Maigret's Little Joke

As Chief Inspector of the Paris police, Maigret's famous "method" involves immersing himself in the sordid ambience of the crime in question. This time, however, Maigret, on a medically imposed leave of absence, has to follow a particularly baffling case in the newspapers just like any layman playing amateur detective. When the nude body of a lissome young blonde is found stuffed in a cupboard, Maigret's bewildered substitute must determine who to charge with the crime. Meanwhile, Maigret, unable to endure being sidelines during such an intriguing case, solves the case by sending anonymous "hints" to his stymied subordinate.