Maigret A Man's Head & Other Stories

By: Georges Simenon

Narrated by: Nicholas Le Prevost

Nicholas Le Prevost stars as the French detective in four new BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatizations These new adaptations of classic stories find Maigret recreating four memorable cases for his creator Georges Simenon. In ‘Maigret: A Man’s Head’, a convicted man is allowed to escape, then followed by police investigating a double murder. Maigret finds himself entering glittering society and a war of nerves with a suspect. ‘The Bar on the Seine’ sees a condemned man telling Maigret about a riverside drinking hole where a murderer lurks undetected. Pursuing the clue, Maigret witnesses a death and discovers a much older crime... ‘My Friend Maigret’ finds Maigret investigating the murder of a tramp on the French island of Porquerolles - but he is hampered by the attentions of Inspector Pyke of Scotland Yard. Finally, in ‘Madame Maigret’s Own Case’, when Madame Maigret makes a friend outside her dentist’s office, she stumbles upon the resolution of one of her husband’s most stubborn investigations.

What fun plays

these are fun plays and worth listening to the actors are great and so is the story

Maigret a French Phillip Marlowe?

What made the experience of listening to Maigret: A Man's Head and Other Stories (Dramatised) the most enjoyable?

I have read some Maigret - but didn't really enjoy him. This dramatisation with Nicholas Le Provost made me realise how much I'd been missing. He's a bit like a French Phillip Marlowe - but more philosophical.

If you’ve listened to books by Georges Simenon before, how does this one compare?

I listened to another dramatisation from the BBC with Maurice Denham who is a favourite actor after great performances as Le Carre's Smiley and as Rumpole. Le Provost is different - and less world weary - but he still brings class to this classic detective role.

Have you listened to any of Nicholas Le Prevost’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not before this.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Nothing dramatic. I was engaged and entertained.

Any additional comments?

Another good dramatisation from the Beeb.

A bit let down.

What did you like best about Maigret: A Man's Head and Other Stories (Dramatised)? What did you like least?

Maigret (Simenon) is a master at this type of tale. I was not able to get deeply into the story as the acting seemed to me to be distracting from the story.