| The dismembered body of a man is found in the Saint-Martin Canal. Maigret stops at a small café in the neighborhood, near Quai de Valmy, and is intrigued by the proprietress, Aline Calas, who is unusually taciturn. He slowly begins to wonder if the body might be her husband, Omer Calas, supposedly away on a trip. Eventually that proves to be the case, when she turns out to be an heiress who hated her father, and ran away with a married man 25 years earlier. A lawyer, Mr. Canonge's search for heirs brought him to her café, and though she wanted no part of it, Omer discovered the facts of the inheritance, and Aline's lover, Dieudonne Pape, killed him when he came in while Omer was beating her into writing to accept the inheritance. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - Dry-cynical How difficult to spot villain? - Difficult, but some clues given Time/era of story: What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - nearly 100% Kind of investigator Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book descript. of violence and chases - 30 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 % Crime Thriller Yes Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Ethnicity/Race Unusual characteristics: Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 20's-30's Motive of antagonist - revenge How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting Europe Yes European country: - France Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment Unusual forms of death - decapitated Unusual form of death? Yes Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
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