Georges Simenon, famed for his detective fiction, created unforgettable characters like Inspector Maigret. Novels such as The Yellow Dog highlight Simenon's sharp storytelling skills and clever portrayal of human nature.
If you enjoy reading books by Georges Simenon then you might also like the following authors:
Books by Agatha Christie offer mysteries that any Georges Simenon fan would enjoy. Christie creates engaging puzzles in classic detective fiction style, with well-known sleuths like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.
In The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, the peaceful English village of King’s Abbot turns upside down when Roger Ackroyd is discovered dead in his study.
Hercule Poirot, a sharp-minded Belgian detective, is called in to unravel tangled secrets of jealousy, betrayal, and blackmail among the villagers.
With clues hidden carefully between conversations and everyday moments, readers must pay close attention to every detail, right to the shocking conclusion.
If you enjoy Georges Simenon’s detective novels, you might also appreciate Dashiell Hammett’s classic mysteries. Hammett offers stark, fast-paced stories filled with sharp dialogue and realistic characters.
His novel The Maltese Falcon introduces Sam Spade, a skeptical private detective drawn into deception and greed after his partner is suddenly murdered.
As Spade searches for answers, he encounters shady figures, dangerous women, and a priceless statuette called the Maltese Falcon. The twists and morally complex characters in this classic novel make it an essential read for any mystery fan.
Patricia Highsmith was an American author known for psychological crime fiction and suspenseful narratives. Readers who enjoy Georges Simenon’s Detective Maigret novels may appreciate Highsmith’s focus on subtle psychological tension.
Her novel Strangers on a Train tells a chilling story of two men who meet by chance during a train ride. Their casual conversation takes a dark turn, as one proposes exchanging murders to evade suspicion.
The novel explores the darker aspects of the human psyche, suspicion, and moral ambiguity, themes that appeal to those who enjoy Simenon’s atmospheric mysteries.
Books by Raymond Chandler offer readers sharp detective stories filled with atmospheric intrigue and clever character insights. Fans of Georges Simenon’s Inspector Maigret series will find similar satisfaction in Chandler’s private detective, Philip Marlowe.
In The Big Sleep, Marlowe navigates a web of blackmail, murder, and deception within Los Angeles’ wealthy elite. Chandler expertly layers suspenseful scenes and snappy dialogue, creating a distinctive noir atmosphere.
The complex, flawed characters keep readers guessing, making The Big Sleep a classic for detective fiction enthusiasts.
Books by Ross Macdonald offer readers sharp detective stories that reveal hidden secrets beneath the surface of everyday life.
If you enjoy Georges Simenon’s Inspector Maigret series and its careful portrayal of human psychology, Macdonald’s Lew Archer novels provide a similar satisfaction. Archer is a private investigator known for his empathy and quiet determination.
A great place to start is The Chill, where Archer investigates a missing newlywed and quickly realizes the mystery leads back to long-hidden family scandals and dark histories.
Macdonald guides readers skillfully through the twists of the plot and the complicated motives of his characters. Readers of Simenon’s thoughtful detective fiction will appreciate Macdonald’s careful examination of guilt, family, and the past.
Readers who enjoy Georges Simenon’s Inspector Maigret mysteries might appreciate Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse novels. Dexter, a British crime author, created Inspector Morse, a thoughtful and introspective detective known for his love of crosswords, classical music, and beer.
In Last Bus to Woodstock, Morse investigates the murder of a young woman found dead in a pub car park. The story reveals Morse’s meticulous detective work and attention to detail.
Set in Oxford, the book shows Morse’s sharp intellect and dry wit, as he unravels clues hidden within seemingly simple events. Dexter’s mysteries offer clever plots, memorable characters, and engaging storytelling that draw readers into Morse’s distinctive world.
Readers who enjoy Georges Simenon’s detective fiction might also appreciate the crime novels of Fred Vargas. Vargas is a French author known for cleverly plotted mysteries featuring the quirky Commissaire Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg.
Her novel The Chalk Circle Man introduces Adamsberg, a detective who investigates a strange crime in Paris. One night, mysterious circles drawn with blue chalk appear on the city’s streets, each circle containing an odd object.
What starts as harmless eccentricity soon turns sinister when a body appears inside one of the circles, pushing Adamsberg to untangle a complex mystery that blends detailed characterization with atmospheric Parisian backdrops.
Vargas carefully constructs a suspenseful narrative with twists that keep readers guessing until the very end.
