The novel upon which this episode is based is one of my three or four favorites of Simenon's Maigret novels. The story unfolds at an intersection of highways-a crossroads-where one sees what one usually sees at such a spot on a lonely highway: a garage, a small motel, a diner, and maybe a few houses. Some misplaced cars and a dead body bring Maigret from Paris. Soon, and it's no surprise to anyone who enjoys reading Simenon, Maigret peels away layers upon layers in this seemingly quiet community to expose the crime and its causes.
This episode follows the book quite closely, though (and here I have to agree with another reviewer) I am surprised and find it a bit odd that the character of Lucas, one of Maigret's assistants, is not included. He is in the novel, and his actions in the novel are included in this episode but they are done by someone else. Like I said, odd, but certainly not something that should overly offend a Simenon purist. (In Simenon's Maigret stories, Maigret's assistants change with some being given more prominence than others in different books. Those assistants include Lucas, LaPointe, Torrence, and Janvier.)
The isolation of the crossroads is captured nicely, and the characters are well acted. Special notice must be given to Sunnyi Melles and Johan Leysen as Else and Karl Andersen. If you like the story I'd recommend that in addition to reading the novel you also watch the French-produced 1932 "Night at the Crossroads."