The Two-Penny Bar

Oct 10, 2024 11:19 AM

Author:Georges Simenon,David Watson

The Two-Penny Bar

Previously published as The Bar on the Seine

A forgotten crime comes to light in the Parisian summer in Georges Simenon's twisted tale. Book eleven in the new Penguin Maigret series.

'A radiant late afternoon. The sunshine almost as thick as syrup in the quiet streets of the Left Bank . . .

there are days like this, when ordinary life seems heightened, when the people walking down the street, the

trams and cars all seem to exist in a fairy tale.'

A story told by a condemned man leads Maigret to a bar by the Seine and into the sleazy underside of respectable Parisian life. In the oppressive heat of summer, a forgotten crime comes to light.

Penguin is publishing the entire series of Maigret novels in new translations. This novel is a revised translation, previously published as The Bar on the Seine.

'Compelling, remorseless, brilliant' John Gray

'One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequalled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories' Guardian

'A supreme writer . . . unforgettable vividness' Independent

Reviews

The narrative is brisk and gripping and the background researched with care . . . the entire story is a pleasure to relish

—— Scotsman

Dick Francis's fiction has a secret ingredient - his inimitable knack of grabbing the reader's attention on page one and holding it tight until the very end

—— Sunday Telegraph

Francis writing at his best

—— Evening Standard

A tale of mystery, secrets and love

—— Female First

Highly absorbing

—— Love Reading

A delicious new mystery . . . We started reading this over lunch yesterday, and became so engrossed, it was a struggle to get back to work

—— Novelicious

Most readers should find the book irresistible. In balancing the sharp shifts in tone, Marklund is masterful

—— Kirkus Reviews

An unflinching account of emotional damage and how hard it can be to uncover the truth

—— My Weekly

A thrilling read

—— Joseph Fiennes , Express

A very dark book but a magnificent read

—— Kirsty Wark

An intricate and sinister thriller, in which the truth is slowly and subtly revealed

—— Ruth Hunter, BookTime , The Bookseller, September Booksellers' Choice

Words to describe this wonderful thriller could be: gripping, sinister, realistic and very scary, as well as irresistible, compulsive and unputdownable... A perfect read on a dark evening,

—— DulwichBooksReview

A gripping thriller... Will leave even the most hardened of horror fans looking over their shoulders and checking that the door is locked!

—— Yattar Yattar

Complex, ingenious and thrilling

—— CultureFly

a sinister and suspenseful read

—— Jan Gardner , Boston Globe

ghastly, riveting tale.

—— Entertainment Weekly

Highly unsettling

—— Daily Telegraph

A tantalising mystery

—— Sunday Telegraph

Captures sinister atmosphere brilliantly

—— Spectator

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