Books by Jean-Patrick Manchette offer sharp, gritty crime stories that draw readers into dark yet fascinating worlds. If you enjoy Georges Simenon’s psychological depth and realistic characters, Manchette’s novel The Prone Gunman could be a good discovery.
The book follows Martin Terrier, a skilled but weary hitman who wants out of the life he’s been leading. His plan for a quiet retirement falls apart when old employers won’t let him go, forcing Terrier back into a dangerous chase filled with betrayal and suspense.
Manchette paints clear portraits of desperation and humanity’s darker sides, bringing you swiftly into a tension-filled story that feels realistic yet electric at every turn.
Readers who enjoy Georges Simenon’s thoughtful mysteries may appreciate the detective novels of British author P.D. James. James is known for her character-driven mysteries that slowly unravel human motives and secrets.
In Cover Her Face, readers meet Adam Dalgliesh, James’s thoughtful detective. He investigates the death of Sally Jupp, a young maid found murdered behind a locked door at Martingale manor. Family members, each hiding their own resentments and secrets, soon become suspects.
The careful examination of clues, combined with James’s nuanced observation of British society, builds a mystery filled with suspense and emotional depth.
If you enjoy Georges Simenon’s detective novels, then Andrea Camilleri might be your next favorite author. Camilleri, an Italian writer, brings Sicily vividly to life in his Inspector Montalbano series.
In The Shape of Water, Inspector Salvo Montalbano investigates an unusual case when a prominent local politician is found dead in a compromising position. Officially, the death seems straightforward, but Montalbano senses there’s more beneath the surface.
With sharp wit, dry humor, and thoughtful insights into Sicilian society, this novel offers mystery lovers an intriguing narrative full of surprising twists.
Readers who enjoy the psychological depth and careful plotting of Georges Simenon may find Elizabeth George’s novels equally satisfying. George is an American author best known for her British-set crime series focused on Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley.
In her novel A Great Deliverance, Lynley and his partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, investigate a brutal murder in a quiet English village. Each character carries personal issues and hidden motivations that gradually surface, creating tension and suspense.
George’s skillful portrayal of crime, character study, and social context will resonate with fans of Simenon’s Inspector Maigret series.
Readers who enjoy Georges Simenon’s dark mysteries and morally complex characters may appreciate James Ellroy’s intense crime fiction. Ellroy’s The Black Dahlia dives into the brutal murder of Elizabeth Short in post-war Los Angeles.
The story follows two ambitious detectives who become personally obsessed with the victim. Their investigation reveals corruption, obsession, and hidden layers of Hollywood’s dark underbelly.
Ellroy’s gritty realism and flawed characters create an atmosphere that Simenon fans will find familiar and captivating.
Books by Léo Malet are perfect if you’re a fan of Georges Simenon’s atmospheric mysteries. Malet created the tough and witty detective Nestor Burma, a character whose adventures take readers through the shadowed streets of post-war Paris.
In 120, Rue de la Gare, Burma investigates a puzzling crime after a stranger dies mysteriously in a train station, leaving behind only a cryptic address.
The detective follows clues through cafés, police stations, and hidden neighborhoods of Paris, unraveling secrets from a dark past.
Malet brings the city’s gritty corners to life, combining suspense with sharp humor, much in the style readers appreciate in Simenon’s Maigret novels.
Books by Michael Connelly often explore the gritty world of Los Angeles crime through the eyes of detective Harry Bosch. In The Black Echo, Bosch investigates a murder that unexpectedly connects back to his time as a soldier during the Vietnam War.
The city’s dark alleys, hidden secrets, and complex human motives emerge vividly through Connelly’s sharp storytelling.
If you enjoyed Georges Simenon’s careful examination of crime and psychology through Inspector Maigret, Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch stories bring a similarly deep and thoughtful perspective to modern-day mysteries.
If you enjoy Georges Simenon’s atmospheric detective novels, you’ll likely appreciate Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle’s writing gives readers sharp puzzles and clear narratives filled with intriguing details of Victorian London.
In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Holmes and his loyal sidekick Dr. Watson travel to gloomy Dartmoor, where they investigate a legendary curse involving a ghostly hound.
Doyle weaves together folklore, suspense, and rational deduction, creating an absorbing mystery that unfolds at a quick pace. With each clue, Holmes skillfully separates superstition from facts, leading readers toward a satisfying conclusion.