of this. The mystery itself, while intriguing, is secondary to the atmosphere and psychological insight.

This is a short read at 134 pages and will leave you wanting more.

My thanks to Net Galley, and Farrar, Strauss, Giroux Picador for this arc.

Very short well written and structured whodunit? I watched a few if these on Masterpiece but I don't think this was for me. Difficult to focus with the French words, I wanted more with the dog and felt it was a heavy read.

The Yellow Dog
By Georges Simenon

This is one of the earlier Inspector Maigret mysteries. It takes place in Concarneau, France and begins with a seemingly beloved townsman, stopping in a doorway to light his cigar, being shot by an unknown assailant for no apparent reason. Police Inspector Maigret is called in to investigate.

The injured man, a M. Mostaguen, has been in the Admiral Café playing cards with his three friends; M. Le Pommeret, a self-important dandy; M. Servieres, the sometime journalist; and Dr. Michoux. As Maigret works to put together the pieces and solve the crime, still other crimes take place involving poison; blood in an abandoned car and a disappearance; and a shooting. This leaves the almost manically frantic and fearful Dr. Michoux, who is convinced he is to be the next victim.

But Maigret has his keen eye on Emma, the barmaid; the yellow mutt who seems to recognize her; and the unknown giant the townspeople think is responsible for the crimes. In the end, Maigret does, of course, solve the case and arrest the guilty party. When the true story is explained, an old wrong is made right and the miscreant is sent to Devil's Island.

This is a simple and direct murder mystery, but still a fun read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

This book takes place in Concarneau, in Brittany. A group of wealthy men usually meet in the Admiral hotel. On this night, the doctor leaves early, and when the wine merchant leaves, he stops at the front of an empty house, and is shot through the keyhole. Another man is poisoned. Maigret is called to come solve the crime. Soon another of the wealthy men disappears - his car is left by the sea with blood stains in it. Reporters come from afar. The hotel waitress Emma is keeping something to herself, but Maigret knows she is innocent. Maigret puts the Doctor into the prison, partly to protect him from himself.

Finally, at the end, Maigret explains the whole story. I thank Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux who are republishing this early 1900's popular Simenon book for providing me a copy to read before republication.

A quick read that was an interesting mystery. I was left guessing until the end. I was impressed with how cleverly Simenon wove together the plot and planted clues to how the crimes were committed and why. The resolution at the end was very satisfying save for the outcome with the dog. If you like noir style mysteries set in the 1930s you should give this one a read. Thanks to NetGalley and to Picadour Press for allowing me to read an ARC on the latest translation of this novel in exchange for this honest review.