Member Review

Cycling Through Canal Shadows

In the 1931 psychological mystery "The Carter of 'La Providence,'" Georges Simenon depicts Inspector Maigret investigating the strangling of a woman discovered in a stable near a French canal. Simenon employs remarkable detail to capture the somber atmosphere of life on the waterways, an environment Maigret explores thoroughly. Although this early installment features a spirited and determined Maigret cycling along towpaths, the narrative pace sometimes falters due to the dense technicalities of the canal system. While the prose is atmospheric and skillfully written, I found the brisker tempo of Simenon's other works, such as "The Yellow Dog," to be a more engaging experience.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Picador, and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.