Georges Simenon Books in Order
187 books are credited to Georges Simenon, published between 1931 and 2016; 2 of them appeared after Georges Simenon's death in 1989. The first book is Maigret and the Enigmatic Lett / Pietr the Latvian (1931) and the newest is The Hand (2016). Publication order is the reading order below.
Georges Simenon also publishes as Aramis, Bobette, Christian Brulls, G. Legros Jaques, G. Sim, G. Vialio, G. Violis, Gaston Vialis, Gaston Viallis, Gemis, Georges Caraman, Georges d'Isly, Georges-Martin-Georges, Germain d’Antibes, Gom Gut, J.-K. Charles, Jacques Dersonne, Jean Dorsage, Jean Dossage, Jean Sandor, Jean du Perry, Kim, La Déshabilleuse, Le Vieux Suiveur, Luc Dorsan, Maurice Pertuis, Miquette, Misti, Pan, Plick et Plock, Poum et Zette, Sandor.
- Books
- 187
- Published
- 1931–2016
- Confirmed
- 187 of 187 titles
- Pages on record
- 23,639 in 129 of 187 books
- Reading time
- 394–591 hours
Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 23,639 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 129 of 187 titles with a page count on record.
Inspector Maigret, a policeman in Paris, is the centre of Georges Simenon's crime fiction. The catalogue holds 187 books, beginning in 1931 with Pietr the Latvian. Short novels are the form, at a median 169 pages, and the 1950s were the densest decade. Standalone novels, short stories and non-fiction sit beside the Maigret run, most of it translated from the French.
How many Georges Simenon books are there?
Georges Simenon has 187 books, released between 1931 and 2016. 2 of them were published after Georges Simenon's death in 1989. 75 of them belong to the Inspector Maigret series.
Georges Simenon Books in Publication Order
The table lists all 187 Georges Simenon books in the order they were published, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.
- 11931–3/4
- 219311633/4
- 31931–3/4
- 4The Death of Monsieur Gallet / The Late Monsieur Gallet / Maigret StonewalledInspector Maigret #31931 · 154 pages · confirmed 3/419311543/4
- 5The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien / The Crime of Inspector Maigret / Maigret and the Hundred GibbetsInspector Maigret #41931 · 137 pages · confirmed 3/419311373/4
- 6A Battle of Nerves/ A Man's Head / Maigret's War of NervesInspector Maigret #51931 · 176 pages · confirmed 3/419311763/4
- 7The Yellow Dog / Maigret and the Concarneau MurdersInspector Maigret #61931 · 144 pages · confirmed 3/419311443/4
- 81931–3/4
- 91931–3/4
- 10The Sailors' Rendezvous / Maigret Answers a Plea / The Grand Banks CafeInspector Maigret #91931 · 127 pages · confirmed 3/419311273/4
- 11The Dancer at the Gai-Moulin / Maigret at the Gai-MoulinInspector Maigret #101931 · 152 pages · confirmed 3/419311523/4
- 12Maigret and the Tavern by the Seine / The Two-Penny BarInspector Maigret #111931 · 149 pages · confirmed 3/419311493/4
- 1319321473/4
- 14Maigret Goes Home / The Saint-Fiacre Affair / Maigret on Home Ground / Maigret and the CountessInspector Maigret #131932 · confirmed 3/41932–3/4
- 151932–3/4
- 16Maigret and the Death of a Harbor-Master / Misty Harbour / Maigret and Monsieur LabbeInspector Maigret #151932 · confirmed 3/41932–3/4
- 1719321603/4
- 1819321603/4
- 1919331353/4
- 2019331333/4
- 2119331383/4
- 2219331763/4
- 2319343003/4
- 2419341653/4
- 2519341443/4
- 2619353653/4
- 2719363433/4
- 281938–3/4
- 29The Man Who Watched Trains Go ByGeorges Simenon Standalone Novels #91938 · 203 pages · confirmed 3/419382033/4
- 301938–3/4
- 3119382003/4
- 3219401943/4
- 3319421083/4
- 3419421703/4
- 3519421883/4
- 36The Cellars of the Majestic / Maigret and the Hotel MajesticInspector Maigret #201942 · 176 pages · confirmed 3/419421763/4
- 3719421613/4
- 3819421923/4
- 3919441523/4
- 40Maigret and the Fortuneteller / To Any Lengths / Signed, PicpusInspector Maigret #231944 · 140 pages · confirmed 3/419441403/4
- 411944–3/4
- 4219441763/4
- 4319453203/4
- 4419451743/4
- 4519461583/4
- 4619462163/4
- 4719461503/4
- 481947643/4
- 4919471603/4
- 50Maigret in New York / Maigret in New York's UnderworldInspector Maigret #271947 · 192 pages · confirmed 3/419471923/4
- 5119485433/4
- 5219483043/4
- 531948–3/4
