Book Review : Cecile is Dead

The plot in this book is similar to the story Maigret and the Mad Woman.

Maigret is often visited by Cecile at police headquarters who complains that there’s a nocturnal intruder in her apartment who moves items around. Cecile is the live-in caregiver to her aunt who is the landlady of the building.

Maigret doesn’t ever investigate.

One day, Cecile comes in early and asks to see Maigret as she has something urgent to tell him.

Maigret ignores her as he has higher priorities. By the time, he has a few moments to see Cecile, she has gone.

Within 24 hours, both Cecile and her aunt, Juliette Boynet, are both dead.

Maigret feels guilty.

He is determined to find out who committed the murders. This is a knotty case where the strands of Juliette’s complex life are gradually loosened and where family members and neighbours seem more concerned about her wealth than who killed her. How are the murders linked? Were there two murderers rather than one?

All is revealed thanks to Maigret’s gritty determination and single-mindedness.