An impromptu visit to an old school friend in the Vendee draws Maigret into a disturbing local investigation

The mood of the town was still jittery. It was all very well for people to go about their day-to-day activities as usual, there was a certain anxiety in people’s eyes and they seemed to be walking faster, as if they were afraid the murderer would suddenly appear. Maigret would have sworn the housewives didn’t normally stand around on the doorsteps talking in hushed tones.