- 54Maigret's Holiday / A Summer Holiday / No Vacation for MaigretInspector Maigret #281948 · 192 pages · confirmed 3/419481923/4
- 5519482403/4
- 5619491573/4
- 571949–3/4
- 5819491443/4
- 5919491923/4
- 6019491603/4
- 611949–3/4
- 621950–3/4
- 631950–3/4
- 641950–3/4
- 6519501763/4
- 66Madame Maigret's Own Case / The Friend of Madame Maigret / Madame Maigret's FriendInspector Maigret #341950 · 180 pages · confirmed 3/419501803/4
- 671951–3/4
- 6819511763/4
- 69Maigret in Montmartre / Maigret and the Strangled Stripper / Maigret at Picratt'sInspector Maigret #361951 · confirmed 3/41951–3/4
- 7019511763/4
- 71Maigret and the Burglar's Wife / Maigret and the Tall WomanInspector Maigret #381951 · 167 pages · confirmed 3/419511673/4
- 721952–3/4
- 731952–3/4
- 741952–3/4
- 751952–3/4
- 761952–3/4
- 771952–3/4
- 781952–3/4
- 79Maigret and the Gangsters / Inspector Maigret and the Killers / Maigret, Lognon and the GangstersInspector Maigret #391952 · confirmed 3/41952–3/4
- 8019522223/4
- 8119532573/4
- 8219531443/4
- 831953–3/4
- 84Maigret and the Man on the Bench / Maigret and the Man on the BoulevardInspector Maigret #411953 · 181 pages · confirmed 3/419531813/4
- 8519531703/4
- 8619531883/4
- 8719541423/4
- 8819541243/4
- 8919541733/4
- 9019541843/4
- 91Maigret and the Calame Report / Maigret and the MinisterInspector Maigret #451954 · 183 pages · confirmed 3/419541833/4
- 92Maigret and the Dead Girl / Maigret and the Young GirlInspector Maigret #461954 · 176 pages · confirmed 3/419541763/4
- 9319551443/4
- 9419551543/4
- 951955–3/4
- 9619551833/4
- 971955–3/4
- 981955–3/4
- 9919551823/4
- 10019561763/4
- 10119561763/4
- 102Maigret Enjoys Himself / Maigret's Little Joke / None of Maigret's BusinessInspector Maigret #501957 · 176 pages · confirmed 3/419571763/4
- 1031957–3/4
- 10419581763/4
- 1051958–3/4
- 10619581873/4
- 1071958–3/4
- 1081958–3/4
- 10919591833/4
- 11019591603/4
- 11119591493/4
- 11219591723/4
- 1131959–3/4
- 1141959–3/4
- 11519601263/4
- 1161960–3/4
- 11719601443/4
- 11819601653/4
- 11919601703/4
- 12019601463/4
- 121Maigret and the Idle Burglar / Maigret and the Lazy BurglarInspector Maigret #571961 · 144 pages · confirmed 3/419611443/4
- 12219611533/4
- 12319611923/4
- 1241961–3/4
- 1251961–3/4
- 126Maigret and the Black Sheep / Maigret and the Good People of MontparnasseInspector Maigret #581962 · 158 pages · confirmed 3/419621583/4
- 12719621243/4
- 12819621383/4
- 12919621563/4
- 1301962–3/4
- 131Maigret and the Tramp / Maigret and the Dosser / Maigret and the BumInspector Maigret #601963 · confirmed 3/41963–3/4
- 132Maigret's Fury / Maigret Loses His Temper / Maigret's AngerInspector Maigret #611963 · 138 pages · confirmed 3/419631383/4
- 1331963–3/4
- 13419631923/4
- 1351963–3/4
- 1361964–3/4
- 137Maigret on the Defensive / Maigret Holds His Own / Maigret Defends HimselfInspector Maigret #631964 · 148 pages · confirmed 3/419641483/4
- 13819641693/4
- 139Maigret Bides His Time / The Patience of Maigret / Maigret's PatienceInspector Maigret #641965 · confirmed 3/41965–3/4
- 14019651433/4
- 14119651823/4
- 1421965–3/4
- 14319651623/4
- 14419661603/4
- 14519661823/4
- 1461966–3/4
- 1471966–3/4
- 14819661723/4
- 149Maigret and the Pickpocket / Maigret's PickpocketInspector Maigret #661967 · 151 pages · confirmed 3/419671513/4
- 1501967–3/4
- 1511967–3/4
- 15219671243/4
- 15319681773/4
- 15419681843/4
- 155Maigret's Boyhood Friend / Maigret's Childhood FriendInspector Maigret #691968 · 182 pages · confirmed 3/419681823/4
- 15619681583/4
- 15719681913/4
- 1581968–3/4
- 1591968–3/4
- 1601968–3/4
- 1611968–3/4
- 16219691653/4
- 1631969–3/4
- 16419692023/4
- 16519701923/4
- 16619701873/4
- 16719701763/4
- 1681970–3/4
- 16919701503/4
- 1701970–3/4
- 17119713433/4
- 17219711613/4
- 17319711483/4
- 174Maigret and the Informer / Maigret and the FleaInspector Maigret #741972 · 150 pages · confirmed 3/419721503/4
- 17519721603/4
- 17619721833/4
- 17719731563/4
- 1781976913/4
- 17919764053/4
- 1801976–3/4
- 18119771753/4
- 18219791393/4
- 183Intimate Memoirs: Including Marie-Jo's BookGeorges Simenon Non-Fiction #41981 · 815 pages · confirmed 3/419818153/4
- 18419813283/4
- 18519871533/4
- 18620131383/4
- 18720161603/4
Georges Simenon series and characters in order
The character linked below has its own reading-order page.
