Simenon's 'The Cat' is a tense, bizarre and heartfelt journey through a relationship contrived in individual grief. This character driven book is absolute proof that Simenon was an expert at the noir, yet capable of wrenching on the reader's emotions and psychoanalyzing humanity. Funny, sad and filled with anger, Simenon shows us through the elderly couple Emile and Marguerite that, no matter what stage of life, we would go through great lengths to not be lonely, yet even greater ones to be left alone. Brilliant.

This is the first Simenon I've read (although I was aware of Maigret!). I fell for the quiet, understated artwork chosen for the cover of this reissue but wow, did not expect what was inside. Cast *The War of the Roses* aside. This post-Maigret work, first published in 1967, opens with an elderly couple at home—Emile and Marguerite—a second marriage for both after being widowed, perhaps initially marrying for companionship or convenience. When we meet them, they don't speak to each other and communicate through short, provocative notes. At first, it seems childish, maybe even playful, but it quickly becomes clear that this is something darker. The story is told from Emile's perspective and includes memories of his first wife and events leading up to the current state of affairs. It starts on shaky foundations and rapidly snowballs after an incident concerning Emile's beloved cat. Be warned, things happen to a cat and a parrot. It's uncomfortable to see Emile and Marguerite seemingly trapped together, psychologically torturing each other, and painful how much they need to be together. *The Cat* is a deftly crafted portrait of an increasingly tense, disturbed, and claustrophobic marriage. You might not like the characters, but it's compelling drama, which also touches on the wealth, class and gender perceptions and expectations of the time. I had questions by the end, but I did stay up late to find out what happened with this one, and it's made me want to check out more Simenon now.

Simenon's Maigret books were the first adult books I borrowed from my library at the ripe old age of 14, once I had exhausted the genre in the children's section. This is the first book of his that I have read that doesn't feature Jules Maigret. In fact, prior to this book, I had no knowledge of any of his other works at all and was actually quite shocked when I read that Maigret books form way less than half of his oeuvre. But I guess that the majority, for obvious reasons, have never been translated into English? Anyway... this book follows an aged couple after their relationship has completely broken down. Emile and Marguarite married each other in their 60s and, initially anyway, rubbed along nicely. Until Emile got a cat, which Marguarite despised. A cat who disappeared whilst Emile was sick in bed and Marguarite was supposed to be feeding, and who later turned up dead. Emile being convinced that Marguarite did away with it. So he turns his attention towards her parrot... And when we catch up with them, they are co-existing within the same home but individually, rather than as a couple. With no words spoken between the two, if there is something to say, it is by note. They are, in effect, trapped. By their own actions. As we follow their day to day individual lives, we also go back and learn about their pasts. It's uncomfortable reading but well illustrates the human condition and the feeling of being trapped but also, better the devil... It's a shame her animal is a parrot as I could very much describe their relationship as a bit cat and mouse with the roles reversing often as they exert their petty revenge on each other. It's all a bit co-dependent. It's honest and brutal and, if you are like me, will stay with you for a while after you turn the last page...