An ageing boxer caught in a love triangle. A wealthy Parisian family on the brink of collapse. A mysterious murder in a hotel in Cannes. These tales of human frailty and deceit – three of which are being published in English for the first time – distil the atmosphere, themes and psychological intensity that make Simenon’s famous detective series so compelling. Written during the Second World War, just a few years after Simenon had published what was intended to be his last novel featuring Inspector Maigret, these stories encapsulate Simenon’s storytelling genius and economy of style.