'The father of contemporary European detective fiction' Ann CleevesInspector Maigret finds himself drawn into the secrets of an isolated community in this classic novel featuring Simenon's literary legendInspector Maigret is standing in the pouring rain by a canal near the town of Épernay. A well-dressed woman, Mary Lampson, has been found strangled in a stable nearby. Why did her glamorous, hedonistic life come to such a brutal end here? Surely her taciturn husband Sir Walter knows - or maybe the answers lie with the crew of the barge La Providence. Translated by David CowardOther titles in this collection include: Maigret's Holiday, Maigret Sets a Trap, Maigret Defends Himself, Maigret's Doubts, Maigret's Pickpocket, Maigret's Patience, The Saint-Fiacre Affair, Maigret and the Lazy Burglar, Maigret and the Old People, Maigret's Dead Man and Maigret in Vichy'Not just the world's bestselling detective series, but an imperishable literary legend' The Times