Inspector Jules Maigret stands as one of detective fiction’s most enduring and beloved characters—not because he’s brilliant, eccentric, or particularly heroic, but precisely because he’s none of those things. Created by Belgian author Georges Simenon in 1930, Maigret appeared in 75 novels and 28 short stories over four decades, revolutionizing detective fiction by proving that patience and psychological understanding could be more compelling than brilliant deduction.
Maigret is, above all, methodical. While Sherlock Holmes dazzles with deductive leaps and Hercule Poirot assembles elaborate theories, Maigret simply observes, absorbs, and waits. He solves crimes not by being smarter than everyone else but by being more patient, more observant, and more interested in understanding people than in solving puzzles.
His most famous attribute is his pipe. Maigret is rarely seen without it, using it as both a comfort and a thinking aid. The pipe has become so associated with the character that actors portraying him are almost required to smoke one.
Physically, Maigret is solid and imposing—a large, heavy-set man who fills a room with his presence. He’s not athletic or particularly elegant, but his bulk and steady demeanor command respect. Criminals find him unnerving not because he’s threatening but because he seems to see through facades.
His investigative method frustrates superiors who want quick results. Maigret prefers to spend time in neighborhoods where crimes occurred, drinking in local cafes, talking to concierges and bartenders, absorbing the atmosphere. He’s particularly interested in the psychological motivations behind crimes—why someone killed, what circumstances led to this moment.
His relationship with his wife, Louise Maigret, provides essential grounding. She creates a peaceful home where he can retreat from the darkness of his work. Their marriage represents stability and normalcy in contrast to the broken lives Maigret encounters professionally.
What makes Maigret endure is his humanity. He’s not superhuman, not particularly clever, not especially brave. He’s a solid, methodical professional who does his job well through patience and genuine interest in people.
Reading Order
See the complete Inspector Maigret reading order for all 75 novels in the series.