Georges Simenon (1903-1989) was born in Liege, Belgium. He published his first novel at 17 and went on to write more than 200 novels. “Maigret…ranks with Holmes and Poirot in the pantheon of fictional detective immortals”. “A writer who, more than any other crime novelist, combined a high literary reputation with popular appeal.” – P.D.James “Simenon is … in a class by himself.” – The New Yorker