This is one of Georges Simenon’s many psychological thrillers, which he described as romans durs or ‘hard novels’. I’ve read two of his others – The Man from London and The Strangers in the House – and have enjoyed both, so was looking forward to reading this one. First published in 1965 as Le Train de Venise, it has just been reissued by Penguin Classics in a new English translation by Ros Schwartz.
The novel begins with Justin Calmar boarding a train in Venice to return to his home in Paris after a family holiday. His wife and two young children will follow in a few days’ time. During the journey, another passenger engages Justin in conversation and he finds himself agreeing to deliver a briefcase to an address in Lausanne when the train stops at the station there. However, things don’t go according to plan and Justin ends up returning to Paris with the case still in his possession. Unable to resist the temptation, he breaks the locks and looks inside…and what he finds there will change his life forever.
I won’t say too much more about the plot because I wouldn’t want to spoil the suspense of wondering what is inside the case and what Justin will decide to do with it. This is a very short book (176 pages in the paperback version) and for the first half, the tension builds and builds. It would have made a perfect Alfred Hitchcock film! It’s not a crime novel, however, so don’t go into it expecting one; the mystery is never fully explained or resolved, it ends abruptly and we are left with lots of unanswered questions. The events on the train are simply a starting point for Simenon to explore the psychological effects on Justin Calmar as he battles with nerves, guilt and paranoia, lying to his wife and his friends and finding that each lie leads to another.
The second half of the book isn’t quite as strong as the first and I do wish we’d had answers to at least some of those questions, but this is a fascinating and compelling story – my favourite by Georges Simenon so far.
Although I was slightly disappointed that only the first few pages of the book are actually set in Venice – the rest either on the train or in Paris – I wasn’t too disappointed because Paris is, of course, a great setting as well. And as Thyme for Tea and Readerbuzz are hosting their annual Paris in July event this month, the timing couldn’t be better!
Thanks to Penguin Classics for providing a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.
She Reads Novels 
I’ll look out for this. Sadly, it’s not in our library’s catalogue.
It’s definitely worth reading if you do manage to come across it.
I remember watching the early Maigret series (they must’ve been re-runs) in the early 60’s with my Dad who was a HUGE fan. I’ve been meaning to read Simenon ever since (well, almost!). This has prompted me finally to buy the first book in the Maigret series. I’ll see how I get on with them. He was a VERY prolific author wasn’t he!
I hope you enjoy it! I still haven’t read any of the Maigrets, but I’m sure I will soon. He was certainly very prolific!
I’ve read more of his Maigrets than his stand alones, but whatever he writes is good as far as I’m concerned!
I still haven’t read any of the Maigrets, but I’m hoping to soon!
I think I have read a few Maigrets but never one of his stand-alones. I will have to look for one.
I’ve been impressed with all three that I’ve read so far.
I’ll have to try one.
Another author I’m yet to get to, both Maigret and the standalones, but I’m glad to see these being reissued.
I’ve only read a few of the standalones so far, but hope to try one of the Maigrets soon. There are so many of them it’s a bit overwhelming!
Ooh…this does sound like a fun one. And from your description of it I can totally envision it as a Hitchcock film. Too bad my library doesn’t have a copy.
It kept reminding me of The Lady Vanishes, not just because they’re both set on a train, but because there’s a character who disappears too! I hope your library will get a copy.
Oooh, this revives memories of travelling by train in 1998 from Venice to Paris via Milan, though the most exciting thing was when I had to dash back to the Paris terminus to retrieve souvenirs from our compartment before going on to London! Another Simenon to look out for, even if not all is resolved at the end.
I’m glad your train journey from Venice wasn’t quite as eventful as Justin Calmar’s, though I hope you managed to rescue your souvenirs intact! I would definitely recommend looking out for this particular Simenon.