| Plot Summary of Maigret in Defensive |
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"For the first time in his career, Maigret is summoned to the Chief Commissioner's office by a written summons. He has been accused by Nicole Prieur, 17-year-old niece of a high-ranking public official, of picking her up in a bar, getting her drunk, and taking her to a hotel room, where he undressed her, but "was unable to do anything." Maigret is forbidden to interview her or anyone regarding the case, and told that if offered, his resignation would be accepted. Maigret disregards the injunction and starts to investigate, returning to Manuel Palmari's, who he had been investigating for a series of jewel robberies, and sending out inspectors, against orders.
He learns from a Sorbonne porter that Nicole was a member of the Hundred Keys Club, which he visits, and discovers that her sponsor had been François Mélan, the dentist whose office was opposite Palmari's. Suspicious, he visits the dentist and makes inquiries about him, eventually discovering that besides being a brilliant, troubled man, he was also an abortionist. Three of his clients had died during the procedure, and he had buried them secretly in his garden. He had spotted Maigret at Palmari's, whose window was opposite his, and assumed that Maigret was on his trail, so had set up the situation with Nicole to get Maigret off the case.
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Dana Samson, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Maigret in Defensive |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 20%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%
Tone of story
- Dry-cynical
How difficult to spot villain?
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- 1960's-1970's
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- nearly 100%
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, Foreign
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- French
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Genius (really!)
Physique
- healthy but a geeky weakling
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- doctor
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
Motive of antagonist
- revenge
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- France
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 3-4
Amount of dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
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