A Man’s Head

by Georges Simenon

ISBN: 978-0-141-39351-3

169 pages

First published: 1931

Publisher: www.penguin.com

Cover design : Alceu Chiesorin Nunes

Cover photo : Harry Gruyaert / Magnum Photos

Translated by David Coward

5 / 5 Stars

A really interesting setup for a very enjoyable Maigret novel. Maigret tracks down the murdered of an elderly woman and her maid. He capture the villain, secures the conviction and he is sentenced to death.

The only problem?

Maigret believes he has got the wrong man. But no one else is a suspect. And the convict is about to go to the gallows…..

The chapters are as follows,

1. Cell 11: High Surveillance – p.1
2. The Sleeping Man – p.16
3. The Torn Newspaper – p.34
4. General Headquarters – p.45
5. The Man Who Liked Caviar – p.60
6. The Inn at Nandy – p.74
7. Little Man – p.86
8. A Man in the House – p.101
9. The Next Day – p.117
10. A Cupboard with a Surprise – p.133
11. Four Aces – p.146
12. The Fall – p.167

The only question is … did Hitchcock read Simenon? (or did Patricia Highsmith read Simenon?)