- Inspector Maigret books in order 78 books
Georges Simenon books grouped by series
Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. A group whose heading is a link has its own reading-order page; the other groups have no page of their own on this site.
Georges Simenon Standalone Novels
104 books104 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Inspector Maigret books in order
75 books by Georges Simenon- 1. Maigret and the Enigmatic Lett / Pietr the Latvian
- 2. Maigret Meets a Milord / The Carter of 'La Providence'
- 3. The Death of Monsieur Gallet / The Late Monsieur Gallet / Maigret Stonewalled
- 4. The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien / The Crime of Inspector Maigret / Maigret and the Hundred Gibbets
- 5. A Battle of Nerves/ A Man's Head / Maigret's War of Nerves
- 6. The Yellow Dog / Maigret and the Concarneau Murders
- 7. Maigret at the Crossroads / The Night at the Crossroads
- 8. Maigret in Holland/ A Crime in Holland
- 9. The Sailors' Rendezvous / Maigret Answers a Plea / The Grand Banks Cafe
- 10. The Dancer at the Gai-Moulin / Maigret at the Gai-Moulin
- 11. Maigret and the Tavern by the Seine / The Two-Penny Bar
- 12. The Shadow Puppet / Maigret Mystified
- and 63 more in the table above
Georges Simenon Non-Fiction
4 books4 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Inspector Maigret Short Story
3 books3 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Inspector Maigret Short Stories/Novellas
1 book1 title published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Do you have to read Georges Simenon books in order?
You only need to read Georges Simenon books in order within the Inspector Maigret series, which holds 75 of the 187 Georges Simenon books listed here. The numbered table above gives every book in publication order.
Where to start with Georges Simenon
Start with Maigret and the Enigmatic Lett / Pietr the Latvian (1931), the first Inspector Maigret book. It is also the earliest catalogued title.
What is the newest Georges Simenon book?
The Hand (2016) is the newest Georges Simenon book released so far.
Is there a new Georges Simenon book coming?
No next Georges Simenon book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.
Awards Georges Simenon has won
Wikidata records 1 award and 4 nominations for Georges Simenon. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.
- The Grand Master1966Won
- Nobel Prize in Literature1965Shortlisted
- Nobel Prize in Literature1963Shortlisted
- Nobel Prize in Literature1961Shortlisted
- Nobel Prize in Literature1958Shortlisted
Georges Simenon at a glance
- Died
- Georges Simenon died in 1989, according to Wikidata.
- After death
- Books credited to Georges Simenon are still being published after Georges Simenon's death in 1989; the newest appeared in 2016.
- Release pace
- Georges Simenon books have appeared more than one a year on average.
- Length
- 23,639 pages across the 129 of 187 books with a recorded length, a median of 169 pages each.
- Busiest decade
- Most Georges Simenon books, 53 of 187, were published in the 1950s.
What the Georges Simenon books are about
132 of the 187 Georges Simenon books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: maigret, jules (fictitious character) is tagged on 87 of 132. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.
- Maigret, jules (fictitious character) 87 of 132 books
- Paris (France) 78 of 132 books
- Police 69 of 132 books
- Jules Maigret (Fictitious character) 67 of 132 books
- Mystery & detective, police procedural 65 of 132 books
- France 51 of 132 books
- French fiction 15 of 132 books
- Mystery & detective 15 of 132 books
- Romance literature 15 of 132 books
- Crime 13 of 132 books
- French Detective and mystery stories 11 of 132 books